Staffworkers

As Crusty the Clown has Sideshow Bob and Batman has Robin, so MCU has ‘Staffworkers’! Staffworkers are here to help us at MCU. In Biblical terms, Ephesians 4:11-12 is where they come in! They are here to help us students to be equipped to do the work of ministry at Murdoch University. We are partners together. They help us, train us, support us, encourage us to stand strong as Christians at uni and to reach out to our campus. They are resources for MCU to use.

Staffworkers are not paid by any denomination or church. Rather, individuals, friends and graduates financially support them by giving through AFES (www.afes.org.au) so that they can be on campus with us full-time. It is so good to have Bible-College trained staffworkers with us full-time, day by day.

Steve

Steve McKerney has been our very own full-time Staffworker almost since the turn of the century! Steve does most of the Bible teaching in our Common Time, arranges guest speakers and trains us in things like how to explain Christianity to other people, how to prepare a Bible study, etc. His brain regularly gets rummaged as he is asked ‘all questions great and small’. He became a Christian at the age of 23 after reading Luke’s gospel and investigating the claims of Jesus in the Bible. Ever since becoming a Christian, Steve has wanted to help other people understand the good news. Steve and his wife Melinda and their 4 young sons live in Leeming. He really enjoys a Thai Green Curry, soccer, movies, music, photography, technology and fonts (although he intensely dislikes Times New Roman and Arial!).

Joanne

Once upon a time, Jo was on the MCU Committee and loved it so much that she decided to return as a Staffworker! She is married to Frank (whom she met and married while they were both on the MCU Committee). Jo studied Environmental Science at Murdoch and after graduating, worked in Karratha and Kununurra before returning to Perth for some Bible College training and joining Steve on campus 4 days per week. Jo likes camping, riding her bike, water (lots of water!) and people. She longs to meet up with and encourage the girls of MCU to live for Jesus.

Matt

Matt is married to Cheryl and they have a bouncy baby boy called Blake. Matt helps MCU on a part-time, voluntary basis (about 2 days per week). You’ll mainly see him at our MCU Common Time on Thursdays, around the Village and at our MCU stall. Before studying at Bible College in Perth, he studied Psychology at UWA. He is a fair dinkum ‘Guitar Hero’ (with 6 strings, not 5 buttons!) and when we have any music and singing at MCU, he’ll usually be the one leading it.  He lists one of his hobbies as ‘cultivating nasal hair’. We’re intrigued by what sort of fertilizer he uses!

Melinda

Melinda is married to Steve (poor thing…she actually has to look after 5 boys!). She loves cooking and hospitality and loves meeting up with girls from MCU to read the Bible, pray and share some good coffee and cake. Girls, make the most of Melinda - you’ll learn heaps about being a Christian mum and how to use hospitality to serve the Lord (and you’ll pick up a couple of great recipes along the way!). Guys, make the most of her food! Melinda helps MCU as an unpaid volunteer, and you’ll get to meet her at the Village group on Monday nights, the MCU Common Time on Thursdays and at social events at Steve and Melinda’s house through the year.

Get to know our Staffworkers. They are God’s gift to MCU.

PS - If you would like to financially support Steve and Jo, please click here to download a form to fill in and send off, or here to give online. They always need financial support, so please be generous :-)