Andrew Neden becomes chair for Kingom Bank
Milla Ling-Davies
Date posted: 8 Nov 2024
Andrew Neden has officially been appointed as Chair of the Board for Christian bank Kingdom Bank, succeeding David Swanney who had held the role for the past ten years.
Neden is a chartered accountant who has worked in a variety of different roles, including the Global Chief Operating Officer in Financial Services for KPMG. While joining the board in December 2023, he was formally appointed as Chair in March and uses his wealth of experience in the financial sector to play a key part in the governance of the bank.
New minister for church on island of North Uist
Luke Randall
Date posted: 6 Nov 2024
David Ferguson has been inducted as the minister of North Uist, Grimsay and Berneray Free Church. The congregation, located in Carinish on the island of North Uist, had been vacant since June 2022, with Mark MacLeod serving as Interim Moderator.
Ferguson first preached for the church in May and was quickly invited back to do so again before accepting the call to be their minister. Iain Thomson, Moderator of the Western Isles Presbytery, preached from Romans during the induction service, while Macleod and former minister of the congregation Ronnie Morrison were also involved.
Simon Lennox appointed as CEO for The Word One to One
Milla Ling-Davies
Date posted: 4 Nov 2024
Simon Lennox has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer for The Word One to One, a charity that empowers Christians to read the Bible with unbelievers. He succeeds Le Fras Strydom, who will remain as Chief Operating Officer.
Having studied theology at Oxford University, Lennox has years of experience in both business and ministry. He joins The Word One to One after working for the Bible Study Fellowship International for over ten years. ‘There is nothing quite like witnessing the Spirit at work through the words of Jesus shared in conversation. That’s what The Word One to One is all about, and I’m excited to be part of it.’
18-year-old Christian cyclist dies
Luke Randall
Date posted: 2 Nov 2024
An 18-year-old Christian cyclist from Switzerland has died while competing in the World Championships in Zurich.
Muriel Furrer was competing in a junior race when a bad crash in a wooded area left her with an eventually fatal brain injury. No one had witnessed the accident and she had been lying in the area before she was found during the next race. Furrer had regularly spoken of her faith on social media, with her Instagram profile declaring ‘all things through Christ’. She regularly posted about how God had helped her during competitions.
Tributes paid for Daniel Bourdanné
Milla Ling-Davies
Date posted: 1 Nov 2024
Daniel Bourdanné, former General Secretary of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES), has died from cancer, aged 64.
Born in Chad, Bourdanné moved to Oxford in 2007 to lead IFES for 12 years – and from then to his death he worked with charity Africa Speaks to promote publishing Christian books across the continent. IFES Chair Michel Kenmogne said: ‘The history of the advance of the gospel throughout the world over the last four decades cannot be written without mentioning Daniel Bourdanné.’
Bear Grylls launches show with cast of The Chosen
Iain Taylor
Date posted: 30 Oct 2024
TV survivalist Bear Grylls is set to launch a new reality show, featuring the cast of Netflix series The Chosen, which is based on the life of Jesus. Grylls, a Christian, has said his faith is a ‘secret of strength’.
The show will involve Grylls asking cast members about their life and faith. He is also voicing CS Lewis’ book Mere Christianity for a devotional series on the prayer app ‘Hallow’ which he says will ‘be helpful for anyone curious about God or those interested in arguments to defend the faith better.’
NBA player quits basketball to pursue ministry
Luke Randall
Date posted: 30 Oct 2024
US National Basketball Association (NBA) basketball player A.J. Griffin has announced he is retiring from basketball to pursue Christian ministry.
The 21-year-old has only played two seasons in the division, but told fans on YouTube that letting go of basketball is allowing him ‘to go into full-time ministry and truly serve the Lord with all my heart, and with all my time too.’ Griffin said that although it ‘may seem like a loss in the world’s eyes,’ he is ‘super excited because I truly get to serve God with my full yes.’
Giving thanks for the life of Timothy Dudley-Smith
Luke Randall
Date posted: 29 Oct 2024
A thanksgiving service for the life of Timothy Dudley-Smith was held at St Andrew the Great Church, Cambridge, following his death in August, aged 97.
The renowned bishop and hymn-writer was remembered in tributes by his three children and some friends, before Giles Walter preached on Psalm 146, with church vicar Alasdair Paine leading the service. Dudley-Smith’s daughter-in-law Becky sang I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live, and son-in-law David Gill led prayers. His son James said: ‘Gratitude for the gospel is even greater in the midst of grief, and our hearts were lifted through every part of the service.
New minister for Govan Free Church
Luke Randall
Date posted: 27 Oct 2024
David MacPherson has been appointed as the new minister of Govan Free Church. He moves to the West Glasgow congregation following ministry in other congregations including Bon Accord Free Church in Aberdeen and Greenock Free Church, as well as a period of mission work in Peru.
About 85 people attended the service of induction, which saw the church induct only its second-ever minister, following Norman Mackay’s departure in 2022. Mackay had planted the church in 2013.
New CEO appointed for 10ofThose USA
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 25 Oct 2024
Christian books distributor and publisher 10of Those USA has appointed Anthony Gosling as its new Chief Executive Officer.
Anthony makes the move after 14 years at Crossway, most recently as Chief Operating Officer. His wife, Lorraine, has been appointed his Executive Assistant. Anthony said: ‘We are thrilled to be joining Jonathan [Carswell] and the 10ofThose team after so many years of watching its growth and development with admiration and appreciation. ‘We love its passion to provide books that point people to Jesus and its heart for those who don’t know him yet.’
Gordon Robbins welcomed as pastor for Spring Meadow Baptist Church
Neil Sheldon
Date posted: 24 Oct 2024
Spring Meadow Baptist Church, Old Hill in the West Midlands officially welcomed Gordon Robbins as pastor, along with his wife Jane, on 28 September.
The induction service was led by Neil Sheldon, a church elder alongside Roger Cooper. Sheldon explained how the church came to call Robbins to the pastorate. Randy Mullens, pastor at Community Church, Warndon brought out several challenges from Luke 5:4: ‘When Jesus had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch”.’
National week of prayer comes to an end
en staff
Date posted: 23 Oct 2024
en Board member Carl Knightly, Director of Networks at London City Mission was among those at Emmanuel Centre, Westminster, as part of the ‘National Week of Prayer’.
Writing on X, he said: ‘Many people came together to pray for the UK, and this was one of numerous events occurring across the nation, and indeed nations… It was a blessed and profound time of prayer and worship, as we came before God to lift up the UK to Him. I was privileged to facilitate some of that prayer time, and join with fellow believers in this special afternoon.’
King Charles approves fifth Bishop of Wolverhampton
Luke Randall
Date posted: 21 Oct 2024
King Charles has approved the nomination of evangelical Timothy Wambunya as the fifth Bishop of Wolverhampton, in the Diocese of Lichfield.
Currently the vicar of St Paul’s Church, Slough, Wambunya studied at Oak Hill Theological College, London, and has served in various roles in the UK after being ordained as a priest in 1998, as well as a stint as Principal of Carlile College in Nairobi, Kenya. He will move from his current Diocese of Oxford to Wolverhampton imminently.
Josep Rossello to be next Servant General
Luke Randall
Date posted: 17 Oct 2024
Evangelical Josep Rossello will become the next Servant General of the New Anglican Missionary Society (NAMS). The bishop will succeed John Shuler, who founded the organisation and served as Servant General for over 30 years.
Rossello has worked in global church planting for over 20 years, serving as an NAMS companion for 12 years. He is currently its ‘Global Bishop Guardian’ and will start his new role in January after taking some time to recover from surgery he is due to receive in October.
Change for Jodie McNeill
Iain Taylor
Date posted: 14 Oct 2024
Jodie McNeill has been appointed the new Global Operations Manager for orthodox Anglican movement GAFCON.
He previously served on the organising committees for both the Jerusalem 2018 and Kigali 2023 GAFCON conferences, and has chaired the committee for the recent Australasia conferences in Canberra and Brisbane. He will work in his new role part-time until he finishes as Rector of Jamberoo Anglican Church, Diocese of Sydney, in December 2024.
New minister for Livingston Free Church
Luke Randall
Date posted: 11 Oct 2024
Phil Pickett will become the new minister of Livingston Free Church. He accepted the congregation’s formal call in early September, and will be inducted in October.
Pickett studied for the ministry part-time at Cornhill, Glasgow, while training at St Andrews Free Church, before studying full time at Edinburgh Theological Seminary. He has spent the last two and a half years training in Carloway Free Church on the Isle of Lewis. Elder George Coghill said: ‘We look forward to having fellowship with him and his family.’
New head of the Evangelical Alliance Scotland
Luke Randall
Date posted: 10 Oct 2024
Lynne Paterson has been appointed as the new head of the Evangelical Alliance (EA) Scotland. She joins after serving with Tearfund for 15 years, as the Head of Tearfund Scotland for ten, and the Head of Prayer for five.
Paterson has lived in several UK cities and now lives in Glasgow, where she attends Hope Church. She has a wealth of experience from various roles in different churches. Asked what she is most looking forward to about the role, Paterson told the EA website:
Dick Lucas: 99 not out!
en staff
Date posted: 7 Oct 2024
Dick Lucas, the veteran preacher and visionary behind preaching organisation the Proclamation Trust, has celebrated his 99th birthday.
Posting on X (formerly Twitter), Principle of London Seminary Bill James said the occasion was ‘a wonderful testimony to the grace and faithfulness of God.’ Dick Lucas was born in Sussex in 1925. He came to faith in 1941 at the Iwerne Camps under the ministry of E.J.H. Nash (often known as ‘Bash’). He was Rector of St Helen’s Bishopsgate from 1961 to 1998.
