NIMA 2026

Back To The Beginning

Creation, Fall, Redemption and Restoration - The Message of Genesis

November 9 - 10 2026
Maze Presbyterian Church
Northern Ireland Ministry Assembly Header Image

For NIMA 2026 we go ‘back to the beginning’ as we turn to the Book of Genesis and look together at Chs.1-11 which lay the foundations for the unfolding of the biblical revelation of creation, fall, redemption and restoration.

We are delighted to be joined again by Christopher Ash who has spoken at previous NIMA conferences and by Mark Pickles who is a newcomer to NIMA but has spoken at various events for ministers in training and Union Theological College.

Mark will focus on the first five chapters of Genesis which include the creation narratives and humanity’s fall resulting in judgement and death with no way back to the tree of life.

Christopher will focus on chapters six to ten where we have the story of Noah in relation to judgement and salvation.

Mark will conclude our conference with Genesis 11 where we have the confusion of language and the dispersal of the peoples following their attempt to construct the Tower of Babel.

When

Monday 9th and Tuesday 10th November 2026

Cost

Full assembly: £70 (£40 for student/apprentice) One day: £45 (£25 for student/apprentice)

Where

Maze Presbyterian Church

How to get there: From the M1 take the Sprucefield exit and follow the signs for Hillsborough/Dublin/Newry onto the A1 dual carriageway. After 1 mile and at the top of the hill you will see a sign pointing right for Culcavy. This road is Harrys Road. Travel for 1 mile, go straight across the crossroads, and onto Aghnatrisk Road, which again is 1 mile long. At this crossroads turn right – past houses and a Methodist church. Once over the motorway bridge the Church is on the left – in total it's just over 3 miles from Sprucefield.

Speakers:

Christopher Ash

Tyndale House, Cambridge

Christopher is a preacher, teacher, and writer. After working in telecommunications and as a teacher of maths, Christopher studied theology at Oxford, where he was awarded the Denyer and Johnson prize. They belong to Cambridge Presbyterian Church. As Writer-in-Residence at Tyndale House, Christopher hopes to encourage younger scholars to grow in faithful loving loyalty to Jesus, and to use their gifts to serve the church of Christ. In recent years Christopher’s writing has focused on the Psalms, culminating in the publication in 2024 of his four-volume commentary on the Psalms.

Mark Pickles

St. Andrew’s & Emmanuel Church, Cheadle Hulme

Mark, originally from Birkenhead, became a Christian as a teenager and was ordained in the Chester Diocese. He served as an incumbent in Wharton, Winsford where he met and married Diane. They later moved to Duffield, Derbyshire for 14 years and then London for Mark to teach at Oak Hill College. In 2017, Mark became Director of Training for the North West Gospel Partnership. Since 2022 Mark has served as Victor of St. Andrew’s & Emmanuel Church in Cheadle Hulme. He and Diane have three children, Ainsley, Jake & Reuben.