Simon is an ordained Anglican minister. Currently, he serves as Pioneer Minister at Immanuel Church, Dublin, with a particular focus on church planting in South Dublin. Prior to this, he spent 8 years in Co. Cavan as the minister of four rural churches. He is passionate about seeing people in Ireland become disciples of Christ, grow in Christ, and be equipped and sent out to serve Christ. Throughout his ministry, he has been involved in training others for gospel ministry.  

He is married to Abigail, and they have five young children. He enjoys running, reading and keeping up with Premier League football and the Irish Rugby team. 

His first book, Refuge: Meditations for times of trouble, was published in 2023 by Solas Books.

Tell us about yourself?

Family wise, I’m blessed to be surrounded by three wonderful women – my wife Ines and our two grown-up two daughters. We live in Maynooth and I am an elder in Maynooth Community Church. I do a fair bit of preaching and speaking at various events and churches. Some favourite things include golf, hiking & camping, travel, reading, blogging, dinner with friends and time alone with Saint Bob (Dylan that is). I feel a calling to write for the wider church and have had The Message of Love (IVP) published in 2019 as well as quite a few other book chapters and articles.

What courses do you teach at �Ӱ�Pro?

Areas of teaching include Biblical Theology (the story of the Bible), Christology, The Holy Spirit and the Christian Life, Faith and Contemporary Culture, and Issues in Contemporary Theology. In the Masters’ degree I teach a module on evangelical theology which is a subject I studied for my PhD.

Why are you passionate about your subjects?

I teach theology at �Ӱ�Pro. But a much better way of putting that rather dry sentence (!) is that I have the enormous privilege of learning and growing with Christians from all over Ireland in what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ in today’s world. I’m passionate about that because there is nothing the Church in Ireland needs more is men and women who have a love for God, his Word and can teach and lead others in their own context.

Why does your subject matter?

I could keep going about every subject I teach, but I guess a common theme is helping students discover for themselves the richness and relevance of God’s Word for every aspect of life and ministry today. For example, in biblical theology class there are few things are more exciting than to see students really ‘get’ how the Bible fits together and what place we have within God’s redemptive story today. Or how Christology unlocks the whole New Testament since Jesus is on pretty well every page – every author is, in their own way, telling the good news of how everything has changed because of the life, death, and resurrection of the Messiah.

How does your subjects shape people - head, hands, heart?

The word ‘theology’ tends to put a lot of people off. But, in fact, every Christian is doing theology every day, all the time – at home, at work, in church. How we treat others, what priorities shape our lives, what we say to someone in pain, what we do with our money, how we spend our time, what we hope for when things get tough are all examples of ‘theology in action’. My goal is for students to think, feel and act in ways in line with the gospel – in whatever God has called to them to.

Helping people to understand and engage with the Bible is a major focal point in my Christian journey. I came to faith through reading the Bible when I was an engineering student (I hadn't read it much before then); I experienced God's call on my life to teach the Bible and I have had both the privilege of studying it (BA in Theology, MA in Aspects of Biblical Interpretation) and researching how other people have experienced engaging with the Bible (PhD [DCU]: “Because it tells me so:” A qualitative investigation of the lived experience of engaging with the Bible in evangelical faith communities).

I am deeply convinced not just about the truth and relevance of the Bible to today's world, but also about how important it is to help others engage with it. I spent seven years in the UK encouraging and enabling students of theology and religious studies to remain committed to the Bible. I then spent 12 years from 1995 in Thurles, Co Tipperary as a pastor teaching the Bible to a local church, attempting to put into practice the things I had said to and learned from others.

I have been involved with �Ӱ�Pro since 1995, at first as a volunteer teacher in the Irish Bible School (Co Tipperary) and then with �Ӱ�Pro. In 2003 I became a part-time employee with �Ӱ�Pro to set up the MA Programme. I have had various roles in �Ӱ�Pro, and was appointed Principal in 2018.

My teaching at �Ӱ�Pro follows the theme of the Bible and its engagement, linking together the personal experience of my Christian journey and my research interests. Christian life and ministry is built on the Bible and handling it responsibly is a crucial skill; I teach modules in Bible interpretation to 1st, 2nd and 3rd years. But not only is it vitally important to handle the Bible responsibly, it is also critical to use it to engage with the complexities of life; I teach a 2nd and 3rd year Christian ethics module that seeks to do just that. If the Bible is so important for Christian communities, preaching and teaching the Bible is a skill that needs to be thought about and enhanced; I teach an MA modules that aims to enable teachers and preachers of the Bible to reflect on their practice.

I am married to Joan, who also teaches at �Ӱ�Pro and we have two grown-up children. We are involved in various aspects of ministry in a local church in west Dublin. My interests include walking, working in the garden, DIY projects, reading, and drinking coffee with family and friends.

Tell us a bit about yourself?

My name is Mimi Kelly (Dr Miriam A Kelly) and I grew up in Irishtown; a little village near Sandymount Strand on the Southside of Dublin. When I was growing up our family spent the summer months on the beach and I still love swimming and going for walks by the sea with my husband Tony.

My main role in �Ӱ�Pro is overseeing and supporting the students on our Master’s programme. I also help out on our undergraduate programme and provide academic guidance to the students and I teach the Story of the Irish Church Module.

Why are you passionate about Church History?

From a very young age history and how society functions have always fascinated me and the story of the Irish Church is an important module for anyone who lives and works in Ireland. Understanding that Ireland has a very rich and ancient history, yet is a relatively new Republic can help students fully appreciate the context in which they live and minister. If contextualising the Gospel in contemporary Irish society is a key goal for the church then gaining a broader appreciation of Irish history and the history of Christianity in Ireland, then the story of the Irish Church is a valuable module.

How does Church History shape - head, hands, heart?

The story of the Irish Church module gives the student an opportunity to engage and interact with primary sources from the early church and see how Christianity has shaped Irish society through the centuries. It offers different perspectives on a range of key developments and major figures that have helped shape Irish society and the Irish church. Time for discussion and reflection is important part of the module as it aids students to explore how they can apply their learning in their own context and helps them appreciate the history of different faith traditions in contemporary Ireland.

Tell us a bit about yourself?

I grew up on a farm in Country Antrim but since 1977 when I moved to live in Cork for 2 years I have lived in Dublin, England, Thurles and since 2007 Dublin. I trained as a geography teacher but also taught English to Asian adults while living in England.  I worked with Christian Unions Ireland in the early 1980s and it was a real privilege to travel around Ireland supporting Christian students in their witness on campus and meeting church leaders all over the country.

I live in Dublin 15 and am involved with Dublin West Community Church, leading the mission team and ladies Bible study and also involved with a growth group and pastoral care within the church.

I have 2 adult children who with friends help me to switch off often by playing board games.  I also enjoy stretching my mind by watching quizzes and ‘who done it’ type of murder mysteries.

What course do you teach at �Ӱ�Pro?

I teach pastoral care from first year to MA and also coordinate the Ministry and Personal Development module for first years.

Why are you passionate about Pastoral Care?

I love teaching pastoral care as it is about living our faith, expressing what we believe about God and life in how we relate to others especially when life is painful and difficult.  We deal with many complex subjects such as depression but in the module there is always hope because God brings hope and we can be of help to others.  

Why does Pastoral Care matter?

Someone said, “People don’t care what you know until they know that you care” I think this is true and therefore caring for others is putting into action what Jesus said (John 13:34-35) that others will know we are Christians by our love, so pastoral care is essential for godly growth and for outreach.

How does Pastoral Care shape people - head, hands, heart?

Often people do not want to get involved in listening to someone who is struggling because they feel they will not know how to help or what advice to give.  Our classes take away that pressure by emphasising how we can care by listening and showing God’s care to people and helping them to get the input that they need which may not be from just us. 

He has taught at the �Ӱ�Pro since 2007, as well as in secondary school and higher-level institutional settings. His expertise extends beyond academia, as he has actively engaged in various roles within the church and non-profit sectors since 1985. His experiences range from founding and leading a youth group for underprivileged inner-city youth, and groups for university students, to education and rehabilitation efforts among drug and prison offenders. He has served in church leadership roles for almost 35 years, including as a Senior Pastor. His real-life industrial experience (craftsperson in the wood industry) and his academic achievements enrich his teaching and mentoring roles, enabling him to make meaningful contributions to diverse church, educational, and community initiatives. Paul has and continues to travel widely and has spoken and ministered in Ireland, various EU countries, and North and South America.

He holds a doctorate from Dublin City University, which has equipped him with an in-depth understanding of educational dynamics, research methodology, spiritual formation, and community building. He has also earned master’s and bachelor’s degrees in applied theology from the University of Wales. Additionally, he has a postgraduate certificate in Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Enterprise (level 9) from University College Dublin, and has conducted research at Trinity College Dublin, exploring themes related to motivation and community building among people facing challenging circumstances. He has previously worked in the wood industry and holds an LCGI and numerous qualifications from TU, Dublin.

Paul has and continues to teach in the areas of Discipleship, modules on various New Testament subjects, and Homiletics, as well as Supervising undergraduate and postgraduate research students in writing their dissertations. He maintains broad research interests as indicated above, and these include, the letters of the New Testament, the importance of Christian unity, Spiritual formation, the church as an impactful and educational community, and the experience of the Holy Spirit.

He is married to Caroline, and they have a wonderful daughter. While widely travelled they have always lived in Dublin. 

Tell us a little bit about yourself?

I have been �Ӱ�Pro's Online Learning Coordinator for 7 years now and it thrills me to be involved in making Bible study more accessible in Ireland and beyond. I love learning and helping others to learn, especially when it means helping people engage with the Bible.

I live in West Cork where I am part of Amazing Grace Community Church in Skibbereen. I am married to Tom and we have a 3-year-old boy, Perran. We are bi-vocational missionaries with European Christian Mission.
In my free time, I love being outdoors - especially by the sea - walking, swimming, surfing, kayaking...whatever/whenever I can! 

What is your role in �Ӱ�Pro?

As the online learning coordinator, I get to teach a whole range of courses online as they are based on a selection of our modules in �Ӱ�Pro. I facilitate courses such Biblical Interpretation, The Life and Teaching of Jesus, The Story of the Bible, Church History, Old Testament Survey and Pastoral Care. I also teach some of the first year BA module Interpreting and applying the bible.

Why are you passionate about Online learning?

Online learning is exciting! Firstly, I love how flexible it is for those who cannot get to the classroom in �Ӱ�Pro. It’s such a valuable opportunity for people to access quality material in their own time and to study at their own pace. At the same time, online learning is also very interactive. I work hard to ensure people still learn in community. This is a vital part of the learning experience. In the online classroom, we require students to consistently reflect and respond to what they are studying and to engage with the ideas of their classmates. At first this can take some getting used to – there’s no option to sit quietly like you might in a physical classroom setting! Active learning is a big benefit of online learning – if you commit to engaging well, you will learn lots. Finally, online learning is dynamic. Combining a mix of media and resources, online courses cater for all kinds of learning styles. 

How does Online Learning shape people - head, hands, heart?

Our online courses are designed to biblically inform minds, develop godly character and equip people for living life and doing ministry. Reflective class discussions foster this kind of learning. It’s one of my favourite parts of the job – hearing from students how their study has changed their understanding, their attitudes and how it will get applied in their own context. All the while, I’m there to help people tease out their thoughts – I get the fun job of asking questions and encouraging students to ask their own!

Why are you passionate about Biblical Interpretation? Why does it matter?

God has been gracious enough to communicate with us and when you open your Bible, you’re looking at how he decided to do it - a collection of 66 different kinds of books, written in two ancient languages, over the space of 1,500 years! If this is how God has made himself known to us, then I think it is worth working hard to interpret it and apply it correctly. The Bible should shape all of life – interpreting it wisely should be the foundation for everything we think, everything we value and everything we do! Living life and doing ministry biblically requires us to know how to read Scripture well. In a nutshell: through the Bible, God is speaking. We need to learn how to listen.

Sometimes I think it’s a shame how every page of our bibles “looks” the same! If you really step into the Bible, rather than monotonous terrain, you will find a beautifully varied literary landscape. God has chosen to communicate with us and engage with us in so many different ways. This is a particular passion of mine. I love exploring that as well as a theological and historical book, the Bible is a divinely inspired literary work. It says what it says in a very intentional way – God has designed it to intrigue your thoughts, shape your heart and move you to transformed living. That is worth paying attention to!

It’s my privilege and joy to get to teach Biblical Interpretation to students both in the classroom in �Ӱ�Pro and online. 

Jonathan teaches Church and Ministry.

Tell us a little bit about yourself?

My name is Jonathan Reid, I was brought up in Dublin and studied History at Trinity College Dublin. While a student I was very involved with the Christian Union and went on to work voluntarily with them both in Dublin and also in Ukraine for three years. I was then on staff with the CUs in Dublin for five years so the whole student movement had quite a formative influence on my outlook on life and faith and the interaction of both. For the last 15 years I have been pastoring a church in Wexford town; Wexford Bible Church. As I began that role, I studied in the Masters programme at �Ӱ�Pro in preparation for church ministry. I am married to Hazel and we have four daughters aged 16, 14, 12 and 8. I’d like to say I have extensive and varied other interests but family life is pretty full on at the moment with the girls involved in ballet, gymnastics, music, football and hockey. So aside from the church ministry I enjoy watching Leinster play rugby (Ireland – not so enjoyable at the moment!) and getting quiet moments to go for coffee and read a book! 

What course do you teach at �Ӱ�Pro?

I am teaching the module on Church and Ministry in the degree programme. 

Why are you passionate about Church and Ministry

I am passionate about Church and Ministry as it is vital that those involved in ministry take time out to examine their presuppositions and guiding principles when it comes to church. Such examination forces one to ask foundational questions about the nature of church and why we do what we do. There is a real danger when it comes to ministry that people drift into being more involved and taking on more responsibility without ever having asked and sought answers to foundational questions, such as; ‘what is church?’, ‘what are the functions of church?’ and ‘what are the best forms by which we can fulfil those functions?’ 

Why does Church and Ministry matter?

This subject matters as it is important to have students who are able to articulate what their objectives are in the different ministries of the church. It will help churches to have leaders who are more focused and know what they are trying to achieve. Also, in terms of mission, I would hope that students catch something of the importance of evangelism and a broader vision of what it is that they are called to. We discuss the relationship between evangelism and social action and how church engages with the community and acts as salt and light. 

How does the Church and Ministry course shape people - head, hands, heart?

The module begins by looking at the different biblical images for church and how each of those images shape and add something unique to our overall picture of what the church is to be like. We then look at some of the functions of the church, eg; Worship, Teaching, Building Community, Equipping, Evangelism, Social Action and Leadership. We then go on to think about what forms those functions might take. This is, perhaps, where this course has challenged me the most and helped me in my own ministry. Often the forms practiced in local churches have been heavily influenced by what has always been done or by particularly influential churches in other cultures. In this module we seek to examine different forms and think together about what fits best given our Irish culture and history. 

As we look at these functions and their varied forms there is reading to engage with and critically analyse and there are tools for the students to use as they examine the strengths and weaknesses of their own specific local church ministries.  

Tell us a bit about yourself?

I am the team leader of . I am married to Ashling and we have three adult children, all in university. I trained as a primary school teacher and taught for 11 years before taking up the role of youth pastor in Grosvenor Road Baptist Church, where I served for 16 years.

Prior to my role with Grosvenor Road Baptist Church, I served for 15 years in a voluntary capacity with the youth work of Dublin Christian Mission (DCM).

I am passionate about developing youth ministry across Ireland through training, supporting and mentoring leaders for local youth ministry. In addition to serving with DCM and Grosvenor Road Baptist Church, I have been teaching the youth ministry module in the �Ӱ�Pro since 2007, having previously coordinated and taught on the Youthworks course.

I enjoy partnering with others in youth ministry to run camps and activities for teens, using every opportunity to encourage leaders towards developing discipling ministries founded on clear, gospel-focussed Bible teaching communicated creatively.

Why are you passionate about Youth Ministry?

I am passionate about helping students to see how the Bible, clearly understood and clearly and creatively taught, is foundational and central to any youth ministry strategy. I love guiding and encouraging students to take the time to carefully observe what the Bible actually says rather than simply passing on messages we’ve heard. I love challenging students to place the teaching of God’s word at the very core of the ministries they’re involved in and watching with them in faith for God to bring growth to the seed that they have carefully planted or watered.

Why does Youth Ministry matter?

Youth Ministry is about investing time and energy in young people, in partnership with parents and the church family, to serve young people with the word of God and a clear gospel message so that they have every opportunity to trust in Jesus and become mature believers as part of the wider church family so that they’ll not only survive in a dark world but be salt and light in it.

As youth ministries are nurtured as part of the ministry of the whole church and in partnership with parents, whole churches are strengthened and young people find they have a spiritual home where they can belong.

How does studying Youth Ministry shape people - head, hands, heart?

The Youth Ministry Module challenges students’ heads. It challenges perceptions of youth ministry and exposes models of youth ministry that are unhelpful and ineffective in developing faith and spiritual growth.

The Youth Ministry Module ignites students’ hearts. It gives students a greater love and appreciation for God’s Word. As we look together at various scriptures we find, like the two on the road to Emmaus, that our hearts are warmed as Jesus and his life-changing message are revealed to us through its pages.

The Youth Ministry Module empowers students’ hands. As students gain confidence in handling God’s word with teens they begin building their whole programme around the truths they’re exploring and communicating. This makes the teaching of God’s Word a holistic and interactive experience with messages communicated in memorable ways.

Tell us a little bit about yourself?

I live in Magheralin, a small village near Lurgan, in the North. Previously I have lived in several places, not least Nyon, in Switzerland where I lived for 17 years while I was pastor of an international church. I am married to Pauline, who has her own counselling practice, and we have 2 daughters and 2 grandchildren.

Beyond my work at �Ӱ�Pro I also teach at Belfast Bible College and the Irish Baptist College. I have an itinerant preaching ministry and also host a podcast - the Leadership Journey Podcast.

Most Saturday mornings you will find me running Parkrun - it’s not too fast and has got even slower recently, though in mitigation I have been recovering from a heart attack that had me in a blue light ambulance in October!

What course do you teach at �Ӱ�Pro?

I teach on both the BA and MA programme and my area of teaching at both levels is leadership.

Why are you passionate about leadership?

I have been in and around Christian leadership for almost 30 years, as a leader, a student of leadership and a teacher and mentor. While it may be true that the importance of leadership feels as though it is sometimes overplayed (what about the followers?), most of us realise that leadership matters. 

For me it is a great privilege to have some input into the lives and thinking of a new generation of leaders. It is exciting to see leaders grow in their leadership and self-awareness.

Why does leadership matter

It’s easy for bad or incompetent leadership to stunt an organisation and frustrate people (and churches), but good leadership can help them to thrive. And of course in the context of �Ӱ�Pro, we have a great opportunity to work out how our leadership and our faith intersect.

How does studying leadership shape people - head, hands, heart?

The best leadership is leadership that flows from who the leader is, and that means head, heart, and hands. There is plenty of thinking to be done as we try to understand leadership and as we attempt to sift through the mountain of material that is written and taught with the aim of properly integrating the best of it with Scripture, even as we allow some of the commonplaces to be challenged. Our hearts matter because character counts; and there are skills and practices that need to become part of our leadership.

My name is Linda and I grew up on the north side of Dublin. I moved to Lucan in 1997 with my husband Gerry, where we are raising our two teenage children. I love playing board games, watching superhero movies, hiking, and spending time with friends.

I worked for many years in a corporate role until redundancy led me to consider attending Bible college. My journey at �Ӱ�Pro began as a BA student in 2017 and I haven’t left since! I am currently studying on the MA programme.

I teach Study Skills at Certificate and Diploma Levels and I am active in local church leadership. The Study Skills course greatly benefited me and helped me make the most of my studies at �Ӱ�Pro. It is my pleasure to help students settle into college life and focus not solely on their grades but to begin a journey of transformation of head, heart and hands.

Walter McConnell originally comes from a small town near Seattle in America, but now lives in Coleraine. He served with OMF in Taiwan for about eight years as a church planter and theological educator. After completing his PhD in Old Testament at Queen’s University of Belfast, he taught for seven years at the Singapore Bible College where he was head of the OT department and served as director of the Ichthus Research Institute for Biblical and Theological Studies. From 2010–2013, he was a pastor at the Belfast Chinese Christian Church, before returning to Singapore to be the Head of Mission Research for OMF and the editor of Mission Round Table, OMF’s journal for reflective practitioners. He has written a variety of articles on Old Testament, mission, and worship, and is awaiting the publication of How Majestic is Your Name: An Introduction to Biblical Worship.

Walter is married to Claire and they have five grown children and four grandchildren.