A Reluctant Journey: Meet Pete Ritchie

Vocational Bible College is blessed to have a number of dedicated trainers working with us to deliver our practical Bible training. So what sorts of people come to work at VBC? 

After initially fighting “tooth and nail” against the prospect of going into ministry, that is exactly what Pete Ritchie has been doing for the past 17 years.

Pete grew up in a Christian home in the Blue Mountains. After finishing high school, Pete wanted to enter the police force—so he started off by joining the Navy.

“Because I grew up in a Christian family, and went to a Christian school, my world was insulated,” Pete explains. “I thought, ‘I want to be a cop, but I have no idea what the world's like, so I’ll join the Navy, get some experience, and leave a little bit better equipped for the police.’”

When Pete left the Navy, he actually ended up doing a two-year MTS Apprenticeship through his church in Narellan. He spent the entire two-year period planning to leave full-time ministry and head into the police force instead.

“At the end of six months of MTS I was like, ‘Yeah, I'm out of here,’” Pete laughs. “At 12 months, I said to the pastor, ‘I'm gone. I don't think full-time ministry is a good fit for me.’ He just said, ‘Hang in there another year. Everyone finds it hard.’ At the 18-month mark, I had my application in with the police—and then God did a big number on me.”

After Pete was fully convinced about where he could best serve the Lord, he spent three years studying at SMBC before beginning a role with FOCUS Military Ministry in Albury in 2007. This year, he’ll continue his role with FOCUS Military Ministry while also taking on a role as Trainer with VBC. 

Pete is really looking forward to it.

“I think what VBC is doing is unique in the theological education landscape,” Pete says. “There is a uniqueness in its accessibility, both in content delivery and assessment, but also the fact that it’s online.”

The role of trainer at VBC seems like a natural fit for him.

“In some ways, it feels like an extension in some ways of what the ministry has been with FOCUS,” Pete says. “Because it's getting alongside everyday people—raising up, training up, and equipping, which God-willing will then just release these guys like ninjas into the world for the gospel. So I'm pretty pumped and excited about getting everyday people to lead disciple-making ministries.”

Pete will be taking two Diploma-level subjects on a Tuesday evening this semester.

“You know those little lightbulb moments when you see the lights come on in your own life, and you understand God's Word at a deeper level and it transforms you?” Pete asks. “I’m looking forward to seeing those moments, God-willing, and then God-willing those moments will transform into people who are really confident handling God's Word to get out there, and share the good news of Jesus in whatever circumstances they're in.”