Second Year Placements

Monday, 8th February 2021
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By Luke Keys

 

My name is Luke Keys and I am a member of Knockconny Baptist Church. I am 22 years old and a second year student at the Irish Baptist College. Ordinarily second year placement would be arranged by the College for the students to gain first-hand experience of working and serving in a local church context, or with a Christian organization if the student was not seeking pastoral experience. However, as everyone knows, this past year has been a year like no other, and that left a degree of uncertainty about how placements would work—or if they would even happen at all. Thankfully placements have gone ahead and, while they may be different to previous years, they are certainly proving to be beneficial.

 

I am placed in Armagh Baptist Church and serve alongside Pastor Ian Grant in a Student Assistant role. This has involved me attending Armagh on a Sunday and either a Wednesday night for the prayer meeting, or a Friday night for their youth and children’s activities. I have tried, where possible, to attend all three in order to give myself the best opportunity to see what these ministries look like in a church other than my own. I have had opportunities to speak at the prayer meeting several times and also spoke at the carol service just before Christmas. Placement would normally involve the student doing visitation alongside the pastor but that has not yet been possible. I have been able to meet up with Ian a couple of times, prior to some of those Wednesday or Friday meetings. Chatting with Ian has been helpful and offered opportunities to ask questions and to try to learn as much as I can from someone who is experienced in pastoral work. I have also had the opportunity to work with Paul McAdam and the Keady church plant that has been set up following outreach into the community by the Armagh Church.

 

One of the biggest challenges posed by placement is the necessary balance to be achieved between taking on speaking engagements in order to gain experience while still completing assignments for College to the best of my ability. In that sense second year is noticeably busier than first year. Nevertheless, placement is great practical experience that will undoubtedly prove beneficial in the future.

    Blog Archive

Let’s Read Irish Baptist College Conference (Online) From Intern to Undergraduate (Emily Middleton) Let's Read: The Hole in our Holiness — The Reason for Redemption Baptists and Revival in the Long 18th Century Second Year Placements From Intern to Undergraduate (Josh Brown) Let's Read: The Hole in our Holiness — The What and Why of Holiness Final Year During A Pandemic 2nd Year Placement Experience Friends of the College 2021 Update The Art of Reading More Books Let's Read: The Hole in our Holiness — The Real Possibility of Holiness A Basic Easter Fact The Servant King Podcast Let's Read: The Hole in our Holiness — You Are Holy Third Year Reflection Gospel Guardians: Protecting the Purity of the Gospel for Future Generations Graduation 2021 Book Review: Succeeding at Seminary Let's Read: The Hole in Our Holiness — A Work in Progress Why the Irish Baptist College is Vital to the Health of the Association A Good News Story: The Ministry Partnership Scheme Why Study the Biblical Languages? Profit in Toil: A Short Message on A Level Results Day Let's Read: Small Preaching Recognition Service Report 2021 Sin Forgiven: Nourishment for Life and Joy for Living Let’s Read: Small Preaching—The Character of the Preacher Commencement Service Report Placement Friends of the College Update God Rejoices over His People: A Meditation on Zephaniah 3:17 Let’s Read: Small Preaching—Constructing the Sermon Evangelism Teams: Newcastle and Brannockstown Evangelism Teams: Stonepark and North Belfast Christian Fellowship First Year Reflections (Reuben and Andrew) Some New Books Let’s Read: Small Preaching—The Craft of Preaching Let's Read: Small Preaching—What is God Saying? A Christmas Reflection on John 1 - ‘The coming of the light’ Christmas Reflection on John 1 - ‘Life, Light & Glory’
Time to read Genesis...again Friends of the College - January 2020 Friends of the College - January 2020 Finances Tribute to Marion Craig The Resilient Pastor: Surviving & Thriving in Ministry Just a Blow-in? What is new on the shelves at IBC? Friends of the College - February 2020 Four Reasons to Study Theology Academically From Spain to Moira Testimonial Financial Update Friends of the College – March 2020 Irish Baptist Historical Society: The Mayflower Thomas Patient: the Father of the Irish Baptist Church Testimonials The Pastors’ Conference: An Encouraging Privilege Testimonials (part-time studies) In the worst of times: COVID-19 and the Book of Ruth Friends of the College - April 2020 The Long Wait: Victory Delayed Testimonials - Preparation for Ministry and Evening Classes The Leadership Podcast Testimonials - Ladies Study Fellowship The Leadership Podcast (part 2) Friends of the College - May 2020 Reflections from the Student Chairman Why do we teach the Old Testament? Reflections on first year at IBC Friends of the College - June 2020 Why do we teach Romans? IBC Placement Is Church History a Thing of the Past? Friends of the College - July 2020 Friends of the College – August 2020 Friends of the College September 2020 Recognition and Graduation Service Introducing the Irish Baptist College’s New Logo Commencement Service Friends of the College - October 2020 Filled with the Spirit: Soundings in Luke’s Theology of the Holy Spirit The Famous Five: The Abiding Relevance of the Solas of the Reformation Friends of the College - November 2020 The Importance of Theological Training in Fulfilling the Great Commission First Year Reflections — Tim Houston Singing: The Place of Theology in Corporate Worship New Library Books Friends of the College – Unite to Pray – December Christmas Reflections
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