Friends of the College - November 2020

Monday, 2nd November 2020
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2020 marks the 125th anniversary of the foundation of the Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland (formerly Baptist Union of Ireland) in 1895.  In February 1895 there was a “call to pray” issued to the churches, encouraging them to plead with God to move among the churches of the Union.  Wishing to echo that sentiment the Executive Committee of the Association have issued a similar call: “unite to pray.”

Throughout 2020 the College will draw your attention to this call to “unite to pray” with a monthly “Friends of the College” blog post linked to the “unite to pray” prayer diary.  The November notes encourage us to pray for a healthy and biblical perspective on giving.  Below the Principal, Edwin Ewart, invites you to consider the financial need of the College.

 

Enlarging the Harvest

Since its foundation in the nineteenth century the Irish Baptist College has looked to the Churches of our Association to send us students for training and supply the necessary finances to ensure the viability of our programmes. It is with a sense of profound gratitude that I reflect on the great many students who have spent 3 or more years at IBC and are now serving God in various pastoral and missionary situations around the world. It is also enormously humbling to reflect on the prayerful and financial support that has come from our churches and individuals upon whose hearts the Lord has laid a burden for ministry training. In line with the pattern of the New Testament and the Spurgeonic tradition, the raising up of a new generation of pastors and preachers lies at the very core of what we do at the College. Today we are particularly encouraged at the huge potential which exists across all three years of our Ministry Preparation Course. Our students are progressing in their studies and in their ability to handle and communicate God’s word and despite the challenges of the present time, many of them have preached in recent weeks and months in a number of our churches with great acceptance. This work has continued for over a century and in the will of God will go on as we follow our calling to “entrust [what we have heard and learned] to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Timothy 2:2).

At this point in the calendar we have entered the last phase of our financial year (which concludes in January) and we are earnestly looking to God and his people to supply our needs so that we can commence the new financial year without a deficit. In this connection, the Association’s 125 Prayer Diary highlights the following as a prayer point for November:

Pray that your church would have the right perspective on their giving: not as merely a way to keep the building’s lights on, but as an exciting opportunity to “enlarge the harvest of your righteousness”

I recognise that in these challenging days with unprecedented restrictions, many churches are faced with uncertainty and not least with regard to finances. Nevertheless, the encouragement and promise of Jesus himself is that when we give, it will be given to us (Luke 6:38) and so I want to encourage you to support this vital work of ministry training with the assurance that this will “enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.”  Earlier, I alluded to C. H. Spurgeon upon whose Pastor’s College the Irish Baptist College was modelled. Regarding ministry training he says:

The relation of the College to a large and active Church, by which it is principally sustained, and which takes a lively interest in its welfare, is one special means of its prosperity. The intercourse of the Students with the Members of the Church contributes much to their social and their spiritual welfare. (The Sword and Trowel, 1:197-198).

This intimate relationship between the College and the churches is something which IBC seeks to emulate not least in its practical placement focus. Therefore, unashamedly I want to encourage churches and individuals to stand with us as the churches sustain the College and the College supplies the churches.

 

For more details on giving click here.

    Blog Archive

Let’s Read Irish Baptist College Conference (Online) From Intern to Undergraduate (Emily Middleton) Let's Read: The Hole in our Holiness — The Reason for Redemption Baptists and Revival in the Long 18th Century Second Year Placements From Intern to Undergraduate (Josh Brown) Let's Read: The Hole in our Holiness — The What and Why of Holiness Final Year During A Pandemic 2nd Year Placement Experience Friends of the College 2021 Update The Art of Reading More Books Let's Read: The Hole in our Holiness — The Real Possibility of Holiness A Basic Easter Fact The Servant King Podcast Let's Read: The Hole in our Holiness — You Are Holy Third Year Reflection Gospel Guardians: Protecting the Purity of the Gospel for Future Generations Graduation 2021 Book Review: Succeeding at Seminary Let's Read: The Hole in Our Holiness — A Work in Progress Why the Irish Baptist College is Vital to the Health of the Association A Good News Story: The Ministry Partnership Scheme Why Study the Biblical Languages? Profit in Toil: A Short Message on A Level Results Day Let's Read: Small Preaching Recognition Service Report 2021 Sin Forgiven: Nourishment for Life and Joy for Living Let’s Read: Small Preaching—The Character of the Preacher Commencement Service Report Placement Friends of the College Update God Rejoices over His People: A Meditation on Zephaniah 3:17 Let’s Read: Small Preaching—Constructing the Sermon Evangelism Teams: Newcastle and Brannockstown Evangelism Teams: Stonepark and North Belfast Christian Fellowship First Year Reflections (Reuben and Andrew) Some New Books Let’s Read: Small Preaching—The Craft of Preaching Let's Read: Small Preaching—What is God Saying? A Christmas Reflection on John 1 - ‘The coming of the light’ Christmas Reflection on John 1 - ‘Life, Light & Glory’
Time to read Genesis...again Friends of the College - January 2020 Friends of the College - January 2020 Finances Tribute to Marion Craig The Resilient Pastor: Surviving & Thriving in Ministry Just a Blow-in? What is new on the shelves at IBC? Friends of the College - February 2020 Four Reasons to Study Theology Academically From Spain to Moira Testimonial Financial Update Friends of the College – March 2020 Irish Baptist Historical Society: The Mayflower Thomas Patient: the Father of the Irish Baptist Church Testimonials The Pastors’ Conference: An Encouraging Privilege Testimonials (part-time studies) In the worst of times: COVID-19 and the Book of Ruth Friends of the College - April 2020 The Long Wait: Victory Delayed Testimonials - Preparation for Ministry and Evening Classes The Leadership Podcast Testimonials - Ladies Study Fellowship The Leadership Podcast (part 2) Friends of the College - May 2020 Reflections from the Student Chairman Why do we teach the Old Testament? Reflections on first year at IBC Friends of the College - June 2020 Why do we teach Romans? IBC Placement Is Church History a Thing of the Past? Friends of the College - July 2020 Friends of the College – August 2020 Friends of the College September 2020 Recognition and Graduation Service Introducing the Irish Baptist College’s New Logo Commencement Service Friends of the College - October 2020 Filled with the Spirit: Soundings in Luke’s Theology of the Holy Spirit The Famous Five: The Abiding Relevance of the Solas of the Reformation Friends of the College - November 2020 The Importance of Theological Training in Fulfilling the Great Commission First Year Reflections — Tim Houston Singing: The Place of Theology in Corporate Worship New Library Books Friends of the College – Unite to Pray – December Christmas Reflections
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