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It is now time for a regular(ish) segment here at Micaiah Sells Out called:
“4 Quick Questions and 1 Strange One with…”
Well it has been a while but I thought it would be good to get these back on the agenda and what better way to get back into it than with an interview with Ryan Smartt. Ryan spends his days as a teacher and is Head of Christian Studies at my old high school. About six years ago he married my sister Fiona and I finally had a brother! Ryan loves running, goes to CCIW in Ashfield, regularly eats handmade dumplings, is colour blind, writes his own bio blurbs and had recently started a terrific blog about youth and schools ministry at A Light on A Hill.
Ryan Smartt
1. So, Ryan, You’re a teacher at a school in the East of Sydney. Tell us a bit about your job.
In a nutshell I teach high school boys about Jesus.
As Head of Christian Studies I lead a team of Chaplains and other Christian Studies teachers in developing curriculum and teaching classes in a way that tries to communicate the gospel with as much clarity, engagement and relevance as possible.
There are other bits and pieces that I do as well, such as teach a year 12 Geography class, and co-ordinate and teach the Studies of Religion HSC subject. I also look after the community service of the school and see that as a real opportunity to get boys serving and seeing Christianity in action.
I also coach a rugby team that has fluctuating results. One week we won by 50 points, the next week we lost by 50 points.
2. What are the best things about your job?
I love so many things about my job and I find it incredibly rewarding Specifically there are five reasons I really enjoy coming to work each day:
i) COUNTLESS OPPORTUNITIES: The best thing about the job would have to be the constant opportunities to read the Bible with students and be a witness in a community. Answering boys’ questions about life and God is a constant challenge and real joy.
ii) FABULOUS TEAM: I work within a team of committed and like-minded colleagues and I am daily humbled by their wisdom, skills and love for the boys. They are a real encouragement as is the support we receive to conduct Christian ministry from the school council and executive of the school.
iii) STRATEGIC: 70% of all Christians make a decision to follow Jesus before the age of 20 (National Church Life Survey 2001). Ministry in schools is incredibly strategic and important!
iv) FAR REACHING: I really believe the Christian Studies faculty can be a light not just to the school, but also to the local area. My prayer is that through this ministry many will come to Christ and that students will continuously flow into local youth groups and play a key role in strengthening the witness of many churches and ministries. You can read more about this vision here
v) GOING SOMEWHERE: My position is new and is part of the school investing more resources and staff in chaplaincy and Christian studies. The team has grown from two chaplains in 2008 to a team of five in 2010 that includes chaplains, Christian studies teachers and youthworkers. This year we are teaching Year 11 Christian Studies for the first time ever and next year will extend that to include Year 12. It is exciting to be a part of this growth and development that I pray will bear much fruit for God’s glory.
3. What are some of the challenges?
The school I’m at is a very very busy place. Sometimes the pace of things can take its toll. More significantly, the spiritual ambivalence and hard-heartedness of some of the students can be really frustrating. Some of them believe in cheap grace. That is, if they generally do good things they are saved. If they stuff up occasionally, that is ok, because God needs to forgive them. There is no real fruit of their faith and they don’t see this as a problem. May God soften their hearts!
4. You’re a big cycling fan. What is your prediction for this years Tour?
My heart says go the Aussies! Cadel to dominate.
But my head says he doesn’t have much of a chance. I can’t see anyone apart from Contador or Armstrong getting the glory in Paris.
5. What is the best trick/excuse a kid has ever tried to pull on you to get out of something or get out of trouble?
“I was stuck on my island resort in Fiji due to a cyclone!” Rich kids – got to love them!
So this is my brother in law Ryan.
He runs marathons, loves the Tour de France, is colour blind and teaches Christian studies at Scots.
He has just started a blog called: “A light on a Hill“
He plans to blog about:
- tips for teaching and engaging boys
- using film creatively
- reviewing current resources for high schoolers
- general reflections on schools ministry
- building a senior Christian Studies program from scratch
- and other bits and pieces that come up in my life
He has already started posting about mental health and Slum dog Millionaire.
You can check it out here
You may also recognise the cool looking woman in the photo. That is Fiona, my sister, I have interviewed her before here at MSO. You can read that here
My sister Fiona had a brunch today to celebrate the last two years of serving the EU as a ‘Howie’. It was lovely and a great opportunity to hear about what she did. I interviewed Fi a while back and you can have a read about what she was up to here
Anyway, there was all this lovely food including this cheeky little strawberry!
Bron found it and instantly alerted the family about it! Maybe we are all a bit childish but does that look like what I think it looks like?
Tight red pants, anyone?
Answer: They have all donated money to sponsor me for the 2009 MS Gong ride!
You should do it to!
“MS is the most common disease of the central nervous system and affects more than 18,000 Australians.
Did you know?
* The average age of diagnosis of MS is just 30 years
* MS affects three times as many women as men
MS Australia aims to minimise the impact of multiple sclerosis on all individuals affected by the disease, as well as their families, carers and the community, by offering a wide range of services, equipment and support. MS Australia’s goal is to assist everyone affected by MS to live life to their fullest potential and secure the care and support they need, until we ultimately find a cure.”
Its a long way and so please support me and/or Liz as we do this!
You can sponsor us by clicking here
If you go there you can also see the encouraging messages that all these people left me!
Its now time for our weekly segment here at Micaiah Sells Out called:
“4 quick questions and 1 strange one with…”
Our next ”4 Quick Questions and 1 Strange one with…” is with Fiona Smartt. Fiona is in her second and final year of doing the Howard Guinness Program with the Sydney University Evangelical Union (EU). Don’t let the misspelling of her name fool you – she attended Sydney University where she studied Arts (Media and Communication). She was also very involved with the EU. Fiona is married to Ryan and together they attend St John’s church in Ashfield. Fiona loves a good coffee and amazing hand made dumplings in Ashfield while watching the West Wing or reading the Saturday Herald.
Fiona is in the while EU T-shirt
1) Fiona, you are currently doing the Howard Guinness Project (HGP) with the Sydney University Evangelical Union! Firstly, what is the HGP and how did you come to decide to do it?
What is the the Howard Guinness Project (HGP)?
A two year apprenticeship-style program named after (unsurprisingly!) Howard Guinness who in 1930 motivated students at Sydney Uni to form the Evangelical Union (EU).
HGP gives people like me experience of real ministry – writing and leading Bible studies, giving talks and seminars, reading the Bible with Christians, training students in practical ministry skills, following up and sharing the gospel with non-Christians and growing students into greater maturity in Christ.
At the same time I’ve received real training – through formal weekly training sessions as well as discussions with older, more experienced staff.
Why did I decide to it?
Because I loved the vision for the program: ”To flood God’s church in Sydney, Australia and beyond with lay and vocational Christian leaders who are biblically and theologically mature, servant hearted, and innovative ministry strategists.” I wanted to be part of that. Between finishing Uni and staring HGP I did a fantastic mission course called ‘Perspectives’ where Ryan (my husband) and I were greatly challenged by the need for well trained Christian leaders in Australia and especially overseas. And so I decided HGP was a strategic way to invest two years – regardless of whether I ended up as a lay leader serving in my local church or in paid vocational ministry.
2) What are the best parts and the toughest parts of your job?
The best parts of my job are seeing students – Christian and non-Christian – understand something about Jesus for the first time.
In the middle of a Bible study about how Jesus came as part of God’s plan and not out-of-the-blue one student suddenly exclaimed “That makes so much sense! Why has no one told me this till now!” It was a joy to see the moment she realised the Bible all fits together.
I’ve also seen non-Christians grasp the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection and turn to Christ in faith and repentance. That is amazing!
The toughest parts are seeing the destructiveness of sin in people lives. Sometimes people choose to sin, at other times they are victims of the sin in this world. I’ve felt greatly saddened watching students choose sin and turn their back on life in Christ, and seeing others suffer as a victim of sin.
Even though I find that tough, there is joy when you see God’s word come to bear in someone’s life, bringing comfort, conviction of sin and the power to change.
3) What have you learnt about yourself from doing HGP?
This is a very hard question as I’ve learnt and am still learning so many things. HGP has stretched me, humbled me and helped me continue to discover and develop my gifts and passions in Christian service. But most of all I’ve learnt to trust in God and His strength rather than my own self-sufficiency. In one sense I always knew that, but I think I’ve grown in greater understanding of how amazing and transforming it is that it is God’s work and He is sovereign.
4) How has doing HGP trained you to do ministry (either formally or informally) for the rest of your life?
Most of all HGP has grown me as Christian leader. I’ve been trained to be a leader with a growing understanding of God’s word and a longing to see it applied well and transforming lives. I’ve been trained as a leader with a growing heart for serving people and reaching the lost. And I’ve been trained as a leader who can think skillfully, strategically and creatively about how to start, lead and grow a ministry.
5) As someone who has been working with Sydney uni students these past two years, could you please comment on the following:
How many UNSW students does it take to change a lightbulb?
Trick question. UNSW isn’t a real university!
Dumb question Jeremy! No answer.
