Journeys into Baptist ministry

Nathan Gordon, minister Sittingbourne Baptist Church, Kent 

I was raised in a Christian home and always believed in God, but during my teenage years my faith depended largely on my parents. At 16, everything changed - I realised Jesus was calling me personally to live for Him, to use my gifts to serve others, and to follow His purpose for my life. My faith became my own, and I discovered a new passion to share His love.  
At 17, I stepped out of my comfort zone to preach for the first time - something I never imagined as an introvert. From then on, God continued to open doors. In 2016, I left my home church in London to become youth pastor at Sittingbourne Baptist Church.  

After three years, I trained for Baptist ministry and was inducted as minister at Sittingbourne Baptist Church in 2022.  

The journey hasn’t been easy, but God has remained faithful throughout. 

 

Mayowa Akinloye, minister-In-training, Kings Cross Baptist Church, London  

For years God’s call on my life unfolded quietly and if I’m honest, I tried to avoid it. I was leading as a deputy head, advocating for children with special needs, while serving across church life. I told myself my leadership belonged in education only, but the overlap kept growing. Mentors and church leaders began to see what I was hesitant to name, affirming pastoral gifts in me. A prophetic word told me to ‘stop running’ from God’s call and it stayed with me.  

The journey for me required courage. I stepped away from full-time school leadership, gradually giving more of myself to God, but still wanting to do things on my own terms. Eventually at a leaders’ gathering, I sensed God clearly and couldn’t push back.  

My yes opened so much. I’m now a minister-In-training, studying at Regent’s Park College. Bi-vocationally, I serve at Kings Cross Baptist Church, London and continue my secular work. My heart is to see people grow through preaching, teaching, and discipleship, becoming all God has called them to be. 

 

Hazel Hunting, minister Rushmere Baptist Church, Ipswich 

My call to ministry came because of other people recognising God’s call in me. It wasn’t something I considered, I had a career I enjoyed in the NHS. But my family and I tested God’s call and I found myself in part time training, combining training, college and ministry alongside my continuing role as a nurse.   

It was a challenge, it was tiring and it developed my faith and  confidence. Now in full time ministry I use skills learnt and developed in the past alongside those more recently gained; nothing is wasted.  

I love so much of ministry, being with people, identifying their giftings and talents, sharing God’s love, building community, helping people meet Jesus, growing God’s Kingdom in lots of different ways and with lots of different people. And I haven’t stopped developing either, I am still a work in progress. 

(Hazel begins at Holland-on-Sea Baptist Church in September) 
 

Rhiannon Francis, minister Mount Carmel Baptist Church, Caerphilly 

All I wanted to be growing up was a bank manager or a rugby player. At 14 on work experience, the bank manager I was shadowing, said by the time I was old enough to be a bank manager, the banking world would be automated. So I needed to rethink my career.  At 19, I was told I wouldn’t be able to play rugby anymore due to some pretty dramatic injuries. While in hospital, I met a nurse who told me about Jesus. Before I could believe anything she told me, I set out on a quest to disprove Christianity. I failed. And gave my life to the Lord on 5 October, 1997.  

No career plans, no rugby. No idea what to do.  

I got a degree in business and marketing, and started my walk up the marketing ladder. My evenings and weekends aside from work mainly consisted of youth ministry in the local church. Quickly I realised making money for others didn’t matter. But people did.  

Sensing the call to ministry, I moved to Swansea to be a children’s and youth worker. After three years, I felt the call to ordained ministry, so tested the call and applied to South Wales Baptist College, as it was then. Three years of formation later, I was called to minister in an LEP (Local Ecumenical Partnership) with all its joys and challenges. After a number of years, I was called to be part of the chaplaincy teams in University Hospitals Bristol initially, and then the University Hospital of Wales Cardiff, with a specialist interest in pediatrics, trauma and teenage oncology.  

Following a shock arrival of my daughter in 2017, I took some time out to be with her, and then she and I were called to Caerphilly in 2021 to minister to the community there.   

If God can use someone with no career plan, no rugby, and no idea, He really can use anyone. 
 

Neil Jones, minister Barrow Baptist Church, Leicestershire  

I first sensed a call to ministry in my mid-20s while attending a leadership course at my home church. Both my mentor and the minister shared their conviction that I was called to this path. 

Around the same time, even my boss at Boots predicted I’d become a vicar one day. 

From then on, my focus was on discerning the right time and place to grow. By the time I reached my college interviews, I felt certain of God’s calling.  

Today I am serving a village church in the Midlands. I truly love the community and the people here; it’s a place of immense blessing. While the journey has had its challenges, the training and development have been incredibly rewarding. It’s been an exciting path, and every step has been worth it. 

 

Archie Catchpole, minister-in-training at Victoria Park Baptist Church, London E3  

I love seeing people grow as followers of Jesus. As my youth leaders took risks letting me lead, I realised I could even occasionally help people as they explored discipleship. Initially I thought I wouldn’t do this until I was middle-aged (because when you’re 16, every pastor seems middle-aged). I studied a BA and MA in Theology, with time spent interning with the London Baptists and working for a church in Edinburgh in between degrees.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

When I was studying, I wished I could spend more time with people. When I was with people, I wished I could spend more time with books. Through the encouragement of church leaders and mentors, I realised it is possible to be a pastor who does both – even as a young(ish) person.  

Now I am a minister-in-training, enjoying the complexity of leading a church in the way of Jesus.   

Eunjig Yang, minister York Place Baptist Church, Swansea 

God’s calling came near to the end of my military service (in South Korea) on a freezing winter morning during a dawn prayer meeting. As I prayed about my future, I had already been offered a secure position at a reputable insurance company ready to begin after my service ended. 

Everything seemed settled.  

Yet that morning God placed a clear and powerful conviction in my heart, calling me to the pastoral ministry. In obedience, I gave up the job opportunity and began preparing for seminary.  

Though the journey was not easy, by God’s grace I completed theological studies and later came to the UK to pursue a master’s degree in theology, which I was able to complete by the Lord’s grace.  

After completing my master’s studies, I undertook an accredited course at Cardiff Baptist College. During this time, I was called to serve as a pastor at York Place Baptist Church, ministering to a diverse multinational congregation. Studying at Cardiff greatly deepened my understanding of the Baptist tradition and pastoral ministry in the UK context.  

Looking back, I can only confess that the Lord has faithfully guided every step of my journey. 

Catherine Tate, associate minister, Skipton Baptist Church, Yorkshire 

I never thought I’d be a Baptist minister — it wasn’t part of my plan for my life, but God had other ideas. My faith had always been very intellectual and full of questions and doubts, then God met me through his Holy Spirit, and to my surprise a growing call to ministry began slowly to emerge, despite my self-doubts and sense of inadequacy.  

I did some theological study, talked to others and spent time alone wrestling with myself and God on retreats. Eventually, the sense of call to ministry became so strong I had to say ‘Yes’ — with that ‘Yes’ came an amazing sense of peace alongside ongoing fears and doubts, but God has equipped me one step at a time.  

I’m now loving being a minister and serving God and his people as we seek to apprentice to 

Jesus together. 

Ed and Emma Jones, ministers at Battle Baptist Church, Sussex  

We often get asked the question ‘What’s it like to serve together?’ I think what’s key for us, is we both came into ministry, because we felt God calling us each personally. For me (Ed) it was something that I first felt as a teenager. For me (Emma) it was something much later in life.  

But getting to work together – yes it has its moments. It means we need to put more effort in, particularly at home for example with our kids - ensuring that it doesn’t consume us or is all we talk about. It’s about recognising that we’re followers of Jesus first, then husband and wife, then parents and being ministers comes after that.   

That said, in spite of all the challenges, it is a joy and a privilege. We bring different gifts, different perspectives, we can support each and share in the wonder that is adventure of ministry together. 

Simon Cragg, minister of St Andrew’s Street Baptist Church, Cambridge  

I was 15 years old, sat on my bed, and listening to a sermon. I have no idea what the preacher said – all I remember was being overwhelmed with a sense that God was calling me to do the same. I wept tears of joy – a moment of pure clarity from God.   

The rest of the story of ministry has been much more subtle - like realising how much I enjoyed studying theology. About the encouragement of the college principal to go into ministry young and make mistakes and learn wisdom through it. About slowly growing confidence in leadership, preaching, and pastoral care, as well as increasingly learning to love God and people more.  

I sometimes tell people it’s the best job in the world. In reality it may also be one of the hardest. But God is good and I’m grateful to be doing what I do.   

Sharon Cross, minister of Rockingham Road Baptist Church, Kettering 

I was 40 when I became a Christian. In the early days, I was either at the back of church on the computer or out the back with the children. God started to change me, giving me a confidence I didn’t recognise, enabling, equippingand empowering me. With every service I led, or sermon I delivered, people told me I should train for ministry.  For seven years I laughed it off but the Lord was preparing me, giving me the opportunities and experience I needed. It was a sermon on Mary’s response to the angel that led me to say ‘Lord, whatever you have for me I say, yes.’ Ordained ministry came through my mind. ‘Oh surely not Lord!’  

My three years at Spurgeon’s were transforming. I used to think my role was building up the saints to send them out. However, during my training I developed a passion for outreach. I have a heart for the mission in the local community and I’m currently seeking God’s wisdom on what that looks like.   
 

Hilary Brown, chaplaincy student at Waverley Abbey College and The Learning Collective, and chaplain with Kent Workplace Mission at Bluewater shopping centre   

My journey into chaplaincy started on the tube. I saw an advertisement for Gamesmaker volunteers for the London Olympics and knew I HAD to apply. I discovered they had a chaplaincy team and during the training by London City Mission they emphasised we were not there to hit people with the gospel but to come alongside people in a supportive way. I immediately knew this is my calling.  

I became a Street Pastor, then when I retired I had the opportunity to go to Spurgeon’s College and start a BA in Theology with Chaplaincy. When Spurgeon’s closed I went to Waverley Abbey College and I am currently doing a Certificate in Contemporary Chaplaincy there, plus additional modules with The Learning Collective. 

I have discovered I have a passion for prison ministry. An accredited diploma level 5  is required to be a prison chaplain, so I am looking into a diploma course.   

My top tips if you are considering chaplaincy are:  

 

• Spend time in different chaplaincy settings to find out where God is calling you   

• Talk to your Regional Minister   

• Research various courses and, if there is a possibility you may want to do prison chaplaincy, make sure you can study to an accredited diploma level 5 or above 

Catriona Gillies, minister-in-training at Limbury Baptist Church, Luton 

Surely, I can’t be a minister – I’m too old and not clever enough…  I first felt God prompting me to explore the call to ministry in 2016. Due to personal circumstances, in 2017 I decided to lay the idea to one side.  
 
In 2024 that prompting returned and I decided that probably God wasn’t calling me to be a minister because I was too old, I wasn’t clever enough and I couldn’t afford it. I found The Learning Collective a fantastic course and not too scary.  I settled in contently, but God had other plans. I am now a minister-in-training – of Limbury Baptist Church and studying at Regents Park College. It is amazing. 

 The wonderful and supportive staff welcome us every Tuesday. I have made great friendships and now have a church family whom I have the privilege of serving.   It’s never too late to join the journey. 

Dave Tubby, minister Heaton Baptist Church, Newcastle-upon-Tyne 

I came into pastoral ministry reluctantly and to be honest, with a bit of a fight. I had known God was calling me to something for a while but I fought with Him because I was happy in my career. But over a period of time, weighing it up with those I trusted, 

I recognised and accepted that it was pastoral ministry God was calling me into.  

My time training at a Baptist College whilst serving in a church setting was formative in so many ways, and helped God develop gifts in me that I never knew I had. I’m now minister of Heaton Baptist Church (Newcastle-upon-Tyne) and what I love about my role is the opportunity it provides to help bring Jesus in real-life ways to the community we’re in, and to champion Jesus-shaped justice where God leads us day-to-day. 

Andy Twilley, regional minister South Eastern Baptist Association 

What an amazing journey it’s been! I was just 11 years old when I sensed God calling me into ministry and when I was 20, I knew the time was right to pursue this path.  

Ordained in 1986, this has been the most amazing journey imaginable. Sure there have been struggles, frustrations and challenges yet fulfilling my God given purpose has been an awesome responsibility, privilege and joy as God has faithfully inspired me every step of the way.  

Sometimes folk have asked me when I anticipate retiring! Retire? Why would I want to retire when God is still doing immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine through His power at work. His plans and purposes continue to energise me, and now as a Regional Minister in SEBA since 2024… I know God’s not done with me yet.   

Alfred Bassah, minister-in-training Eltham Park Baptist Church, London 

My spiritual journey began in Ghana, seeing God’s call at seminary school and serving at First Baptist. This calling deepened as I became a pastor and later continued my ministry in the UK at Trinity Baptist and Clapham Baptist. 

Training has been both enriching and challenging, involving leading Bible studies, supporting churches without ministers, and relying on key Bible passages like Jeremiah chapter 29, verse 11, and Matthew chapter 9 for guidance. 

My family offer unwavering support, especially my wife. Along with encouragement from leaders such as Reverend Lucy (Wright, former minister Eltham Park and now Regional Minister at London Baptists) has helped me persevere. 

It has required sacrifice and adaptation, but I see these challenges as essential to my growth in Christ.  I’m most passionate about nurturing others through Bible study and witnessing the transformative power of faith and community. 

Would you be willing to encourage and inspire the next generation of ministers by sharing your own journey into Baptist ministry? 


We are gathering more stories and would be delighted if you felt able to share yours. 

Please contact ministries@baptist.org.uk 

 

We also encourage you to pray for all those who are journeying into Baptist ministry.