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Vicar announced resignation to pursue teaching in Asia

Monday, 1 June 2009

With mixed emotions, Reverend Dr. Paul Barker, Vicar at Holy Trinity Doncaster (HTD) and former Board Member at Ridley College, announced his resignation as HTD Vicar and instead would now focus on teaching in Asian seminary colleges.

After 13 years of presiding over HTD, Reverend Barker reminisced with Christian Today Australia of the growth that had occurred at the church. He recounted how the Chinese Church started from a few attendances to a current Sunday Service packed with congregants.

Acknowledging it was not easy to resign, he believed it was ‘God’s call on me’ to begin teaching in seminaries across Asia, sponsored by the Church Missionary Society (CMS).

Part of CMS outreach program is to station theologians in Asia, given it is one of the fastest regions for evangelism. Dr. Barker asserted that both his marital status and educational qualification would enable him to stay in countries, such as India and Burma, on a longer basis; thus enhancing the program effectiveness.

“..Being single, and with a Ph.D. means I have some facility to be able to assist in places where I already have taught, as well in some others,” he wrote in the Inside Look HTD newsletter.

“Also the more frequent visits will help this ministry more effective, mentoring faculty and students.”

Some of the theological colleges, Reverend Barker will be teaching in includes: Malaysian Theological Seminary in Seremban, MEGST in Yangon, and SAIACS in India.

He concluded his newsletter by thanking God for blessing him with outstanding people around and asked people to pray for the selection of a new vicar at HTD.

 

Taken from Christianity Today

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