Faith On Campus

Why join Christian Union? In the next few weeks, thousands of uni students all around Australia will be heading back to university as semester gets under way. In this episode we ask the question: why get connected to the Christian group on your campus? This episode is a recording of a talk I gave last… Continue reading Summer Special – Why Join Christian Union? The post Summer Special – Why Join Christian Union? appeared first on The Ben Smart Blog.

In this final episode of Season 3, we hear from a student as he reflects on the question, “Why am I still a Christian?” Recently at UWA we had a blokes night, where students came along to hang out and spend time together, and three students shared a short reflection on why they are still… Continue reading S3E10 – Why Am I Still A Christian? The post S3E10 – Why Am I Still A Christian? appeared first on The Ben Smart Blog.

This week’s episode of Faith On Campus is an interview with Jeremy Wright, a student who is considering cross-cultural mission. Jeremy studies Maths & Physics at the University of Western Australia, and has just been elected as the President of Christian Union for 2021. In our churches we often get to hear from missionaries who… Continue reading S3E9 – Considering Cross Cultural Mission (Jeremy Wright) The post S3E9 – Considering Cross Cultural Mission (Jeremy Wright) appeared first on The Ben Smart Blog.

This week’s episode of Faith On Campus is the final talk in a sermon series looking at the life of Abraham. In this episode we look at Genesis 23, “Leaving Home, Finding Home.” Over the past 50 years, our society has become increasingly mobile. Many of us know what it feels like to leave home… Continue reading S3E8 – Homeward Bound (Gen 23) The post S3E8 – Homeward Bound (Gen 23) appeared first on The Ben Smart Blog.

Would you sacrifice your child? In Genesis 22, God asks Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. It’s a pretty well-known passage, but when you stop and think about it, it raises some pretty big questions. What kind of God would ask someone to do this?What kind of father would obey? Christopher Hitchens saw this… Continue reading S3E7 – Would You Sacrifice Your Child? (Gen 22) The post S3E7 – Would You Sacrifice Your Child? (Gen 22) appeared first on The Ben Smart Blog.

In this episode of Faith On Campus we hear from Howard Spencer, who has been serving with the Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students (AFES) for 24 years. Now, at the age of 66, he’s at a point in life when many people would be thinking about slowing down and enjoying retirement. But not Howard! Instead,… Continue reading S3E6 – No Retirement For This Man! (Howard Spencer) The post S3E6 – No Retirement For This Man! (Howard Spencer) appeared first on The Ben Smart Blog.

In this episode of Faith On Campus we hear from Gad Rasmussen, a student studying Primary Education at Edith Cowan University in Perth, WA. Gad is president of the Christian group at his campus, called the Gospel Stand. At the start of 2020, Gad was on a mission trip in a remote community when he… Continue reading S3E5 – I See God Better With One Eye (Gad Rasmussen) The post S3E5 – I See God Better With One Eye (Gad Rasmussen) appeared first on The Ben Smart Blog.

This week’s episode of Faith On Campus is the fourth talk in a sermon series looking at the life of Abraham. In this episode we look at Genesis 16-17, “When God’s Promises Seem Slow.” In Genesis 12, God makes some pretty huge promises to Abraham and Sarah, including a promise that they’ll have many descendants… Continue reading S3E4 – When God’s Promises Seem Slow (Gen 16-17) The post S3E4 – When God’s Promises Seem Slow (Gen 16-17) appeared first on The Ben Smart Blog.

This week’s episode of Faith On Campus is the third instalment in a series of Bible talks in Genesis, looking at the life of Abraham. In this episode we look at Genesis 15 and ask the question, ‘how can bad people please a good God?’ I meet a lot of people on campus who say… Continue reading S3E3 – How Can Bad People Please A Good God? (Gen 15) The post S3E3 – How Can Bad People Please A Good God? (Gen 15) appeared first on The Ben Smart Blog.

I chat to a lot of non-religious students on campus who think there probably is some kind of God, but even if there was, it wouldn’t make any difference to this life now. Is that true? If the Christian God is real, does that have an impact on life now? Or is it all just… Continue reading S3E2 – Pie In The Sky When You Die? (Gen 13-14) The post S3E2 – Pie In The Sky When You Die? (Gen 13-14) appeared first on The Ben Smart Blog.

We’re back for Season 3 of Faith On Campus! Episodes come out each week during university semester, so now that semester is back up and running, so are we. The Covid-19 pandemic meant that earlier this year, all universities in Australia (and most around the whole world) had to shut down their physical campus presence… Continue reading S3E1 – Hope For A Broken World (Gen 12) The post S3E1 – Hope For A Broken World (Gen 12) appeared first on The Ben Smart Blog.

What does campus ministry look like under Covid-19 restrictions? In recent months Australia has put in place unprecedented lockdown measures to slow the spread of this novel coronavirus. Most parts our lives have been significantly impacted, and campus ministry is no exception. In this episode of Season 2, we speak with Mikey Lynch about what… Continue reading S2E10 – Campus Ministry Under Covid-19? (Mikey Lynch) The post S2E10 – Campus Ministry Under Covid-19? (Mikey Lynch) appeared first on The Ben Smart Blog.

In this episode of Faith On Campus we hear from Andrew, a student who is actively engaged in sharing the gospel with Muslims on campus. Due to the sensitive nature of his ministry we can’t tell you what uni he’s at or talk with too much detail about some of the specifics of what he’s… Continue reading S2E9 – Sharing The Gospel With Muslims (Andrew) The post S2E9 – Sharing The Gospel With Muslims (Andrew) appeared first on The Ben Smart Blog.

In this week’s episode of Faith On Campus we hear from Jacinta Patterson, a 2nd year Ministry Apprentice at UWA in Perth. Earlier this year she shared this story at a commissioning service attended by many supporters of AFES ministry, and I was really encouraged by it, so I wanted to share it with you… Continue reading S2E8 – Investigating Jesus With A Stranger (Jacinta Patterson) The post S2E8 – Investigating Jesus With A Stranger (Jacinta Patterson) appeared first on The Ben Smart Blog.

In this week’s episode of Faith On Campus I interview Lucy, a student at James Cook University in Townsville. Lucy didn’t grow up in a Christian home, but she had a Christian friend who invited her along first to church and then to Bible study. As she looks back she wasn’t actually a Christian, but… Continue reading S2E7 – God At Work At JCU (Lucy) The post S2E7 – God At Work At JCU (Lucy) appeared first on The Ben Smart Blog.

Is Christianity just an emotional crutch? In this week’s episode of Faith On Campus I interview Shaun Liew, an international student from Malaysia studying Psychology. When Shaun first moved to Australia for uni he felt pretty isolated and was having a tough time. A new friend of his shared a gospel outline called ‘Two Ways… Continue reading S2E6 – Is Christianity Just An Emotional Crutch? (Shaun Liew) The post S2E6 – Is Christianity Just An Emotional Crutch? (Shaun Liew) appeared first on The Ben Smart Blog.

This week we’ve got a special episode on facing Coronavirus as a Christian. We’ve got a bunch of interviews lined up for the coming weeks, but given how quickly things are developing with Covid-19, I thought it’d be worth having a special episode to think through how we respond to this crisis as Christians. So… Continue reading S2E5 – Facing Coronavirus as a Christian The post S2E5 – Facing Coronavirus as a Christian appeared first on The Ben Smart Blog.

In this week’s episode of Faith On Campus I interview Steve, a staffworker who works full-time on campus helping students “get the gospel right, and get the gospel out.” I can’t tell you Steve’s last name or where he works due the sensitive nature of his ministry context and the content of this interview, but… Continue reading S2E4 – Looking For God Through Drugs (Mystery Steve) The post S2E4 – Looking For God Through Drugs (Mystery Steve) appeared first on The Ben Smart Blog.

In this week’s episode of Faith On Campus I interview Lachlan Batley, a Sport & Exercise Science student at Charles Sturt University in Bathurst, NSW. He shares with us about how he’s seen at God at work on campus, with gospel opportunities coming up through conversations about death and suffering on the one hand, and… Continue reading S2E3 – Death, Suffering, & Pancakes (Lachlan Batley) The post S2E3 – Death, Suffering, & Pancakes (Lachlan Batley) appeared first on The Ben Smart Blog.

This week’s episode of Faith On Campus was recorded at Kickstart, an orientation camp run by the combined Christian Unions from all WA universities to help incoming first-year students have a great start to their life at uni. In this episode I interview Sarah Hunter, a second year student at Curtin University. Sarah shares with… Continue reading S2E2 – Kickstart (Sarah Hunter) The post S2E2 – Kickstart (Sarah Hunter) appeared first on The Ben Smart Blog.

University semester is officially underway for 2020, which means we’re back for Season 2 of Faith on Campus! In this first episode of Season 2, I interview Michelle, who recently graduated from UWA with a degree in Accounting and Business Law. Michelle was raised in a Roman Catholic family, but after experiencing a family tragedy,… Continue reading S2E1 – Is This A Cult? (Michelle McLeod) The post S2E1 – Is This A Cult? (Michelle McLeod) appeared first on The Ben Smart Blog.

Normally episodes of Faith On Campus come out weekly during uni semester, but this is a bonus Summer Special. In this episode, I interview Mitchell Halls, a Community Development student at Murdoch University, to hear about his recent experience of going on Mission. Each year in November/December once exams are over, Christian uni students around… Continue reading Faith On Campus Summer Special – Mission The post Faith On Campus Summer Special – Mission appeared first on The Ben Smart Blog.

In this final episode of Season 1, I speak with Dan Faulkner, an Engineering student who became a Christian earlier this year. Dan was raised in a Christian home, but didn’t have a good idea of who Jesus really was. In high school he began to have serious doubts about Christianity and whether there was… Continue reading Ep. 10 – Searching For God (Dan Faulkner) The post Ep. 10 – Searching For God (Dan Faulkner) appeared first on The Ben Smart Blog.

This episode of Faith On Campus is a recording of the most recent talk at UWA Christian Union’s Public Meeting. Normally on this podcast you’ll hear me interviewing a student or staff worker. But the goal of this episode is to let you hear first-hand what goes on in our weekly Public Meeting and get… Continue reading Ep. 9 – Fixing Our Eyes On Jesus (Public Meeting) The post Ep. 9 – Fixing Our Eyes On Jesus (Public Meeting) appeared first on The Ben Smart Blog.

In this episode I speak with Ben Rae about the mission and goal of campus ministry. Ben is the Staff Team Leader at the University of Western Australia in Perth. With a team of almost 20 people (6 students and 13 staff), a big part of his role is to make sure they are clear… Continue reading Ep. 8 – What Is The Mission of Campus Ministry? (Ben Rae) The post Ep. 8 – What Is The Mission of Campus Ministry? (Ben Rae) appeared first on The Ben Smart Blog.

In this episode I chat to Mikey Lynch about the relationship between parachurch ministry and where it fits within a gospel ecosystem. How do church and parachurch ministries relate to each other? What are some pitfalls? And what is a parachurch ministry anyway? Mikey’s actually in the process of writing a book on this topic.… Continue reading Ep. 7 – Parachurch Ministry and the Gospel Ecosystem (Mikey Lynch) The post Ep. 7 – Parachurch Ministry and the Gospel Ecosystem (Mikey Lynch) appeared first on The Ben Smart Blog.

In this week’s episode of Faith On Campus I interview Mikey Lynch, the campus director of the Christian group at the University of Tasmania. Mikey Lynch shares with us how he became a Christian during a ‘mini revival’, where dozens of people came to faith in Jesus in a short period of time. Out of… Continue reading Ep. 6 – A Mini Revival (Mikey Lynch) The post Ep. 6 – A Mini Revival (Mikey Lynch) appeared first on The Ben Smart Blog.

In this week’s episode of Faith On Campus I interview Matt Chan about what it’s like to be part of the Evangelism Team at UWA. Matt is an engineering student in his seventh year at UWA who has done some of his degree part-time while also out in the workforce. This is his last year… Continue reading Ep. 5 – What Is Evangelism Team? (Matt Chan) The post Ep. 5 – What Is Evangelism Team? (Matt Chan) appeared first on The Ben Smart Blog.

In this week’s episode of Faith On Campus I interview Jacob Brown about how he came to know Jesus, and how he caught a love for walk-up evangelism. Born in a non-Christian family, Jacob became a Christian through teachers at his school who were transparent and open about their faith. Now, inspired by their example,… Continue reading Ep. 4 – Walk-Up Evangelism? “I Love it!” (Jacob Brown) The post Ep. 4 – Walk-Up Evangelism? “I Love it!” (Jacob Brown) appeared first on The Ben Smart Blog.

In this week’s episode of Faith On Campus, I interview Jan Bochat again to find out what life is like as a ministry apprentice. Last week in Episode 2 we heard about how he became a Christian while he was a student at uni. Now, half a decade later, Jan is back on campus as… Continue reading Ep. 3 – Life As A Ministry Apprentice (Jan Bochat) The post Ep. 3 – Life As A Ministry Apprentice (Jan Bochat) appeared first on The Ben Smart Blog.

In this episode of Faith On Campus, I interview Jan Bochat to find out about how he became a Christian while he was a student at uni. Jan came to UWA to study law & business, and God wasn’t in the picture of how he was living his life. But that all changed when a… Continue reading Ep. 2 – Leading A Double Life (Jan Bochat) The post Ep. 2 – Leading A Double Life (Jan Bochat) appeared first on The Ben Smart Blog.

In this first episode of Faith On Campus, I interview four students during Perth Mid Year Conference (MYC). MYC is a week-long conference where over 200 students from across the universities of Perth come together for a week of intense Bible teaching and time together. It’s an awesome week where students get to dig really… Continue reading Ep. 1 – Flaming Arrows and Talking Donkeys (Perth MYC) The post Ep. 1 – Flaming Arrows and Talking Donkeys (Perth MYC) appeared first on The Ben Smart Blog.

I’ve just released a new podcast called Faith On Campus. The goal of this podcast is to give you a window into some of the great things that God is doing on university campuses around Australia. You’ll hear stories of students who have come to faith in Christ, conversations with students who have been equipped… Continue reading Faith On Campus Podcast Episode 0 (Introduction) The post Faith On Campus Podcast Episode 0 (Introduction) appeared first on The Ben Smart Blog.