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My Evangelist qualifications start with Church Army. I am a Commissioned Church Army Officer. Church Army is a world wide Anglican (Episcopal) society of Evangelists. This is where my title of ‘Captain’ comes from. I love the evangelism and being an Evangelist with Church Army. I was commissioned in 1991 after obtaining a Diploma of Evangelism (Dip. Ev.) from the Church Army College Australia.
Currently, I am the full-time Anglican (Episcopal) Chaplain for the Silverwater Correctional Centre. The Silverwater complex is located in the western suburbs of Sydney, Australia. I have worked here on the complex for over ten years. Eight of those years were spent in the complex Remand Centre (MRRC), while the last two have been in my current placement at the Works Release Centre. Before that I was a Custodial Officer on this complex.
These two Gaols on the Complex are very different. The Remand section is the first port of call after arrest. It is normally only short stay during the Court process. It is also maximum security and houses some 1100 Inmates. The Works Release section on the other hand is the last port of call. This houses some 500 Inmates, a lot of whom are working out in the community preparing them for release. The Works Release section is a minimum-security establishment.
Besides the day to day ministry and evangelism, I am pioneering structures to facilitate the easy entry of Inmates into relevant communities of faith before and upon release. As an evangelist, I am concerned we have good chapel attendance in gaol but see very few Inmates become part of faith communities upon release. I am partnering with Church Army in this venture.
Before my Chaplaincy I was on staff (evangelist) at Saint Andrew’s Cathedral working with homeless people in Sydney’s inner city. From there I joined ‘Streetwork’ fulltime, working with drug effected and street youth in one of Sydney’s more affluent suburbs. I also was involved in pub ministry. One of my main tasks (as an evangelist) was putting into place the necessary structures to connect local churches with these groups so ongoing ministry would be both viable and effective.
I have also been involved in motorcycle evangelism since 1977. In 1986 I co-founded a group known as ‘BALAAM’S ASS Motorcycle Chaplaincy’. Our chaplaincy brings the message of Jesus in a real, relevant and understandable way to the outlaw motorcycle community here in Australia. We have two chapters, one in Sydney (New South Wales), the other in Perth (Western Australia). I hold a Life-Membership with this group. Gaol ministry features prominently in our activities.
Fantasy and Science Fiction grabbed me from a young age and writers like C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien captured my imagination. Growing up on TV Shows like Gerry Anderson’s UFO (well all of Gerry Anderson’s really), Star Trek and NBC’s Search only fuelled my interest. I love reading and writing SCI –FI and Fantasy. I formed ISAIAH 61 RPG in 1998, after pioneering Christian evangelism into the wargaming and role-playing community here in Australia and beyond. My wargaming interests (later turning mostly to role-playing) have been with me since before I left school. I am still the Chairman of ISAIAH 61 RPG. One of our activities is the only (I believe) residential role-playing convention in Australia. I have many international role-playing friends.
I also spent a lot of years in the Australian Army, serving as an engineer and medic before leaving to pursue a Nursing Career. After spending over ten years in Nursing (mostly Psychiatric), I became a Correctional Officer. This led to my interest in Prison Chaplaincy. Something to note was the fact that I finished on the Friday as a Correctional Officer and started Monday as the Chaplain (evangelist) in the same wing! Some of the older Inmates still remember me as a Correctional Officer. I have not had any problems at all with this to date. Two of my sons are currently Correctional Officers.
I have lots more interests, far more than I have time for. I am looking forward to a busy retirement, still some years away! I will never stop being an evangelist for Jesus! Being an evangelist and evangelism is in my blood! I will only stop being an evangelist in heaven, not before!
May God bless you in all your endeavors.
Captain Andrew D. Carter
“Everyday Evangelism”
www.everyday-evangelism.com.au
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