Dave Kangas spent almost 30 years in television, working on everything from Ant & Dec to The Oscars, before answering God’s call to full-time ministry. Now Minister in Training at Muswell Hill Baptist Church and studying at St Hild’s Centre for Baptist Ministry, he shares how God has been redeeming his past for his future.
I’m a father of two, husband of one, fan of most, and on loan to London.
I was born in Bolton, Greater Manchester, although these days I call North London home. I’m married to Claire, a primary school teacher in inner-city Tottenham, and we have two wonderful boys: Woody, who is studying for a master’s and qualifying to be a solicitor, and Benny, who works as a camera operator in television and film.
Thirty years in the arts, music and television
My background is perhaps a little unconventional for someone training for Baptist ministry. I’ve spent almost 30 years working in the arts, music and television, first as a performer, actor and musician, then behind the camera as a producer, director and creative director. I’ve worked with some wonderful people and organisations in both the UK and the US, creating much-loved and much-talked-about content across factual, entertainment, kids and family, and live events. That includes everything from Ant & Dec to SpongeBob SquarePants, from Big Brother to The Kardashians, The Oscars and Traitors!
I’ve always loved storytelling. I believe stories have an extraordinary ability to connect with people, communicate truth and change lives.
A faith that began at Sunday School
But there’s another thread running through my life.
I wasn’t born into a Christian family. It was the faithfulness of a local Sunday School, which offered to take me and my older sister along to the local church, that led my whole family and our neighbours to come to know Jesus in the early 1980s. I confirmed my commitment in my early teens and was later baptised at a Campaigners teen camp in North Wales. My faith in Jesus has remained central to who I am ever since.
Over the years I’ve served in local churches (Anglican and Baptist) and with a range of Christian organisations, including Youth for Christ, Saltmine Band, Scripture Union, Operation Mobilisation, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Open Air Campaigners and Alpha at HTB. There was even a chapter of my career spent in Christian television and radio, using media to share the Gospel.
Laying it all down
And now, somewhat unexpectedly, God has opened a new chapter in my life.
In short, it was obedience. Like Samuel, I felt God calling me to lay down my job and serve him full time as a pastor in our own church. He reminded me of all our previous conversations, dreams and visions, and challenged me to “lay it all down… and follow Him 100%”.
When Muswell Hill Baptist Church (MHBC) invited me to become their minister, it felt like a remarkable confirmation of something God had been quietly preparing in me for years. After a most unbelievable year, I was inducted into ministry there in September 2026, where I now serve as Minister-in-Training.
After almost 30 years in television, I felt God’s calling to lay down my job and serve Him full time. If God can use a television producer from Bolton to help make Jesus known, then there’s hope for absolutely anybody!”
Why St Hild
I really believe that God qualifies the called, so studying at St Hild through the Centre for Baptist Ministry became a natural and important part of that calling. An obvious choice. Who wouldn’t want to wake up at 4am and travel from London to Sheffield every week? Not a good idea, but a God idea!
It’s great to be back up north, and St Hild and everyone there have quickly become a real blessing. I’m pursuing a BA (Hons) in Theology, Ministry and Mission, validated by Durham University, combining academic study with practical ministry in the local church. I want to grow in my understanding of Scripture, deepen my theological foundations and become a wiser, more compassionate and better-equipped pastor.
But more than simply gaining a qualification, I want to be formed. I don’t just want to know more about God. I want to know Him more deeply, become more like Jesus and help others discover the extraordinary hope found in Him. For me, St Hild is not simply preparation for ministry. It’s part of the ministry itself.
Learning to be a student again
One of the greatest surprises has been discovering just how much I needed to become a student again.
After decades in television, building and leading teams, making decisions, solving problems, writing scripts, giving the right people the right words to say at the right time in the right ear, and delivering productions on time and on budget, I had become fairly accustomed to being the person expected to have the answers. Then you arrive at theological college and discover just how much you don’t know. Strangely, that’s incredibly liberating.
St Hild has created a space where it’s perfectly acceptable to ask questions, wrestle with Scripture and explore different theological perspectives (rubbing shoulders with Baptists and Anglicans!), and to admit you haven’t always quite worked everything out. I’ve particularly appreciated the gentle, thoughtful and inclusive approach of the tutors, who bring considerable theological knowledge as well as a real understanding of the practical realities of ministry.
Sunrise, sunset and surprising friendships
I see the sunrise on my way up from London to Sheffield and, after a day of learning, worship, formation, fellowship and reflection, I see the sunset on my way home. Whether I’m driving or taking the train (I mix and match), Mondays have become a “Wow!” day. I see the hand of God from start to finish, with amazing chance meetings, conversations and revelations book-ended by sun-up and sun-down reflections.
Another unexpected blessing has been the relationships. Studying alongside people from different backgrounds, traditions and stages of life has been enormously enriching. We arrive with different experiences and perspectives, but we’re united by a desire to know Christ more deeply and serve Him faithfully.
The gift of slowing down
I’ve also discovered the importance of slowing down. Television production is fast, deadline-driven and relentlessly focused on the finished product. Theological formation asks something rather different of us: to listen, reflect, pray, question and allow God to do His work within us.
I’m learning that ministry isn’t simply about what I can do for God. It’s also about who God is shaping me to be. And perhaps that’s the greatest blessing of all.
Good news from Muswell Hill
There’s something wonderful about new beginnings, and there’s a growing sense of expectation at MHBC.
The church has faithfully served its community for 124 years. That’s an extraordinary legacy of prayer, worship, witness and service, and generations of people have given their time, energy and lives to making Jesus known in this part of North London. My privilege is not to start something from scratch, but to build on those foundations and discern together what God might be calling us into next.
We’ve been developing a renewed vision centred on three simple priorities: Making Jesus Known. Renewing His Church. Transforming Lives. We’re exploring new ways of welcoming people, building relationships, developing teams, encouraging discipleship and reaching out into our community. We’re asking some big questions. How can we become a church where people of every generation and background feel genuinely welcomed? How can we equip “ordinary” Christians to discover their gifts and serve as “extraordinary believers”? How can we make the good news of Jesus understandable and accessible to the people around us? We’ve even started exploring what it takes to make our 124-year-old building fit for purpose in this century!
And the church is growing. Membership is increasing, lives are being changed and folk are being baptised in the Holy Spirit.
God doesn’t waste our experiences
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that God doesn’t waste our experiences.
For years I worked in an industry that might seem a world away from pastoral ministry. But I’m increasingly discovering that my work and previous Christian service have been preparing me for exactly where I am today. Television taught me how to tell stories, communicate clearly, build and lead teams, listen to people, work creatively and navigate the occasional challenging personality! All of those skills have found a new purpose in ministry.
Following God’s call doesn’t always mean abandoning everything that’s gone before. Sometimes it means allowing Him to redeem, reshape and redirect the gifts and experiences He’s already given us.
Don’t disqualify yourself
My advice to anyone considering theological study or exploring a call to ministry is simple: don’t disqualify yourself.
Don’t assume you’re too old, too young, too inexperienced, too busy, too ordinary, or that your background doesn’t fit the mould. God has a remarkable habit of calling unlikely people. He doesn’t often call the qualified; he qualifies the called.
Don’t wait until you feel completely ready. I’m not sure any of us ever do! Surround yourself with people who will pray with you, encourage you, challenge you and help you discern God’s voice. And above all, remain teachable.
I often return to a very simple prayer: “Less of me, more of Him.”
Ultimately, ministry isn’t about building our own reputation, creating impressive programmes or even growing an organisation. It’s about making Jesus known. And if God can use a television producer from Bolton to help do that, then there’s hope for absolutely anybody!
