Extended Interview with TGCA’s National Director Dave McDonald

Editorial Director Mikey Lynch talks with Dave McDonald about his past ministries, and his new role as TGCA’s National Director.

Editor: What prompted you to apply for the role of TGCA National Director?

Dave McDonald: To be honest, it wasn’t on my radar. My wife was reading the weekly email from TGCA when I heard her say, “You could do this job.” So, I looked at the role, phoned a friend, made some enquiries, put in an application, had some interviews, and here we are.

I’d been pastoring at Salt Community Church in Bonny Hills in NSW for a number of years and decided to step back so that a younger pastor could lead the church into the future. Following this, I was an intentional interim pastor in a nearby church in Taree. Once they found a new pastor, my plan was to get more involved in offering pastoral supervision and coaching to people in ministry. But as is often the case, it seems like God had something else in mind.

You have a long history of ministry in Canberra, can you tell us about that?

Yes sure. I grew up in Tasmania and Canberra, moving to Sydney to study social work. I met Fiona at university while she was studying medicine. After we were married, I worked as a ministry apprentice before we both studied at Moore Theological College. We were heading towards ministry in the Uniting Church but it was proving difficult. In 1990 we moved to Canberra to reboot the university ministry with the Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students (AFES).

We raised our four children in Canberra and shared the joys and struggles of ministry with so many friends and family. Over twenty-one years of leading in campus ministry we were privileged to see many become Christians and many of our graduates heading into gospel ministry throughout Australia and the world.

We were also involved in planting Crossroads Christian Church in 1996, and later Stromlo Christian Church. It’s encouraging to see both these churches going strong.

We crossed paths around 2011. You and Fiona had a plan to plant a church in Darwin, is that right?

That’s right. We believe God had placed it on our hearts to plant a church in Palmerston, just to the south of Darwin. Fiona had many years in Aboriginal health, we supported ministry in Arnhem Land, and people kept sharing the need for evangelical Christians to serve in the Northern Territory. I resigned from Crossroads, we gathered a core team, bought a house in Palmerston, enrolled the kids in schools in Darwin, and shipped all our possessions up north, to start all over again.

How did it go?

It didn’t. In December, while speaking at the AFES National Training Event in Canberra, I was admitted to hospital thinking I was having a heart attack. It turned out I had stage 4 lung cancer. The oncologist told me I’d probably only live another ten to thirteen months. We reversed all our plans and stayed in Canberra.

What have you been doing since then?

Having chemotherapy for four years, having a break, and then taking daily tablets for the past seven years. I’m very thankful to God for amazing genetic and pharmaceutical discoveries and for his healing hand.

God has opened more doors for ministry. Since diagnosis, God has given me the opportunity to go from being senior pastor at Crossroads to rejoining the staff as an associate pastor. We spent a few years leading at Stromlo before I accepted the inaugural position of National Director with the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches. Since then, we’ve been ministering mainly in Bonny Hills where we moved in 2018. God has also opened the door to ministry among many battling with cancer or serious illness.

You were involved in TGCA early on?

Yes, I joined the TGCA council in 2015. It was a privilege to join with others thinking, praying, speaking, and acting to encourage faithful gospel ministry in our land. I made the decision to step back in 2019 because my cancer was progressing and I was struggling with life.

You have also some experience in writing, both for TGCA and elsewhere?

When I got sick, I was no longer able to do much. I wasn’t preaching, counselling, or training others. Fiona thought I needed an outlet. She had written some letters explaining what was happening with us, and this became the start of a blog. I began writing about the journey with cancer, articles on different topics, reviewing helpful books on ministry, leadership, theology, pastoral care and a range of topics. Macarisms.com became an outlet for me to continue in ministry to others. I blogged regularly for some time, as well as writing a number of pieces for the TGCA site.

Over the years, we have met so many fellow patients and carers. Everyone had a passionate desire to be healed and to find a cure for cancer. Having a terminal illness brings life into very sharp focus. It dawned on me that we’re all born with a terminal illness and, even if cured of cancer, we will all face death and judgement one day. I wanted people to know the real hope in Jesus that is beyond cure. In 2013, while undergoing chemo and battling active cancer, God enabled me to write Hope Beyond Cure (Matthias Media: 2014). God has used this resource to offer hope to so many, both patients and the well alike. I love hearing stories of people who have become Christians after reading the book.

Recently you and Fiona visited the TGC Women’s Conference in the USA. What was that like? 

We planned to be in Ottowa for a family wedding and to catch up with my sister’s family. Having accepted the TGCA role it made sense to see if anything was happening in North America while we were there. The biennial women’s convention was in Indianapolis. They welcomed Fiona and I and we joined with 8 500 women, gathered to study the Psalms and be encouraged in the gospel. It was huge. Great talks by six excellent women Bible teachers, including the likes of Jen Wilkin and Nancy Guthrie, and one talk by Mark Vroegop, the President of TGC. It was a privilege to see so many women being deeply encouraged. It also gave me the opportunity to meet up with TGC staff and build connections for our shared vision of promoting gospel ministry.

What else have you observed about TGCA and other TGC groups around the world?

I had my first meeting with TGC leaders from around the world recently. It happened at 1am my time, but I think everyone else was awake and happy with the scheudled time! The USA is where it all started, by the likes of Tim Keller and Don Carson. They have a large council and teams of staff and volunteers. TGC has developed a comprehensive website for evangelical ministry. They publish prolifically with articles, essays and books. There have helpful podcasts, cohorts for ministry training and encouragement, regional chapters, and a major conference each year.

Most of the other countries operate on shoestring budget and the work of volunteers. My hope is to be an encouragement especially to some of these smaller ministries. TGCUK is just starting out and I look forward to fellowship with them in their efforts.

Any ideas at this stage, about what the focus of your time as National Director will be, in the next few years?

Well, I’m very much the newbie, in the stage of listening to people and discovering the lay of the land. But I’m excited! I see much potential for TGCA. I’m keen for us to support Christians and churches to grow faithful gospel ministry in Australia; to grow fruitful gospel ministry in Australia; and to grow gospel fellowship in Australia. God has called us to the mission of Christ Jesus and all Christians are united in this mission.

I believe we have potential with our website to keep building a strong resource that can be the go-to for every Christian wanting to engage with issues related to the Bible, theology, ministry, training, worldviews and more. I’m keen to offer cohorts of ministry training and encouragement to equip pastors and congregation members for gospel work. TGCA can be a watchman, shining a torch on opportunities and threats to faithful gospel ministry. We can grow networks of Christians in regional and urban areas, to encourage, refresh, and equip God’s people. We can showcase what God is doing through his people. We can build resources and materials for evangelism and equipping the church. We can facilitate communication and build stronger ecosystems for the growth of the gospel. I see my role to be more of a conductor than a performer. I’m keen to connect God’s people in working together for the sake of the gospel and the glory of God.

Of course this will take effort, prayer, and the financial support of many. I’d love you to partner with TGCA as we take next steps to shape and grow this ministry. Please consider investing in this work. Let us know if you’d like to partner with us in prayer and/or offer financial support.