Swindon Elim Church

In the three years since Steve and Debbie Gunn came to take up the pastorate in Swindon the church has doubled in size. They are pictured here with twins Naomi and Daniel - two fabulous guys who are right into all that God is currently doing in the church.

After the morning service I met people who had recently come to faith as well as those who, like Mr and Mrs Bowden, who had been in the congregation since it was planted in the days of Elim's founder George Jeffries over seventy years ago!

MIT Conference

It's common knowledge that the three-day Conference for Ministers in Training is one of the most important dates in my calendar. Around eighty men and women who are progressing towards ordination as an Elim minister - a qualification that in most cases takes around five years to achieve - gathered at our college in Nantwich. This was the last time that this Conference will be held at that venue as in 2010 it will be conducted at our New International Centre in Malvern.

There was a varied line up of speakers drawn from our National Leadership Team and pastors from within and outside our Movement. Those taking part were Dave Campbell, Barry Killick, Kevin Peat, Nigel Tween, Jim Dick, Simon Jarvis, Johnny Law, Richard Taylor and myself.

The high caliber of young leaders that are in the process of taking their place within the life of our Movement augers very well for our future.

New Waters Christian Fellowship- Cleveleys

Among the greatest heroes in our Movement are bi-vocational pastors. These are leaders who already carry a full or part time career and have committed themselves to serve the local church in leadership where the church is in the process of being planted or, for whatever reason, the congregation is small. In order to progress towards ordination they will have attended college at their own expense or given quality to time to study while holding down a secular job and taking responsibility for the local church.

Both Alan and Beverley Drake (pictured here with their son Adam) have responsible and demanding roles within the NHS and for the past three years have given leadership to New Waters Christian Fellowship,

It was great to be with the growing group of people whose church is situated in the heart of this holiday resort in the North West of England