Experience in England helped student clarify calling

PLAINVIEW—Matt Johnston considers his last six months a divine appointment. To him, it’s no coincidence a month-long program in Oxford, England, easily transitioned into a semester mission term just a few away in Gateshead. And it’s also no happenstance the experience helped clarify his sense of calling to ministry.

Johnston, a junior religion major at Wayland Baptist University, recently returned from service in England, first as part of the Oxford summer program and then as a missionary in the fall semester through Go Now Missions, an arm of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

His first interest in the region came through Wayland’s honors program, where he learned of a travel study trip to England. Further research revealed Wayland’s partnership with the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities offered several travel study programs—specifically one in Oxford.  

After reading about the program, its emphasis on the study of religion and Christianity in England piqued his interest. Learning he could also gain course credit at Wayland while away sealed the deal for Johnston, a native of Alto, N.M.

After Johnston made his decision, he happened upon the Go Now list of options and noticed one was in England for the semester. Admittedly, Johnston said he didn’t give it much thought, but then a friend mentioned a ministry opportunity with youth in England and he did some research. It turned out to be the same program. 

That made Johnston wonder if God meant for him to serve in England for the rest of 2008, and he rushed to complete his Go Now application before the rapidly approaching deadline.

When things fell into place so smoothly—including the fact he could stay overseas and not make an extra trip—he considered it a divine appointment.

Young people in Gateshead, England, participating in a Friday evening youth club led by Matt Johnston (top left) form the shape of a teapot during game time. (PHOTOS/Courtesy of Wayland Baptist University)

Wayland offers its summer program in England in partnership with Wycliffe Hall, the theological college at Oxford. Johnston and 19 other undergraduates from colleges across the country participated in a rigorous academic program.

“In the mornings, we had seminars that were geared toward the history of Christianity on the British Isles,” Johnston said. “Then in the afternoons, we had topical classes to choose from. I picked one on C.S. Lewis and one on philosophy of faith.”

The study portion lasted Monday through Thursday, with evenings set aside for study and coursework. Fridays were devoted to group field trips to various cathedrals and other historic locations, many related to the religious history of the region.

Weekends were similar, with optional longer travel trips around the area. Johnston and many of his fellow students seized the opportunity to attend various churches in the area, including Christchurch at Oxford.

“It was cool to see the different styles of worship, even within the Anglican church. It ranged from high church to a more laid back style,” he said.

While his month at Oxford was mentally stimulating and challenging, he found Gateshead a much different place, due mostly to the atmosphere and the differing accents. Also, Gateshead is a smaller city of around 200,000 people, situated near a larger metropolitan area of Newcastle and the northern border where England meets Scotland.

Matt Johnston (right) poses with students to whom he taught religious education lessons at the Joseph Swan School, a public high school in Gateshead. (PHOTOS/Courtesy of Wayland Baptist University)

Americans were few there, and Johnston said despite only a six-hour car ride to his new temporary home, “it was like culture shock all over again.”

While in Gateshead, Johnston basically served as youth minister for the Durham Road Baptist Church, a congregation that numbers about 60 in Sunday attendance, staffed only by a pastor. His duties included leading a Friday youth club for junior high and high school students, helping with a church soccer league and teaching religious education lessons at two high schools in the city.

While he enjoyed the experience overall and said he learned much about church work, especially among the British, Johnston said he found the teaching to be surprisingly one of his favorite parts of the semester. He also enjoyed working with young adults, particularly a group affiliated with the 24-7 prayer movement, who provided encouragement and more peer fellowship.

Most important, Johnston returned to the United States with the realization God may be leading him in a different ministry path than he originally envisioned.

Through three years at Wayland, Johnston said he thought youth ministry was his calling, but he feels God spoke to him clearly about changing his direction. He was already considering seminary after he graduates from Wayland in December 2009, as well as further mission work, and those options may still be in his future. He also is considering teaching religion at a higher level as a possibility.

Besides being an honors student at Wayland, Johnston was also selected by the School of Religion and Philosophy as its Centennial Scholar for the celebration year. He is one of 20 such honorees, representing each academic school at the Plainview university and each of the other 12 campuses in the Wayland system.

“I think missions will be a big part of my life, whether it’s short term or for the rest of my life,” he said. “I know I was supposed to be there, and it was a great experience.”