MST Faculty
Executive Team
Rev. Timothy MeyersExecutive Principal
BEd - Melbourne University
MTh - Dallas Theological Seminary
Tim Meyers is the Principal of Melbourne School of Theology. He joined MST at the end of 2011 following 12 years in senior leadership roles with mission agency Pioneers and almost a decade in pastoral ministry with Baptist churches in Queensland.
Prior to moving into ministry roles, Tim trained and worked as a professional musician, then as a secondary school teacher and also trained as a commercial pilot with Mission Aviation Fellowship.
Tim completed his Masters of Theology at Dallas Theological Seminary (Texas, USA) in 1991, with majors in Systematic Theology and Bible Exposition.
He has great skills in leadership and administration, and strong gifts in teaching and preaching, cultural and organisational change, as well as entrepreneurial abilities.
Tim grew up in a missionary family in Papua and New Guinea before moving to Melbourne during high school, where he later met and married Kathryn. They have five children.
Rev. Dr. Justin TanVice Principal (Academic), Senior Lecturer, Research Fellow and Director of the Research Centre for Chinese Christianity
Rev. Dr. Tan was originally from Malaysia, a sixth generation Chinese there.
He completed studies at Monash University in Melbourne, studying chemical engineering. He responded to the Lord in a Gospel Camp, and was active in the Overseas Christian Fellowship and refugee works in 1970’s.
In 1980, He went to Hong Kong’s China Graduate School of Theology for his MDiv. Degree. After graduation, he took on pastoral work in Hong Kong while studying at the Chinese University of Hong Kong with Master's degrees in Theology, majoring in Old Testament theology. He also taught some theology courses during that period at the Baptist College (now Baptist University).
Dr Tan is married to Ina and has two sons, Aidan and Jeremiah.
Dr Tan left for England in 1991 for further studies at King's College, University of London, researching Patristic Spirituality, particularly Gregory of Nyssa and the Desert Fathers. He was awarded PhD in 1995.
Dr. Tan's research interests include: structural analysis of Biblical Literature, Old Testament theology of suffering; the practice of spiritual theology in the Chinese church, the spiritual tradition of the early Church Fathers.
Peter TyrrellVice Principal (Community and Operations)
Peter Tyrrell is the Vice Principal (Community and Operations) at Melbourne School of Theology. Peter has extensive experience as a teacher and principal in schools throughout Victoria. He also comes to the role with a wealth of experience in para-church organisations, including his role as CEO for Insight for Living Australia (Chuck Swindoll's radio-based Bible teaching program), and program development for Focus on the Family Australia.
Dr. Peter RiddellVice Principal (Academic)
BA, DipEd - Sydney
GradDipDiv - Sydney College Divinity
PhD - Australian National University
Teaches: Islamic Studies, Christian-Muslim Relations, Aid & Development
Peter completed his PhD at the Australian National University, focusing on Islam in Southeast Asia. He studied Qur’anic Exegesis at L’Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes/Sorbonne (Paris) and held a post-doctoral fellowship at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
He has previously taught at the Australian National University, the Institut Pertanian Bogor (Indonesia), the London School of Oriental and African Studies, and was appointed as Professor of Islamic Studies at the London School of Theology, where he served from 1996-2007 as the founding Director of the Centre for Islamic Studies and Muslim-Christian Relations. In addition to his present MST appointment, Peter is also a Professorial Research Associate in the Department of History, SOAS, University of London.
Peter has published widely on Southeast Asia, Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations. His books include Transferring a Tradition (Berkeley, Centers for South and Southeast Asian Studies, Univ. California, 1990); Islam and the Malay-Indonesian World: Transmission and Responses (London, Hurst, 2001); Islam in Context (with Peter Cotterell, Grand Rapids, Baker, 2003); and Christians and Muslims: pressures and potential in a post-9/11 world (Leicester, IVP, 2004). His next book will be a historical study of the Qur'an in Southeast Asia, to be published by Brill Publishers in 2017.
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Chinese Language Faculty
Rev. Dr. YC LiongFull-time Lecturer Chinese Director
BTh (TTC Singapore), MTh (SEAGST), PhD (Birmingham)
Dr Liong has a Liao origin and grew up in Malaysia. He accepted the Lord during high school and was active in the Methodist church youth. In 1984 he completed a BTh at the Trinity Theological College in Singapore. In 1995 he attended the Southeast Asia Graduate School of Theology to study the history of Eastern and Western churches. In 1997 obtained a master's degree in theology. In the same year, he went to Birmingham University in the UK study church history and in 2001 was awarded a doctorate in philosophy.
Rev. Dr. Theresa LauCurriculum Planning Director/ E-learning Campus Coordinator (MST Chinese)
BA (Melbourne University), BTh Hons (ACT), Dip Div & Mission (SMBC), PhD (Melbourne University)
Rev Dr Theresa Yu is originally from Malaysia - the third generation of overseas Chinese and native of Fujian Furuta. Theresa grew up in a Christian family, active in Malaysia Sarawak Methodist Sunday School and youth fellowship.
In 1990 she travelled to Australia, studying at the University of Melbourne Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Jewish Studies and Psychology. After graduating, she also studied at Sydney Missionary Bible College studying and Australian College of Theology.
Theresa's research interests and publications include New Testament studies, exegesis, discipleship, Greek and Jewish cultural comparison of Chinese and Western control.
English Language Faculty
Dr. Richard ShumackDirector of The Arthur Jeffery Centre for the Study of Islam
B Surv. (UNSW)
BTh (Moore)
PhD (University of Melbourne)
Richard is the Director of The Arthur Jeffery Centre for the Study of Islam. Richard is based in Sydney with his wife and four sons. He has studied extensively on the Islamic faith and has worked as a fellow specialising in philosophy of religion with the Centre for Public Christianity. He is also involved with the Understanding and Answering Islam team at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries. Richard teaches regularly on ministry in Muslim contexts in Australian colleges, universities, churches and schools. His publications include Witnessing to Western Muslims and the philosophical apologetic The Wisdom of Islam and the Foolishness of Christianity.
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Dr. David H.F. NgLecturer in Intercultural Studies and Program Leader for Master of Missional Leadership.
PhD (Intercultural Studies), Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, USA
MA (Theology), BD (Hons)
David has lived in Australia, England, South Africa, Asia and the United States. He comes to MST with pastoral and church planting experience in Chinese and multi ethnic churches, helped establish pastoral and ministry training networks overseas and worked with mission organisations in shaping training for our increasingly globalised and diverse world. He earned a PhD from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. David also teaches in the Chinese Department at MST.
David's teaching and research interests include: Global migration and diaspora, theology of religions, missional hermeneutics, global theologies and world Christianity, contextual exegesis and urban mission.
David grew up in the UK, is married to Jennifer, and they have two children.
Dr. Greg ForbesGreek, Hermeneutics and New Testament Lecturer
BTh - Australian College of Theology (ACT)
MTh - ACT
PhD - Deakin University
Teaches: New Testament, Greek, and Hermeneutics
Greg has had close ties with MST since he commenced undergraduate studies at the college in 1986. After completing a BTh in 1991, he has since completed an MTh on Revelation 20 and was awarded a PhD from Deakin University for a thesis on the parables in Luke.
Research interests include Synoptic Gospels, General Epistles, and Greek grammar as it relates to exegesis.
Greg is married to Anne-Maree and they have three sons.
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Delle MatthewsDean of Studies
DMin (Cand.)
MEd. Admin - University of New England
MA (Applied Linguistics) - University of Texas, New Arlington
GDip in Educational Studies, Literacy - Kuring-gai College of Advanced Education
B.Ed. (Primary) - University of Sydney
Delle has been a member of Wycliffe Bible Translators and SIL International for 22 years as Literacy Co-ordinator for SIL Indonesia serving in West Papua and teaching at SIL, Kangaroo Ground.
Delle began working in educational administration while there and completed a Masters in Educational Administration. She is dedicated to serving God through education, furthering His kingdom by helping to ensure others are skilled and qualified for their ministries. Her current research interest is in retention of theological students and how faith impacts decisions of students.
Dr. Andrew BrownOld Testament Lecturer
BA (Bible) - Tennessee Temple University, Chattanooga, Tennessee, 1992
BMin/BTh - Queensland Baptist College of Ministries (QBCM), now Malyon College, Brisbane (1999)
BA Hons – University of Queensland, Brisbane (2001)
PhD – University of Queensland (2011)
Teaches: Biblical Hebrew (LA003A-B), Old Testament Foundations (OT301/501), Old Testament Prophets & Writings (OT302/502), Reading & Believing: Hermeneutics & Genesis 1-3 (OT758) and Psalter (OT426/626).
Andrew grew up on the eastern Australian coast before spending over three years completing undergraduate degree studies in both New York State and Tennessee, USA.
Following a short stint of Bible college teaching and administrative work, he completed more formal theological college studies.
After Andrew married, he joined a pastoral team at a Baptist church and began research studies at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia.
Soon after arrival at MST, Andrew completed his PhD, a history of Christian interpretation of the creation week in Genesis 1:1-2:3.
Andrew is married to Naomi and they have three children, Gilchrist, Timothy and Kyria. They live in Montrose in Melbourne’s outer east.
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Gillian AsquithGreek and New Testament Lecturer
Gillian grew up in the UK and completed her first degree, a Master of Arts in Oriental Studies (Mandarin Chinese), at the University of Oxford. After gaining a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education from Bristol University, Gillian pursued a career in teaching in both the public and private sectors.
Gillian graduated from Melbourne School of Theology with a Master of Divinity. She has lectured in Early Christianity at the Australian Catholic University, and is an adjunct faculty member of the Presbyterian Theological College. She held the position of College Tutor at Ridley College and currently tutors in the Faculty of Theology and Philosophy at the Australian Catholic University. She is a Trustee of the Centre for Biblical Preaching and a Director of Summer Institute of Linguistics Australia.
Gillian lectures in Koine Greek, New Testament at MST and she is MST's First Year Co-ordinator. Her areas of interest include the transmission of the text of the New Testament and biblical archaeology.
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Rev. Dr. Michael BräutigamTheology Lecturer
Michael and his wife, Jenni, are originally from Germany. They lived for several years in Scotland, where Michael tutored in theology and completed his PhD. His doctoral dissertation focuses on the Christology of Swiss theologian Adolf Schlatter (1852–1938), and he has also published on Jonathan Edwards, Dutch Neo-Calvinism, and the relation between theology and culture. Michael holds degrees in theology and psychology. He has served as a pastor in Germany (Free Evangelical Church), and he is an ordained minister with the Free Church of Scotland..
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Dr. Thomas KimberSenior Lecturer in Missional & Pastoral Theology
Dr Thomas Kimber has recently been appointed as a lecturer in Missional and Pastoral Theology at MST. Tom and his wife, Sue, have moved all the way from the USA to call Australia home. The couple has served in ministry together for more than 30 years, in teaching, pastoring, writing and mentoring capacities.
Tom and Sue served as missionaries in Asia for many years before returning to the U. S. in 2006, where they both served at Biola University. They have been married for more than 30 years and have a son, Thomas.
Tom holds both M. Div. and PhD degrees from Talbot School of Theology. Tom's areas of research interest include the integration of spiritual formation in missiology and pastoral theology.
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Dr. Matthew JacobyLecturer in Philosophy, Preaching and the Arts
B.Th (ACT)
B.Lit Hons (Deakin)
Ph.D (Philosophy) (University of Melbourne)
Matthew is the teaching pastor at Moolap and Barrabool Hills Baptist Church in Geelong. At MST he teaches philosophy, apologetics, preaching, worship and the arts. Matthew is also the lead member of the internationally acclaimed Psalms project band, Sons of Korah, who continue to record and tour around the world. Matthew is married to Kate and together they have three children, Sophia, Jeremiah and Ivy. Matthew is passionate about the arts and also enjoys running, surfing and watching football (soccer).
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Dr. Bernie PowerIslam and Christian-Muslim Relations Lecturer
Doctor of Theology (Early Islamic texts) - Melbourne School of Theology
Master of Arts in Theology (Hons) - Ridley College, University of Melbourne
Bachelor of Theology (Hons) - Bible College of Victoria
Certificate in TEFL - Trinity College, Retford, UK
Diploma of Education - Sydney Teachers College
Bachelor of Science - University of Sydney
Bernie’s area of expertise is in the comparative study of Islam and Christianity. He lectures on the life of Muhammad, the Qur’an, the Hadith, Apologetics, and Christian Ministry in Islamic contexts.
Bernie grew up in Sydney. He has lived and taught in Australia and the UK and various countries in Asia and the Middle East. In his spare time Bernie enjoys reading, bike riding and bushwalking.
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Rev. Richard CoombsChurch History Lecturer
M.Th. (Hons) - South Africa Theological Seminary, South Africa
GD. Min.- Melbourne College of Divinity (MCD)
Dip. Th. - MCD
Teaches: Early Church History
Richard grew up in New Zealand but has lived in Australia for more than 20 years. He is married to Margaret and together they have three married sons and one grand-daughter.
Richard underwent his theological training for the Baptist ministry at the New Zealand Baptist Theological College (now Carey Baptist College in Auckland).
Richard pastored two Baptist churches in New Zealand before arriving in Melbourne where he pastored the Beaumaris Baptist and North Balwyn Baptist churches.
In 2002 Richard became Australian Director for MECO Australia (Middle East Christian Outreach) with additional oversight of promoting needs and opportunities in churches in Asia.
In this role Richard has travelled extensively through the Middle East. He preaches regularly in churches and at Mission Conferences about the opportunities and challenges of Islam and the Middle East.
Outside work, Richard enjoys cricket (his second Bible is “Wisden”!); supports the All Black rugby team; plays golf; reads and writes.
Affiliations
Ordained Baptist Pastor
Dr. Colin KruseEmeritus Scholar
ThL (Australian College of Theology)
BDiv (University of London)
MPhil (University of London)
PhD (Fuller Theological Seminary)
Teaches: Various New Testament subjects at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Colin and Rosemary came to Melbourne School of Theology (then called Bible College of Victoria) after 16 years at Ridley College. In the years following his ordination into the Anglican ministry, Colin gained practical experience in parishes in Australia and the USA, also five years of missionary service with CMS as a theological lecturer in Indonesia, before taking up his positions at Ridley College and the Melbourne School of theology.
Colin is a prolific writer. Besides journal articles on the New Testament, Old Testament, and the Dead Sea Scrolls, he has authored several books including New Testament Models for Ministry: Jesus and Paul (Marshall, Morgan and Scott); The Second Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians (IVP/Eerdmans); Paul, the Law and Justification (IVP/Hendrickson), and commentaries on The Letters of John (IVP/Eerdmans) and The Gospel according to John (IVP/Eerdmans).
Colin recently released a commentary on Romans for the Pillar New Testament Commentary series (Eerdmans/IVP).
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