The Toolkit He Needed

You could say Kyle Moore’s path to ministry wasn't exactly textbook. Growing up in Campbelltown and later Port Macquarie, he went to church as a kid until he was eight, but then life got pretty rough: family breakdown, addiction struggles, and eventually he found himself pouring his identity into a heavy metal rock band.

When he was 18, everything fell apart with the band. Feeling completely lost, Kyle cast his mind back to the only time in his life when things actually felt good—those early years in church with his family. 

"I was like, ‘Hey, I'm gonna try that. I'm an adult, I can go and try church,’" he recalls. 

That first Sunday morning was a game-changer. The sermon spoke directly to the conflict he'd just had with his band manager, and Kyle refused to believe that was coincidence. It wasn’t long before he gave his life to Christ.

Fast forward nine years, and Kyle's now the youth minister and worship coordinator at St. Thomas Anglican Church in Port Macquarie. But it was his decision to tackle theological training through VBC this year that’s really transforming how he approaches ministry.

The idea of going back to study was terrifying for Kyle. 

"I failed school,” he admits. “I've always thought that I wouldn't be good at studying, and I didn't think I'd ever try it again.”

When his senior pastor suggested VBC's Certificate IV in Christian Ministry and Theology, Kyle was genuinely nervous. 

"I was getting sent all these books and stuff and I was like, ‘Oh, I don't read,’” Kyle laughs.

But here's what surprised him: VBC has felt completely different from any classroom he'd been in before. 

"There's something really different and special about studying theology and Christian ministry,” he explains. “Especially with the trainers opening a class with prayer and finishing with prayer. It's just so comfortable."

Kyle started seeing the impact on his ministry almost immediately—his ability to handle the Bible has grown in spades. He keeps noticing an incredible timing between what he's learning and what comes up in his actual ministry, too. This has been a complete game-changer for his confidence. 

"I've been able to run Bible studies with confidence, and answer questions with confidence," he smiles. “It's like having a theological toolkit that's actually practical for the real questions young people are asking.”

What really stands out to Kyle about VBC is just how different the whole atmosphere feels. His program runs from 1pm to 9pm each Monday, and Kyle has really connected with his fellow students. 

"We’ve got a bunch of inside jokes by this point in the year," he laughs. “It's not just about cramming information. There's real community happening, with breakout rooms and role-play exercises that make learning interactive and fun.”

As Kyle gets closer to finishing his Certificate IV he's starting to think about what might come next. Maybe chaplaincy, maybe more study—but for now he's just focused on using everything he's learning in his youth and worship ministries.

If you’re someone who thinks you might want to try theological study, but you’re feeling a bit nervous about it, Kyle has some advice: "I would honestly say, ‘Nike, just do it.’ Seriously—there are so many big questions out there that need to be backed with a good biblical answer."

Coming from someone who thought he'd never be able to study again, that's pretty powerful encouragement.