The wandering preacher

By Catherine Hoffman
New Times Editor & Communications Officer

Posted Feb 26, 2016 in Faith

Annie Matz is a Cape Jervis resident who attends Delamere Uniting Church – but you won’t always find her there on a Sunday.

Annie is an Accredited Lay Preacher who travels to congregations and faith communities across South Australia to deliver a weekly message.

“I’ll go anywhere,” Annie proclaims. “I’m not fussed – from Tantanoola to Ceduna, and all in between.”

Born in Perth, Annie was raised a Presbyterian, although her father was Anglican. When she got older, she became a school teacher before entering the public service in Canberra, where she lived with her husband for 40 years.

Cape Jervis was recommended as a “good place to settle” by Annie’s son-in-law. She and her husband have been living in the area for 11 years.

“I started travelling to lay preach after getting accredited,” recalls Annie. “Max Howland [Chair of the Lay Preachers Committee in South Australia] mentioned to me that many small churches were battling to find preachers.

“I told him I was ready to help.”

Lay preaching is not the only area of study Annie has undertaken in later years. In 2015, she completed her Certificate IV in Christian Life and Ministry, undertaking the course by distance.

While undertaking the last two subjects in the course, she was granted an RH White scholarship through Uniting College.

“It was very helpful,” she says. “Having a scholarship really encourages you to put your heart and soul into it. You give your very best.”

Undertaking this course helped Annie to develop a better understanding of her own preaching.

“It really changes the way you preach. They teach you to preach to a lectionary reading and to give you a different outlook on congregations.

“Travelling has also done this for me. All the communities I visit need different things. Some focus on the academic, others on good works, personal stories or relating the Bible to everyday life.

“I have to figure out very quickly what they want. My studies helped me to achieve this.”

Annie is grateful for the scholarship that assisted her as she completed her studies. They have helped her to communicate with a wide variety of churches across South Australia. But Annie isn’t done learning yet – she has a lot more left to give!

“I’d like to do something in pastoral care next. I’m not giving up,” she affirms.

For more information about the scholarship opportunities provided by Uniting College for Leadership & Theology, please contact the College on 8416 8420 or Turn on Javascript!

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