Bethany Westwood
Sydney, Australia
Graduated C3 College in 2014
I came to C3 College after receiving a scholarship at Presence Conference 2012. Leaving behind my family and friends in my hometown, Bowral, I relocated to Sydney and studied Acting and Theatre Craft for two years.
During my time at college, I met a young photographer in the slums of the Philippines, who had joined a YA mission trip to plant C3 Manila, in 2014. That trip sparked a passion in me to help build the Church in developing nations and also begun a friendship with the man I would marry three years later.
My studies at C3 College left me with an insatiable desire to write and speak, but it also set me up for a career in Journalism. After graduation, I was accepted into a Bachelor of Journalism and my husband, Caleb Westwood, and I started our own business telling stories of Christian not-for-profits around the world. We photographed and wrote our way through India, China and Indonesia. And eventually came to work for Christian charity, Open Doors Australia. There I’ve honed my skills as a writer, became the producer of the Open Doors Live Podcast, and spoke in schools and churches about the lessons we can learn from the persecuted church.
I’ve met with Christians in underground churches in China, interviewed church leaders and been followed by secret police in Central Asia, and prayed with persecuted Christians in the first church in Iraq, as we stood on the Syrian border.
Life has been far from boring. The adventure with God is challenging, ever-changing, and rewarding beyond measure. In the past 8 months, I have found myself reflecting on my years at college and the moments I learnt how to pray in the spirit, how to study God’s Word and how to meet with the Holy Spirit. That training and development of my faith has proved invaluable as I’ve wrestled through the recent passing of my mum, who was diagnosed with cancer at the end of my college experience.
After having graduated six years ago from C3 College, I am now the Creative Director of Open Doors Australia and have had the privilege of leading teams and executing creative vision for our monthly giving program and marketing department and see these dreams come to life at events like Hillsong Conference, Colour Conference and the Planetshakers Asia Tour. I’ve also had the privilege of speaking at some of our C3 location campuses about the courageous Christianity I’ve encountered from my years telling the story of the global Church.
During my time at C3 College, God pulled out and clarified the passions and purpose He had for my life. It gave me direction and propelled me into my purpose.
