Ian Scarfe graduated from Sydney’s Moore Theological College (MTC) last week, but he is not a typical graduate. At 72 years of age, Ian is the third oldest graduate the Bible College has seen, and surpasses the average age of students graduating from the college.

The only graduates older than Ian were Marion Baker (who graduated in 2011 at 82) and Paul Mahaffey (who graduated in 2001 at 81). The average age of college students there is 28.5 years.

Ian decided in his retirement (aged 70) to equip himself more thoroughly for his Christian life and ministry at his local church by enrolling in a Diploma of Bible and Ministry at MTC.

In the 1960s Ian qualified as an electrical engineer and worked professionally in that field for 40 years, ending up mostly in management positions. He retired in 2000, and spends a lot of his time serving in ministry at his local church, Lugarno Anglican in Sydney’s south.

“I’ve been involved in leading services, preaching from time to time, leading growth groups, and being part of different leadership teams,” he says. Ian became a Christian at 39 and has been attending Lugarno Anglican church ever since, totalling up to 33 years of ministry there.

Post retirement, Ian began to realise his desire for a solid biblical basis for his service to the church community. “I felt that I needed to get some strong biblical grounding, and that to get some would be a wonderful thing.” Yet he was certain he’d be too old for any kind of official theological training.

When he first discussed formal studies with his then minister, James Rogers, Ian said,”‘come off it, I’m a dinosaur!’ My minister just said ‘why don’t we think and pray about it for a year’.”

A year later, Ian applied to do a degree with Moore College, and to his surprise he was accepted. He spent two years part time completing the one year course and can’t speak highly enough of his experience.

“It took a little bit of adjustment to do humanities studies against engineering – which in themselves were a long time ago,” he admits, “The lectures were brilliant, and to be able to listen to questions and answers, to be a part of the college community was a fantastic encouragement and help. The loving support of the college community was great, and it was so dynamic to mix with a whole range of people going into full time ministry.”

Since graduating, Ian is aware that everything he learnt in his diploma needs to be worked out and exercised. “I’m an apprentice,” he explains, “working with our minister at Lugarno, teaching a couple of Scripture classes at the local school, serving with our seniors group, encouraging one-on-one Bible reading and serving on a leadership team.”

As busy as Ian sounds, he says he’s “taking it quietly one day at a time, to see if that’s what the Lord’s equipped me for.”

Retirement for Ian may look very different from the average Australian, but he observes, “Christian ministry is very fulfilling, compared to retirement which can leave you a bit empty. That’s something I’m still learning, but I know it’s more fulfilling to be serving and seeing the Lord doing wonderful things, than spending time on other stuff which is not as consequential.”

Studying at Bible College is something Ian recommends, not just for those who are retired, but for anybody who has the ability to get some time off. “I really think it’s a wonderful opportunity not to be missed.”