EMBA Associates

Children, Young People and Families - Sarah Fegredo

Sarah has worked with children, young people and their families for the last twenty years, doing all sorts, including youth groups, holiday clubs, toddler groups and inter-generational worship. She trained with CYM at St. John’s College in Nottingham, followed by an MTh at Regent’s Park College focussing on young people and children, in particular involving young people in church meetings.  At the same time, she was ordained as an Accredited Youth Specialist.

Church Development Minister - Graham Dunn

The EMBA team are pleased to announce Revd Graham Dunn has offered to serve our churches as EMBA Associate in the area of Church Development. This role is primarily geared towards providing support to churches as they navigate their way through a challenging season. 

Graham has experience leading and encouraging Baptist churches in a variety of roles from church plant pioneer to lead minister in one of our larger churches.  Prior to his ordination and training at Regent’s Park College, Graham held leadership roles in the commercial world, including Chief Executive of a flower and plant business. His passion is to encourage the local church to thrive and be a beacon that reflects God’s light and hope into the community and beyond. 

Ministerial Development - Nick Swanson

Nick offers spiritual accompaniment, mentoring and pastoral supervision to a number of serving pastors and is committed to helping ministers find the most appropriate supportive network that will help them to develop both spiritually and in the delivery of their ministry.  

Nick's main role is therefore to help ministers consider which of the supportive disciplines recommended as part of the CMD initiative would meet their predominant need at this stage of life - Coaching, Mentoring, Pastoral Supervision, Spiritual accompaniment, Soul Friendship, Learning Communities.

Nick will also be acting as the EMBA's reference point for any ministers who are looking for a pastoral supervisor, would like to explore soul-friendship or are interested in a learning community.  

Pioneering Support - Sue Steer

Sue has been in pioneer ministry for 15 years.  Initially founding the Pathways Centre at Hinckley Baptist Church and developing a 7 day a week approach to being church, including developing dementia groups, Christian mindful meditation practice and partnering with local community groups.   Since 2016 she has worked in a new housing development with the remit of creating a healthy community for all faiths and none, resulting in Lubbesthorpe Alive CIC, as well as seeding a Christian missional community.  Sue trained in pioneer ministry through CMS, is accredited as a Pioneer Baptist Minister and is part of the BU Pioneer Round Table.

Spiritual Accompaniment - Stephen Ibbotson

EMBA has asked Stephen to become an Associate for Spirituality in our region.

One of his key emphases through his 40 years of ministry has been that we are not human in order to become spiritual, but we are spiritual in order to become human. He has ministered with the conviction that Christian spirituality must be about human flourishing or it is nothing, and that it is able to hold and offer insight into the whole of our human experience.

Training - Elaine Burrows & Nick Swanson

Elaine and Nick have already developed and delivered training courses in areas like pastoral care and leadership for the EMBA.

We are grateful that they are both willing to use their experience, gifts and skills to further develop this aspect of association life amongst us.

In this new role Elaine and Nick will work alongside the Regional Ministers in delivering training across the region.

From time to time they will offer courses to ministers and churches, but are also willing to be contacted regarding specific training needs you may have via email.