Saturday 18 May was a fine day: good weather, encouraging news, godly students, excellent preaching and Christ glorified. 

Jonathan Stephen reported that SaRang Community Church had already out-given their original promise.  From January, the partnership with the Porterbrook Network, a reformed theological training movement, had opened up opportunities worldwide.  Former WEST student, Sean Rossi, had been instrumental in OM Europe’s decision to train its church planters at the College from February. Christian broadcaster, UCB, had approached WEST for ongoing theological advice and in return will offer programme opportunities.

WEST has passed the Government’s stringent QAA quality requirements that universities are subject to.  With ‘Highly Trusted Sponsor’ status now likely, the College should be able, once again, to open its doors to non-EU applicants for all its courses.  In concert with FIEC and the Association of Grace Baptist Churches South East, four fully-funded awards for the 3 year (BA) and the 2 year Binary Course had been made available.  Would AECW consider something similar? The Valley Commandos project has launched its website (www.ValleyCommandos.com).   WEST is helping with facilitation and training.

The Principal was full of praise for his staff and volunteers after another busy session.  Dr Tom Holland is to go part-time but will remain as Director of Biblical Studies.  New members of staff were announced: Dr  Cornelius Bennema, a Dutch theologian and Johannine specialist, from 1 June.  Rev Phil Hill, from Bridgend (via Nazareth!) will be Pastoral and Church Theologian from 1 September. Board member, Dr John Stevens (FIEC) is standing down and Dr Steve Timmis (Porterbrook Network) will be taking his place.  Jonathan Stephen will reciprocate by serving on the Porterbrook board.

WEST would welcome more students.  The shape of theological training was changing.  Adaptation was vital but without losing WEST’s strengths.  Ultimately there was no substitute for full-time seminary education.  Forthcoming events included the Revival Conference (22-29 June) and Greek Discourse Workshop (3-5 July).

11 of the students were interviewed from the BA, Binary and International Foundation courses. All were positive about what they had learnt but also that they had grown in their relationship with the triune God.  Ashkan Sarmadi had been called to Derby Road Baptist Church.   Jonathan Sekhar will work at Moordown Baptist Church, Bournemouth, on placement as he completes his MA.  Lee Dutfield’s MA placement will be at Neath Presbyterian Church. Three former students who have gone to glory were fondly remembered.

Paul Mallard, Director of Training and Development, Midlands Gospel Partnership, brought all his considerable pastoral experience to bear as he preached passionately from Colossians 1: 9-14. The apostle Paul prays that the Colossian believers might:

• Know God’s will: more of Jesus, not more than Jesus
• Please God’s heart: by bearing fruit, growing in the knowledge of God and in character
• Glory in God’s gospel: faith alone, grace alone, Christ alone

Phil Davies is a Counties Full Time worker across South Wales spending 50% of his time with Dunvant Christian Fellowship in Swansea. He was born and born again on the Gower and grew up in the Dunvant area but then spent a
number of years away from Wales after University in Cardiff. He spent 19 years with Operation Mobilisation (OM) working in India, Nepal, Bangladesh and latterly in England and Wales. He returned to Wales in 1999 became a part time Science teacher for a couple of years and has been working with Counties for 10 years. He is married to Sheila and they have grown up 4 children. Phil enjoys reading, walking

Modules taught:

World Missions for the IFC

Qualifications

1980-1985            BSc (Hons) Applied Biology (University of Cardiff)

1990 – 1991          PGCE Secondary Science

1999                       Certificate of Theology (Open Theological
College) (University of Gloucester)     

2012                       MA in Missional Leadership (University of Wales)

Ministry Experience

1984 – 2003         Operation Mobilisation

2004 – present  Counties Evangelist

1999- present    Part Worker & Elder at Dunvant Christian Fellowship

John is the pastor of Gendros Baptist Church, Swansea. He was saved at University in Swansea in 1988 from a non Christian background and felt called to the ministry about 5 years later. After training at the Baptist College in Cardiff, he began as pastor in Gendros on one of Swansea’s housing estate. He has led 5 mission/ministry trips to Liberia in West Africa, and been involved in linking Gendros with a number of local churches in South Korea. John married Jennifer in 1993, and the Lord blessed them with their first child, a daughter, in 2012. He loves fitness classes, going to the gym, coffee, films, reading, and walking his ageing dog!

Education:

1986 - 1989 – BA (hons) in English at University of Swansea

1993 – 1996 – BD (hons) University of Cardiff

2000 – 2012 - D.Min. at Trinity Evangelical Divinty School (graudation still pending)

Ministry:

1997 – present – Pastor at Gendros Baptist Church, Gendros, Swansea.

Brief blurb:

John is the pastor of Gendros Baptist Church, Swansea. He was saved at University in Swansea in 1988 from a non Christian background and felt called to the ministry about 5 years later. After training at the Baptist College in Cardiff, he began as pastor in Gendros on one of Swansea’s housing estate. He has led 5 mission/ministry trips to Liberia in West Africa, and been involved in linking Gendros with a number of local churches in South Korea. John married Jennifer in 1993, and the Lord blessed them with their first child, a daughter, in 2012. He loves fitness classes, going to the gym, coffee, films, reading, and walking his ageing dog!

Paul is the pastor of Lonlas Gospel Mission, near Swansea. After completing a degree in music from the University of Leeds Paul entered pastoral ministry training at Leominster Baptist Church and receiving a BA in theology from the University of Gloucester. In 2008 he and his wife Anita moved with their 3 boys to take up the pastorate at Lonlas Gospel Mission. Paul enjoys reading, walking and anything IT related.

Modules Taught

‘Christian Doctrine’ for the IFC

Qualifications

1997 - 2001 – Bmus (hons) University of Leeds

2002 – 2005 – BA (hons) in Theology, University of Gloucester (Open Theological College)

Ministry Experience:

2001 – 2002 – Volunteer on the pastoral staff of Leeds Reformed Baptist Church working with peter Parkinson

2002 – 2005 – Student/assistant Pastor at Leominster Baptist Church

2005 – 2008 – Pastor at Wellington Chapel, Herefordshire (Church re-plant situation)

2008 – present – Pastor at Lonlas Gospel Mission, Skewen, Neath.

It is with great sadness we announce the death of former master’s student Ravaka Rajo.  He was from the Malagasy Republic (Madagascar) and served the Lord there as a Baptist Pastor.  He was fatally injured in a road traffic accident involving a motor cycle.  Please pray for his young widow, Liz, who is British, and children Anna and Jonathan.  Pray too for the 18 year old motorcyclist and his family who have been amazed at the forgiveness of the Christians; pray that he and his family would be saved.

Former student Paul Donovan has been called to the pastorate of Pendennis Evangelical Church, Staple Hill, Bristol.  Prior to coming to WEST, Paul and Rachel (nee Cort) Donovan had been engaged in Christian work in Papua New Guinea.  Since completing his studies, Paul has served as an assistant pastor in the south-east of England.  May the Lord richly bless Paul, Rachel and the family in this new calling.

Who is this ascended Jesus? He is King, Priest and man and is still at work. Ultimately he is humanity in the presence of God. Here we discover how we are a part of the Ascension. With the Spirit’s enlightening we can begin to understand the Ascension. WESTPorterbrook’s Jonny and Tim introduce us to this important doctrine in this first publication in a WEST Porterbrook imprint with Christian Focus which will focus on ‘theology for mission’. It is available for purchase and can be ordered now from amazon.co.uk and 10ofThose.com.

(Jonny Woodrow is the European Director of The Porterbrook Network, working on partnership developments with WEST and part of the leadership team of The Crowded House church planting network).

Some endorsements…

“Sceptics, young believers and longstanding Christians alike will be intrigued and challenged in turn as they come to realise the immense – and immensely practical – consequences of the Ascension. Glorious and unexpected truths are here constantly laid bare for our wonder and our joy.”
Jonathan Stephen, Principal Wales Evangelical School of Theology (WEST)

“The writers show us the Bible’s answers to these questions and many more. If you have ever wondered why the ascension is critical to being a disciple of Jesus or why it wasn’t just a bad strategy by God that removed the main evidence for Christianity, you will find plenty of help here.”
Marcus Honeysett, Director of Living Leadership and author of Finding Joy, Kent, England.

There are still vacancies at this year’s conference so do book soon, particularly if you wish to be a resident on site!  This is the 14^th annual conference and is being held from Saturday 22 to Saturday 29 June 2013.  The main speaker is Rev Gwynn Williams of Cardiff who will preach nightly from 24 to 28 June at 7.15pm (admission free), and he will speak on Wednesday 24 June at 4.30pm.  The other speakers are Rev Erroll  Hulse of Leeds, Rev Ian Parry of Cardiff, Dr Gwyn Davies of Aberystwyth, a church leader from North Africa and Mrs Sheila Stephan of Bridgend. 

Come if you want to hear what Scripture says about the work of the Holy Spirit in glorifying Christ, awakening sleeping churches and believers, and gloriously saving unbelievers.  Hear what God has done in the past in Wales, UK and elsewhere.  Be encouraged by what He is doing today in places like North Africa.  Come and be challenged and refreshed in the company of like-minded Christians from near and far.  The fellowship is warm and prayerful and the food is good.

For more information go to [on line brochure (please note that Gwynn Williams has replaced Michael Milton as the main speaker)]. To book, please send for a brochure and booking form to Kevin Green, WEST, Bryntirion House, Bridgend, CF31 4DX, or ring Kevin (he is the Finance Officer) on 01656 645411) or email info@west.org.uk.

Ex-WEST PhD student, Dr John Snyder, Pastor of Grace Community Church, New Albany, Mississippi has just produced a series of DVDs and an accompanying daily devotional workbook entitled “Behold Your God” (WWW.BEHOLDYOURGOD.ORG).

“Behold Your God” is born out of a desire to see the glory of God manifested once again among his people. ..The study requires contemplation of those scriptures which most fully unveil God, aiding the reader to acquire a biblically informed understanding of Him who is beyond comprehension.”

WEST representatives will be manning a stand at New Word Alive, Prestatyn from Tuesday 2 to Friday 12 April. The best opportunities to talk are from 8.15pm each evening and between 1.30 to 4.30pm in the afternoon. Do make yourselves known if you are a former student, supporter or an enquirer. Whoever you are, they look forward to meeting you.

Date: Wednesday 3rd to Friday 5th July 2013
Location: WEST
Leader: Dr Steve Runge

What accounts for the variety of ways used in Greek to introduce speeches in the New Testament? How do those little Greek connective words work together to structure the text? Why the shifts between aorist, present and imperfect verbs in the flow of a narrative? Questions such as these are the concern of discourse grammar. And they’re of significant relevance to all students of the Greek New Testament, not just academics, but particularly, pastors and teachers. For this reason WEST has invited Dr Steve Runge, the author of Discourse Grammar of the Greek New Testament: A Practical Introduction for the Greek New Testament and Exegesis, to run a three day workshop on discourse features of the Greek of the New Testament. You can find out more about him here.

The workshop is intended for all who have at least a basic facility in Greek, so that even those whose Greek is rusty or whose vocabulary is limited should be able to benefit. If you’ve taken a year of Greek and you’re comfortable working with an interlinear text, then the workshop will be accessible to you. If your ability is more advanced, there will still be much to learn.

Whatever your ability in Greek, it’s strongly recommended that you read Steve’s Discourse Grammar beforehand. This will ensure that you’re in the best position to profit from the workshop. We’ll be covering a great deal over the three days and some initial familiarity with the key concepts will be enormously helpful. If you’d like a taster, you can read the first three chapters of the Discourse Grammar here. Further information on the book can be found at: http://discoursegrammar.com/. For those who’d like to access Steve’s wider work, a discount rate is available for Logos Software’s Greek New Testament Discourse Bundle (9 vols.).

The provisional schedule for the workshop can be accessed here. You can see Steve’s introduction to a similar workshop here. 

To make this course as accessible as possible for pastors and students, WEST is offering this three-day workshop for the remarkably low cost of £30. Bed, breakfast, lunch and an evening meal are also available for an additional cost per day. To register, please complete the form at: http://www.west.org.uk/greek-discourse-workshop-apply/

If you have any questions, please send an email to: greekdiscourse@west.org.uk.

Please make this information known to anyone who might benefit from the workshop.

• The cost of the three-day workshop, excluding meals and accommodation, is £30.

• Three nights’ accommodation from the Tuesday evening, including a light breakfast, with lunch and evening meals from Wednesday breakfast to Friday lunchtime, is £60.
 
• Two nights’ accommodation from Wednesday, including a light breakfast, with lunch and evening meals from Wednesday lunchtime to Friday lunchtime, is £45.

• Three days’ lunches for day visitors from Wednesday to Friday cost £10.

Accommodation consists of a simple student bedroom with a sink and a wardrobe; bedding is provided. Showers and toilets are available on each floor.

On the 13 March 2013, Yung Hoon Hyun  was  examined in a viva following submission of his 80,000 word dissertation on the subject of:

‘Redemptive Historical Hermeneutics and Homiletics in Reformed Presbyterian Churches in Korea from 1950-2010‘.

The two examiners were:  Dr  David  Cornick ( Robinson College,  Cambridge) who was the external  Examiner  and Professor  Densil  Morgan, Provost of  University of Wales: Trinity Saint David  who was the Internal  Examiner.  They approved the research as being worthy of the degree of Ph.D  and were delighted by the quality of his work and the contribution it represents to learning.

We offer our warm congratulations to Dr Yung Hoon Hyun  for his achievement in being awarded the degree of PhD for such a valuable and original contribution , not only to learning but to the churches in Korea and in  other countries.

“PhD with flying colours”

This is how WEST supervisor, Dr Gwyn Davies, reported on Donald John MacLean’s  viva at Lampeter.  Donald wrote on the free offer of the gospel in the theology of James Durham. His external examiner was Andrew McGowan. He only has a few minor typographical errors to correct.  Congratulations!”

Though Europe is often thought of as a difficult place for evangelism, some have a God-sized vision to take the gospel there.  WEST is partnering with OM Europe to provide theological training for all its church planters.  The package will involve training at Bryntirion and in the field with OM, bringing the academy to the coal-face of gospel mission!  Both WEST and OM doing what they do best in mobilising people for gospel work.

Shaun Rossi, an OM team member from the US, started United Community Church (UCC) in Finland and has been amazed at the growth he’s seen there. Even Finns who consider themselves Christians rarely go to church. But they are drawn to UCC.  Shaun is the Director of Church Planting for OM Europe and is also undertaking beginning a PhD with WEST this year.  Pray with us that men would be called and equipped to take on the challenge of winning Europe for Jesus!

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