News
Summer
2013
In this issue:
What do you see? - 2
One Night in Bangkok - 3
Mission Matters - 3
+much more...
What do you see?
At a time of national and religious
crisis, God asked the prophet Amos
the question ‘what do you see?’ As
the prophet looked afresh at his
situation he saw things which many
of his contemporaries could not see,
or chose not to see. Gradually he
came to see things differently, as he
began to view the problems facing
his people from a divine perspective.
Looking at the challenges facing
churches today it is very easy to
see nothing but problems. For we
cannot afford to close our eyes to
the clear evidence of falling numbers
of church members, church closures
and declining numbers of children
involved in church activities.
With all that in mind, it is not
surprising that many people look
forward and see only the bleakest
Mission Matters
of futures for the Christian church.
However, as we look into the future
with all of its challenges, we also hear
the voice of the living God asking
‘What do you see?’
It is as we listen to the voice of God
that it becomes possible to see the
future through different eyes. As we
look afresh into the future we begin
to see that these changing...
...Continued on page 2
Master of
Theology
Over the last 12 months
SWBC tutors have been fully
involved in delivering the
new style Cardiff University
Master of Theology course, in
partnership with colleagues
from St Michael’s College.
People studying on a part-time
basis normally attend 8 study
days spread over the year. In
addition to the MTh in Practical
Theology, a number of other
pathways are also available
including: Biblical Studies,
Christian Doctrine and Church
History.
For more information please
contact Dr Peter Stevenson:
[email protected]
...and challenging times offer
many opportunities for us to
share together in God’s mission. In
the light of Easter and Pentecost
we believe that we can face
the future with faith and hope,
trusting in the God who in all
things is able to work for the good
of those who love him.
As we hear God’s invitation to see
tomorrow through different eyes,
the College remains committed
to the task of equipping women
and men to work together for
the sake of the mission of God. In
carrying out that strategic task
we continue to rely on God and
on the practical and prayerful
support of God’s people.
As we celebrate another year
in the College’s life, and wonder
what the future may hold, we pray
that our eyes will be opened to
see all that God has in store.
From the Chair
ofTrustees...
As I write for this edition of our Newsletter, the sun pours in through the
window where I’m sitting and the tune, “Sitting on the dock of the bay” sung
by Otis Reading gently plays on the radio. The words speak of lazy days in
the sun watching life pass by. Well, the sun certainly has shone for the past
couple of weeks – and welcome it’s been too after some of the wettest and
coldest months on record! But whilst the tune is catchy and enjoyable I’m
conscious that other sentiments from that song are anything but true!
One Night in
Bangkok
“Look like nothing’s gonna change
Everything still remains the same
I can’t do what ten people tell me to do
So I guess I’ll remain the same”
Nothing about life is as predictable or as stayed as that. And the same is
true for the college too!
With staff all now settled in, we’re seeing the encouraging signs of our
preparedness for the challenges facing us, as we seek to ably prepare, train
and help form a new generation of Christian leaders and thinkers. There is
no doubt in my mind we have an excellent team here at South Wales Baptist
College and I would ask for your continuing prayerful support for Peter,
Karen, Craig and Ed as well as Martyn and Anita.
But of course this time of year brings challenge and the prospect of change
for the student body. Examinations are looming; final year ministerial
students are seeking God’s leading and guiding hand in regard to future
ministry and service and new applications are being made to the college
too. We pray that God would lead and direct everyone.
We’ve enjoyed a number of visits to the college during the past year. Two
highlights for me personally – the first was the visit of Rev Chris Duffett
the President of the BUGB. Chris challenged us to be more inventive,
imaginative and creative in our mission endeavour and many of us benefited
greatly from his challenging and thought provoking sessions at the college.
The other highlight was the Edwin Stephen Griffiths Lectures when we
welcomed Dr Cathy Ross who provided us with a stimulating exploration of
the idea of Hospitality as an example for mission.
I hope and pray you enjoy the rest of this newsletter and please keep the
college, its staff and students in your prayers.
With every good wish in Christ, Rev Marc Owen,
Minister at Moriah Baptist Church, Risca
The 1980s musical ‘Chess’ contained
the lyrics ‘One Night in Bangkok
makes a hard man humble ... the
tough guys stumble.’ Well if it is
possible for men and women to
be tough and humble at the same
time then Thailand might just be
the place to do it. Hoping to find
out for themselves this summer are
three South Wales Baptist College
students who, along with Dr Karen
Smith are travelling to Chiang Mai
with BMS to work alongside Pete
and Lizz Maycock. Jon Dickerson,
Helene Grant and Sam Hackett have
been busy fundraising for the trip
but with their tickets booked and
inoculations complete what are their
thoughts about going half way round
the world?
Sam: ‘I’m hoping to see how the
church relates to people in a society
that is very different to my own. If
I’m anxious about anything it’s a
fear of not knowing what challenges
may come our way.’
Helene: ‘I share that fear of the
unknown, but I’m worried about
how I’ll react to the poverty we’ll
encounter.’
Jon: ‘It is not knowing stuff but we
do know that God is really working
through BMS and I’m excited about
With best wishes, Dr Peter
Stevenson, Principal
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seeing how that’s happening in
Thailand.
The plans are for the group to visit
various expressions of missional
work among the Karen people of
northern Thailand, spending time
at their Siloam Bible School and
sharing in the life of some their rural
churches. Now that BMS are working
with the ‘Nightlight’ project, bringing
the gospel to women involved in the
sex industry in Bangkok, it is hoped
that the group may stop off in the
capital to see this work too before
returning home.
With all that to come we asked the
students what they would miss if it
were lost en-route. Reflecting on the
climate Sam reckoned it would be
deodorant, Jon opted for not losing
the plane and Helene said she
wouldn’t want to be without
Karen, Jon or Sam! So let’s
just pray none of them lose
that wonderful sense of
humour and that they
come back safe from
what promises to be a
life changing journey
this summer.
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Mission
Matters
Mission matters to us at SWBC.
This year we have been host to
three important opportunities
to practice and reflect on
mission. Respected theologian
Dr Kathy Ross delivered the
Edwin Stephen Griffiths lectures
on the vital role of hospitality
in mission. Former BUGB
President Chris Duffet came as
part of his Big Heart God tour
and got us involved in cringe
free ways of sharing our faith
without neighbours. And finally
in May, BMS regional team
leader Benjamin Francis from
Big Life Ministries inspired us
with stories of hundreds of new
rural churches have been planted
in India the last 10 years. We
think Mission matters and we
know that you do too. Over the
coming year we hope to continue
to providing opportunities to
discover more about how we can
get involved and hope that you
will come and join us.
Well done Ben!
Congratulations go to former
student Rev Ben Dare (now at
Broadhaven Baptist Church) on
the successful completion of his
PhD. If you have any questions
about J. Moltmann and ecotheology Ben is now the local
man to ask.
Student News
As you can see the College has
an exciting new logo and there’s
a brand new website to go with it
too. Both have been created by
Mike Leach Creative in Swansea
who have worked patiently with
us over the last year to bring
about some changes to our public
presence.
We hope the logo clearly
reflects the centrality of the
cross to all we do here at
Richmond Road in Cardiff
and with the many partners
who help our students in their
ministerial formation. The red
and green colours are intended to
root us firmly in Wales, although
we rejoice that students come
here from much further afield
and that the training students
receive while here can take them
into Kingdom work all around
the world. We trust too that the
design conveys something of
the many pathways into various
forms of Christian ministry and
mission that are available through
the College. These paths include a
number of flexible options to train
for Baptist ministry as well as
opportunities to study for Masters
degrees. There is also information
on some new initiatives for those
looking to be Local Preachers, Lay
Pastors or pioneer missioners.
Details of all this can be found on
the refreshed website at
www.swbc.org.uk - perhaps one
of these is a path that God may
be leading you to explore in the
coming year.
This year the College is pleased to
valedict three final year students,
Phill Vickery, Eryl Williams and
Emma Mohr and we pray for them
as they go. We are also anticipating
a number of new people joining us
in September, but in the meantime
we thought we’d profile two of our
continuing students, Kath Miller and
David Jones.
especially Pastoral Group - ‘they
helped me settle in very quickly with
good advice and practical support
... and they bring in doughnuts to
share!’
I live in Newport and while
as a ministerial candidate it
would be possible for me to
study theology in North Wales,
Presbytery realised that SWBC
offered an excellent opportunity
to do that, along with receiving
pastoral training and a church
placement.’
Kath Miller is a church
based student in
Hengoed, but her
congregation is a little
different to the typical
Baptist fellowship. Kath explains. ‘I
had the privilege of reopening our
chapel 3 years ago with the help
of our neighbours at Bryn Seion.
But our congregation is mostly
young people many of whom had
been excluded from school, youth
clubs and churches. We wanted
to show that the gospel was for
everyone. No-one is ever banned,
but our services are very different
to most; there is little singing and
no preaching but a lot of reflection
on real life issues of faith through
film and art, conversation and
multisensory prayer.’
David clearly has a busy life,
packing all of the University and
SWBC timetabling alongside the
Presbytery requirements and his
placement at Park End Church in
Lakeside, Cardiff. Finding a balance
with family life has been tough but
David is thankful for the support
he has received at the College
Kath is also studying for her BTh
and along with Carl her husband,
is parent for three children
including 6 year old Tia who is
profoundly disabled. She is quick to
acknowledge that College has been
an oasis of friendship in the middle
of the week that allows her to focus
on God and her needs in ministry.
David is about to enter his second
year in College but unusually for
SWBC, this student is a Presbyterian!
In the nicest possibly way, we asked
David, ‘what are you doing in a
Baptist College?’
South Wales Baptist College, 54-58 Richmond Road, Cardiff CF24 3UR
Tel: 029 2025 6066 | Email: [email protected]
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