Moved to ministry

Jacob grew up travelling Australia in a caravan, but his biggest adventure was yet to come . . . and you helped him get there. 

When he was fifteen-years-old, a meeting at church steered Jacob’s life on a new trajectory. 

“I first heard about SU through church . . . [There was] this wonderful young adult . . . named John and he was team-leading Odyssey Sailing Camp here in WA. He reached out to me and invited me to be a junior leader. . .” remembers Jacob.

Jacob’s  time on Odyssey Sailing Camp opened his eyes to a whole world of ministry possibilities. He knew he wanted to keep journeying (by land, as well as by sea) with SU Australia, and he found his next opportunity when a friend asked him to lead on Jurien Bay Beach Mission..

However, a week out from the mission’s start, the weight of what Jacob was committing to hit him. The responsibility of sharing the gospel and serving was not to be taken lightly.

“I just prayed  . . .  And I just said, Lord, use me . . .  use me where I’m weak and where I’m unprepared . . .  I want to see your hand at work on this beach mission,” reflects Jacob.

What he didn’t expect was how God would use not just him, but his story too. 

“I had the opportunity to share my testimony with the team . . .  I told them the truth about Jesus and what he meant to me. And the truth hit me so deep in that moment.

“And they instantly grabbed me afterwards . . .  and they said, ‘Come and share that with the teenagers tonight  . . . .’” 

Around 80 young people turned up to hear Jacob speak, more than anyone had expected. 

“It seemed like not an eye turned away, not a single person talked, no one fidgeted. They just listened and received the word of God,” remembers Jacob. 

Six months later Jacob looked into doing an internship with SU Australia, to build his ministry skills on the ground. This led to his next formative step, which was to study with SUIT (SU Institute of Training), to equip him to take the word of God out to the world. 

Today Jacob is doing just that as an SU Australia field worker, and thriving in his new role.

“I’ve just fallen in love with the ministry and the space that SU creates,” reflects Jacob.