Liz Roediger
We're so used to seeing her around that it's hard to imagine ECU without her—her colourful “Hello!”, her affectionate nicknaming, her creativity, friendliness, and, most of all, her passionate desire to see people grow as Christians. And yet, after five wonderful years of MTS, Liz Roediger is about to leave us.
Born in Kew, Victoria in 1976, Liz grew up in Canberra in a Christian household consisting of father, mother, older brother and younger sister. The family attended a Uniting church, however, she admits that she did not come to understand the gospel for herself until second year at UOW. In 1995, Liz had begun her Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Human Movement. She excelled academically, but, more importantly, she began to grow in her knowledge of God through Bible study at Weerona, St. Michael's and ECU, and meeting with Sharon Kwan and Alison Collis who trained Liz in evangelism and following up new Christians.
It was Sharon and Alison who first encouraged Liz to take up full-time ministry—something that Liz had never considered. Because she was keen to spend more time with girls, reading the Bible, praying and training them in evangelism, and because she had a great longing for people to become Christians, Liz began both a PhD and MTS in 1999.
Some of the highlights have been: getting to know God better, growing in her understanding of the Bible, developing ministry skills, and watching those she has trained in turn train others. When asked about the “lowlights”, Liz responded that the low times had come about while she was doing MTS and not because she was doing it: the death of one of her grandmothers who may or may not have known Jesus; people not taking their Christian life seriously; and people falling away.
So what has she learnt about ministry? “Ministry is about people not structures,” she laughs, citing a well-used “Chin-ism”. “Reading the Bible and praying with people is core business and therefore something you'd want to be doing with each person you meet with. Involving people in your work and letting them see you doing ministry, making mistakes and improving is very important. Ministry is life. People seeing how I do the mundane things of life in a godly way is just as important as seeing me lead a Bible Study. That's why being godly is the most important thing.” In 2004, Liz and Tim, her husband of two-and-a-half years, plan to study a one-year Diploma of Bible and Missions at Moore College. They will continue to live in Wollongong, commuting up to Sydney by train. Post-college plans are still uncertain, however they are keen to serve God and his people in areas lacking good Bible teachers. Please keep praying for Liz as she moves into this new stage of life!
Liz says: “Please pray that I'll always keep growing in godliness and especially that I'll keep working at being a more godly wife, serving Tim as life goes on. Pray that I'll handle the transition well as I mourn the loss of relationships here and start new relationships there, and that God will give me wisdom to know how to look after people. Please pray that things will work out, possibly doing one day a week as a student minister at St. Michael's, and that I will be able to serve God wherever I am.”
Karen Beilharz
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