Cooper Rispin grew up in a Christian home, taking on a faith in Jesus for himself when he was in year eight. By the time he left high school, he’d been serving in kids’ ministry at his church for a while, and through the chaplain at his high school he’d already been challenged to think more seriously about, and practice, evangelism. As he walked onto his university campus at UTS, he was excited to partner with other Christians to reach people for Jesus.
“At orientation day, I called a friend who had gone to the same uni, and asked ‘is there a group here? Which one should I go to?’ and she said “Oh, you should go to the group called Credo, it’s part of a bigger network of uni groups across the country.”
At university, Cooper studied science, majoring in biotech, and threw himself into involvement with Credo. Through the public talks run by Credo, he met his now-wife, who was studying primary teaching. He also became a faculty leader with Credo, caring for small group leaders and thinking about how to do more evangelism and outreach to other students in the science faculty. By his third year, he was asked to join the student team running the group. “The partnership with students and staff is really 50/50, with students running the show and staff supporting. The staff aren’t dominating, but they certainly aren’t absent either,” Cooper explains.
Wanting to make the most of the season of life where he could be involved in university ministry, Cooper chose to study a lighter load to extend his time at university and give more energy to Credo and his home church. He approached this season with the question of ‘how can I invest as much as possible?’
“One real joy was that we changed how we did evangelism, and started trying to really engage non-Christians on campus,” Cooper recalls. “It was such a privilege to be there at such an important moment as we rethought a few things as well, as some faculties were closing and new faculties were growing. When I joined the science faculty there were 10 of us or less and then when I left there were 30 or so, which was really awesome.”
During this time, Cooper was attending a large, well-resourced Sydney church, which he saw as giving him an opportunity in this season.
“Not being at a small church that needed every ounce of my energy meant I was in a position to be able to give more, and not at the cost of my local church,” he explains. “I had already been invested in so much by my youth leaders, so I had a real heart to love other Christians at smaller churches and equip them to reach the non-believer. That’s part of why I loved my time at Credo.”
After graduating, Cooper used his science degree in the workforce, continuing to serve in his church. “Seeing so many generous godly lay people at my home church, that’s what I aspired towards,” he says. “So when I was asked if I want to do an apprenticeship or MTS I was like, no, I want to serve in the workforce. But during my time in Credo I saw the value of Bible college.”
Cooper intended to do a year of Bible college and then head back into the workforce, and serve God as an elder in the church. But God had different plans, and doors into ministry work opportunities started opening left and right. Cooper began to consider chaplaincy, but also heard about a pastoral assistant role at Gateway Presbyterian Church in Anna Bay being advertised. He decided to apply.
Cooper explains how he and his wife made the decision about what was next through prayer. “We prayed that God would open one door clearly and close others, and shortly after chaplaincy opportunities closed. And then I was offered the job at Gateway, and my wife was offered a few teaching jobs up north. So we saw that as a sign to go where God had opened the door and serve him with the gifts that he’s given us.”
Cooper sees his time serving in university ministry as planting the seeds for his ministry work now. The privilege of being in positions of leadership at a young age meant that Cooper experienced having agency and ownership over the ministries he was involved in, but he also learned that they required him to invest himself.
Now working at Gateway Presbyterian Port Stephens (Anna Bay) in a youth and outreach role, Cooper frequently uses strategies and techniques he learnt at Credo. He feels more confident in this job because he has already seen how God works through his people to transform lives.
Cooper now strongly encourages his youth to join a Christian group if they go to university. “It’s a group for you to meet others who think seriously about faith, and a great way to make friends. But it’s also a place for you to serve and grow and give.”
