Episode 55: Chris O'Gorman

Chris O, as she is affectionately known by many, is someone who is passionate about her love for Jesus, and she is super enthusiastic about seeing young people move closer to trusting in Jesus. In this face-to-face conversation, host Tori Walker finds out how playing volleyball led Chris to ask those deep philosophical questions that ended with her trusting in Jesus for her salvation. Chris talks about the significant role that Scripture Union has played in her life, and her work as a school chaplain, both the formal aspects and the ‘creative loitering’ that she engages in.

 

EPISODE NOTES:

Chris O'Gorman grew up in Brisbane and trained as a Maths/Science teacher at the University of Queensland. After teaching for three years in the government system, she joined the staff of Scripture Union Queensland and worked as a Schools Ministry Worker, setting up and resourcing voluntary Christian groups in schools, running a vacation camping programme, and helping set up chaplaincy in government schools. 

After 12 years at SU Queensland, Chris went back teaching Maths, Science and Christian Education at Brisbane Boys’ College. She was also on the pastoral care team at BBC as a Head of House and remained at BBC for 11 years. In 2007, Chris was appointed as Senior Chaplain at Somerville House, where she is kept busy teaching Christian Education, taking Chapel Services and assembly devotions, pastoral care, and developing the Christian life of the school, amongst other things. 

Chris is passionate about helping people to connect more closely with Jesus Christ, and to understand God’s grace as expressed through Christ’s life, death and resurrection. Her life and ministry is driven by the motto “Know Jesus and make Him Known”.

Chris is a credentialed pastor in her denomination.

 

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

 

Scripture Union

Somerville House

 

    

SHOW SNIPPETS:

 

“I was nurtured very much by our Christian fellowship at school.”

“I want more of that.  That’s a great thing to do.  To talk about God and to talk about how the Christian faith is reasonable.” 

“Keith Drinkle’s vision was that every young person in Queensland would hear the gospel, and it’s a vision that he’s passed on to me.” 

“We can preach the gospel and teach the Bible and that’s really our focus.” (as a School Chaplain)

“Proclamation of the gospel is the heart of what we do.” (as a School Chaplain)  

“My goal is to see people come closer to God, wherever they are on the spectrum.” 

“I want to see kids come to know the Lord and grow in their faith and be replicating.” 

“I’ve been using Scripture Union notes for a very long time, of course.”

“When you’re a single person, it does force you to rely on God more too - it’s not always an easy thing, but it is a good thing.”

 

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The Lydia Project: Conversations with Christian Women is a podcast co-hosted by Tori Walker and Taryn Hayes. It features informal chats with Christian women around faith, life, ministry and the ways in which God is shaping their thinking and their lives. The views of TLP guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts.