Regents Theological College – serving the future of Elim

A glimpse of how Regents is equipping students for practical ministry through placements that are already bearing fruit in local churches.

Alex Hunt – Pastor, Motherwell Elim Church

Alex became pastor of the Motherwell Elim Church in August last year whilst he was, and still is, studying for an undergraduate degree in Applied Theology and Church Leadership at Regents Theological College, the Elim Pentecostal Church training centre.

Alex said, “my driving passion is for the Motherwell church to be a family of believers, where people connect deeply and grow together.

“I am equally passionate about creating space for the Holy Spirit to move freely, believing that only in God can real change happen.”

Since being there, the church has doubled in size, and last Sunday over 100 people attended the morning service.

“Our focus as a church is to grow in faith and in relationship to become a vibrant, powerful community.”

Alex’s favourite Bible verse - Isaiah 12:1-2

“In that day you will say: ‘Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defence; he has become my salvation.’”

 

 

Caitlin Boyce – Family Worker, Waterbrook EIC Church, Bristol

Caitlin is currently a third-year student on the Regents Applied Theology and Youth Ministry course. She started her ministry practice placement as the Family Worker at Waterbrook EIC Church in January this year.

Working with pastor Luke Goodway, she is pioneering a new youth project currently with four young people as they engage with churches in the local community.

Caitlin said, “we are focusing on outreach in the community as we create a new church youth group. There are so many opportunities through our connections with other organisations in the community. This is an exciting time.

“It’s wonderful to see the other members of Waterbrook Church committed to what’s happening; we need that, they are expectant and prayerful. It then becomes a whole church project.

“I was offered the placement when Luke, the church pastor, talked with me at Regents. He is also Ministry Practice Coordinator at Regents, so helps all the students find placements as part of their studies.

“I never realised by coming to study I would have all these opportunities, and to put into practice what I was learning on the Youth Ministry degree, especially from Ollie Ward, who leads the course, and from Tim Alford, the National Director of Limitless, Elim’s youth and children’s movement.

“In my first and second year I was on placement at Elim’s Lifehouse Church in Worcester where I really grew as youth worker; we had about 10-15 young people altogether.

“Before joining Regents I had about 5 years’ experience in youth ministry with The Message Trust, at Firestarters and at City Church Cardiff.

“My goal at Waterbrook is to have a youth ministry that’s off-the-ground, reaching the unreached while we continue to grow the vision.

“The degree at Regents has a module called ‘Models of Youth Ministry’; we had to create our own idea of how we would pioneer a new project for young people, and then present it to the rest of our year. A week later, I shared it with Luke as part of my interview with him, he really liked it, and now here I am at Waterbrook.

‘That’s what I love about Regents, there’s an amazing mix of the spiritual, the practical and the theological.’

 

 

Ethan Howden, Youth Leader, Gateway Elim Church, Yate

 

Ethan started leading the youth work as a ministry placement opportunity at Elim’s Gateway Church in Yate in September 2025, being mentored by senior pastor Dave Wellington.

They have two youth meetings a week: on a Friday night, and again during the main Sunday service at 10.30. Friday is more social, when they also join other youth events like Limitless One; on Sunday they gather to worship with the other member of the church, and then have their own meeting to share, learn from the Bible, and pray together.

Ethan is also part of the Gateway worship team and has encouraged two other youth group members to get involved. He also gets the chance to preach on a Sunday.

Ethan said, “I want to empower the Church to pour into the young people. My mission over the last 6 months has been to expand our youth ministry here and at other events such as Limitless One and The Limitless Festival.

“Overall, my aim is for ‘the fruits of my ministry’ to be long lasting and have the young people still in the church in ten years’ time; to experience and be empowered to be involved in other areas of ministry.

“It can be an odd transitional time at their age, as they find their own place as young adults. It’s important to help them move into finding a new sense of peace and comfort in the church. I want them to know their faith and their church is a safe place.

“Some are heading to university, so it’s important for me to find them a new Christian environment there.

“In working at Gateway, I realise how much Regents has helped me. I had been on a Limitless youth team in Malvern since 2019, so had practical experience of youth work.

“The Regents course has provided an important progression of responsibility based on the new knowledge I have gained, and the ability that brought; it’s that constant stretching that has brought about my development and way forward, with the chance to apply everything in real youth ministry settings.

“Both my first and third year placements have more than fulfilled the opportunities Regents has given me, and with Ollie Ward and Luke Goodway’s help, guided me towards churches that were in need of youth leaders.

“When I look back, I have come from youth team member to assistant youth worker, and now to youth team leader.

“I had heard beforehand about how full the course was, but it’s only by experiencing it that I can see how far I have come.”

 

 

If you’re interested in one of the Regents students coming to help in your church, please email Luke Goodway, our Ministry Practice Coordinator: Luke.Goodway@Regents-tc.ac.uk.