Tim grew up in Vanuatu and Kenya as his parents were involved in Bible translation and cross-cultural ministry. In his teens he became convinced that God would one day have him serve in overseas missions work.

This came about in 1997, when he and his wife Ruth were sent out by their church to the island of Tanna in Vanuatu. They spent ten wonderful years there with their five children, during which time they had the joy of seeing people coming to Christ, the local church grow, and during which Tim and local believers drafted the New Testament into the local language, Lenakel. With thanks and praise to God, it was finally published, dedicated and distributed in early 2024.

Tim and Ruth are now based in Brisbane, but Vanuatu continues to be dear to their hearts, and they still have strong ties with many friends and churches there. Their desire now is for Tim to be able to continue working in the Lenakel language, in conjunction with friends and colleagues in Vanuatu, with the aim of seeing the Old Testament translated, so that a complete Bible can be available in that language.