Moore College

Equipping men and women to love and serve the Lord Jesus Christ

2005-2008 Alumni Reunion 

2005-2008 Alumni Reunion 

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Our final alumni reunion for 2025 brought together the 2005-2008 cohort, with 55 graduates gathering – some travelling from as far as Brisbane, Melbourne and Tasmania. These alumni now serve across a wide range of ministries, including churches, universities, mission organisations, parachurch ministries, and navy and aged care chaplaincy. It was a wet and windy day, but the warmth and enduring friendships of the group made up for the general sogginess after the College tour! 

Our reunions give graduates an opportunity to be refreshed and encouraged, hearing how God has been faithful to their peers as they persevere in serving him. It was encouraging to hear that that was the experience of at least one of the delegates from the 2005-2008 reunion: 

“After 20 years, it was so good to see that even though some of us have grey or white hairs, some of us have adult kids and some of us have struggled with some very, very difficult things in the interim, so many of us are still following Jesus and committed to the work of building his kingdom. I came away from the day very encouraged. Hopefully it won’t take another 20 years for us to get together again!”  

Moore aims to be your College for life, fostering enduring connections between graduates and providing resources, further study options and partnership in training the next generation of gospel workers.  The influence and encouragement of a graduate remains the single most significant factor in someone choosing to study at Moore. Our alumni continue to play a crucial part in God’s answer to the prayer that he would send more workers into his harvest field. 

Are you in a College cohort celebrating a significant milestone in 2026? Please contact us at [email protected] if you’d be interested in us hosting your reunion. 


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How do our phones shape the way we think, relate, and live?

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The Centre for Christian Living’s Smartphone Disciple workshop in October explored this question through biblical reflection, teaching, and small-group discussion. Rather than offering “quick fixes,” the evening encouraged participants to think deeply about how smartphone technology forms and ‘disciples’ us to see and live in the world in a certain way. And then to consider how, as disciples of Christ, we should respond with wisdom and love.

Attendees appreciated Tony Payne’s clear teaching and how they were encouraged to develop a biblical framework to think through the topic. As one attendee explained:

“It was a thought provoking and biblical approach to the intersection of technology and how Christians live.”

People left the workshop with an increased conviction to reflect on their way of thinking and living:

“It helped me see technology isn’t neutral, it shapes our mindset.”

“I’m more aware of how my phone affects my relationships and attention.”

Many appreciated the interactive format and gospel-centred framework for thinking about everyday faithfulness in a digital world.

If you missed it, a podcast version of CCL: The Smartphone Disciple will be released on the CCL Podcast in February 2026, allowing you to listen and reflect at your own pace.

Thank you to Ben Warren, second year student and member of the Centre for Christian Living Student Service Team, for the photos.
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Farewelling Simon & Margie Gillham

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Over the past few weeks, we have farewelled Simon and Margie Gillham as they prepare to move into CMS accommodation and begin a year of preparation before heading to Uganda to serve at Uganda Christian University. As we look back on their ten years at Moore College, we thank the Lord for their friendship, their ministry, and the way they have lived out the gospel so openly among us.

Grateful for a Decade of Service

Friend and fellow Faculty member, Peter Orr was reflecting on the Gillham’s lasting impact on the College community; how Simon and Margie have served faithfully and quietly, never seeking recognition, yet leaving a deep and lasting impact.

• Simon has strengthened the College academically, pastorally, and administratively, leading with clarity, gentleness, and prayerfulness.

• Margie has encouraged many through her warmth, hospitality, and care, especially among students, Faculty families, and staff wives.

Many of us feel the loss of their steadiness, sense of fun, and gospel-hearted generosity. But the same love for Christ that made them such a gift to our community is what now sends them out. This isn’t the end of friendship, just a new chapter in watching God use them elsewhere.

A Colourful Chapel Farewell

A memorable farewell gathering was a chapel gathering where the community arrived in bright, joyful colours to celebrate the Gillhams. Students shared from their hearts the impact the Gillihams have made on the community and the love and genuine care they have shown to them. It was simple, heartfelt, and full of warmth.

Simon spoke with his usual mix of humility and humour, sharing about the privilege of studying here, the unexpected path that led him onto Faculty, the months of prayer behind their decisions, and the “quirky but united” nature of the College.

He reminded us that they haven’t simply decided to leave, they have chosen to go. To go where God is leading, trusting Him with what feels too big, and asking us to pray.

Mark Thompson also offered a thoughtful tribute, reflecting on Simon’s service as pastor, teacher, scholar, administrator, and Vice Principal, and highlighting his humility, excellence, and heart for global mission.

Uganda Christian University – home to about 300–350 students, will no doubt be blessed by the Gillham’s steady presence and gospel-shaped care.

Saying goodbye is bittersweet. But we send them out with confidence in God’s goodness and deep gratitude for the decade they have given us.

Simon and Margie, thank you. You will be dearly missed, and always part of our Moore family.


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500 Years of Books

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Reflections of the Event – Presented by Erin Mollenhauer, Senior Archivist & Special Collections Librarian

During Sydney Rare Book Week, the Donald Robinson Library hosted “500 Years of Books,” an evening that allowed attendees to handle and closely examine significant works from the library’s rare books collection. The response in the room was remarkable. As each volume was introduced, guests leaned forward, eager to see the fine details, bindings, illustrations, marginal notes, early type, and the physical evidence of centuries of use. Many found themselves leaving their seats repeatedly, drawn toward the tables to observe the craftsmanship up close.

“The book binding and illustrations were so beautifully and thoughtfully created. It made me think about how God equips artisans for their work, like in Exodus. You can really see their devotion to God through their craft”. – Attendee

The event demonstrated how deeply people respond to the material history of books. The precision of early type, the grain of oak boards, the intricacy of gilt tooling, the texture of parchment, and the careful work of printers, binders, translators, and readers all tell stories of devotion, skill, and technological change. These books survive today because generations of owners, clergy, collectors, and librarians preserved them, recognising their enduring value.

For those who were unable to attend, the selection below presents several of the works shown during the event, together with brief summaries of their place within the history of Christian scholarship and bookmaking.

Bibliorum Sacrorum Codex Vaticanus (Facsimile, 4th-century Greek Bible)

The evening began with a high-quality facsimile of the Codex Vaticanus, one of the earliest surviving Greek manuscripts of the Bible. Handling the volume allowed guests to observe features typical of ancient codices: ruled pages, script layout, parchment quality, and early binding structures. This transition from scroll to codex shaped how Scripture was read and referenced throughout the early church.

Augustine, De civitate Dei (City of God), Mainz 1473

Printed by Peter Schoeffer, Gutenberg’s associate, this incunable illustrates the earliest years of European printing. Its features include:

  • hand-painted initials,
  • original oak-boards,
  • blind-tooled calf leather
  • variable ink impressions from movable type.

Presented to Bishop W. G. Broughton in the 1830s, this copy links early European printing with the early history of the Australian church.

Martin Luther, Der Prophet Jesaia deudsch (German Translation of Isaiah, 1528)

This edition reflects the Reformation’s emphasis on vernacular Scripture. Its woodcut illustrations and blackletter typeface are characteristic of 16th-century German printing. Luther’s many short, cheaply printed works (Flugschriften) were instrumental in spreading Reformation ideas quickly. This volume stands within that wider print culture, showing how theological communication expanded through new technologies.

The Geneva Bible (Printed by Robert Barker, 1611)

A widely used English Bible in the 16th and early 17th centuries, the Geneva Bible is known for its extensive marginal study notes and portable quarto format.

This particular copy contains a notable misprint at John 6:67: “Then said Judas…” instead of “Then said Jesus…”, illustrating the challenges of hand-set type and the permanence of typesetting errors once printed.

William Cave, Lives of the Apostles (1677), Bound by Samuel Mearne

This gilt-tooled goatskin binding was produced in the workshop of Samuel Mearne, bookbinder to King Charles II. Its detailed gold tooling, colourful end-papers, and decorative spine reflect the highest standard of Restoration-era craftsmanship. The volume illustrates how printing and binding operated as separate skills, with buyers choosing the quality of binding they desired.

Book of Common Prayer (1903)

Printed for the coronation of Edward VII, this Book of Common Prayer mixes historic and modern design. The volume demonstrates how early 20th-century printers revived older liturgical aesthetics while incorporating contemporary artistic trends. It includes:

  • wooden boards and brass clasps,
  • red-letter calendar pages,
  • a decorative border in a Tudor/Jacobean style,
  • Art Nouveau typography and ornamentation.

Ko te Kawenata Hou -New Testament in Māori (1837)

The first complete New Testament printed in the Māori language, translated by William Williams and printed by William Colenso at Paihia. It is one of the earliest books produced in Aotearoa, New Zealand. It features a plain canvas binding that contrasts with European fine bindings yet reflects its practical use in mission contexts. This copy was presented to Bishop Broughton during his visit in 1839.

The Donald Robinson Library looks forward to sharing more of the Rare Books collection in future events and continuing to support the study and preservation of these remarkable volumes.

Visit the Donald Robinson Library to view revolving static displays of the College’s rare book collection. Or alternatively explore the Moore Digital Archives for a wealth of manuscripts, books, photography and audio digital resources here.

Erin Mollenhauer

Senior Archivist & Special Collections Librarian


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    Living and Speaking of Christ in a Secular Age

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    (Reflections from Josh & Susannah Apieczonek’s talk “From Mount Druitt to Mont Blanc: Serving the Lord in the secular heartland of France”)

    Meet the Apieczoneks

    Josh and Susannah Apieczonek have long been connected to Moore College. Josh, now the incoming Head of Mission and Lecturer in Mission, completed a Bachelor of Divinity and Diploma of Ministry in 2004, and Susannah studied at the College in 2008. Before moving to France, Josh taught Christian Studies and served as a chaplain at St Andrew’s Cathedral School, Sydney.

    Together, they have spent the past decade serving with CMS in Lyon, France, in student and church ministry, particularly among university students and in church planting. Their ministry has centred on helping people encounter Jesus through hospitality, community, and patient gospel witness. Susannah’s background in French language and culture has helped them engage deeply in cross-cultural life and mission. Josh and Susannah have continued to serve the French people while raising their three children, Zali, Reuben, and Heidi.

    They are known for their down-to-earth warmth and love for deep, personal conversations, whether about life, faith, or someone’s journey toward Christ. We are deeply thankful to Josh and Susannah for their time, generosity, and encouragement during their visit. During their week as Missionaries in Residence, they spent time engaging with students in classes and over meals, shared a seminar “From Mount Druitt to Mont Blanc: Serving the Lord in the secular heartland of France, and met one-on-one with students to discuss mission and life in ministry. They reminded us of the beauty and challenge of living for Christ in a secular age, as well as the quiet power of presence, hospitality, and patient witness in making the gospel visible.


    Life in Separate Circles
    If you have ever felt like your life is a set of non-overlapping bubbles, work here, sport there, church on Sundays, neighbours somewhere else, you are not alone. Josh and Susannah Apieczonek reflected that this kind of compartmentalisation has become sadly normal in Western life. It is not how we were made to live, but it has quietly shaped how we see the world. This is one reason many Christians feel held back from sharing the gospel: our worlds rarely intersect, our schedules are full, and our instincts are shaped by a culture that prizes the here and now over the eternal.

    The “Immanent Frame” (and Why It Matters)
    Drawing on the work of Canadian philosopher Charles Taylor, Josh described the West as living within an immanent frame, much like a picture frame that keeps our focus within what is tangible and immediate. Heaven, judgment, and eternity do not seem to “count” in day-to-day life. In this world, happiness and self-expression are paramount, and discussions of the spiritual often feel awkward.

    That is not the case everywhere. Many cultures still keep religion at the centre of public life. But in places like Australia and France, faith is often treated as a private weekend hobby. Most would not even call themselves “atheist” or “secular,” but simply “just a regular person.” It sounds ordinary, but beneath that ordinariness lies a quiet loss of meaning, life flattened to the present and eternity forgotten. It echoes Jesus’ warning: “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” (Mark 8:36)

    Modern life offers speed, choice, and control, yet often leaves people breathless and anxious. We have traded meaning for mastery, and the mastery is exhausting us. Still, the longing leaks out: the boom in mindfulness, minimalism, and “meaning” literature shows people are searching, even if they do not know for what.

    How We Got Here (in Brief)
    – Industrialisation & Urbanisation moved people from tight communities into fragmented city life.
    – Technology & Convenience promised control and comfort, but reshaped our habits. “We shape our tools, then our tools shape us.”
    – Individualism & Secularisation centred authority in the expressive self.

    The result? Many now live as if God is irrelevant, and Christian belief seems less “plausible” in public life. And yet, even in this kind of world, God is still at work, quietly, persistently, and powerfully. The gospel continues to take root in unexpected places, reminding us that no culture or heart is beyond His reach.

    Evangelism in This World: Lessons from France
    In France, Christian student groups are small and often invisible; many people have no category for an ordinary, thoughtful Christian. Yet Josh and Susannah found that the slow, hospitable way of Jesus bears fruit:
    – Play the long game. Conversations unfold over months and years; measure success by the next conversation, not conversion.
    – Mix the bubbles. Do not add more to your schedule; invite friends into what you already love, such as meals, studying, sports, or a café.
    – Lead with stories and questions. Ask, “What is your family’s story with faith?” or “What does Easter mean for you?” Story first; categories later; that is, focus on personal experience before introducing theological concepts.
    – Offer a different pace. Jesus wasn’t hurried; an unhurried presence is compelling.
    – Church as a plausibility structure. Communities that pray, welcome, and rest in Christ make the gospel credible and visible.

    Hope and Orientation
    Hostility takes many forms in France, such as cold indifference; in Australia, it is often a matter of contested visibility. Either way, indifference can be as formidable as opposition. Yet there are signs of openness: people curious about prayer, meaning, and baptism. The cultural ground may be shifting, but the Lord remains unshaken. He still gives rest (Matthew 11:28) even as He calls us to take up our cross (Luke 9:23).

    Paul summarised cultures in a word: “Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,” yet he preached Christ crucified as God’s power and wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:22-24). That pattern still helps. Name what your neighbours seek: happiness, authenticity, control and hold out Christ, who fulfils human longings without flattering our idols.

    Practical Steps
    1. Merge, don’t multiply – invite others into what you already do.
    2. Ask story-first questions – about life or faith.
    3. Practice unhurried presence -leave margin for interruption.
    4. Pray specifically – ask the Lord for one crossed-over bubble this month.
    5. Host simply – a warm table beats a perfect one.

    References
    Josh, Susannah Apieczonek,. From Mount Druitt to Mont Blanc: Serving the Lord in the Secular Heartland of France. Talk presented as part of the Missionaries in Residence program, Moore Theological College, Sydney, 2025.

    Concepts referencing the “immanent frame” are drawn from Charles Taylor, A Secular Age (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2007), as discussed in the above talk.


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    Spring Appeal Update: Equipping Women for Gospel Partnership

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    “Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well.”

    Romans 16:3–4

    Strengthening Gospel Partnership

    Our Spring Appeal focused on supporting the training of women for gospel ministry and the College’s ongoing commitment to equipping both women and men to serve together in partnership under God.

    At Moore College, we recognise that women play a vital role in gospel work, in churches, families, and communities. Not only do women make up a large portion of church congregations, but God has also created women and men to reflect His image as they serve together.

    The Impact of Your Support

    Following the appeal, we were encouraged to receive warm messages from supporters who shared how uplifting it was to hear stories of God’s work in the lives of our students and to be reminded of the impact of their partnership in the gospel.

    Through God’s kindness and the generosity of our supporters, the appeal raised 37% more than the same period last year, helping us continue to equip women for a lifetime of faithful ministry.

    These gifts go directly towards initiatives that prepare women for gospel partnership through the Priscilla and Aquila Centre, chaplaincy and pastoral care programs, and elective subjects designed to train and encourage women in ministry.

    Why Women’s Ministry Training Matters

    Time and again, we have seen how theological training shapes the next generation of gospel workers. Women who have studied at Moore speak of how deeply they have grown in their understanding of God’s Word and their confidence in serving others.

    “Having had the opportunity to think through the theology behind [women’s] everyday issues, I feel prepared to care for people effectively.” (Lauren Dewhurst, Graduate 2025)

    “It’s of such value for women to be learning in a particular space, equipping them to minister in particular ways to women.” (Veronica Hoyt, Director of Priscilla and Aquila Centre)

    As Susan An, Dean of Women, reflects:

    “Again and again, we’ve witnessed the rich value of women receiving theological training and the significant contributions they make in the ministries where God places them.”

    Thank You for Your Partnership

    Through your prayers and financial partnership, you are part of this vital ministry, equipping women and men to serve together in gospel partnership, for the glory of God and the good of His church.

    Please keep praying for faithful women and men serving the gospel together.

    [Click here for other ways to support →]


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