My Trek to Trefeca
My final course in the church and community master’s program at Trevecca allowed me the opportunity to travel abroad and study at the Nazarene Theological College in Didsury, Manchester, United Kingdom. That experience was extremely fulfilling, especially since I’d completed all of my bachelor’s and master’s courses online. The memory of actually sitting around tables with my classmates, listening to a lecture from Rev. Dr. Deirdre Bower-Latz, holds a deep place in my heart.
At the completion of that two-week learning initiative, my husband and I extended our stay and rented a car to explore England, Scotland and Wales. Despite the fact we were driving on the wrong side of the car and on the wrong side of the road and observing new and quite unique road signs, we covered 2,200 miles of breathtaking scenery and experienced God’s goodness in some remarkable ways. One of those was a stop in Powys, Wales, to visit Coleg Trefeca.
Coleg Trefeca is the institution from which our beloved Trevecca gets its name. The property is located among some spectacular scenery. The anticipation of visiting this historic place was both thrilling and humbling. An incredible sense of gratitude overwhelmed me as I stood next to the entrance sign; I was instantly reminded that there truly is no limit to what God can do!
The property was home to Howell Harris who was converted in 1735 during the outbreak of a Methodist revival. The property became the gathering place for the Christian community in that area. Originally, the college trained candidates for ministry. Today, it’s used as a training center where many Christian traditions gather for conferences and spiritual retreats.
Interestingly, Coleg Trefeca was part of a controversy. For the most part, the Church of England oversaw the education of the elite in established academic institutions such as Oxford and Cambridge. Coleg Trefeca, on the other hand, connected to students regardless of their financial means. That’s fitting, I think, considering the immense social justice work currently pursued at Trevecca Nazarene University.
Walking across the grounds, through the stonewalls, stepping where John Wesley had walked and preached the Word of God was a strangely warming and humbling experience. Standing behind the pulpit in the chapel (Y Capel Bach, meaning ‘small chapel’) started a stream of tears, tears of sheer wonder and thankfulness. For a few moments, there was a beautiful intersection of the past and present in my heart.
A conference was taking place while we were there, so we were unable to tour the entire facility, but we were able to visit the Harris Museum and the library, and the aromas from the dining hall were enticing. It was a gorgeous day, and I strolled over the property appreciating the beauty of it and listening to the sound of birds singing, not wanting to leave. Interestingly, according to the Urban Dictionary, trevecca is also the name for an uncommon gardening tool shared with neighbors. I marvel at God’s willingness to use uncommon things and people to accomplish His plans. I left Trefeca that afternoon with a deeper passion to share Him with others. Praise His holy name!