Previous Speakers
Summer 2011:
The Rev. Dr Stuart Blythe is a lecturer at the Scottish Baptist College situated within the University of the West of Scotland, Paisley campus. Previous to teaching at the college he was minister in two Baptist Churches, Springburn Baptist and then Kirkintilloch Baptist, the latter first as youth minister and then as the senior minister. Stuart has been married to Susanne for over 25 years and they have two grown up children, Stephen and Kim Michal who are both at University studying Human Rights Law and Languages respectively. The family have a dog called ‘Max’ the name he had when they got him from the Cat and Dog home and an animal that Stuart describes as constantly in need of help! Over the years Stuart has spoken at a range of national events most recently last year at the Baptist Union of Scotland’s Annual assembly where he was one of the speakers addressing the issue of ‘Communities of Conviction’. His teaching interests involve theology and practical theology engaging with such issues as communication and culture, Church and mission. Stuart would describe himself as something of a developing activist in relation to issues of peace and justice. To relax Stuart likes to walk, read, escape to sea side, and to play the bagpipes. For the first time in thirty years he has recently rejoined a pipe band. This will be the third time that he has spoken at Keswick in Buckie.
Jeremy McQuoid is the Teaching Pastor at Deeside Christian Fellowship in Aberdeen (www.dcfchurch.org.uk). He earned his Masters degree in Theology, and his Doctorate in preaching from the USA, and is passionate about relevant, biblical preaching and training younger leaders. His first book How to Set Your Heart on Fire, explores the meaning of true discipleship. Jeremy is married to Liz, a trustee and writer for the Keswick Convention, and they have 3 boys – Mark, Daniel and Nathan.
Victor Jack is one of seven sons. All of them became committed Christians and useful in Christian service. His father came from Strathaven in Lanarkshire, so part of him belongs in Scotland. Victor with his wife Meg have been involved in pioneer evangelism and bible teaching in Suffolk since 1964. Together they initiated the Sizewell Hall Christian Conference and Camping Centre in 1975 through which over 200,000 people have passed. More recently, an African Village has been built in the woods in the grounds. Large numbers of students now come for an African experience under Christian leaders. A highlight for Victor was the privilege of chairing the Billy Graham mission at Portman Road football ground in Ipswich in 1984. Victor is also chairman of the Garden Tomb (Jerusalem) Association. He makes regular visits to Israel to support the director and the staff. This will be Victor’s second visit to Buckie, but this time without his dear wife Meg who died with cancer in 2010 after 48 years of serving God together.
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Summer 2012:
Rev. Alan McKnight
"I have been in leadership at Plains Evangelical Church for 17 years and for the past 11 years have served as Pastor. Married to Pamela we have three children Kieran, Rebekah and Daniel, two of whom have flown the nest. Over the past 8 years I have been involved with the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC) and currently serves on the fellowship's Trust Board. I am passionate about encouraging independent fellowships to work together in training, mission and caring for one another.
Rev. Wayne Sutton
Originally from New York, Wayne has been the Senior pastor of Carrubbers Christian Centre in Edinburgh since 1996. At the “Heart of the Royal Mile” Carrubbers is a growing and developing church community with a vision to Fulfill the Great Commission and Obey the Great Commandment. As well as his pastoral duties at Carrubbers Wayne has had a wide ranging ministry of Bible teaching throughout the United Kingdom in many churches, conferences and Christian Unions. Wayne also directs the Institute of Biblical Studies, a two year Bible training programme which is located at Carrubbers. Wayne is married to Sarah and has two daughters, Rachel and Naomi.
Pastor Paul Mallard
Paul Mallard was born and brought up in Birmingham. He studied theology at Cambridge University and following his graduation he worked as a teacher in Wiltshire for 5 years.
In 1982 Paul became pastor at Ladyfield Evangelical Church, Chippenham where he served for 13 years. Paul moved to Worcester in 1995, spending 15 years as the senior pastor at Woodgreen Evangelical Church before returning to the great city of Birmingham in 2010.
Paul now splits his time between two roles. As Associate Pastor at Monyhull Church he has specific responsibility for training and development. His other role, as Director of the Midlands Gospel Partnership, sees Paul promoting co-operation between a network of gospel churches throughout the Midlands, as well as heading up the Midlands Ministry Training Course.
Paul is married to Edrie and they have four children and three granddaughters. Paul is a keen follower of West Bromwich Albion.
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Winter 2013:
JOHN MERSON
John Merson was brought up in Portsoy. When he left school he went to the fishing out of Fraserburgh. After two years at sea he moved to Aberdeen to work in the offshore oil industry. At 25 he left Scotland for Brazil to run children’s camps and work with street children in Sao Paulo.
While in Sao Paulo he joined the chaplaincy team of the now infamous Carandiru prison. In 1993 John returned to Scotland and studied theology at Northumbria Bible College. For the last 18 years he has been working at Deeside Christian Fellowship as the Outreach Pastor. In recent years his ministry has become much more Urban focused with a greater emphasis on helping the marginalised and spearheading inner city ministries like the Lighthouse Support Centre in Tillydrone.
In 2009 John received his Masters in theology “Ministry in an urban world” from Aberdeen University through his studies at ICC.
He continues to have a huge passion for fishing. He is married to his Danish wife Anna, they have 4 children and have in the last year started fostering.
Winter 2014