People often ask me “what did you learn at Bible College? I tell them I learnt that God loves me – might sound basic or simplistic or even something I should have known before going to Bible College! But ĐÓ°ÉPro increased my understanding of God’s love for me. This happened through the modules studied, the assignments completed and just being in the ĐÓ°ÉPro community – We don’t learn everything from books! And I think ministry involvement without that foundational grounding in God’s love can slip into seeking to earn God’s love, or at least it can for me! So, the increasing understanding of God’s love is essential (Ephesians 3: 16 – 19) 

I work in education, teaching PE at post primary and third level. I prefer teaching the Bible though because it is truth and it never changes. I find teaching methods and best practice in the PE world is always subject to change of the latest research. I love the solidity of God’s Word.

I am the youth ministry coordinator within two church communities. These churches are in Kilternan and Greystones. My role includes the running of the youth groups that take place in each of the communities.

Just because I am a youth pastor though, doesn’t mean I am strictly focused on them. Within the ministry you engage with a wide variety of people, including parents, grandparents and the leaders who help keep the ministry going. My role gives me the space to encourage, train and equip the leaders to be better leaders within their context. Although my studies were youth ministry focused, I am finding more and more that being a model leader for other leaders and for youth is more important. Demonstrating biblical leadership on a daily basis and creating a culture within that framework so to better express the love of God to others through action rather than just words is vitally important to me.

My time in ĐÓ°ÉPro gave the opportunity to find my voice, my confidence in leading and ability to serve the needs of others. It was a lot of trial and error – and still is! But ĐÓ°ÉPro gave me the tools to be better than I was before. The challenging parts of modules where I had to stand up and share, whether it was MPD, Preaching, Pneumatology or Christology. These modules, whatever the subject, gave me the opportunity to better learn, better teach and better experience more of who God is and the all surpassing love he has shown. The culture in ĐÓ°ÉPro gave me that chance – where grace abounded by fellow students and lecturers! I want that for the communities that I am involved in… where grace abounds.

Tommy Kyaw Tun

ĐÓ°ÉPro has just been a wonderful place to learn, explore and grow in our faith and knowledge in God and his Word. The various ways to do the courses and blended learning opportunities mean that busy people can still have opportunities to enroll and learn. I know this from personal experience! The teachers are clearly very experienced and love teaching and caring for us as students, as part of their calling and for the love of God and his Church. I would especially recommend those who are leading and serving in Ireland to consider further equipping themselves in ĐÓ°ÉPro, enabling them to love God even more with their heads, hearts and hands.

Through the teaching and mentoring that I received from ĐÓ°ÉPro, I was
introduced to theologians and authors of a calibre that radically enhanced
my knowledge and experience of God. Without a doubt, my ĐÓ°ÉPro experience has
been the highlight of my journey of faith of some forty years. My only
regret is that I did not connect with ĐÓ°ÉPro earlier as a young Christian.

In the Biblical Interpretation module, I learnt a comprehensive method of
using appropriate tools to study different genres in the Bible. This greatly
enhanced my faith and although I may not know all of the answers to every
question about God, working on the assignments gave my confidence in
tackling challenging issues a great boost. For example, as a church leader I
have dealt with some very real concerns of believers relating to a
Christians response to State restrictions due to the Pandemic. I believe I
was able to approach these challenges with a new level of competency,
because of the ĐÓ°ÉPro training I had received.

My early encounters with ĐÓ°ÉPro at the commencement of my course could be
likened to upgrading from a black and white TV with bunny ears to the most
recent smart high definition colour set. My experience of God and
Christianity became sharper, clearer and to be truthful, much more
colourful. I recall being impacted by one author, Grant Osborne, who
recommended treating Bible study as a “hobby.” I have followed his advice
and it put a new perspective on my enjoyment of study, leading to a greater
appreciation of God and his word. The resources available within ĐÓ°ÉPro,
through the staff, library and online help make this possible.

David Hamilton.

“ĐÓ°ÉPro has been the fulfillment of a lifelong desire to study, it has been much more than I expected because of the community, the love, and the modeling of servant leadership.  It has been a place of hope for me and for the Irish church and I am leaving with new skills, a fresh relationship with the Lord, and many deep and wonderful relationships within the body of Christ in Ireland. ĐÓ°ÉPro is a safe place in which to explore all of the questions that we want to address but never make the time to, and it provides the resources and the support to do that.”

I've thoroughly enjoyed the learning experience and especially the fellowship with staff and fellow students at ĐÓ°ÉPro, that was one of the things I've valued most from the module teaching weeks.  It really is quite a wonderful and grace centred environment that you all have nurtured.  Not only were those times in class inspiring, challenging and rewarding they were also deeply enriching and encouraging and something I looked forward to immensely.  

I found the research process to be deeply rewarding and working on my project was one of the most rewarding endeavours I've ever undertaken.  I learned so much and I also feel like it is something that is of benefit to others and I've already had some opportunities to share something of my research and learning.  Again, I would like to express my thanks to you and Alan for your support and encouragement throughout this aspect of the course.  

Studying with ĐÓ°ÉPro has been one of the highlights of my life and ministry.  I know I'm a better leader and a better disciple because of it... all is grace!  

I know it won't be the end of my learning journey, if we can get this health situation resolved perhaps there may be further study in the future and I have a little dream percolating to take the insights and learning from my research and perhaps write a book or a resource that could be of benefit to leaders.

It has been an honour to be a student at ĐÓ°ÉPro, and my heart is filled with thankfulness for all I have learned and experienced.  

Recently a door did finally open and I will be working 2 days a week in the Office (doing the financial and other admin stuff) for a Christian Charity organisation which deals with prisoners and ex-prisoners. As well as doing the office work, I hope to be involved in mentoring ex-prisoners on a one to one basis. I'm really excited about getting back to office work and especially the mentoring.  

I know that my time with ĐÓ°ÉPro and especially my two Semesters on 'Pastoral Care' have prepared me for this next stage of my life. So, I just wanted to say thanks to you the staff of ĐÓ°ÉPro and the lecturers for preparing me for this exciting adventure. I began and finished my time with ĐÓ°ÉPro without much clue of what it was preparing me for but I need not to have been concerned as God has prepared the way ahead though we may not see it at the time.

 Pat Hyland

We wanted to reconnect with them and see how they were rising to the challenges of this time and talk to them about what they are doing.

Shane Maguire is Youth Pastor at St. Catherine’s Church in Dublin. Shane graduated with a Diploma in Applied Theology in 2018.

My time in ĐÓ°ÉPro was most certainly one of personal expansion, as I grew in the applied word and benefited from meaningful friendships formed throughout my time there. 

Having been for many years a serious student of the Word, I was excited to embark on a new season of more organised and academic study in the Bible. I found the course both challenging and profitable as I have taken with me skills that helped me to approach ministry in a more reflective way. I was especially drawn to the holistic perspective used within the ĐÓ°ÉPro curriculum which highlights a renewed mind, a transformed heart resulting in a practical outworking within my personal relationships. 

The training I received while attending ĐÓ°ÉPro helped prepare me for the next stage of my ministry and has equipped me to serve God and His church in an increasing way. 

 I have the privilege to serve in a leadership capacity on a National ladies team which runs various conferences around the country for women during the year. I am finding that the skills of biblical servanthood, persevering grace and incorporating oneness through diversity, are all helping to produce expansion and development in the body of Christ.   

God is opening doors for both my husband (Larry) and I to serve churches both in Ireland and overseas, establishing and encouraging them through the preaching of the Word.

We are proving St. Paul’s own words... it is neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase (1 Cort.3:7).

ĐÓ°ÉPro has been vital in my personal journey with God. Throughout the course I have learnt the value of Bible reading and context when examining a passage.

I have also learnt about the importance of different ministries and denominations in order to construct the body of Christ. ĐÓ°ÉPro is great at getting people from different backgrounds working together, learning and growing with each other.

In college I have also created friendships that have extended beyond the classroom and have become lifelong friendships that I could not be happier about.

I have learnt how to serve better and how to be better equipped. ĐÓ°ÉPro taught me how important it is to set up achievable goals and how to receive constructive criticism.

If anything I feel like ĐÓ°ÉPro is beyond the college business, I personally feel that they are in the character building business. ĐÓ°ÉPro has really impacted my life in a very positive way.

I can only thank God for the love and support that I have received throughout the 3 year program I was privileged to complete and I cannot recommend ĐÓ°ÉPro enough.

I completed the one year certificate in Applied Theology at ĐÓ°ÉPro, but since then I have remained a frequent visitor and also came back to take the Old Testament Wisdom Literature and Youth Ministry modules.
I LOVED my time at ĐÓ°ÉPro and while it was a time for me to learn and grow in my own personal faith, it was also a period where I learned a lot of skills that have equipped me to be more effective in my ministry – in daily life, in my Church as I lead the children/youth ministry and within my workplace in the city.
I am currently working at Dublin Christian Mission as one of the youth workers. Due to the nature of inner-city life and the problems that people face on a daily basis, I found the module on Pastoral Care particularly useful. It showed me simple and effective ways that I could help people as they work through many difficult situations. I also found the communication module extremely practical as I learned many useful tips that I have been able to apply as I have been preparing and delivering talks to our children and young people, but also as we visit churches to share of our work here in the mission!

Leanne Shields