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INVESTING IN THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS FOR THE CHURCH IN SCOTLAND
CHURCH LEADERSPeople who were supported by the Trust who are now in church leadershipMartin SmithSupported by the Bonar Trustwith grants over 4 yearsAssistant Minister – from September 2017Senior minister – from 2019Hawick Baptist Church, Scottish BordersBase for training and planting in the BordersRegionMarried to GraceBackgroundMartin was brought up in ManchesterThroughand moved to Edinburgh in 2009 tofunding from thestudy. During his first term at universityBonar Trust, Martinhe became a Christian through the workwas able to stay atof a Relay Worker and a Christianity Charlotte for a furtherExplored course at Charlotte Chapel. three years, combiningThrough University he began tochurch work withprayerfully consider full-time ministry.theologicalhousing and community developmentplans for the area.In summer 2016 Martin worked inchurches in the Borders to explorepotential routes into ministry. He hasnow been appointed as Assistant Ministerat a growing church in Hawick. He’ll workalongside the Senior Minister for twostudy.Training for Ministryyears with the intention of becomingLiam Garvie, Associate Pastor at Charlotte Chapel, Senior Minister in 2019.encouraged Martin to apply for Charlotte’sapprenticeship programme. This let Martin experience Base for training and planting in the Borders regionministry first hand. Coming under the supervision of Martin’s vision is Hawick Baptist Church will developthe pastoral team and Elders at Charlotte helped him into a base for church planting in the Borders region.test out his character, convictions and gifting for long- In terms of size and location, Hawick is a natural baseterm ministry. Martin began to talk about further to plant from. This is a bold vision, but Martin is antraining options. Through the development of the exceptional leader of his generation with energy, drivePastor-in-Training role at Charlotte,and ability.changes at Edinburgh Theological“The continuedSeminary and funding from the BonarBonar Trustpassion and work ofTrust, Martin was able to stay at CharlotteMartin writes: “This has all come as anthe Trust makes mefor a further three years, combininganswer to prayer, and through God’sprayerfullyexcitedforworking and training at the church withwonderful providences and provisions,all that could be done many of them through the Bonar Trust.theological study.for Christ in theThe continued passion and work of theBorders.”Appointment in Hawick Baptist ChurchTrust makes me prayerfully excited forOver the years Martin has developed aall that could be done for Christ inreal desire to serve in the Scottish Borders. The needs the Borders. The preaching conferences organisedare huge with so few Bible believing, gospel centered by the Trust have been really helpful and it’s greatchurches. Yet it’s a strategic opportunity with the new we’ll continue working together as a group in theBorders railway and the Scottish government’s future.”
Andy RobertsonSupported by the Bonar Trustwith grants over 6 yearsLead Church Planter – from August 2017Charleston, DundeePlant from St Peter’s Free Church ofScotland, DundeeBase for training and planting in DundeeMarried to CaireenBackgroundOriginally from Dundee Andy studied Computer Artsbefore moving to Aberdeen to spend a year on UCCF’sRelay programme. During this time Robin Sydserff(Minister of Chalmers Church) encouraged Andy toapply for the apprenticeship programme at Chalmers.In summer 2011 Andy moved to Edinburgh.was for them. Charleston currently has no evangelicalgospel witness.Base for training and planting in DundeeA comprehensive ministry and financial plan for theplant has been developed. Funding targets are beingmet. In summer 2017 a “launch team” of fifteen peoplemoved into Charleston and started engaging theApprenticeshipcommunity with the gospel. Like otherThe apprenticeship at Chalmers waskey leaders in his generation, Andy seesTheformative and insightful for Andy. Thethe strategic importance of multiplyingapprenticeship atmain focus was learning to teach theministry and wants to see CharlestonChalmers wasBible.Chalmers’apprenticeshipdevelop as a base for training gospelformative andprogramme runs in partnership with theworkers. Craig Anderson (previouslyinsightful for Andy.Cornhill Training Course in Glasgow,supported by the Bonar Trust as anThe main focus wasApprentice) is being funded by the Trustlearning to teachChurch Leader in Trainingas a Leader in Training in St Peter’s /the Bible.Through the apprenticeship process, itCharleston from autumn 2017. Andy willwas evident Andy had the character,play a key role in Craig’s training.convictions and gifting for ministry. The next step wasa four year Church Leader in Training post at Bonar Trust preaching / leadership conferencesChalmers. This combined working and training part- Recognising Andy’s gifts as a preacher, he will have atime in the church whilst studying theology at formal role in the preaching / leadership conferencesEdinburgh Theological Seminary. Andy graduated as run by the Trust.the top student in his year and has thrived inChalmers, assuming a senior role and profile.Bonar TrustAndy writes: “I would not be leading thisCharleston Church Plantchurch plant without the significantAndy is convicted about the need forsupport from the Bonar Trust over the“I would not begospel churches in areas where therelast six years. The funding has allowedleading this churchare none. Alongside this is hisme to receive a rigorous training andplant without thecommitment and ability to minister infacilitated the development of asignificant supportareas of social deprivation, somethingfrom the Bonar Trust network of gospel partnership. Ishared by his wife Caireen. Charleston inpassionately share the Trust’s vision andover the last sixDundee has always been on their heartswant to do all I can to develop andyears.”and when an opportunity arose to lead abuild on that for the future of the gospelchurch plant there it was clear thisin Scotland.”2017-18Grants made: 125,00012 Church Leaders17 Apprenticesin Training supportedsupported
Graeme ShanksSupported by the Bonar Trustwith grants over 4 yearsSenior Minister – from August 2017Bruntsfield Evangelical ChurchIndependent church, south-central EdinburghBase for training in EdinburghMarried to Alex with two girls, Chloe and GraceBackgroundHaving grown up in Glasgow, Graemestudied law in Aberdeen. He qualified asa solicitor and worked for firms inEdinburgh and Bristol, specialising incommercial property. Clear evidence ofleadership and Bible teaching gifts led anumber of people to encourage Graemeto pursue full-time ministry.Graeme’sappointmentreflects the Elders’confidence thatGraeme’s training hasequipped him forchurchleadership.lead people who have grown so veryclose to my heart over the past fiveyears.”Base for training in EdinburghGraeme’s prayer for Bruntsfield is itcontinues to be a church which seeks togrow in its love for the Lord, his Word, hisChurch and the lost.Training for ministryGraeme started his training on a two-year Like other key leaders in his generation, Graeme seesapprenticeship at Bruntsfield Evangelical Church the strategic importance of multiplying ministry andwhere he benefitted from working alongside Jon wants to see Bruntsfield develop as a base for trainingGemmell, an experienced and gifted church leader. gospelworkers.AlistairChalmers(previouslyGraeme worked part-time for the church and studied supported by the Bonar Trust as an Apprentice) ispart-time, first with Porterbrook Network and then being funded by the Trust as a Leader in Training inwith Cornhill Scotland. At the end of the two-year Bruntsfield from autumn 2017. Bruntsfield also hasapprenticeship, Graeme was appointed as Assistant three apprentices supported by the Trust.Minister and continued to train forministry, working at Bruntsfield, whileBonar Trust“TheTrusteesstudyingpart-timeatEdinburghThe Bonar Trust has provided support tohave a wonderfullyTheological Seminary on the BThGraeme over the last four years. Graemestrategic Kingdomprogramme.writes, “The Trustees have a wonderfullyvision to invest in and strategic Kingdom vision to invest intrain the nextAppointment as Senior Ministerand train the next generation of leadersAt the end of 2016, after eight years as generation of leaders for the church in Scotland. On afor the churchSenior Minister, Jon Gemmell leftpersonal note, they have provided mein Scotland.”Bruntsfield to work for The Proclamationwith the funding which has allowed meTrust in London. Graeme’s appointmentto get a thorough training. Theas his successor reflects the Elders’ confidence in the preaching conferences organised by the Trust havetraining Graeme has undertaken equipping him for really helped my preaching and provided a vitalchurch leadership. Graeme writes, “I am truly support network of peers, both for now and futurehumbled and excited to continue to minister to and strategic development in Scotland.”“To redress church decline and the theological confusion in our nation, wemust first redress the scarcity of gospel workers. Training the next generationof leaders in healthy local churches is our number one need. The grantsfrom the Bonar Trust play a key role in making training for ministry possible.”Liam Garvie, Associate Pastor, Charlotte Chapel, Edinburgh
Ali SewellSupported by the Bonar Trustwith grants over 6 yearsLead Church Planter – from September 2017 inHaddington, East LothianPlant from Free Church of Scotland Edinburghand Perth PresbyteryIncludes church plant specific training supportedby the Bonar Trust 2 days a week for first yearBase for training and planting in East LothianMarried to Julie with two daughters,Emily and LouisaBackgroundFrom Preston, Ali studied Physics atManchester University before spending6 years in the Highlands of Scotland asan outdoor activities instructor. In 2012he began the Ministry g hisapprenticeship Aliwas encouraged byothers in churchleadership that heshould purse fulltime ministry.ApprenticeshipDuring his apprenticeship Ali was personally convictedand also encouraged by others in church leadershipthat he should purse full time ministry. He benefittedgreatly from seeing how a church operates, and fromthe Cornhill Training Course, in developing afoundational understanding of how to teach the Bibleto others.and in September 2017 Ali began as thelead church planter of a new church inthis growing town to the East ofEdinburgh.Church Planter in Training programmeThe first year will be working with a coregroup already in place, while also spending twodays a week completing a Church Planter in Trainingprogramme with support from the Bonar Trust.Base for Planting and Training in East LothianHaddington is a strategic location as the geographicaland administrative centre of East Lothian, a regionwith very few gospel churches. From here the aim isfor this to be a church plant which in turn plantschurches in the surrounding towns. Haddington’sproximity to Edinburgh enables the“Withpossibility of apprenticeships or churchthe help ofleader in training positions beingthe Bonar Trust there combined with the value of formalwill be many moretheological study at institutions such aspeople trained andEdinburgh Theological Seminary.Church Leader in TrainingUpon completion of his apprenticeshipAli enrolled at Edinburgh TheologicalSeminary and took up a Church Leaderin Training post at Christ ChurchEdinburgh. This combination of workequipped for gospeland training allowed Ali to experienceBonar Trustministry indifferent aspects of ministry and have aAli writes: “There’s no doubt that JulieScotland.”role in guiding a young church through aand I wouldn’t have got to where we aretime of significant change. It alsowithout the support of the Bonar Trust.provided rigorous theological training in a range of It has made it possible to undergo thorough trainingdisciplines, with Ali graduating top in his class.without having to cut corners. The trust has alwaysshown a personal interest in our family, providingHaddington Church Plantmore than just financial support. With the help of theAli is convinced of the need for local churches to be Bonar Trust there will be many more people trainedembedded in their community in order to share the and equipped for gospel ministry in Scotland. Thegospel. Church planting offers the opportunity to churches they serve can have a significant effect inbegin new works in areas where there is presently very the progress of the gospel for the glory of God in ourlittle gospel witness. This is the case in Haddington country.”
CHURCH LEADERS IN TRAININGSupported by the Bonar Trust with grants of up to 6,000 per annumThe Trust funds exceptional individuals in their post-apprenticeship training through Church Leader in Traininggrants. The principle behind this is on-the-job theological training. An individual trains for three or four years ina local church alongside study at Edinburgh Theological Seminary, Highland Theological College or the Pastors’Training Course. This model of training is increasingly being seen as the best preparation for leadership. There isscope in the model for individuals to spend time in other churches to broaden their experience. ChurchLeaders in Training are typically employed part-time in their training churches. The Bonar Trust grantssupplement this. The Trust also helps the individuals build personal support with a view to creating sustainablefunding for their future ministries.Here’s an introduction to five of the twelve leaders in training currently being supported by the Trust.Hamish SneddonAfter spending two years as aMinistryTraineeatChristchurch Durham and fiveyears working as Staff Workerfor UCCF in Durham Hamishnow works with Paul Clarke inSt Andrews Free Church in Fife. Hamish isresponsible for the student work and preachesregularly. He spends two days a week studying atEdinburgh Theological Seminary.Ross McNabRoss completed an apprenticeship withCharlotteChapelbeforebeingappointed as a Leader in Training. Ross isstudying at Edinburgh TheologicalSeminary, and has a key role in CharlotteChapel’s discipleship programme foryoung adults. He is also involved in a range of pastoralactivities under the supervision of the church leadershipteam. At the end of this academic year, Ross will belooking for a church leadership role.Looking to the future, Hamish is keen to serve in aleadership role focused on training others,whether church leadership or teaching.Craig AndersonCraig completed an apprenticeshipprogramme with Chalmers Churchbefore working as a UCCF Staff Workerin Dundee for three years. This year hestarts as a Leader in Training at St Peter’sFree Church in Dundee where he’llpreach regularly and play a key part in the Charlestonchurch planting team from St Peter’s. Craig hopes thisexperience will prepare him for future church planting.Sam OrrSam was a Ministry Apprenticeat Highfields, Cardiff and thenworked for five years as UCCFStaff in Edinburgh. In his lastyear at UCCF he also served asTeam Leader for Scotland. Henow works at Chalmers Church as a ChurchLeader in Training, combining theological study atHTC by distance learning. He preaches regularly,has responsibility for the evangelism strategy ofthe church and is leading a group thinking aboutchurch planting. Sam meets one to one eachweek with the minister, Robin Sydserff, to learnabout church leadership.After spending four years with Chalmers he hopesto plant a church in the suburbs of Edinburgh.Paul HarkessPaul grew up in Musselburgh and waspartofthechurchfamilyatMusselburgh Baptist. Sensing a call tothe ministry and with clear evidence ofa gift to teach he began anapprenticeshipatMusselburghalongside Cornhill. This has developed into a Leader inTraining role, working in the church and studying thePastors' Training Course in Glasgow. Paul hopes to lead achurch plant in the wider Musselburgh area.“Our church family has benefitted enormously from both the expertise and thegenerosity of the Bonar Trust. We would have struggled to establish an effectiveTraining Programme for future gospel workers without it!”Paul Clarke, Senior Minister, St Andrews Free Church
APPRENTICESSupported by the Bonar Trust with grants of up to 6,000 per annumThe Trust funds individuals in their apprenticeship training. Apprenticeships are an important first step intoministry, where an individual can serve in a local church testing and developing their gifts. The most importantpart of an apprenticeship is learning the basic principles of how to understand and teach the Bible. Gettingthese foundations in place for a lifetime of ministry teaching the Bible is invaluable. The Trust will direct itsfunding to the most rigorous programmes, typically a two-year apprenticeship with an external trainingcomponent like Cornhill which focuses on preaching and Bible teaching. Most of the apprentices funded bythe Trust continue into full-time vocational ministry, a number to Leader in Training programmes supported bythe Trust.Here’s an introduction to seven of the seventeen apprentices currently being supported by the Trust.Iain Morrison, Chalmers Church, EdinburghBefore starting at Chalmers Iain studied civil engineering then worked part time as a youthworker in a church in Lewis. Now in the second year of the apprenticeship, Iain started theprogramme to see what ministry looked like and to spend a concentrated time learningabout the Bible and how to teach it to others. After only a couple of months he realised thatas difficult as ministry can be, there is nothing else he would rather do.Like most apprentices supported by the Trust, Iain studies two days a week at Cornhill and serves part time inthe church, where he has hands on experience of teaching the Bible in different ministry contexts and islearning about church leadership. Reflecting on this Iain, writes, “The most helpful thing about the training islearning how to read the Bible properly. This is learnt by going though a Bible book in the Cornhill course andby being at Chalmers Church on a week by week basis. I’ve learnt a lot from watching how others handle thetext and from discussing and preparing to preach a passage. I love the fact I get to spend time digging deepinto the Bible and studying a text to teach it to others. Long term I hope to do some sort of ministry after theprogramme er studied psychology at StAndrewsbeforemovingtoCornerstone. Reflecting on theapprenticeship she writes, “It hasbeen wonderful to be shownagain and again that loving God's Word, his peopleand the lost remain at the core of absolutely all ofchurch life.” Looking to the future, she would love tobe able to pursue full-time ministry.Joe Hall, Grace Church LeithJoe joined Grace Church as astudent when he moved toEdinburgh to study anthropology.He is studying at Cornhill,alongside training in the localchurch. After his apprenticeshipJoe would like to pursue furtherministry, and is considering training to be a youthand children’s worker.Chris Kleppe, Charlotte Chapel,EdinburghChris worked in a school andserved in a church plant beforebecoming a ministry apprentice.He plans to pursue long termministryandwillstudyatEdinburgh Theological Seminarynext year. Chris writes, “The most important thing Iam learning from this apprenticeship is not just howto more accurately handle God’s Word, but to teachand preach it rightly and accurately.”Ben Traynor, Trinity AberdeenPrior to starting with Trinity, Benworked for five years as a primaryschool teacher. Ben is in thesecond year of his apprenticeshipat Trinity Aberdeen.Alongsidestudy, he has been able to preachregularly and has benefitted from being mentored bythe minister, David Gibson. At the end of his currentprogramme Ben is planning on undertaking full-tim
Edinburgh Theological Seminary. Andy graduated as the top student in his year and has thrived in :halmers, assuming a senior role and profile. harleston :hurch Plant Andy is convicted about the need for gospel churches in areas where there are none. Alongside this is his commitment and abil
