After dating for over a year, my wife and I were married April 14, 2012. She and I had a common Christian background and knew each other for several years prior to dating. We are both enjoying marriage thus far and excited to see how God is moving in our lives toward the country of Australia. My wife and I are planning to minister in Sydney, Australia by helping to establish reproducing churches by means of discipleship, evangelism and leadership training. Our desire is to help establish truly Australian churches and not merely to transplant American Churches into Australian soil. My wife and I are excited about the opportunity to be partially supported from work in the country. We both have opportunities to use our skills in such a way that will not necessitate our being fully supported from the US. We feel this will increase our effectiveness and will allow us multiple venues for ministry that otherwise would not naturally arise. We are excited about a unique opportunity open to us at this time. Presently the country of Australia is encouraging visa applications from those with medical training and background from the US and Europe. Since Kristin is a registered nurse, this allows us wonderful opportunity to potentially expedite what can normally be a long visa process.
Nathan Muse 415 S Water St #4G, Watertown, WI, 53094
contact tel : 920-342-2875 email:
[email protected]
Objective Helping Establish Reproducing Churches in Australia
Education 2010-2012
ThM New Testament Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (Deerfield, IL)
2008 – 2010
Master of Divinity Maranatha Baptist Seminary (Watertown, WI)
2008 – 2010
Master of Arts in Cross-Cultural Studies Maranatha Baptist Seminary (Watertown, WI)
2004 – 2008
Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies Maranatha Baptist Bible College (Watertown, WI)
Work Experience Maranatha Baptist Bible College Graduate Assistant, Teaching Assistant Brookside Baptist Church Intern for Organization and Administration Ministerial/Teaching Experience Australian Fellowship of Bible Believing Churches Teaching and surveying church ministry in Australia
August 2008 – May 2010 August 2012 – Present
June 2010-July 2010
Taught at churches in the greater Sydney area as well as Brisbane. Also taught scripture at several schools. Shadowed pastoral staff and directed several youth meetings and services.
Maranatha Baptist Bible College, Watertown, WI Online Adjunct Professor
August 2009 – Present
Teaching includes: Old and New Testament Survey, Genesis, and Systematic Theology. Also facilitated online learning for Bible classes.
Maranatha Baptist Bible College, Watertown, WI Online Adjunct Professor
August 2009 – Present
Teaching includes: Old and New Testament Survey, Genesis, and Systematic Theology. Also facilitated online learning for Bible classes.
Brookside Baptist Church, Brookfield, WI Pastoral Intern and teacher
2008 – Present
Served the youth group and children’s groups by teaching and preaching. Preaching for adult groups in Sunday school and evening services. Shadowed pastoral staff and directed several summer programs.
Autobiographical Sketch Nathan Muse 1. FAMILY BACKGROUND: I was born to Christian parents in Chattanooga, TN in 1985. Although I still like to claim the south as my home, when I was still rather young we moved to Wisconsin. My parents were both saved in their teens and I remember them changing as we grew up. It was as if they were learning not only how to parent, but also how to become Christian parents at the same time. I have an older brother (David) and a younger sister (Julie). Although certainly not perfect, our home was a place of love and order and the three of us were greatly blessed to have such an upbringing. 2. Education: I attended high school at Maranatha Academy in Watertown Wisconsin. Although I considered other colleges, tuition costs helped to influence my decision to stay at Maranatha for college. I received a Degree in Theology/Bible and also took several classes in both science and literature in addition to my degree major. Following my undergraduate time, I realized my need for further studies and by this time I was already understanding a calling in my life toward Australia. I wanted to get some crosscultural studies experience so I began a MA in Cross-Cultural studies and also my Master of Divinity. However, toward the completion of this degree, I still wanted a little more training in both New Testament and Apologetics so I decided to do a ThM at Trinity in New Testament while I decided on PhD studies. Throughout my schooling I came to find that I genuinely loved to learn. Once this bug set in, I found it difficult to hone my classes because I had so many interests. I thank the Lord for many excellent teachers at every level during these years. Some of my favorite subjects, or at least subjects in which I have a great interest are: Theology, Philosophy, Apologetics, History, Science, Literature and geology. Also, while in school I was constantly involved in extracurricular activities like: dramaplays, ministry outreaches, evangelistic outreaches, a literary club, choir, symphonic band etc.
3. TESTIMONY & CALL: Despite growing up in a Christian home, I refused the gospel of Christ until I was thirteen years of age. Even though I was stubborn and determined to not give in, the Holy Spirit had been working in my heart for several years by that time and I was tired of fighting what seemed inevitable. One morning before school, during Jr. High School, I rolled out of bed and was tired of fighting the Holy Spirit’s promptings. There and then I repented of my sin and asked God to save me based on the work of Christ in my stead. Since that time it has been apparent by means of the Holy Spirit’s working in my life and the life of those close to me that He intends my life to be used in full-time service. Even at that time I was coming to the realization that God wanted me to teach and preach His Word for my life’s work. Because of this I have sought to be heavily involved at church and get as much experience teaching and ministering as I am able. During my college years, I began praying about where God would have me minister in the future. Soon after it became clear He desired my ministering in Australia. This call was confirmed by my changed desires, Godly counsel, and the experience of recently visiting Australia. For two months in the summer of 2010 I had opportunity to visit and minister in two of the major cities of Australia. Working with several pastors and churches in the area of Sydney was extremely enjoyable and helped me realize this was exactly where God would have my wife and I in the future. Our desire is to both minister in a local church, and train other indigenous pastors by means of solid theological education. Sydney is where we are desiring to minister at this point. Following Paul’s model of seeking to reach the more strategic cities and locations, we hope to make a difference in this city that houses 20-25% of Australia’s population. Sydney is certainly the leading city in Australia and many of the other cities follow the policies and trends of that city. In addition to this fact, many of the Asian countries send some of their brightest students to Australia for a Western style education and graduate work. In a very exciting way, one can reach much of the world from the city of Sydney. Australia struggles to find qualified teachers in the area of theology, and the Lord has given me a desire and gifting set in that area. My hope is to continue in my education toward a PhD in order to teach the Word on several levels in a Bible institute or Seminary setting. I would like to not only teach, but also do pastoral work there in Sydney. Sadly, even though the number of churches in Australia is considerably smaller than the US, of those churches that do exist it extremely difficult to find pastors. A church I visited (Cornerstone Baptist Church) was one such example. This church is located in western Sydney and has been looking for a permanent pastor for 12 years now. Even though she has a full-time salary position available and some money in the bank for a church building, Cornerstone cannot find a pastor. This is an example of the very problem I would hope to confront along with the support of other pastors in the Sydney area. There is a fellowship of other pastors and churches in the Sydney area that have seen the problem and sought to address it. I was very encouraged as I was able to visit a meeting of these pastors and speak with several of them regarding the needs in this land down under. One of my goals would be to help train nationals to do the work of the ministry so desperately needed in this area of the world. My hope and prayer is that you might consider supporting us in this worthy endeavor. As we prepare to be sent, I have been actively involved in my local church (Brookside Baptist Church of Brookfield, Wisconsin) At church I am involved in teaching children’s church, several adult Sunday school classes, teaching Wednesday evenings at our ministry training center, and helping to oversee certain classes or events when needed.
Kristin Muse Biographical Sketch As a child, I do not remember a time when my family was not regularly attending church. We did family devotions, went to Awana and Sunday School, and were at church morning and evening on Sundays. Because of this, I was taught the Bible and its truths from a very early age. I remember lying in bed one night when I was four or five and praying for God to save me from hell as I was afraid to go there. As I grew older, I claimed this time as my salvation testimony, but experienced growing doubts about my salvation. When I was in elementary school, my father became a believer. This was a huge shock to me, as he had always seemed to be a spiritual leader for our home, serving as a deacon in the church, doing family devotions, etc. When he told us that he had been just living the actions without real belief, I had cause to seriously examine my own life. Shortly after, my older sister became a believer at a church camp. Again, this shook me as I saw her as a spiritual example. For about a year following these things, I struggled increasingly with assurance of my salvation. I sought the counsel of my youth pastor and counselors, but even after studying God's Word, I still had doubts and came to realize, by God's grace, that my doubts were stemming from the fact that I had not truly placed my trust in Christ as my Savior. Although I knew this, in my pride I still resisted the grace of God. Finally, at the age of thirteen, my youth group attended a youth rally. I did not want to go as I knew I would be convicted, but I felt I had to go to uphold the front I had been putting up of a good little Christian girl. During this rally, the Lord convicted my heart, humbled me, and showed me clearly my need for Him. By His grace, I repented of my sin and trusted Christ as my Savior. Since that time, there have been times I have experienced doubts of my salvation, but now I have a personal relationship with Christ and as I read His Word, I know that His promises are true and that I will spend eternity with Him. After I became I Christian, the Lord began to work in my heart regarding evangelism and the need of the lost to hear the Gospel. Through high school, God gave me a desire to serve Him in some way around the world. I did not know where, when, or how, but had an increasing call to step outside of my comfort zone and do something with my life that would bring glory to the Lord. As I neared the end of high school, I saw that God had given me talents and love for the profession of nursing. Knowing that theses skills are needed all around the world, I earned my Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Maranatha Baptist Bible College. During that time, I was privileged to receive solid Biblical instruction through the Bible classes offered. I graduated in 2010, a single young woman looking for somewhere to start with my nursing degree. I still felt a call to use my nursing to minister and as a vehicle to share the gospel with the lost, but had no leading as to where or how this would happen. Through various circumstances, I began nursing at a hospital in Wisconsin, and at the same time the Lord brought a wonderful man into my life. Nathan had spent the summer after our graduation in Australia, as he had sensed a call to the ministry and the Lord had placed a burden on him for Australia. As I spoke with him and our relationship grew, the Lord began to impress on my heart the need of that country and an increasing desire to use my talents for His glory. Although I cannot describe a specific time and place where I felt I received God's calling, over the past two years He has made His calling clear in my heart to support my husband and serve Christ with him in Australia, where there is a strong need for the Gospel to be preached.
