News from Simon and Katie

Since getting married, Katie and I have had...well...an interesting time! The final year of my BA degree (which was placement-based) took us first to Chester, and then to Grand Rapids in the States.

Our time in Chester was with Northgate Church, a lively congregation a couple of hundred strong. As with any church that size, Northgate is involved in a wide range of activities serving the church itself and the surrounding city, and as a result, we too got involved in a wide range of activities. For me, as well as writing essays, these ranged from preaching and teaching to litter-picking and preparing breakfasts for large numbers of men; and for Katie, various things related predominantly to women's ministry. Looking back, our time in Chester was very important for us. Not only were we in a beautiful city, working with some incredible people, but we also learned a great deal about ourselves and about what we should be working towards in the future.

The time we spent in Grand Rapids was similarly rewarding, although in different ways. We were placed with a recent church plant, Kingsway Community Church, still rather small in number, but growing. My main task for the term was to research and write a 12,000 word dissertation on the emerging church movement, and for that I had the privilege of spending a great deal of time at Calvin College and Seminary interviewing various people and making use of the famous Hekman Library. Further to this, however, I preached a couple of times and led some smaller group meetings. Katie got involved in similar work as that which she had been involved in Chester, although on a smaller scale.

The time in Grand Rapids was special for a number of other reasons, mostly due to the kindness of the people we were staying and working with. We learned and received a great deal from them, not about 'Christian ministry' as an occupation per se, so much as how to be welcoming and genuine people in all of life. So, as well as getting some good time with Katie's family (who live an hour away in Lansing), in Grand Rapids we also made some very significant friendships which we know will last.

It was also during this time that we made the decision regarding our next step, which has been to move to Nottingham, where I began an MA in Philosophical Theology (part-time) at the University of Nottingham in September, 2008. My studies in Nottingham are due to finish in summer, 2010, and I will provide an update soon on what the future holds for me and Katie.    

I have obtained some part-time work at the University and Katie has obtained employment at Debenhams in Nottingham where she has made some good friends. 

We worship regularly at the local Trent Vineyard church, which is a short walk from where we live, and from time to time also visit a couple of Anglican churches for different services (eg Evensong).

Our time at Nottingham is the latest step in my academic career, but more importantly it is also the latest step in mine and Katie's life together.

Best regards,

Simon 

You can read how the Lord led Simon to the Bible College of Wales to study for his BA degree at Christian Training.

Postscript

Simon's formal degree ceremony was held at the Bible College of Wales on Saturday 24 January, 2009, where Simon was joined by his wife, Katie, and his parents, Tim and Karen, our church pastors.