Senior Elim leader reaches 90

What a pleasure for Regional leader Gordon Neale and I to visit veteran Elim minister and former General Superintendent Pastor Tom Walker on the occasion of his 90th birthday.

Tom Walker, pictured here with one of his daughters Kath Cooper, will soon have attained a massive 70 years in the Elim ministry.

Although physically not as mobile as he once was his intellect is as sharp as a pin and Gordon Neale (pictured right) and I enjoyed a very pleasant afternoon with him as he reminisced about times gone by as well as showing an acute interest in what is happening in the Movement today.  He committed his life and energy to Elim during the years  he was a pastor, Executive Council member (NLT), Field Superintendent and General Superintendent.  As we approach our centenary celebration his name will be numbered among our most significant leaders and someone who, under God, was used by him to bring immeasurable blessing and guidance to very many people.

Riverside Church, Bewdley

Just loved being at Riverside Elim in Bewdley.  Its one of those churches where there is a buzz long before the meeting begins and there has to be reasons why such a great  church triples its congregation in just two years.

I have known Carl Johnston (pictured) since he was  born and have watched him develop as a leader since he first worked as assistant pastor in Glasgow prior to becoming the senior minister in Bewdley.

I was in my very early twenties when I pastored my first church in Llantrisant, Wales and in those days a number of my leaders were just as young.  Now, like me they are in their sixties and one of them, Steve Thompkins, is the father of Danielle who is married to Carl.  Apart from her work within Riverside Danielle is the Aspire coordinator for the Midlands Region.

Motherwell, Scotland

Regular readers if this page will know how much Marilyn and I enjoy visiting our churches in Scotland - a country in which we spent fifteen years of our ministry.  So it was a particular pleasure to be in Elim, Motherwell pastored by John Murfin(pictured here with his wife Tracey and his two lovely daughters Bethany and Laura)

Marilyn spoke twice at a Women's Day on the Saturday and I spent time with the wider leadership group in the evening as well as ministering to the whole church on the Sunday morning.  It was great to witness a church in such good health and carrying such a sense of expectancy for the future.

Yeovil, Somerset

The vast majority of my time when interacting with the local church is spent in ministering to the local congregation.  However on some occasions a senior pastor invites me to spend time with his local leaders which usually consist of fellow-pastors and Elders.

It was on such occasion that I visited Yeovil - an excellent church whose senior pastor is Howard Davenport (pictured with his wife Emma and their children).  During the evening I was able to listen to the vision of the church leadership for their area and also share and answer questions about the vision of our wider Movement.  I very much enjoyed the time spent.

My visit coincided with the conclusion of a major refurbishment of the church that entailed the redesign of the front entrance and foyer areas and the upgrading of the multi-media in the main sanctuary (pictured).

Cork, Ireland

West Cork Community Church is situated in the small town of Bandon and led by Brian Synnott.  Though the Republic of Ireland is often not the easiest context to grow a church WCCC has grown by 25% in the past few months with the primary growth being among young people.

At the Sunday Morning service there were a number of first-time decisions for Christ and it was, as so often is the case, a pleasure to minister to a group of people who are so open to, and hungry for, the Word of God.

When spending time with Brian and Doris is was great to hear of their vision not just for the community on which they are ministering but for the whole of Ireland.  I trust and pray that all of the plans that they have shared will come to fruition.  It was a joy to be with them.

Ripley, Derbyshire

The Elim church in Ripley is one of our smaller churches. Smaller churches however often reflect large and expansive levels of commitment and this is certainly true in this case.  

The pastor of the church is Philip Yendle (pictured here with his wide Sheila) who was a successful lawyer before taking early retirement to lead the work in this area.

Our Movement honours those who minister without salary in order that local communities can be reached with the gospel.  Philip and Sheila are two wonderful people doing an excellent job.

Ambilly, France

Luc and Rachel Favre pioneered a church in Thonon France and in the past year or so have also taken over the leadership of the church in Ambilly which has a state-of-the-art building at the foot of Mont Blanc.

Flying in on the Friday Marilyn went to speak at a women's event in Thonon while I spoke at a men's meeting in Ambilly.  Saturday was spent teaching at their small Bible school and we then flew back from Geneva airport having spoken at the Sunday morning service in Ambilly.    It was a busy schedule and we are always grateful for the warm hospitality of Rachel and Luc when we stay in their home.

North East Region

Gordon Neale is the Regional Leader for the North East and Midlands Regions. I speak at a Regional Day (attended by most of the ministers in each region) every two years.  On this occasion I was at a three-day retreat in Scarborough.

Other people participating the in the conference were Alistair Cole, Paul Hudson and Kevin Peat.

As so often is the case, there is a great atmosphere at meetings of this nature and there are few things more inspiring than participating in worship with so many Elim Pastors and their spouses.

Teen Challenge

Teen Challenge is possibly the most respected, and certainly the largest, ministry in the world that exists to serve, in a Christian environment, those who have  endured addictive lifestyles.

The reason for my visit to Willoughby House - the phenomenal new facility near Leicester - was to minister to the staff members from around the UK.  It was a huge privilege.

I arrived at a time of transition.  Jay Fallon (pictured left) is an ordained Elim minister who for some time has been the the Teen Challenge Field Director.  To say that he and his wife Fiona do an amazing job is an understatement.
However Phil Hills, who until recently had been the pastor of the Elim Church in Dundonald, and who is Chief Executive of Teen Challenge UK had only days earlier been elected as the vice President of Global Teen Challenge.  Globally, Teen Challenge has 1100 centres in 93 countries - a total of 26,000 beds

With this powerful team now in place there is no limit to what will be achieved, under God, in the days that lie ahead.

Bow to Target Conference - Bristol

The Regional Leaders and myself have been travelling throughout the Movement with a leadership Conference entitled "From the bow to the target".  On this occasion we were in Bristol and the host Regional leader was Chris Cartwright and, apart from myself the speakers were Kevin Peat, Gordon Neale and David Campbell.  The weather was dreadful yet the attendance was amazing.  I can think of very few things  I enjoy more than spending times with the leaders around our Movement.  

Telford

  When anyone thinks of 'Telford' in Elim circles their mind is most likely to go to  our annual Bible Week or the S4G Gathering.  But our congregation in Telford has been there for many years.  However. when a few years ago Leslie (pictured left) and Joan Burke went there a few years ago there was only around a dozen people in the congregation and a dilapidated building.  What met me on my arrival was a family friendly congregation of around ninety people in a brand new church building - a great testimony to sacrifice  tenacity and solid ministry.

One of the pleasures of visiting church on a Sunday is spending time with the family of our leaders and pictured above are(left to right) Sarah-louise, Rebekah, Denver, Joan and Chloe.

CLC Birmingham

Twenty years ago Stuart and Amanda Blount (pictured here with their family - Matthew, Gareth and Lydia) came to Christian Life Centre - one of two great Elim Churches in the Selly Oak area of Birmingham.  

Fourteen years ago I spoke at the opening of their new building but it was not long before the rate of growth demanded that they move to three Sunday services

The first morning service was well filled and the second packed almost to capacity.  Around 600 people attend CLC every Sunday

Apart from leading this growing Church Stuart is also a member of Elim's National Leadership Team.

Brighton

I have watched with great interest the development of Christy and Linda Smith over the years - their work within local church and their heart for overseas missions particularly expressed through their involvement in Haiti.

Christy is now the lead pastor at Immanuel Family Church in Brighton.  As so often is the case, I met people who were there from some of the earliest days of this Elim church as well as those who had more recently come to faith.

Because I have very few Sundays free in the next two years that are not already booked, I spoke at a specially arranged mid-week meeting at which a very high proportion of the church attended.  Just a joy to be with this fine church in Brighton for the evening.

Serious4God

It is ten years ago that Serious4God, Elim's youth department, was formed.  Its new Director, Tim Alford (pictured) made one of his first priorities the bringing together of S4G leaders from across the Movement for a special conference at EIC Malvern under the title "S4G -Connect"

New to the role he may be, but it was clear to me  at the session that I was invited to speak that a very clear bond between him and the group had already been formed.  There was a great atmosphere there and I have every hope for the growth and development of Serious4God in the years that lie ahead.

St Albans

This was my first time at City Church, St. Albans since Phil Topping (pictured here with his wife Helen) had become the pastor.

City Church has always been a church that is open to the Holy Spirit and Marilyn and I very much enjoyed being in a service that was so 'open to God'

It was a particularly  good to spend time over lunch following the service with Phil and Helen - which afforded us the opportunity to get to know them better and hear their vision for the future.

March, Cambridgeshire

March is a Fenland market town and civil parish in the Isle of Ely area of Cambridgeshire and seventeen years ago Jim and Christine MacIntyre (pictured) took a step of faith to lease a building in the centre of the town having commenced meetings in their home some time  earlier.

My visit was to celebrate this anniversary and the meeting was attended by representatives of a number of churches in the area together with the local mayor and the member of parliament for the area, Steve Barclay

Lane End, Buckinghamshire

Anyone entering the small village of 'Lane End' on the outskirts of High Wycombe does not expect to see the fine modern building with a prominent Elim logo that looms up before them.

I very much enjoyed being with the church for their Sunday morning service that was followed by a lunch to which the whole congregation was invited.  

The picture is of the church leaders and includes the senior pastor Nick Whittome (third from left) and associate Alan Osborn (Centre)

Paisley, Scotland

Its always a pleasure to minister in Scotland where fifteen years of our ministry was spent either as a pastor or a Regional Leader.  When I first met Tom Paton who is now the  senior minister he was a single man.  On this visit so many years later three of his adult sons are in the Praise band with one of them, Callum, himself a 'Minister in Training'.

The church is was originally founded by one of Elim's primary Evangelists, Alex Tee, and today it is at its strongest both numerically and spiritually.  The weekend I was there marked twenty years since the current town centre building was first opened.
The picture shows Tom and  Jennifer (back row) with their son Neil.  Front row is daughter Hannah and sons Euan and Calum with his wife Kathryn.

Charismatic leaders Conference

For many years a Conference of Pentecostal and Charismatic leaders have met annually at the High Leigh Conference Centre.  It is currently led by Hugh Osgood and John Whitehead and I was  present as a speaker.  Not everyone is familiar with the word 'Charismatic' and in this context it refers to those, usually in traditional and historic Denominations, who have come into the same  'fulness of the spirit' as experienced by those of us in Pentecostal Churches.  Joel 2:28,29 promised how one day God would pour out His Spirit on all flesh and we thank God for contemporaty evidences of this across the world  with 640 million people who claim to have been Baptised in the Holy Spirit.

Lancaster - FM

As there is a two year lead-in time before I am able to visit a church, I have always prioritiesed engagements within our own Movement when accepting ministry invitations on a Sunday.

An exception to this was a visit to the Free Methodist church in Lancaster where I spoke at the morning and evening services and spent time with the pastor and local leaders over lunch.  The church has seen growth in recent months as a direct resukt of its engagement with the needs of the local community.