PEACE Training Commences in the NEC

NEC Communications

Tuesday, 13th of July 2010 marked the opening and the inauguration of the North England Conference's Pan European Advanced Centre of Evangelism (PEACE), after decades of hope and a year in planning. Mike Simpson NEC Personal Ministries and Church Growth Director on visiting the training school said; “I met an eager and energetic group of students eager to learn how they too like the disciples of old could turn the world upside down for Jesus.” In this first session, the students were focused on their lecturer, Craig Gooden as he systematically walked them through the technique of ‘Bible Marking’- a Bible study technique that prepares them to give Bible Studies using only the Bible and no notes. Over the next four months the PEACE training course will prepare them to master this technique for all twenty-eight fundamentals Bible teachings of the church along with other key elements of apologetics and the art of witnessing.

A total of twenty students  coming from countries as far away as Belgium, Germany, Holland and Norway are registered on the course. There are also eleven students from the North England Conference and five from the South England Conference. The last student to register was 22 year old Enes Champo from Plaistow London. She worked as an Anatomist in London and was made redundant on Tuesday, 7th July. As she walked away from her workplace she heard a voice say to her, “Now you can go to PEACE,” and without hesitation she contacted the staff at PEACE and enrolled. Enes celebrated her 22nd birthday this Wednesday by sitting with her classmates at PEACE learning how to reach people for Christ.

PEACE is the North England Conference’s answer to the growing need of members especially young Seventh-day Adventist’s who have a strong desire to receive training in aspects of evangelism to equip them for active service. Over the last ten years, sections of the NEC membership has stepped up activity in the area of door-to-door and street evangelism. Many desiring to be trained in the art of giving Bible Studies  opted to travel to the United States for training at centres like ARISE and AFCOE. PEACE is a North England Conference training centre run in partnership with Amazing Facts college of evangelism which seeks to meet the growing demand for lay evangelism training in the NEC.

“Thus far the programme has launched smoothly, the students are on fire and we can’t wait to see how God is going to use everyone throughout the programme. Praise God from whom all blessings flow,” says Craig Gooden, PEACE Outreach Coordinator and part time NEC Pioneer Taskforce Supervisor. PEACE Director and pastor for Yardley Church Adam Ramdin, and Beulah Plunkett NEC Sabbath School Director and Associate PEACE Director/Registrar,  commenting on the launch of the school said “that things had gone very well with launch of the Centre for Evangelism and we are very optimistic about the future of the training programme.” Howeveron the launch day an unfortunate incident cast a pall over the event when Beulah had a fall resulting in a broken left arm. She is in good spirits and is recuperating at home.

Commenting on the school launch Beulah Plunkett said; “We thank the Lord for answered prayers, that all of the students arrived safely and seek your continued prayers on nbehalf of the students, staff, team and speakers/lecturers as they launch out on this training project.” This day has been the culmination many months of sheer hard work to get the whole school up and running. “It has been demanding and challenging but in the end, this leg of the journey has been successful.

NEC Communications