Graduate Series: Jurriën and Lydia St Jago

Tell us a little bit about yourself (name, family, interests, church etc.) 

Hallo allemaal! We are Jurriën and Lydia St Jago and we live in The Netherlands. Jurriën is a native Dutchman and Lydia was born and bred in Northern Ireland. Together we have two little girls: Eva and Emilia, and as a family we are members of Logos Waalwijk, a Baptist church in the south of Holland where Jurriën serves as an elder and assistant pastor.  

 

When did you study at IBC and what was the most beneficial thing you gained from your time here? 

Lydia started studying at IBC in 2017 and Jurriën joined the college a year later from overseas in 2018. We both completed the three-year Preparation for Ministry course and graduated with a Bachelor of Theology degree in 2020 and 2021.

Jurriën:

What was the most beneficial thing you gained from your time here you ask? A wife! Within the Lord’s providence I met Lydia on my first day as I was unpacking my suitcase in college accommodation. According to C.S. Lewis: ’What draws people to be good friends is that they see the same truth. They share it.’ That is what happened for us, while digging up treasures from God’s word and trying to wrap our minds around the things of God, our friendship grew as we saw the same truth and shared it over cups of tea and during eclectic student meals around the dinner table. In the following year love sprung, and we got married after graduation in the summer of 2021. 

Besides meeting my Belle of Belfast City, I often thank the Lord for the other things I gained from studying at IBC: I am so thankful for the grounding I received in Scripture. I am grateful for the sound teaching of lecturers with a deep love and reverence for the Lord and His word.

Studying theology was a devotional experience and as my mind was being filled with knowledge on how to rightly handle Scripture, my heart filled with a deeper love for the Lord and a growing desire to serve His church. I took my first nerve-wrecking steps in learning how to preach and teach God’s word and as I was equipped to do so, the sweaty armpits in the pulpit and tears in the study gave way to a great joy in sharing God’s word. For which I am ever grateful.

Lydia:

The most beneficial thing I learned at the College was getting a sound understanding of theology and biblical doctrines and how to read and understand the Bible in its proper context. I grew an appreciation for, and understanding of, church history and learned the vital importance of the church and its proper functioning. All of this laid a solid foundation for many years to come.

 

What are you doing now that you’ve left the College, and how did your time at IBC help prepare you for that? 

Jurriën:

After we both finished studying in 2021 we moved to the Netherlands, got married and settled in my home town Waalwijk. We joined the church plant Logos Waalwijk, where my dad serves as the lead pastor and I was appointed as elder and assistant pastor in September 2023. In this role I preach once a month in our church and occasionally at a few other churches in the region. During the week I work in asset management for the Department of Waterways and Public Works. Much of my free time is used for sermon prep and study. My time at IBC has really helped me to be equipped for the demands of church ministry. It not only taught me how to handle Scripture and prepare a sermon, but also how to handle different pastoral issues in church. I often look back on my lecture notes or a comment which a lecturer made which is highly applicable to a certain situation at hand. Especially now, in the years following college it begins to sink in how the teaching I received is of paramount importance in daily church ministry.

Lydia:

I stay at home with the girls and often think back at my time in college with a thankful heart: I learned how to support my husband, and I gained a higher view and understanding of God, Scripture and theology. 

I’m involved in Sunday school and serve through singing on Sunday mornings. During my Independent Study in final year at IBC I examined the place of theology in regard to congregational singing in corporate worship today. In this I learned how important what we sing on a Sunday morning is, and I’m able to apply this as I’m involved with the music ministry in church. We are ever thankful to the Lord for how He brought us to a place where we could be thoroughly prepared for ministry and the life we are now living.

 

What can we pray for you? 

We are part of a young and growing church, please pray for wisdom as we lead and love our brothers and sisters in Christ. Pray that we might see people come to faith in the Lord Jesus in our area. Pray for us as a family, that we may grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.