Menna Machreth tells the story that led to Hannah Smethursts’ Ordination and Induction held at Caersalem Caernarfon on the 12th of October. A huge congratulations to Hannah, and we pray every blessing upon the Caersalem Caernarfon family as they begin this new chapter…
Hannah Smethurst is a familiar face to everyone in Caersalem and the churches of the Arfon Association by now, but the first time I met her was over dinner at the Smethurst family home when I had gone to speak about BMS and global mission in Llanelli. Paul, Hannah’s father, had overseen the merger of two churches to create Hope Gobaith Church, and Paul was particularly interested in mission among Welsh speakers. Little did we know at the time that God had a special plan for his daughter in this very context.
Hannah grew up in Pembrokeshire and then Llanelli, in a household dedicated to serving God and demonstrating the love of Christ in word and deed. Hannah’s upbringing has certainly deeply imbibed her and who she is today. She went on to UWTSD and graduated in education, but didn’t immediately go on to teach.
The next time I saw Hannah was at an interview for the Team for Wales’ gap year, a year-long scheme for young people to experience missional work in local churches and abroad, alongside training from BMS. That year, Simeon and I had planned for the team to work with the churches of the Arfon Association, so speaking Welsh was essential. Although Hannah brightened up in the interview, she wasn’t confident enough at the time to say a word of Welsh. We decided in faith to appoint Hannah to the team asking her to practice, and we prayed relentlessly all summer! It will be amusing for you to know that her Welsh tutor that summer was no-one other than Helen Treharne, wife of a former Caersalem minister.
October came, and the three members of the team – Hannah, Gruffydd and Eleri – landed at Coleg Gwyn in Bangor – that’s where they were going to live, thanks to the kindness of Coleg Gwyn and the arrangements of the Reverend Ieuan Elfryn Jones. Much to my relief, Hannah had a tonne of Welsh, and her confidence grew during the year! It wasn’t just her confidence to speak Welsh that developed that year, but her talent to serve, the way she cared for people, her learning talent, along with perseverance, leaning on God in prayer, and creativity in responding to different situations.
It was clear from that time that Hannah had truly found a home and community in Caersalem, and that this church was a place where she would be able to grow and root herself more deeply in God. At the end of the year, Hannah felt the need to go home for a while and wait on God’s leading. She got a job as a classroom assistant at a Welsh language school in Swansea. And then, shortly after, lockdown came. A difficult time for everyone, but it was also a time for Hannah to reflect and seek God’s guidance. She joined the Derwen scheme, and Hannah asked me to be her mentor, so we met online for a while.
Soon after, an opportunity came for Caersalem to work together with the Baptist Union to offer Hannah an Internship Plan to come back to the Arfon Association and spend time serving the church.
Following the Internship Scheme, Hannah became a Placement Ministry student in Caersalem and also had the opportunity to assist with youth work in Bangor in conjunction with Emaus Church and Berea Newydd. Thank you to the Arfon Association and the Baptist Union for financial support in maintaining Hannah through the College Internship and Training Scheme. Thanks are also due to the College for preparing Hannah for ministry in a way that is relevant and meets today’s challenges head on, and for every support and guidance that has been offered.
Thank you to the Baptist Union of Wales – Judith, Simeon, Marc, and all the team – for your vision in a very difficult time for the Christian church in Wales, in between the old structures but with an eye on the new things God wants to do in Wales, and being ready to reimagine mission with the strength of the Holy Spirit.
A short word about Hannah’s ministry over the past few years – the Little Stars group blessing the parents and young children in the area, youth work supporting young people to get to know and have a relationship with the Lord Jesus, Caru Caersalem in collaboration with Lowri and Jan which was such a special time of building an all-age community and showing God’s love in a real and meaningful way to people from all backgrounds. It has been a privilege to see Hannah grow in her spiritual gifts and in her relationship with God.
In January 2024, the Caersalem Leadership Team began to consider whether there was a possibility of calling Hannah as a minister to work alongside Rhys Llwyd after the training period had come to an end. God has been good, and has blessed us extensively over recent years in Caersalem and it was time to call for further help to serve the church, make disciples and drive forward our mission in this town.
In Spring 2024, Caersalem voted as a church to call Hannah as an associate minister, and Hannah accepted the call. I would like to thank everyone at Caersalem for the way they encouraged and cared for Hannah over the past few years, and gave her a safe space to nurture her gifts as a leader. Special thanks also to Arwel Jones, the church secretary, for the arrangements in formally calling Hannah, for his care with the financial arrangements, and for his leadership to invest in faith in mission. It is important that church secretaries and treasurers understand mission just as much as spreadsheets!
An Induction and Ordination service full of fun and spirit was held on Saturday 12th October 2024 in Caersalem. The ordination and induction was hosted by Rosa Hunt of the College, there was an address by Simeon Baker and also a greeting by the President of the Baptist Union of Wales, Geraint Morse. Worship, prayers and readings were led by church members and youth.
Hannah, the blessing of the Lord be upon you as you are ordained Associate Minister for all ages at Caersalem. The role is new, it’s innovative and it’s an exciting opportunity to help us as God’s people in Caersalem and Caernarfon step out in faith to see the good news of Jesus Christ change lives.