Helen Donaghy

Going Deeper

Students share their experiences of studying Applied Theology at IBI

(From the July - September 2021 issue of VOX) www.vox.ie

Helen Donaghy - Sligo

CEF worker Helen Donaghy never imagined she would have time to study theology. But all that changed when IBI began offering first-year students the opportunity to study “On Zoom” during lockdown.

Until 2019, I was caring for my mother-in-law and working alongside my husband, Brian in youth and children’s ministry with CEF. I’ve been a Sunday School teacher since I was 14 years old but I never felt confident in teaching the Bible. When Covid came, so much of our work was stripped away. With time on my hands, I did a short theology course with Cornhill in Belfast. It made me so hungry. I felt God saying, “I want you to delve into this more.” I came across IBI and this was the first year they were offering a certificate in Applied Theology via Zoom. Because I’m from Sligo, I would not have had the time to travel up and down to Dublin to study. But with the “On Zoom” learning, I could take two days out of my week.

I felt so encouraged by what I learned. I’ve now been released to do the part-time degree - one day a week for the next four years. I’m so happy about that! The course has been a huge help. I have more confidence in how to interpret the scriptures. They cover leadership, pastoral care, and ministry development. You do a lot of personal reflection and learn a lot about yourself.

“You can grow up having a blinkered view of things. When you come to college your mind is opened up.”

IBI helped me understand the Bible so much better. When studying the Old Testament I felt like I was one of the little people on Google maps - it becomes so real that you feel like you are right there, looking around you and seeing the different characters and the environment in which they lived. Another thing that came to life for me was Jesus’ humanity. I’ve been brought up in church and I’ve always known the divinity of Jesus. But I realised how the pain He experienced was as real as it is to us. He allowed himself to go through everything we do. You can grow up having a blinkered view of things. When you come to college your mind is opened up. I have so much more to learn. I don’t think I will ever stop learning. I’m not an academic person. I never thought I would get excited at the thought of doing assignments but because it is God’s word and it is living and active, it feels exciting.