A FORMER IT professional turned minister is hoping to form a strong connection with his new West End parish.
Ben Thorp will be inducted into Sandyford Henderson Memorial Church, Finnieston, during a small in-person service at 7pm today which will also be streamed live online.
The 44-year-old, originally from England, said he is “raring to go” in his Church of Scotland community, one of the most international in the city.
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Mr Thorp said: “I am excited about my ordination because it is the culmination of a long journey of discerning a call and then formal training.
“There is a part of me that's raring to go and finally start the work of ministry that I have been preparing for all these years.
“But at the same time, the task ahead can feel quite daunting as you begin to realise just how little you know.”
The former Scripture Union worker did his placements at churches in Bishopbriggs, Giffnock, and St Rollox.
He becomes Sandyford's first full time minister for nearly four years.
The married dad-of-two added: "The church was opened in 1855 and one of the early charges for the minister was the training of evangelists.
“Nowadays, the church is still marked by a deep commitment to mission and prayer.
“Recent years have seen a large increase in residential student buildings in the parish, so student ministry has become an important focus for the church.
“I look forward to being part of that whilst also developing how we reach out to the rest of the growing population in Finnieston.”
Session clerk, Noel Peacock, said: “We are delighted to welcome Ben as our new minister.
“His vision for ministry is perhaps best summed up in his own words – ‘At the centre of my calling is my belief in the importance of both making and maturing disciples, particularly through the preaching and application of Scripture.
“I believe that as we grow as disciples we also become more able and more effective in our outreach to those who have yet to know Jesus’”.
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