'I wish I'd done this course years ago'

Ten years old and growing! That's PfS at present. On June 19, the Prepared for Service course celebrates its 10th Anniversary at the Carey Centre in Reading, its home since its launch in 1994.

A 'Grand Reunion' is planned and many past and present PfS members will celebrate God's faithfulness together.

The course was the brainchild of the Rev. Colin Smith, then pastor of Enfield Evangelical Free Church. His burden and vision was 'to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up'. Under the auspices of FIEC the course has seen nearly 200 people pass through its doors. Colin is now the senior pastor at Arlington Heights Evangelical Free Church in Illinois, USA and will be the guest speaker at the Anniversary.

Three strands

In its early years, Bev Savage, General Secretary of FIEC, administered the course before David Matson took over in 1999. The two-year part-time course is modular in structure, with 16 teaching modules, each of three days' duration and from which written assignments are set.

There are three strands:
- Theological Studies, which focus on the central doctrines of the Bible;
- Bible Overview, which gives a complete picture of the scope of the Bible;
- Practical Subjects, which cover many issues and topics facing the believer in today's church and world.

The list of lecturers reads like a 'Who's Who' of the 'evangelical world', although lectures are not the only tool for learning. Seminars and workshops take place, and regular opportunities are given for preaching practice and developing group study skills.

Many joining the PfS course welcome the opportunities to lead worship, preach, take epilogues, etc., but one need not have 'up front' gifts to join the course. The identification and development of individual gifting is encouraged.

Continuing secular work

PfS caters especially well for those who need to continue their secular jobs while undergoing training as well as for those with church-based positions. Many have used holiday allocation or flexi-time arrangements to enable them to attend, while others have negotiated extra unpaid leave from employers who know the worth of Christian employees.

During all the modules, full board and accommodation is provided by Carey Baptist Church members, for whom the PfS course is one more avenue of their Christian service. This hospitality provision, a unique strength of the course, has proved over the years to be far more than meals and a bed. Many are the long-term friendships forged between host families and course members to the benefit of both and the glory of God.

Into the ministry

While setting out to equip church members better to serve the Lord within their local fellowship, the course has been significantly blessed of God in that, since its launch, some 30 PfSers have entered pastoral ministry. Many others are now vital and key members within their fellowships - home group co-ordinators, youth workers, pastoral care workers, university workers, elders. Some are now involved in church planting, evangelism, prison work and work overseas.

Course members from their early 20s to their mid-60s have always found a great oneness of fellowship in learning and studying together, though mature members all admit ruefully: 'I wish I'd done this years ago'. Very few who come to the end of the course escape the usual withdrawal symptoms of missing friends and the fellowship of the group.

Usually there's a PfS Reunion each year during the FIEC Family Week at Pwllheli. There's always plenty of news to exchange and developments to catch up with.

Numbers on the PfS course are generally in the 30-35 range, close to the maximum that can be accommodated. Applicants are always invited to a pre-paratory two-days Access Course. The effectiveness of the assessors is best judged by the extraordinarily low drop-out rate among course members.

Those simply wishing to know more about PfS are always welcome to visit the course as a guest for the day by prior arrangement with the administrator.

To ensure continuity of liaison and depth of understanding, PfS, through the administrator, keeps in touch with leaders/pastors of all the course members and a visit is made to each of their churches.

At present, the PfS Board is at an advanced stage of preparation for the launch of PfS Level 3, being developed for those already in pastoral ministry.

Further details available from the PfS Administrator David Matson on 01202 252020 or at davidmatson@tesco.net

N.B. The cut-off date for applications for the next Access Course is June 7.

'I wish I'd done this course years ago'

FIEC's Prepared for Service Training Course has been doing good work for a decade

Three strands

Continuing secular work

Into the ministry

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