Ivan & Carol Watson. Ivan
Carol and I grew up in different parts of Northern Ireland. We had the privilege of having Christian parents who taught us Bible truths. This however did not make us Christians. We both had to realise that we were sinners and that we needed to trust in the Lord Jesus to forgive our sins and to bring us into God's family. Both of us came to know and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour while we were children. As young people we became involved in children's work ourselves and met each other at a training course organised by Child Evangelism Fellowship. I had already commenced studying medicine at Queens University Belfast and Carol was soon to follow. We were married shortly after Carol graduated in 1995.

We both thought that God may be leading us into full time Christian work but we were unclear about the details. We worked in various hospitals before moving to Ballymoney where I completed my General Practitioner training in a local family practice. During this time we joined the fellowship of Ballymoney Baptist Church. The church recommended that we undertake a 1year theological course at the European Missionary Fellowship college in Welwyn. During this year it became clearer that God was calling me to the pastoral ministry. We also came in contact with the church in Dunstable and it was agreed that I should continue training alongside the pastor, Paul Brown.

Carol and I moved to Dunstable in September 1998 with our 18 month old son Peter. Our second son Daniel was born the following January and Anna arrived in July 2002. We have been made to feel most welcome in Dunstable. Both the church here and in Ballymoney recognised that God had called me to the pastoral ministry and I was asked to work as an assistant pastor from the beginning of 2000. Sometime later the church asked me to continue as pastor after Paul Brown retired. This took place in June 2003. We are thankful to the Lord for all his goodness to us and we look to him to guide us in the future.

People sometimes ask me why I left my job as a doctor. I usually answer that question in two ways. First of all I believe that God has called me into the ministry which I am now involved in. The time as a doctor has been useful as a preparation for this. Secondly I would say that although medical work is both necessary and worthwhile it cannot deal with the deepest need which we as humans have. That need is the need to be made right with God. While I was working in hospitals and as a GP I met many people with complex problems. Trying to help them with these problems made me more aware of the great spiritual needs which people have. It is beneficial to "patch up" the body and mind but one day if a person is not converted they will still have to face God's wrath forever. The need therefore for "physicians of souls" is compelling.

Jesus once said, "Do not fear those who kill the body but fear rather him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28). The good news that we want everyone to know is that this same "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John3:16).