Andy Thomas

About

Andy has been the Senior Tutor at the Moorlands South-West Centre since its inception in 2013. During his time in this role he has also been the Training Manager for South West Youth Ministries (SWYM) and involved in the leadership of a non-denominational church in Devon.

Andy grew up near Guildford in Surrey and originally studied Marine Biology at Swansea. Following a positive post-university experience on an Oasis FTA project in San Jose dos Campos, Brazil he undertook PGCE studies at Loughborough and this led to a job teaching Biology in a Grammar School in the West Midlands for 8 years. His time in Brazil had sparked an interest in Christian Mission and this eventually led to MA studies at Birmingham Christian College. His MA research looked at how learning theory, gleaned from his time in education, could be used to improve the way the church was attempting to educate against HIV/AIDS in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The successful conclusion of this work led to an opportunity for further doctoral studies in Practical Theology at UNISA (Pretoria) which focused on Pentecostal approaches to healing when faced by HIV/AIDS using the Empirical theology of JA Van der Ven. His current research interests include practical theological methodology, rural ecclesiology and missiology and church growth.

When not at work, Andy spends time playing and coaching hockey and cricket. He also enjoys fishing, shooting and cooking. He is also involved in speaking at churches around the South-West. He is married to Roz and has three children who each bring an eclectic mix of challenge and joy!

Teaching

Undergraduate modules:

  • Church and Community
  • Christian Leadership
  • Christian Doctrine II – Eschatology
  • Frameworks for Applied Theology

Articles in magazines, books and journals

  • ‘Empowered individual or community ministries? A practical theological study of a South African Pentecostal situation regarding HIV/AIDS’, Theologia Viatorum 34(1): 1–27 (2010).
  • Thomas, AJ. 2009. ‘Oral history interviewing and its value in practical theological hermeneutics: an example from a study on a Pentecostal congregation’, Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae 35(2): 267–285 (2009).
  • ‘Empirical theology, African Pentecostals and an “Evangelical-Charismatic hermeneutic”’, Practical Theology in South Africa 23(3): 46–66 (2008)