Where are they now? Peter & Priscilla Lister
Peter Lister graduated from CHC with a Bachelor of Education (Sec) & Bachelor of Arts in 1997. His wife, Pricilla, also graduated from CHC the same year with a Bachelor of Education (Sec). In fact, they met during their first year at CHC. Here’s their story so far…
What are you both doing these days?
My wife Priscilla (nee Thomson) and I have been teaching at Mackay Christian College for the past 13 years. Priscilla was initially a Primary Teacher and now enjoys the position of Course Advisor for the College. Among other roles in our time at the College, I am currently the Indigenous, Outreach and Year 12 Coordinator. I also enjoy teaching Senior Study of Religion, Indigenous Studies and Missions and Ministry Training. Priscilla and I have also been involved in pioneering Mackay Christian College's Indigenous Outreach Team and it's involvements for the last 8 years throughout the Torres Strait and Aboriginal communities in Cape York, Queensland. In recent years Northside Christian College has also been involved in our program. The teams visit these communities annually.
Why did you choose to study at CHC?
I felt a strong call of God to attend CHC during Year 12. I was headed for a career in Engineering or Sports Medicine until I went to a Missions Conference where I felt God give me a burden for Africa. I applied and was accepted on a working party to help build churches. One night when I was praying, God revealed that He wanted me to build churches with people, not shovels. He directed me to wait till I was equipped. A couple of weeks later I found an advertisement for CHC and knew that's where God wanted me to go.
It has now been 18 years since that revelation and I still haven't gone to Africa! I have had a few opportunities and it looks like our family may go early next year with a team from our College. Each year I know that I am being equipped for every good work that God has in store for us when we eventually go.
Has the course at CHC been beneficial to you?
The course has definitely been beneficial for my ministry calling. I could not have asked for a better foundation and equipping for the ministry of teaching. I treasure that truth that I walk daily with God in my classroom.
Would you recommend CHC to others?
I often recommend CHC to Year 12 students and am really excited to see some graduating there. To me, there is no other alternative if you take ‘teaching as a ministry and calling’ seriously.
Tell us about your family… Priscilla and I met in my first year at CHC and were married at the end of that year. We have been enjoying our journey together for 17 years now and share life with our awesome little 4-year-old boy, Jonah. He is brimming with confidence and loves to share about Jesus on the microphone when we go on outreaches. We love doing outreaches together, camping, boating and riding bikes. Our family is quite multicultural as we became homestay parents for Torres Strait kids that have had to leave their home communities for high school.
