Mentorship in Action: Equipping Refugee Leaders

Everyday people are found in every culture and people group. They love to learn by ‘having a go’ and are often very practically-minded. This has given Vocational Bible College the opportunity to train refugee church leaders in Australia. 

Meet Hau Mang and Steve: Hau Mang was born into a Christian family in Myanmar. After arriving in Australia as a refugee in 2012, Hau Mang has since settled into Wollongong. Steve grew up in a Christian family in Sydney’s northern suburbs. He and his wife run a marriage and family counselling practice in Wollongong.

Hau Mang and Steve have an intentional relationship. Hau Mang is being trained by VBC—and Steve is his mentor.

During the week, Hau Mang works full-time in a secular job. But that’s not all he does. Hau Mang is in leadership at the Burmese Christian Fellowship—a church that meets at Wollongong Baptist Church. 

Hau Mang started training with VBC for two reasons: to get to know God better, and to be better equipped as a leader in his church.

Steve is a deacon at Wollongong Baptist Church. At the start of this year, when Hau Mang started training with VBC one night a week, Steve agreed to become Hau Mang’s mentor. The two of them get together every Wednesday evening.

“Steve teaches me when I don’t understand something from class, or when I want to know something a bit more deeply,” Hau Mang explains. 

The mentoring relationship is a blessing to both men.

“When we meet every Wednesday, we're talking about the course, but it’s also a great opportunity to just share life,” Steve says. “We talk about practical things and think about work and family. The course is the main thing, but it's lovely just to support each other personally, too.”

Steve has studied at Bible College in the past, but he is also benefitting from the VBC training.

“Coming in as a mentor has been so helpful for me personally,” Steve shares. “It's not just helping others. But I think too, particularly in the context of someone where English is their second language—there's a lot of knowledge in Hau Mang’s native heart language. To be able to help him has been really exciting. He’s so willing to be honest and ask questions and be real. And it's just been lovely to journey together.”

Hau Mang has found the training to be both relevant and helpful in his context. The leadership at his church is made up of people who were born overseas. The next generation, born in Australia, will have unique challenges of their own.

“The training is supporting older people who've come to Australia, but also the  course is helping you think through how to pastor and shepherd the younger ones,” Steve explains.

After auditing this year’s first VBC training block, Hau Mang will start a Certificate IV in the second training block.

“The training is very good for people who speak English as a second language,” he says. “The trainers explain clearly. I would like to recommend Vocational Bible College.”