“IT’S been a year since I last spoke to Life and Work and a lot has changed since then. I am now a mother to three wonderful boys after giving birth to Malachi last August, Malachi is a much-loved younger brother to Samuel (8) and Ciaran (7) and we celebrated his baptism with our church family at Killermont Parish Church on April 30,” says Lynsey Brennan, who graduated in July and is about to start probationary training in Glasgow.
“Training for the ministry and being a parent to small children at times can be challenging as you are juggling home life, with studies and training but with the flexibility of different training pathways offered by the Church of Scotland this means responding to a call to ministry does not need to be put on hold. Three weeks after having Malachi I decided that I would return to Highland Theological College to complete my three-year fulltime degree. With the support of family, friends, university and the Church and being blessed with the most contented baby ever, I managed to keep going and I am looking forward to my graduation.
“I am working at Temple-Anniesland Church of Scotland for my summer placement. This church has welcomed me so graciously and warmly that I don’t actually want to leave! I think this has to be one of the perks of ministry training; after each placement you gain another church family and this brings a sense of belonging to a much wider family of God. This is what I’d love others to experience, this sense of belonging to a Church community where people matter because each is valued and recognised as a unique child of God.