Where Are They Now?

Where Are They Now? Pippie Krebs

When Pippie was twelve years old she met some missionaries who served in China. She was so surprised, “They get to tell people about Jesus as a job! I want to do that.”

Pippie knew how great Jesus was and she wanted to tell other people, so when she left school, she wanted to go straight to Bible College to become a missionary. But her youth minister at St Ives, Hayden Smith, convinced her to slow down a little, to learn and grow in her faith. She followed this wise advice and signed up for Year 13.

Year 13 was a transition year with a lot of challenges. Pippie asked herself lots of questions like: “Who is God? What about speaking in tongues? Charismatic gifts?”. Relationships were sometimes messy and leading youth-group was a big step up. But she found, “The people at Year 13 really supported me through a challenging year.”

Pippie then did an aptitude test and completed a year of social work at university, but she was not loving it. “Most people told me to just finish the degree, but one Christian woman said to me, ‘pray about it, don’t just go along because you think that is what you should be doing’.”

While at Year 13 she had the opportunity to be a chaplain two to three days a week and also began some part time theological study. “I saw this as a chance to work out whether vocational ministry was for me.”

Pippie decided she was all in and signed up for the Ministry Training Scheme (MTS) at St Luke’s Hornsby Heights and for study at Youthworks College. She loved the apprenticeship model: two days a week at college and three days working at her church. “Theology and practise … practise … theology. It was really full on, and difficult to make the gear shift between study and ministry at church, but worth it. It’s the best way to learn.”

When she finished the course, Pippie was challenged by Glenn Davies (former Archbishop of Sydney) who asked her, “How prepared do you feel for your ministry after college?” She realised, “I feel very equipped, I know how to do this.”

College prepared her for the constant problem solving of ministry. “There is no roadmap for ministry. But college has taught me to think about models of ministry, to think theologically and pastorally. It has also taught me those basic skills I need: how to give a kids talk, come up with a vision, plan a program or a camp, recruit leaders.”

Pippie started as the kids and youth minister at St Stephen’s Willoughby during covid in 2020. “There was a lot of stress: first year out of home, first full-time job, marriage, a new church. But God was faithful.”

At St Stephens Pippie oversees all the ministry from birth to 18-year-olds: playtime, youth group, SRE, and programs on Sunday. When she first came, there were very few leaders (only two or three lay leaders) now there are almost 20.

There have been other encouragements in the ministry. Families have started to come to St Stephen’s for the kids and youth ministry. It has also become more outward focused. Recently, they had a “dumpling meeting” which included youth group and families and friends. To Pippie’s delight, 140 people came along!

At other times, ministry doesn’t seem glamourous, and it has been hard to keep the momentum going. Pippie has been learning, “God is at work even in brokenness and mess, even when programs are not perfect or when there are only six kids at youth group online or 15-20 face to face.” The image of jars of clay from 2 Corinthians has been important to Pippie over the last two years, “Ministry doesn’t have to be fancy and polished for God to be at work.”

When she was 12, Pippie wanted a job telling people about Jesus, “I know how great Jesus is, and I want other people to know that too.” She can do that now full time at Willoughby and is loving it.

Prayer Points

1.      That Pippie would keep trusting in God with humble dependence and prayer.

2.      For the St Stephen’s kids afternoon club that needs new leaders to grow and flourish.

3.      For the end of year outreach events including carols and Christmas, especially after missing them for the past two years.