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Luke Randall

Christian golfer Bernhard Langer has retired from playing on the DP World Tour aged 66. The German made his debut on the tour in 1974 and played in his last DP World Tour event at the BMW International Open in Munich, where he also played professionally for the first time.

Langer played in over 500 events during a 50-year career which featured two wins at The Masters, appearances as a player and captain at the Ryder Cup, and 42 tournament wins on the DP World Tour. He became known as one of European golf’s ‘big five’ alongside greats such as Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo and Sandy Lyle during the 1980s and 1990s.

Luke Randall

The Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship (UCCF) has announced that Peter Dray will leave his role as Director of Creative Evangelism in early September, after working with them for over 20 years.

Initially a Staff Worker and then Team Leader in North-East England, Dray has supervised 24 Relay Workers and over 20 Staff Workers, and also briefly served as Interim Executive Director in December 2022. He also played a crucial role in keeping several Christian Unions (CUs) afloat during the pandemic.

Mostyn Roberts retired at the end of July after more than 25 years as pastor of Welwyn Evangelical Church, Hertfordshire.

At a thanksgiving service on Saturday 13 July, the congregation gave thanks to God for his faithfulness to Mostyn and the church over this time. Stan Evers, a member of the church, preached from Acts 20 on ‘The man, the message and the method’ of ministry. At tea afterwards a presentation was made to Mostyn and his wife Hilary. The church is thankful for the provision of a new pastor to take over immediately, Jamie Campbell. His Induction service is planned for Saturday 19 October, the preacher to be Gerard Hemmings of Amyand Park Chapel.

Ciarán Kelly has been appointed as the new Director of The Christian Institute. The move follows the death of Institute founder and Director, Colin Hart, in March.

Ciarán Kelly, 48, joined the Newcastle-based evangelical charity in 2014. He has been promoted to Director after a rigorous four-month process led by the Institute’s Chairman of Trustees, Richard Turnbull. Ciarán took on the role of ‘Acting Director’ in March 2024 following the death of Mr Hart from a sudden heart attack.

Luke Randall

Malcolm Laver, General Secretary of the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC) between 1988 and 1998, has died aged 87. He was a husband, father and grandfather.

Born in 1936, he served as FIEC’s Assistant General Secretary in 1979, before serving as General Secretary from 1988 until his retirement ten years later. During retirement, he helped form the FIEC Pastor’s Association, which he served as Secretary until 2002.

Iain Taylor

Peter John Kerridge, who has died aged 63, will be remembered as the man whose vision and leadership transformed Premier from a struggling radio station into Europe’s largest Christian media organisation.

Born in Gateshead, he started training for the Baptist ministry in 1986 and then read theology at Oxford University. He was appointed associate minister at Avenue Baptist Church, Southend-on-Sea and also worked as a presenter at Essex Radio, where he became religious and community affairs manager.

Luke Randall

Esther Prior has been named as the new Chair of Trustees at Trinity College, Bristol.

She replaces Richard Jackson, Bishop of Hereford, who stood down following his appointment to the House of Lords and Clerk of the Closet to King Charles III.

A new CEO, Matt Lillicrap, is heading to Christian student organisation UCCF.

He will begin his role at the Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship (UCCF) in the Autumn.

The Trustees of the Proclamation Trust (PT) are delighted to announce the appointment of Robin Sydserff as the new Director. Robin is currently senior pastor of Chalmers Church, Edinburgh and is also chair of the Bonar Trust which seeks to develop, fund and train gospel workers.

Robin has been appointed after a rigorous recruitment process that was run for us by the recruitment specialists, Carnelian, alongside the PT Trustees. This process involved 150 candidates being considered from across a wide range of denominational and independent church backgrounds. Robin and his wife Sally are excited about the potential of this new role and are hoping to move to London to start at PT in the autumn. Robin is committed to engaging with our many friends and partners as we seek to serve local churches by training men and women in Word ministry.

Luke Randall

King Charles III has become the Patron of the Church Pastoral Aid Society (CPAS).

He takes over from his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II in support of the Anglican evangelical mission agency, which said in an Instagram post that it is ‘delighted’ the King wants to continue to have a relationship with them.

Iain Taylor

Dave Newton took over as National Director of Scripture Union (SU) in March. Now he has his feet under the desk, Evangelicals Now asked him about his vision for its future.

SU was originally founded in 1867 to help adults and children know God through the Bible. Today, its 1,500 volunteers run over 60 camps and missions a year.

Luke Randall

Ben Stansfield has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of Global Connections, (GC) replacing Chris Wigram who had served in an interim capacity in recent months.

GC exists to equip the UK church and mission community in the world. Ben has spent over 25 years working for international charities, church ministries and discipleship ministries, so has helpful experience ahead of taking on the role.

Luke Randall

Jake Tasker has been inducted as the pastor of Bury Street Community Church, Enfield, London.

He has spent much of the past year serving as Pastor Designate and takes on the role having studied at Oak Hill Theological College. Formed in 2017, the church is a member of the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC) and Together for Mission (TFM).