Rob Beamish appointed as Ministerial Formation Lead 

We are excited to announce the appointment of the Revd Dr Rob Beamish as Ministerial Formation Lead

The Ministerial Formation Lead role oversees our work on training and formation for various forms of ministry, which encompasses everything from the initial exploration of call to any training, right through to the completion of the newly accredited stage for our accredited ministers. 

Rob joins the Ministries Team having most recently served as minister of Prince’s Drive Baptist Church in Colwyn Bay and has taught at various colleges, including the Light College.  

Rob grew up near Portsmouth and attended a Baptist church, where, through the work of the Boys’ Brigade, he came to faith at 14 and was baptised. 

In 1994, a year spent with a BMS World Mission action team in Jamaica changed his life and shaped his sense of call to ministry. 

Rob went on to study Theology and Philosophy at Regent’s Park College, Oxford, which was followed by ministerial formation. He did not go into the pastorate straight away and trained as a primary school teacher, then worked in a school near Southampton.  

He got married and then entered pastoral ministry as Assistant Minister for youth and evangelism at Lymm Baptist Church, North Cheshire, before moving to Colwyn Bay in 2007. 

Alongside church ministry, Rob was a BMS World Mission trustee, completed a PhD in homiletics and doctrine, taught at colleges and universities, and spent five years combining ministry with school chaplaincy in a Methodist school.  

After nearly two decades in Colwyn Bay, Rob began exploring what might come next. His church administrator drew his attention to a Baptist Union vacancy. “My passion for discipleship, formation, and ministerial training pathways drew me to the role,” he said, adding that he is excited to contribute to this fascinating season and use his experience to continue to develop vocational pathways for ministry.  

Rob explained his role as coordinating from “[the] point that somebody says, 'I think God might be calling me to something,' to the point they move on to CMD...  The point at which they go into a ministry setting, but have gone through their NAMs, that's my oversight.” 

Lee Johnson, Ministries Team Leader, said: "I’m really pleased that Rob has joined the team. Formation is such an important part of what we do, and Rob will help us develop this work alongside our Associations and colleges. I’m particularly looking forward to seeing how Rob develops relationships and helps us think creatively about formation." 

Please join us in praying for Rob as he starts his role.