About Montaz Ali

History

I was born in Bangladesh in 1973, but grew up in state care in the West Midlands, UK. I was convinced from an early age that there was a God, but didn't know who He was or the way to Him. I prayed every evening before sleeping, but God seemed distant and I found little comfort or peace. At high school I was given a Gideon's New Testament which I felt drawn to and loved to read, although I understood very little. My school friend and I (who's now also in the ministry) often spoke of God and our search for Him. At the age of 16, by which time my desire to know God had grown, Martin (my school friend) invited me to a Church where I was introduced to the Christian faith. I believed immediately and assisted by the pastor, I sought God's forgiveness and committed my life to following Christ - God's Son, who's death on the Cross paid the penalty for my failure to live by God's standard. I'd finally found the peace of being forgiven for everything I'd ever done wrong, and an assurance of God's love and abiding presence with me - it was a brand new start - one that would change the course and destiny of my life for ever.

Theological Training

Having found Christ, or rather been found by Him, I found a new motivation and purpose for life - knowing and serving God - that's what life is all about. I thus abandoned my ambition to pursue a career in aviation (believing it would distract me from my new-found passion to preach), and instead began to prepare for vocational Christian service by being committed to and faithfully serving my local Church, utilising the gifts the Lord had given me. In addition I worked as a CAD/ CAM engineer for 10 years, until the Lord opened the door for me to train for the ministry by reading theology at Wales Evangelical School of Theology (W.E.S.T.) - formerly Bryntirion/ ETCW. I gained a 2:1 BA Honours Degree in Theology. My time at college has been one of the high-points of my life.

Pastoral Work

My passion to serve Christ vocationally became a reality in 2006 when I accepted a call to be the pastor of Trinity. My approach to Church and preaching is conservative and yet contemporary - presenting ancient apostolic truths in a contemporary manner to a contemporary world. 

I'm convinced that ongoing training is essential to remaining fresh and potent in the ministry and thus ensure I participate in ministers' conferences regularly as well as doing ongoing theological studies at W.E.S.T. I'm planning to study a MTh at the school in the near future. One of the key tenants of my pastoral work is training/ preparing 'God's people for works of service.' (Eph 4:12)

I regard the work of shepherding God's flock as the greatest privilege in life, and daily acknowledge the great grace I have found in being saved and being used to save and nurture others. At the heart of my pastoral ministry is 'Preaching, Pastoring and Prayer' - I endeavour to give myself to the study of God's Word in preparation for preaching, to give myself to spending quality time with my flock and to give myself to humbly seeking God's supernatural aid in serving His Church. In all this I’m constantly in touch with my inadequacies to fulfil such an awesome calling, confessing with the Apostle, ‘who is equal to such a task?’ (2 Cor 2:16) and thus, in the spirit of Solomon, my life's prayer is, Lord ‘give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?' (2 Chr 1:10) 

Affiliations

I'm a member of the FIEC Pastors' Association and I regularly attend Proclamation Trust ministers' conferences. My wife and I really enjoy and benefit greatly from attending the New Word Alive family conference and on occasions the EMW Aberystwyth conference.

I could be described as a reformed conservative evangelical. I am fully committed to the historical reformed faith, but am also committed to ongoing reformation, and the expression of my faith/ Church in an engaging, lively, exciting and relevant way. I am committed to preaching in an expository manner, generally working systematically through books of the Bible. I believe the Church is to be led/ governed/ directed through the Word by a plurality of elders/ pastors. I believe it is essential that Christians gather to hear the Word preached and baptism is only for those who profess faith in Christ. I believe that God created the world in six literal days, as detailed in Genesis 1-2. I hold an ‘open but cautious’ view of the supernatural gifts, a cautious Amillennial view of eschatology, and I believe the Christian life is the fulfilment of the OT Sabbath. Much of my theology has been shaped by teachers such as Don Carson (my favourite preacher/ teacher), R. C. Sproul, Wayne Grudem, W.E.S.T. and the Proclamation Trust.

Family

I met my wife Naomi at a Church in the West Midlands where we both attended - we married in 2002. We are blessed with a baby girl, Tiffany Faith Ali, born 23rd November 2012. Tiffany has brought great joy to us and we daily praise God for 'fearfully and wonderfully making her' and giving her as a gift to us. We love pets and have a blue and gold Macaw parrot named Rainbow and a blue-crowned Conure parrot named Echo. 

After completing her degree in German & Performing Arts in Leicester, Naomi trained for primary school teaching at Swansea Institute whilst I was training for the ministry. She taught at a primary school in Kent during my pastorate, as well as doing private piano and violin tuition. Naomi also used to be the assistant co-ordinator of music at Trinity and on occasions sings solo pieces in Church services. She has an interest in musical instruments and is currently learning to play the guitar and harp. In addition Naomi has qualifications in British Sign Language (BSL) and hopes to use it in Church work.

Naomi really enjoys joining a United Beach Missions' team each year which reaches out with the gospel to holiday makers around the country, as well as being a leader at WEC children's camps.   

Interests

I love listening to sermons, and reading and studying Scripture. I find that the deeper one looks into God's Word the more magnetic and bottomless it becomes. In addition my wife and I really enjoy watching films (particularly at the cinema) and international travel. We've had the privilege of visiting some fantastic locations around the world. We also enjoy eating out - especially at curry restaurants (although I also really enjoy a steak meal). 

My interests also include: golf (my favourite sport to play (badly!)), badminton, rc modelling, scuba diving, theatre, reading, history, and watching comedy and F1 on television.

I believe that all of life is worship offered to God and thus, endeavour to bring Him glory in all things, ‘ . . . whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.’ (The Apostle Paul - 1 Cor 10:31)