Meet our Trainees
Cahleb Leyshon
MTS Trainee (Discipling the Young)
I’m Cahleb, a 24-year-old who loves board games, hanging out with friends, and growing closer to God. This has led me to take up working at St James over the next two years (2022-2023) as an MTS trainee.
As an MTS trainee, I will be working three days a week at church helping out in areas like kids and youth, leading a growth group, and outreach events. Two other days of my week will be spent studying at Youthworks College, learning more about God and how I can teach young people in our community about him. I am super excited to see the way that God work in young people over the next two years and into the future.
Jamie Byrne
MTS Trainee (Reaching the Lost)
I’m Jamie, I love getting coffee with friends, going to the beach, staying up all night reading fiction, and everything related to travel. I became a Christian in 2016 when I came to the youth group at St James and encountered God’s incredible power to heal, save, and restore what is broken.
I am really excited to be able to serve at church over the next two years as I gain ministry skills and experience while discerning where God is leading me next. I will be working at St James three days a week, where I will be focusing on mission and outreach ministries. I will also be spending one day a week studying at SMBC and another day volunteering with Sydney Refugee Team.
Lydia Soo
MTS Trainee
I’m Lydia. I love drinking coffee, listening to music from before I was born, and playing pub trivia with friends. I grew up in a Christian home and came to St. James with my family in 2007.
I’ve been involved with Kids Ministry for more than a decade and am so grateful for the opportunity as an MTS trainee to be able to commit more time and effort into showing children the love of God and leading them to become His disciples. Along with my ministry involvement at church, I’ll also be spending two days a week studying at Youthworks College. I’m so excited to serve as a ministry trainee and to be trained and equipped in ministry skills and theological education over the next two years.
Traineeships at St James
Ministry Traineeships are 2-3 year apprenticeships. They allow people a chance to take time out to experience pastoral and teaching ministries while undertaking some level of theological training. It is on-the-job training centred on prayer, Bible study and practical ministry experience. At St James we love seeing people grow in their love of Jesus and ability to serve Him and His people. Ministry traineeships provide a great opportunity to be equipped and grow in skills and character as a full time gospel worker.
