Alumni speak about their Newbold experience

MATTHEW BUTTE

Matthew Butte('95) from Bath is the principal of Columbia Adventist Academy, a Seventh-day Adventist high school in Washington State. After graduating from Newbold he completed a PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education) at King's College, London and an M.Ed. in Religious Education from Boston College.

He says:

'When I reflect on my teachers in the theology department at Newbold College I consider one of their greatest contributions to be their ability to create an environment that encourages students to explore their own path, both spiritually and vocationally.  In other words, Newbold simultaneously equips its theology students for "traditional" ministry roles within the Church, while at the same time nurturing within them openness to God's call in other directions as well.  It is, perhaps, therefore not surprising that many of us with a theology degree from Newbold are in a variety of different vocational contexts.'

PETRAS BAHADUR

Pakistani Petras Bahadur is Adventist Muslim Relations Coordinator. He came to Newbold after working for five years as an Accounts Controller for a textile company in London. Before that he had practised accounting and taught it as the Head of the Department of Business at Pakistan Adventist Seminary for five years, and been Chief Accountant in that institution and Pakistan Union/Conference for about eight years.

He says:

'When I was called to ministry, the leadership of the Adventist Church in the South of England wanted to embark on Asian evangelism, so they asked me to go to Newbold. At the time, Muslim evangelism was not at the top of my list of interests but the one-year course at Newbold really geared me up for ministry.  It provided me with such vision and passion that I became focused on this ministry.  Unlike my previous experience of evangelism to Muslims, this course provided me with a more effective approach of relating to Muslims instead of aggressively attacking their belief system.

After this course I took one-year access to MA and later did two years in completing my MA Theology in Systematic Theology.  My focus on Muslim evangelism helped shape the course work I did at Newbold, and the entire study experience was a great impetus to the leadership role and evangelism that I am currently engaged in.'

RAQUEL GRATIL

When Filipino British Raquel Gratil left John Loughborough School in 1994 she wanted to become a Hotel Manager. She took a GNVQ and started working part-time in a Jarvis Ramada where she moved from being a waitress to being an assistant restaurant manager. She moved to another hotel to work in front office. But what she was doing wasn't making her happy so after yet another move, she decided to do a Business degree at Newbold. Since she graduated in 2005, she has been working at Guys and St. Thomas' Hospital in London where she was recently promoted to Information/ financial administrator in the cardio-thoracic unit. Working in a non-profit hospital environment has given her the sort of satisfaction which working for-profit never provided.  Even though she is not providing nursing care, she finds it very satisfying and rewarding to work with the patients and those who are involved in their care management.

She says:

'Before I came to Newbold, I was earning money but I was looking for something more. I felt lost spiritually too. My life had no direction. As I met people I could see that many were driven by money.

Being at Newbold gave me a sense of direction, vocationally, personally and spiritually. The lecturers in Business have all been out there in the business world. Their experiences make the classes more interesting. Classes are well-structured and I always knew what was required of me. The management training that I acquired taught me to prioritize in order to meet deadlines. I acquired communication skills as well as the skills of working  in teams and with people from diverse backgrounds. All of these skills are paramount to my job. I'd like to progress into more of the managerial side of my work - and if I do, I'll owe it all to Newbold.

I also enjoy putting my financial skills to work as the conference treasurer at her church.'

EDDIE HYPOLITE 

After leaving Newbold, Londoner Eddie Hypolite studied for an MA in Communications, Culture and Society. As leader of the Kennington Community Fellowship he got the chance to put into practice his deeply-held beliefs in community-based church.  This urban church near London's Oval Cricket Ground conducted a variety of ministries in non-traditional locations like a basketball club and a hairdressing salon. Now he works with young Adventists in the south of England as Teens and Chaplaincy Director.

 He says: 

'I didn't really want to go to Newbold in the first place so I wasn't best pleased when it became abundantly clear that Newbold was the only place the Holy Spirit was guiding me to. So the actual process of going there taught me an early lesson in going where God's Spirit is leading. That experience helped me to learn that God is God and I am not God!

Newbold proved to be the icing on the cake of my journey through ministerial training. It gave a final clarity to the thoughts God was thinking into me concerning my ministry and the direction church needed to be heading in. At Newbold, I was fortunate to have lecturers who saw church as a place where people belong before they believe. Courses like Urban Ministry, and Administration and Leadership enabled me to give structure to all the leadings I was experiencing. Without a doubt Newbold gave me an excellent platform from which to step into ministry.'

REBECCA PEDERSEN 

 Rebecca Pedersen  grew up in England, married a Dane and went to live in Denmark. For eight years, she worked as a music teacher and put a lot of energy into music and worship in the church. Eventually, she decided she was being called to ministry and came to Newbold to study theology. For the last 18 months, Becky has been working as a minister in Southampton. She is excited to be in an environment where there is church planting, but she finds pastoral life hectic!

 She says:

‘Newbold was a good foundation. ‘There I had time to read, reflect, discuss and gain more confidence in both thoughts and beliefs, which now helps to steady the ups and downs of life in my role as a minister. I also felt that in studying pastoral theology I was given some very practical tools, for example, change theory, dealing with conflict, and pastoral care in different settings.  What I learned in those classes often sits in the back of my mind while I am working.  Similarly, the certificate in Missiology was very helpful.'

 ‘Most of the Newbold staff members were good listeners. I felt I could say what I wanted to, legitimately question things and work them through. They helped me to understand what Jesus taught - that God meets us where we are. In the friends I made and in the small student groups we organised, there was room to be me. I find that sort of fellowship attractive. Newbold College gave me an experience that I want to share with other people in my ministry.'