15 minutes with… Jared
From a business degree to Bible College, 19 year old Jared Pittendrigh's
story reminds us that the best journeys are the ones God takes us on.
1. Take us back to the start
of year 10.
When I started at a new school in
Year 10 I was angry at God, my parents
and life! I had found my place in my
first high school and I did not want
to move! Over the summer holidays
between Year 9–10 a few things
happened that affirmed to me and my
family that the move was what God
wanted – but that just made me more
frustrated at God! In hindsight, it was
exactly what I needed, but it was still
very hard and took a few years before
I began to understand why God had
directed the change.
2. Growing up in a church-y
family, when did your own
faith kick into gear?
It was in the couple of years following
the change of schools that my faith
became more important to me. Joining
a beach mission team at the end of year
11 was incredible and life-changing for
me! All of a sudden I was surrounded by
a bunch of young adults who were not
only wonderful and fun people, but who
also had a vibrant and real relationship
with God.
3. Did you always know what
you wanted to be when you
grew up?
No! As Year 12 came to an end I had
no idea what I wanted to do. I was
encouraged to enrol in a Uni course
and see what happened from there.
Instead of waiting on God’s guidance,
I applied to study business and was
accepted.
4. And then what happened?
Throughout most of my first semester
in 2016, I was questioning what I was
doing. I never really enjoyed business
and I had no passion to work in the
business world. (I know… why did I
apply?) Just before exams, I walked the
Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea with
my Dad. The many hours of walking
gave me lots of refreshing time to
spend with God.
Along the way, the walk took us
through lots of small villages. It was a
profound experience to see how other
communities live, in a way so different
to my own culture and to witness their
ingenuity and incredible capacity for
self-sustainability.
I was struck with the understanding
that monetary wealth is not required
for a life of Kingdom significance. This
prompted me to take a break from
my studies and earnestly seek God’s
direction. If He wanted me to return
to business, become a cross-cultural
worker overseas or anything else then I
would do it!
In the end, by God’s prompting
voice, and affirmed through some
unbelievable circumstances, an
opportunity came up out of nowhere
for me to do a youth internship at
Heathmont Baptist Church as well as
study part-time at MST (Melbourne
School of Theology). These two things
have opened up other ministry doors
and it’s been really exciting.
5. Any advice for year 12
leavers who are in same
position you were a few
years ago?
Seek God, trust Him and don’t be afraid
to go against the norm… or what your
school’s career counsellor says. Yet
know that whatever you decide to do,
God can and will use you to further His
kingdom if you let Him.
6. Any regrets that you’re not
about to start year 3 of a
Business degree?
None at all! I wouldn’t trade the journey
I’ve been on for the world!