Staff Profiles

Meeting the Moorlands teaching team

 

Nigel Argall


Nigel Argall

Director of Training for the Youth and Community Work Course

Nigel is a veteran of UK youthwork. He has served in two Anglican parishes as a front line youthworker for 12 years. He has also worked as a roving trainer and youthwork consultant for Winchester Diocese prior to joining Moorlands. He has a BA in Social Sciences (from York University), an MA in Community Education (from De Montfort University – Leicester) and is a professionally qualified youth worker. He still works as a volunteer youthworker in Southampton where he lives with his wife and four children. He was a founder, and continues as chair, of Amaze – the association of Christian Youth and Children’s Workers. He is a regular contributor to Youthwork Magazine and speaks at Youthwork – The Conference.

 

Published Books:

Spiral of Prospero, Pioneer Teens 2009


     
Colin Bennett  

Colin Bennett

Deputy Principal and Director of Training for the Community and Family Studies Course

Colin became a Christian whilst training as a Youth and Community Worker at Westhill College in Birmingham. Following his training, he worked in Birmingham and Sheffield on a variety of high-profile innercity youth and community work projects.He is a regular writer and speaks on family, youth and community issues.When he is not busy with College life, he enjoys various sports and, along with his whole family, is a keen football supporter.

 

Articles in Magazines Books or Professional Journals:
Book Reviews International Association for the Study of Youth Ministry (IASYM) and Journal of Youth and Theology - Dec 07

 

Research Papers/ Activity:
Facilitator for Fuller University, USA Research Project at Moorlands Exemplars of Spiritual Thriving in Adolescence- An Exploratory Study - Feb 08

 

Conference Speaking Engagements:
Regular contributor to Hope FM radio - 2009/10

     
Dortha Blackwood  

Dotha Blackwood

Director of Practical Training and Lecturer in Theology and Biblical Studies

Dotha came to faith in Jamaica and spent time there working with Jamaica Citizens Bank before taking on the role of Director of International Accelerated Missions Bible School, Kingston. In 1993, she became Director of IAM’s Bible School in London and subsequently served as Assistant Minister at New Life Assembly,Dulwich. She is working on a PhD and is a regular speaker at various Christian conventions and churches.Her interests include playing the drums, walking, table tennis and watching football.

 

Articles in Magazines Books or Professional Journals:
The Resurrection, (with Steve Chalke & Tom Wright), Christianity Magazine - Jan 08

 

     
Steve Brady  

Steve Brady

College Principal

Steve is Principal and involved in lecturing, specialising and thoroughly enjoying teaching New Testament and Greek. He was converted in his teens and went on to work in Local Government. Prior to college life, he has served pastorates in Buckinghamshire, Leicester, East London and Bournemouth.


Contributing from his pastoral experience and holding a PhD in Theology, he preaches widely at conventions both in the UK and abroad. He is a trustee of the Keswick Convention, Chair of the Association of Bible College Principals and also finds time to write. His most recent book is a study in Colossians, ‘King of Heaven, Lord of Earth’. He thoroughly enjoys football (Everton!), squash and running – and hates gardening!

 

Articles in Magazines Books or Professional Journals:
Bible Reading Notes for: Daily Bread - 2007 Living Light - 2007/08 Premier Radio - 2008

 

Published Books:
All You Need is Christ, A Study of Galatians Authentic; Stg edition - July 2007

King of Heaven Lord of Earth Colossians Authentic; 2008, 'The Apostles' Creed', a ten part study by Steve and suitable for small groups, has just been released (for details, go to www.nationwidechristiantrust.com )

 

Conference Speaking Engagements:

Steve will be at the Belgrave Heights Convention in Australia in January 2010 and at the Japan Keswick in February - and here and there around the UK, chiefly Moorlands! -the rest of the time.

     
Stephen Catto  

Stephen Catto

Lecturer in Biblical and Theological Studies

Stephen teaches in the areas of New Testament and Church History. In New Testament he covers the Gospels and Romans for first-year students, and 1 Peter with the second years. Again with first years, he gives a whistle-stop tour of church history, before pausing longer in the time of the Reformation, with our third-year students.

 

Stephen became a Christian as a child, but only really got serious about faith in his late teens. He started working-life as a farmer before branching out into other areas of business. He studied for a year in America at Biola University before completing a BD and a PhD at the University of Aberdeen. Married to Mandy, who is a teacher, he has two boys and a girl. He loves sport, particularly running, tennis and cricket, as well as gardening.

 

Articles in Magazines, Books or Professional Journals:

“Does proseuchas poieisthai in Josephus’ Antiquities of the Jews 14.257-8, Mean ‘Build Places of Prayer’?” Journal for the Study of Judaism 35 (2004), 159-68.
“A Critical Analysis of the Present State of Synagogue Research and its Implications for the Study of Luke-Acts.” Tyndale Bulletin 57.2 (2007), 313-15.

'Zechariah's Prayer', Christianity, Dec 2009, 52-3, "'Synagogues' in the New Testament Period", Jan 2010.

Published Books:

Reconstructing the First-Century Synagogue: A Critical Analysis of Current Research, (LNTS, 363; London: T&T Clark, 2007).

 

Reviews:

Stephen has written a number of reviews, most recently on:
A. T. B. McGowan, The Divine Spiration of Scripture: Challenging Evangelical Perspectives, (Nottingham: Apollos, 2007), Evangelical Quarterly 81.1 (2009), 78-9.

 

     
Doug Gardner  

Doug Gardner

College Bursar & Company Secretary

Doug is responsible for the financial and general administration of the college, including the management of the campus buildings and facilities, and involvement in overall planning and strategy development as a member of the Senior Management Team.

Doug obtained a degree in Chemical Engineering before becoming a Chartered Management Accountant, spending 16 years in a variety of financial and business management posts in the food, management consultancy, and financial services sectors. In 1992, he was prompted to volunteer, initially with VSO, and went overseas to Tonga, where he lived for 7 years. During this time, he was involved in a variety of development and small business support activities and projects, even being persuaded to step out of his comfort zone and help out in a local school, teaching economics at fifth and sixth form level.

 

Despite never having been known for his language learning skills, Doug was then called to spend the next 4 ½ years on mission in Nepal as the Finance Director for the International Nepal Fellowship (INF). Doug returned to the UK in 2004 and, after spending a couple years working in financial control roles with an international development and refugee support agency and a charity providing support and training activities for the long term unemployed, he joined Moorlands College as Bursar in August 2006.

 

Doug continues his interest and involvement with Nepal, including participation in the Finance sub-committee of the UK charity arm of INF. He has also been involved with a number of other Christian charities in various Trustee roles.

 

As well as being a workaholic, Doug also enjoys walking and reading.

     
Dave Edwins  

Dave Edwins

Part-time Tutor and Mentor

Dave started life in rural Bedfordshire and became a committed Christian in his teens. After studying in Birmingham and London and a period of teaching, he joined Scripture Union as a Training Specialist / Children’s Evangelist. He is passionate about the local church and has researched issues concerning local church evangelism. His interests centre around sports, especially volleyball, golf and football. He is a lifelong follower of Wolves. Along with Marian, his wife, Dave is very involved in supporting graduates in their ministries, through On Track Ministries.

     
John Horder  

John Horder

Lecturer in Pastoral Training

John is a mixture of engineer, theologian and educator. He gained his first degree from Cambridge as an engineer and specialised in roads and bridges. He went on to study theology at London Bible College (now L.S.T.) and then to be a pastor in West Sussex. After that he spent nine years in Africa, on the staff team of the Likubula Bible Institute in Malawi. On his return to England, he worked with UCCF in their Student Ministries Department, before joining Moorlands in 1992.

 

John has an MA(Ed) in Management and Professional Studies in Education from the University of Southampton, and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. So he brings a great deal of experience to his role as Director of Pastoral Training. He is also very involved in the Moorlands MA programme. His research interest is helping students to learn the most from their placement experiences.

 

John is married to Caroline and they have four grown-up daughters. He enjoys walking and travel, and hopes for the opportunity to return to Africa some day.

 

Articles in Magazines Books or Professional Journals:
'When Pastoral Care Comes Alive Again - an Initial Response to Stephen Pattison', Practical Theology 1.3 (2008)
'The Case for Applied Theology', Evangelicals Now, (August 2009)

 

Research Papers/ Activity:
External 'Consultant' to the Mission Audit Steering Group of St Paul's, Throop, for their Mission Audit Sept 2007 - Feb 2008

 

     
Martin Inchley  

Martin Inchley

Vice -Principal and Director of Studies

When Martin realised, aged about 12, that God was calling him to ‘missionary’ work, it affected all future choices. Cancer research and teaching science were steps along the way to training church leaders in Brazil with Latin Link. Coming back to the UK was not at all in the original plan, but working with students and developing courses at Moorlands has proved an intensely satisfying fulfilment of the early call. His Masters thesis is entitled, “An Exploration of Aspects of Contemporary Evangelical Discourse about Experiencing God.”

Language is powerful and Martin teaches creative approaches to preaching. This is earthed in what he does regularly in his own church, so students get to offer critique as well as receive it. There is nothing quite like opening up the Bible in fresh ways, whether with a group of young people, or with an adult group finding old words making a new impact.

 

Language and music come together in song writing – some for personal use and some for corporate worship. He plays guitar or keyboard with his church’s worship group, but his voice is definitely not what it was!

 

Martin is married to Margaret, who helps to lead Alethia, a group for married female students and students’ wives. They have three grown-up sons, and three Norwegian grandchildren.

 

     
Ian Kirby  

Ian Kirby

Director of Cross Cultural Training, Assistant Director of Studies and MA Course Leader

Ian was converted as an 11-year-old at a Christian rock concert. After school he did a gap year with Operation Mobilization in Ireland, and during that time he felt a call to serve God in the Muslim world. To qualify him to gain entry into countries not sympathetic to Christian faith but needing his skills, he studied computer science, eventually gaining a PhD in Artificial Intelligence. After his initial theological training, he spent ten years in Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia. He was involved in many things apart from teaching computing, including leading a rapidly growing church congregation, working as a teacher and Dean of Students at the United Theological Seminary, and lecturing on Islam and Christianity (to Muslims) in a secular university. He also completed a research masters degree in theology, looking at the impact of cultural values on how we do church.

 

Ian is married to Fay and they have three children. He spends his evenings encouraging the completion of homework or playing music (he is rumoured to be teaching himself to play the piano badly). He and his wife enjoy running in the New Forest.

His academic interests include Islam, contextualization and mentoring.

 

Reviews:
Book review – Journal of Youth and Theology – March 2008

 

Conference Speaking Engagements:
Preaching in a number of local churches; seminars on topics related to Islam; member of Global Connections council. Ian coordinates the setting up of programmes for mentoring within an international mission agency and leads evangelistic bible studies for international students.

     
Alistair McKitterick   Alistair McKitterick

Lecturer in Biblical and Theological Studies

Alistair teaches in the areas of biblical interpretation (hermeneutics), the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, the book of Revelation, systematic theology, introductory Hebrew, Old Testament theology, Christian spirituality, and issues in Applied Theology. He is also responsible for the first-year double module of Effective Christian Communication and Service.


Alistair grew up in Scotland and Canada and was involved with Scripture Union from an early age. After studying Physics at Manchester University, he went with Elim Missions to teach Maths and Science in Emmanuel School in Katerere, Zimbabwe. He worked in industry as an energy consultant before going on to study Theology at London Bible College. He lectured in doctrine, biblical studies and ethics at CFN UK Bible Training Centre before joining Moorlands College. He is married and lives in Chichester with his young family and enjoys squash, hill walking and occasionally playing bass guitar.

Articles in Magazines Books or Professional Journals:-
‘The Language of Genesis’, in Norman Nevin (ed.) Must Christianity Embrace Evolution?, Nottingham: IVP, 2009
Book Reviews - Third Way, Journal of Youth and Theology, Journal of Adult Theological Education

Conference Speaking Engagements:-

‘The Meaning of the Crucifixion of Jesus’, Explore Easter, a day-conference at Revelation Church, Chichester, March 2009. ‘How is Christian and academic thinking impacting the church today?’, CFN UK Alumni Reunion, May 2009.


     
Claire Saunders  

 

Claire Saunders

Co-ordinator for One Year Courses

Claire was converted whilst teacher-training in Cambridge and then spent 10 years as a primary school teacher, during which time she also completed an MA in Education. She has written teaching and training material for Scripture Union and tries to put some of this into practice in her own church where she helps run a midweek club for 8-10's. She recently completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Specific Learning Difficulties at the University of Southampton, and now makes an active contribution to the College's Learning Support Programme, alongside her other responsibilities. Most importantly, Claire is wife to Andy and mum to two daughters, who occasionally let her escape to indulge her photography hobby!

 

Research Papers/ Activity:
Msc in Specific Learning Disabilities – Southampton University - 2007/08

 

Published Books:

'Pretty Much Everything You Need to Know about Working with 8-10's' (Scripture Union, 2004). 'Top Tips on Teaching All Kinds of Learners' (to be published by Scripture Union, early 2010)

 

 

     
Chris Sinkinson  

Chris Sinkinson

Lecturer in Old Testament and Apologetics

Chris became a Christian when he was a teenager. He has a BA in English and Philosophy, an MA in Biblical Studies and a PhD in Theology from Bristol University. He has been involved in Christian ministry with UCCF in Bath and Moordown Baptist Church in Bournemouth. Chris once had a job as an archaeologist and has a leather jacket like the one Indiana Jones wore! To relax, he plays with his two young sons and enjoys jogging.

 

Published Books:
Reconstructing Theology, edited with Tony Gray, Paternoster Press: Carlisle 2000. The Universe of Faiths, Paternoster Press: Carlisle 2001. “Confessing Christ in a Pluralist Culture” in Grace and Truth in the Secular Age ed. Timothy Bradshaw, Eerdmanns: Grand Rapids 1998. “John Hick: Religion for the Modern World?” in Getting Your Bearings: Engaging with Contemporary Theologians, ed. Philip Duce and Daniel Strange, Apollos: Leicester 2003.
“Exclusivism” in New Dictionary of Apologetics ed. Campbell Campbell-Jack and Gavin McGrath, IVP: Leicester 2006. “A Different Kind of Treasure: Matthew 6:19-24” in Creation, Chaos and Christ, Authentic Media: Milton Keynes 2008.

     
Tony Thomson  

Tony Thomson

Librarian, Director of Learning Support and Disability Advisor

Tony became a Christian at the age of 24 whilst studying at college. He gained a BA (Hons) in History of Ideas and Religious Studies at Middlesex University followed by an MA in Library and Information Studies at Loughborough University. He relaxes by walking, reading and running.

     
Andrew Whitman  

Andrew Whitman

Lecturer in Homiletics

Andrew was brought up on a farm in North London and came to faith during the hippy movement in the early 1970's. He has served with Agape in University ministry and has led 3 local churches. Andrew is currently Equipping Pastor for evangelism and discipleship at Bournemouth Community Church and is studying for a Doctor of Ministry degree in Preaching. He is passionate about Arsenal Football Club and the prog-rock band "Yes" - but not about DIY!

 

Research Papers/ Activity:
Doctor of Ministry dissertation (50-60,000 words) "Anointed preaching - a coherent concept?”, with special reference to the way UK charismatics preach Scripture - Ongoing

 

     
Ian Coffey  

Ian Coffey

Director of Leadership Training

Ian is a Baptist minister who has led churches in suburban, city-centre and international contexts. He has also served as Director with the Saltmine Trust and the Evangelical Alliance. He was a member of the leadership team of Spring Harvest for nine years and continues that involvement as a Trustee of its Charitable Trust and chair of the Board of Spring Harvest Holidays.

 

Ian has a strong interest in writing and has published fourteen books and acts as a consultant to Inter-Varsity Press. His Master of Theology degree was awarded for his thesis on how churches grow.

Ian is married to Ruth and they have four adult sons. The Coffeys regularly speak at conferences and church events in the UK and abroad including in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Austria, Turkey, Italy, Croatia France, Hungary and Ireland. He hopes to visit Japan and Australia next year!


Articles in Magazines, Books or Professional Journals:
Ian is a regular writer for the Cover to Cover Bible study series published by CWR contributing two months a year; 1&2 Corinthians (06), Minor Prophets (07), 1&2 Thessalonians (08) and 1&2 Samuel (09). He writes regularly for Christianity magazine and in 2008 contributed reviews on Tom Wright’s Acts for Everyone and Dave Bookless’ Planetwise – Dare to Care for God’s World.

 

Published Books:
Ian has a number of books currently in print the latest being Working it Out – God, You and the Work you do was published in the Faith at Work series (IVP). Shock and Awe - Tasting God's Outrageous Grace - Brf, September 2009.

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