Seminars
Please choose 1 seminar to attend on the day.
Cathy Walters
Waiting Well
No one likes to wait… but we all have times when we have to. And whether it’s waiting for a bus, a boyfriend, a baby, or a boost in our spiritual growth, experiencing periods of waiting in this age of instant gratification is never easy.
Yet waiting is core to the Christian way of life (as 1 Thess 1:10 reminds us). Christians are those who are waiting for Christ’s return, living in the promise of things still to come. How do we honour God as we wait? What does the Bible teach us about waiting? And what would it look like to wait well?
Come to this seminar to explore this important and life changing topic, as together we seek to wait well.
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Cathy met Jesus when she was a student at university through CU (Christian Union) and has served with AFES for many years since, partnering with both local and international students to proclaim Christ at universities in Melbourne, Adelaide, and Brisbane. She now serves in a national staff support role with AFES, and while she misses regular student contact, she loves the wonderful staff she cares for.
Cathy is married to David, and often has the privilege of visiting islands in the South Pacific as she assists him in his role as IFES Regional Secretary. Cathy lives on the beautiful Bellarine peninsula and goes to church at City on a Hill Geelong. She loves drinking tea and crocheting, and can't wait to see Jesus when He returns!
Caitlin Ogg
Examining Scripture in our day to day lives
In Acts 17, Paul and Silas came across ‘noble’ men and women who with all readiness of the mind, examined the Scriptures daily to see whether what Paul and Silas spoke of was true (v.11); What would it look like to be like these Bereans and be ready in our minds and turn an examining eye to Scripture? How can we know what the Bible says anyway, when there seem to be so many different interpretations? How can I when I don’t have the time, the energy, the knowledge or resources to examine the Scriptures? Come and grow in your confidence in reading and understanding the Bible for yourself, learn basic tools for doing this well, and be encouraged by how you can do it in your day to day life, alone and with others.
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Originally from regional NSW, Caitlin moved to Melbourne in 2025 to Proclaim Christ on Campus at Deakin University (Burwood) with AFES (Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students). She has joined the saints at St John’s Anglican Blackburn (in Partnership with HTD). Caitlin herself became a Christian after learning to examine the Scriptures and see the truth of Jesus in the pages of Hebrews while she was studying journalism at university. Since becoming a Christian her favourite thing about ministry is sitting down with women of all ages and stages of faith to help them learn how to read the bible for themselves. When she’s not reading the bible with women, she’s trying to learn how to garden, going on walks or spending time with friends.
Michelle Jackson
From Disposable to Devoted: Reimagining Friendship Through a Biblical Lens
Friendship feels harder than it used to. In a time of fragmentation, conflict, and busyness, how do we build friendships that endure? Drawing on Scripture, research, and lived experience, this seminar examines the erosion of community, the impact of technology, and the growing loneliness of our age. It explores the Bible’s rich vision of friendship, including differing levels of intimacy, handling conflict well, and loving generously. Together we'll discover practical, biblical ways to cultivate friendships with Christians and others that are deeper, more resilient, and more Christ-centred, helping us persevere with joy in faith and life.
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Michelle works for CMS Victoria in the areas of pastoral care and mobilisation. She is married to Brad, and they have three young adult children. She has navigated friendships in two different countries and is thankful for the grace friends have shown along the way. Michelle and Brad attend St Luke's Vermont where Brad is the lead minister. Michelle enjoys walking her dog, op-shopping and BBQs with friends.
Clare Merkel
Encouraging Others to Love and to Serve
God loves to grow His people through relationships. Throughout the Bible we see believers encouraging and equipping one another to live faithful, Jesus-centred lives and to serve Him. In Titus 2, believers are urged to intentionally invest in the lives of others, but many of us wonder if we’re really the right person for the job.
Lack of confidence, busy seasons of life, and the feeling that we need to “have it all together” can hold us back. Yet God delights in using ordinary people to do extraordinary things for His kingdom, often through the relationships He has already placed around us - whether with our children, friends, or women in our churches.
In this practical workshop, we’ll explore how God equips women in different roles and seasons to encourage others to follow and serve Jesus. Together we’ll consider the fears that hold us back, recognise the opportunities around us, and leave with simple, practical next steps for encouraging and equipping others in everyday life.
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​Clare is the Ministry Training Strategy (MTS) Trainer Coordinator and serves in ministry alongside her husband, one of the pastors at Bathurst Presbyterian Church, NSW. Together they are raising four children (Year 7 to Year 2), a daily reminder that nurturing growth requires intentional investment - something equally true of spiritual parenting. Drawing on the biblical picture of Paul entrusting the gospel to Timothy, Clare’s seminar will explore how passing on the gospel to the next generation is both a profound privilege and a vital responsibility, as we invest in others to raise mature workers for Christ and his church.
Fiona McLean
Navigating Motherhood
Becoming a mother is a significant life event, associated with lots of conflicting emotions! When we have children, how much should we expect our lives to change? What do we do about work and career? Is staying home full-time boring and lonely? And is it inevitable that we will feel guilty about whatever decisions we make?! In this seminar, we will reflect on how motherhood is viewed in our culture and what biblical principles and priorities can help us work out how to use our limited time and energy. You are welcome to come to this workshop, whether you are a mother, hoping to have children in the future, or keen to help women thrive in motherhood.
Fiona works part-time as an Assistant Minister at Holy Trinity, Doncaster. She and her husband Gus (a teacher) had four children in 5 ½ years, so things were busy, noisy and chaotic for a while – but also full of joy and fun. Those children are now all young adults, and we are deeply thankful that they and our son-in-law are all Christians. Since having children, Fiona has been home full-time with kids, studied part-time, worked part-time at church (in both voluntary and paid roles), and served in other voluntary roles in the wider church and community. She loves riding her bike, reading, and playing Scrabble. She is passionate about thinking about how to follow Jesus in our current cultural context.
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Stef Chan
Idols: When Good Things Become Gods :: TEEN SEMINAR
“Do they like me?”
“What if I fail?”
“Why don’t I look like that?”
“Why didn’t they reply?”
“I just want to be happy.”
Sound familiar?
We all chase things that promise to make us feel secure, accepted, successful, or loved. Friends. Parents. Grades. Likes. Reputation. Romantic relationships. Netflix. Sport. The perfect body. The perfect future.
None of these things are bad. But when they become everything, they quietly turn into idols. Things we look to for life instead of God. And the problem? They can’t deliver!
In this seminar for teens, we’ll explore what the Bible says about the true and living God versus the false gods our culture (and our hearts) create. We’ll unpack what modern idols look like, why they disappoint us, and why Jesus offers something far better.
Come along. Be honest. Ask questions. And discover the One who doesn’t cancel you, ignore you, or fail you.
Stef is married to Enoch and studied at Ridley College. She serves as the 5pm Women’s Minister at Holy Trinity Doncaster, where she primarily serves youth and young adults.
Stef came to know Jesus at 21 after chasing “good things” that promised happiness and life but left her deeply empty instead. Through that journey, she discovered that Christ alone truly satisfies. She longs for many to experience the joy and freedom found in Him.
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Bookings go live at the beginning of March.