For Andrew Wade, Teaching Was a Calling Worth Going Deeper Into

Andrew Wade knew why he became a teacher. He just didn't know how much further that calling could take him.

After decades in Christian education and five years in a leadership role at a local school, he felt something stirring. Not dissatisfaction. Not burnout. Just a quiet sense that there was more to grow into, more to offer, more to understand about what it meant to lead with genuine conviction in a Christian school setting.

He just hadn't found the prompt to act on it yet.

Then one afternoon, driving in his car, he heard an advertisement on 103.2 Hope FM  for Morling College's Master of Educational Leadership. He had three boys under five at home, a full teaching timetable, and a leadership role that already kept him stretched. Further study had never crossed his mind.

"I had never entertained the thought," Andrew recalls. "But I had a real sense of prompting on the inside that this was right for me. It felt a little like Peter stepping out of the boat. I knew I needed to respond."

So he applied.

Five Years, Three Small Boys, and One Big Commitment

Andrew completed the Master of Educational Leadership over five years, studying part-time while continuing to teach full-time and raise his young family. It wasn't a season of life that looked particularly suited to postgraduate study. But Morling’s flexible approach made that kind of commitment possible.

"Morling helped me understand the value of juggling the spheres of life," he says. "I had to embrace a proper timetable, manage my time more effectively. That discipline ended up being a gift."

The support he received made all the difference. His very first phone call with Lyndel from the student services team set the tone: patient, thorough, and genuinely interested in helping him succeed. When his father passed away toward the end of his studies, the College came alongside him with grace and flexibility.

"I always felt that Morling had my best interests at heart. The resources, the online platform, the lecturers — all of it was designed to help me complete well."

The lecturers went above and beyond throughout his journey, offering real-world insight that extended well beyond the classroom. On one occasion, a lecturer personally invited Andrew to visit a school and gain firsthand insight into the realities of school leadership. 

"That really showed me the caring, approachable nature of the people at Morling. They genuinely invested in me."

Surprised by How Much He Loved It

What Andrew didn't expect was how deeply he would enjoy the learning itself.

From the very first unit through to his final Leadership Project, the content engaged and challenged him in ways he hadn't anticipated. The course gave him a fresh perspective on why he entered Christian education in the first place and deepened his understanding of what it means to lead authentically, decisively, and with a contemporary Christian vision.

"I realised I needed to grow immensely in my understanding," he says. "It helped me become a more authentic, decisive, and contemporary Christian leader."

More than skills or knowledge, Andrew found a renewed sense of purpose — a clearer picture of the kind of leader he wanted to be and the kind of impact he hoped to have on the students, staff, and school communities around him.

What Comes Next

Having recently completed his degree, Andrew is already putting what he's learned into practice. He's bringing fresh perspectives to conversations with colleagues, thinking more expansively about Christian education, and remaining open to wherever God may lead next. 

"I understand now that there are things the Lord is calling me to do in this sector," he says. "Things I want to impart to others, around what it means to be in the world but not of it. The degree helped me understand that in a more profound way."

For any teacher sitting on the fence, wondering if now is the right time, Andrew's encouragement is simple and heartfelt.

"I would strongly encourage anyone considering Morling College to really think about the value of further study. I never regretted a single moment of the journey. The platform it has laid for what the Lord has next for me — I'm genuinely excited."

Looking back, Andrew sees enrolling at Morling as one of those defining moments when a small act of obedience opened the door to something much bigger. What began as a quiet prompting became a five-year journey of growth, challenge, and renewed purpose — one he would gladly take again. 

Andrew Wade is a Morling College alumnus and graduate of the Master of Educational Leadership. He teaches at a Christian school in Sydney.