In Depth:  David Fielding

There was an audible “Wow!” at the end of the final meeting of this year’s Derby Bible Week.

A packed gathering of around 250 people from evangelical churches around Derby had just finished singing “It is well, it is well, with my soul”. It was a truly glorious sound of heartfelt praise! Although many talented musicians had accompanied the singing through the week, this hymn ended with the congregation singing unaccompanied. It was a fitting expression of our unity in the gospel that is demonstrated during this annual event.

‘Hidden Grace’ was the evocative title for this year’s Derby Bible Week, which took place from 15–18 April. Jonty Rhodes (Christ Church Central, Leeds) was the speaker and his focus was the Book of Esther.

Famously, the Book of Esther contains no direct reference to God! God’s grace is perhaps ‘hidden’, but Jonty showed us the over-arching reach of God’s sovereignty that transcends the story, and the practical outworking of His providence in every twist and turn.

‘Embracing our Weakness – to Discover God’s Strength’ was the theme of this year’s Derby Bible Week (17–20 April).

Our speaker was Martin Salter (see photo) – Lead Pastor at Grace Community Church Bedford. Martin led us through the life and exploits of Gideon in Judges chapter 6–8 in a very practical and pastoral way. The relevant and memorable lessons that he drew from these chapters were greatly challenging.

‘It was with obvious great delight that many gathered from a range of like-minded Derby churches for this year’s Bible Week,’ said Pastor David Fielding of the organising committee.

He added: ‘The speaker was Tim Ward – a lecturer in Word Ministry at Oak Hill College – but his messages were far from being lectures! Tim has a truly pastoral heart. In his warm and practical sessions, he showed us how the Christian can live with the Lord’s approval in accordance with the “blessed” statements of Jesus in the Beatitudes in Matthew chapter 5. Tim’s title for the week summarised his overall theme; Living Well in God’s World.’ Seminars were also held on applied preaching.

In April, a group of evangelical churches organised the annual series of midweek evenings of Bible ministry which form Derby Bible Week.

Over the past 30 years the meetings have grown, and this year around 400 met together in two locations; a smaller morning session with the same message repeated at the main meeting in the evening.