How life’s unfolded since we graduated

Summer Pass, Josh Laidlaw and James Hand

Graduation Day also gives us the opportunity to reconnect and hear how life and ministry have unfolded since students completed their studies earlier in the year. Here are just a few of their stories.

Summer Pass – BA (Hons) Applied Theology and Youth Ministry

Three years ago I set foot on campus at Regents not really knowing what God wanted me to do, but I had heard the small whisper from Him to come and study; I knew nothing else, so I came in obedience.

My time at Regents has shaped me. Those who knew me before have often commented how they feel they are speaking to a different person. The people here, both staff and students, unknowingly have shaped me into the person, the youth worker, and lover of Jesus I am today.

The undergraduate youth track has been filled with incredible teaching, practical skills and experience, prophecy and intense conversations. That, and being able to do three different placements, has helped me discover how I wanted ‘to do’ youth work. Through that I have been appointed to have oversight and lead eight youth groups in Nottingham.

The teaching has also led me into a deeper sense of worship – the more I learned about God the more I wanted to worship Him. Lectures have spoken exactly into the questions I’ve had or the situations around me. I have had to step out of my comfort zone, whether that’s been running the women’s ministry on site, preaching at college devotions, or being part of the Theology 101 seminars at the LIMITLESS Festival. If you had told me all this on that first day, I simply wouldn’t have believed you.

I want to thank all the staff for their encouragement, their steadfast obedience to God and their support, and particularly Ollie Ward and Tim Alford, who led the BA (Hons) in Applied Theology and Youth Ministry, for believing in me and for showing me what I am capable of.

All of this is to the Glory of God who transforms lives and puts you on your future path.

Josh Laidlaw – BA (Hons) Applied Theology and Youth Ministry

I found Regents to be the place to equip people to go and to follow the call of God on their lives. Over my three years, the youth track students have become exponentially more experienced in key youth ministry skills.

I have been greatly encouraged during my time studying, by staff, my peers and those close to me, and the college has enabled me to step into what God is calling me to do, and to go deeper in the understanding of this wonderful faith we share. I have been encouraged to keep going when times have been tough, and to rely on God through prayer. I am also now a year into my journey as an Elim Minister in Training, and there have been modules that have taught me some of the “things they don’t usually teach you at bible college” which have been invaluable.

I leave Regents feeling excited for what is to come, and to see so many other people stepping into ministry training. I’m sure, like me, they will be thoroughly equipped and encouraged.

James Hand – BA (Hons) Applied Theology and Performing Arts

I studied on the BA (Hons) in Applied Theology and Performing Arts, and I want to thank the course tutors Rich Hasnip, Ollie Ward, and Peter Hutchinson. Peter for the incredible vocal work, Ollie for the brilliant stretches I could never do, and Rich for his incredible input in leading the course.

Regents will challenge your foundations, helping you to sift out the sand so you’re left with the rock. It has brought me so much closer to Jesus – my Lord, my Saviour, and my God – and to magnify Him. Beneath the costumes, behind the dancing and the accents – it’s all about Him.

I’m really pleased to now go on to the Regents postgraduate degree in Applied Theology.

This article first appeared in Direction Magazine. For further details, please click here.