First Year Reflections: Andy and James

Over the next couple of weeks we want to introduce you to our first years students on the blog. We’ve asked them to share a little about themselves, how they came to the College and what you could pray for them. This week we have Andy and James.

Andy

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Hello, my name is Andy Scott. I live in Bangor and I am a member of Hamilton Road Baptist Church. I have two sons, Arthur (9) and Sebastian (6). I enjoy keeping fit and have rekindled my love for running in recent months. I love getting up the Mourne mountains in any spare time that I have too.

2. Why did you choose to come to the College?

I didn’t…God did. Having attended one year of the Christian Education Course at IBC, God really gave me a hunger and desire to learn and study more. The word of God gripped me and I couldn’t get enough. I spoke with mature Christians from my church and we began to pray and seek God’s guidance on the possibility of going to the College full time. I started journaling and listening to God and over a period of 6 months, with the confirmation through God’s word and the elders of the church, I was led to apply to the Irish Baptist College. In obedience I stepped out in faith to God’s calling to further study.

3. What has been the best thing/things about it so far?

The best thing is the unity in the community of the College. Throughout the three year groups and the lecturers there is a real sense of community. Both our student prayer times and our mixed year group prayer times have brought us together and God has really developed and deepened these friendships. With prayer being foundational to our studies, it is amazing to be set apart for this time to really explore and study the things of God in a community that facilitates conversations in and out of class. Not forgetting the essays!

4. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt during your time so far?

Trust God in ALL things. I really doubted over the first few months of College whether I made the right decision. With the big transitions and life adjustments it was easy for the enemy to get a foothold, and I soon became discouraged and doubtful of my calling. Realising that the lecturers were not as cross as they looked, I was very grateful of the open door policy that they have and encourage in the College, I found myself at their doors voicing my concerns. As we talked and prayed I found great encouragement and help through them.

5. What have you found challenging?

I have found a lot of things challenging! Firstly, being a ‘mature’ student and coming from a physical outdoor life, the biggest challenge for me was being in a classroom environment full time. Although gazing out in the days of torrential rain I was very thankful for where God had me! Also, the academic side has been very challenging; I quickly realised that I can do nothing without God’s help and strength. I praise God for His strength and mercy that has got me thus far, through wrestling with things in His word and also writing academic essays.

6. What can we pray for you?

I would really appreciate your prayers for me as I continue to study at IBC. Pray that God would continue to lead me and guide me through this time He has set apart for me. That He would crystallise my thinking as I study His word and that I would grow to love Him more and more each day, enabling me to spread the good news of the gospel to others.

 

James

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Hi, my name is James Montgomery and I am a member of Glenabbey Church in Newtownabbey. I have a younger sister, Emma, who is in her final year of studying physiotherapy. I am an avid lover of music; my speciality is guitar. I record some tracks and experiment with different sounds in my down time during my time as a student. I recently moved back to Northern Ireland after living in Portugal for two years.

2. Why did you choose to come to the College?

During my two years abroad I was studying for a diploma in theology at ITLC Portugal. In my final term I was thinking about what to do next. At that point I had been thinking about further study and training in ministry. One of the directors of ITLC recommended I give Jonathan McClaughlin a call to talk about coming to College. After a good conversation with him over the phone I took a few days to prayerfully consider further study and came to a decision to apply to IBC.

3. What has been the best thing/things about it so far?

There have been many great experiences during my time here but there have been a few moments that stick out to me. Namely, our evangelism week. During this week, I and some other students travelled up to Limavady Baptist to join with them in door-to-door work and family events in the evenings. I had the privilege of sharing my testimony during the Sunday evening service. We also took part in the Amazing Journey in some of the primary schools there, giving us the chance to share with the next generation the story of the Bible.

4. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt during your time so far?

The biggest lesson I have learned has been one of discipline. When you have assignment deadlines, devotionals to prepare and hymns to learn you can become seemingly over-whelmed with this. This sometimes pulled me away from spending time with God. I have realised the importance of spending as much time with God as possible, attempting to mirror what Jesus did during His earthy ministry; rising early to pray, taking time to go alone and pray, and having meaningful fellowship with my brothers and sister in Christ.

5. What have you found challenging?

For me, I have been challenged intellectually, emotionally and spiritually during my time here at IBC. My mind has been stretched to try and begin to comprehend the mysteries of God. When your mind is hard at work you can tire easily, becoming emotionally vulnerable and it can sometimes be difficult to maintain spiritual disciplines. However, God in His grace, has been close by me through it all, moulding me further into the likeness of His Son through sometimes difficult lessons and by me making mistakes and learning from them.

6. What can we pray for you?

Currently, I am looking forward to starting my professional placement in second year. I would ask you to pray God puts me in the place that will challenge me to grow deeper in my faith and that He would prepare me to make a good contribution to whichever church I have the privilege to be placed in. Looking beyond second year, I hope to use my studies to do cross-cultural missions. Please pray, for God to give me wisdom in seeking out connections and for Him to clearly speak to me about where He wants me.