Equipped for ministry amidst a busy life: an update on Tomas Cera’s story

Since starting his studies with VBC in 2024, Tomas Cera’s life has only gotten busier, as he juggles work, ministry and family life. The father of four boys, Tomas works part time to run the youth ministry at Disciples Church Springfield, as well as working part time as a concrete labourer. But VBC’s flexible format and accessible pathways of study mean Tomas has been able to continue to be trained and equipped while balancing all these things. 

Tomas was interviewed two years ago, when he was just starting out at VBC, and he shared there his journey from lukewarm Christian to part-time youth pastor. Tomas began VBC doing the Cert IV, but went on to do the Diploma, and is now working towards the Advanced Diploma.

Over the last few years, the youth group he leads has grown to about 30 teenagers coming along each Friday night. But even more exciting is the spiritual growth Tomas is seeing in these young people. 

“We’ve had significant growth, which is a good problem to have. Over the years God has just been bringing people faithfully along and we’ve just been faithful to running the youth ministry and preaching the gospel,” Tomas shares. 

The growth of the youth program means Tomas’ role has shifted. “It’s more of a leadership role of running a team rather than specifically doing things like talks and setting up each week,” he reflects. This means Tomas has had to develop new skills in training his youth leaders, in everything from how to do a talk or how to run their group times with teenagers. 

Over the last few years of studying at VBC, Tomas has developed a deeper understanding of the weight of the call to ministry. “I hadn’t really had that viewpoint before,” Tomas explains. “Just how seriously we should take this work and the time and effort we should be putting into doing these things. God is an excellent God and we should be giving him the best of what we have.” 

God has also been growing Tomas in his knowledge of the Bible. “There’s a difference between just reading it, and knowing it, to be able to do a deep dive study into the different things and what they actually mean,” he reflects. Tomas has felt his growing understanding has positively impacted his ability to teach and apply the Bible. 

One class Tomas particularly enjoyed was the New Testament unit, where he studied the book of Revelation. “Revelation was wild,” he laughs. “I enjoyed it a lot. Both the craziness but also the message of hope it has for us. It uses so much imagery and metaphors, but in the end it’s a message of hope that Jesus is coming back to rescue us and bring us home with him. That’s good enough for me.” 

As a part of the Relevation unit, Tomas completed assessments such as writing a Bible study and presenting a sermon. This practical approach to assessment has been incredibly good for Tomas. “They are just really good at building your skills,” he explains. “It’s all about applying what we’ve been learning and delivering it to whatever ministry you are in.”

One thing that has remained consistent throughout Tomas’ experience with VBC is how much he values relationships with other students from all over the world. “You might have the most different background to whatever I have, but we have this single thing in common and we can be brothers and sisters in Christ,” Tomas says.

Tomas has also benefited from growing relationships with his VBC trainers. “They’re only an email away, and are always super helpful,” Tomas shares. 

His mentor at church, Anthony Sligar, also spoke about how studying with VBC has helped enrich Tomas’ theological understanding while also allowing him to continue working, supporting his young family and serving his church community. Anthony was full of praise for the work Tomas has been doing with the youth at their church. 

“We’ve seen Jesus working in that ministry in amazing ways: teens who had little or no church exposure being invited and welcomed in by the youth who have grown up in the church, who are now walking solidly with Christ. My hope and prayer is that the Lord continues to bless and grow the work that Tom is doing among high schoolers here at Disciples Church, that many more will come to know Him through it, and by His grace, Jesus will sustain Tom in vocational ministry for the long term,” Anthony shares. 

Tomas is due to finish his Advanced Diploma in the middle of next year, and is looking forward to seeing where God leads him in ministry next. “I’ll just keep faithfully serving in my current position, until God leads me somewhere else - or not!” Tomas says.

Without VBC, a future of paid ministry work may not have been possible for Tomas, and the impact he has had on his youth ministry would not have happened. To anyone unsure about giving VBC a go, Tomas encourages them that it really is possible to study the Bible and be equipped for ministry without going down the traditional academic path. As Tomas looks to the future, he asks for prayer for wisdom in a busy life as he completes his training.