People

New Proclamation Trust (PT) director Robin Sydserff has been sharing his hopes for the future.

In an open letter, he says: ‘My first stint at PT from 2004–2008, working with Dick Lucas, David Jackman and Christopher Ash, was life-changing. Their confidence in the ministry of the word as God’s means of transformation, and their commitment to serve the church, multiplying expository word ministry through training, equipping and encouraging preachers and Bible teachers, was used of the Lord to build a genuinely centrist renewal movement that united evangelicals. We live in the present, not the past, but can rightly take inspiration from those who have gone before us.

A missionary who survived a massacre at a mission station where she was working, many years ago, has died.

Margaret Hayes MBE had to take to the jungle with others where she survived for many weeks before being rescued, having been presumed dead – with a funeral and thanksgiving service being held for her.

A West Sussex FIEC chapel is celebrating its 200th anniversary – and well-known Christian hymn-writer Graham Kendrick has helped mark the event.

Rudgwick Chapel was one of four village chapels originally established by Horsham Congregational Church. It became independent in 1974 and is now affiliated to the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC).

Christian Institute (CI) founder John Burn has died aged 86 following a long illness. His death on 25 October comes eight months after the sudden death of CI director Colin Hart in March.

Originally a science teacher, John’s work in improving standards in schools brought him an OBE for services to education. While a lay reader in the Diocese of Newcastle at Jesmond Parish Church, John was invited to be a member of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Commission on Urban Priority Areas.

Donald John MacLean has been commissioned to the work of theological education, which he is taking up as President of Westminster Seminary UK from 1 January.

MacLean, who is Professor of Historical Theology, will succeed the Revd Dr Ian Hamilton. Westminster Seminary UK was established in 2013 by Dr J. Pipa and Dr Hamilton, President and Trustee of Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and Dr W. Schweitzer, church-planting minister of Gateshead Presbyterian Church. In recent decades more than 30 confessional Presbyterian churches have been planted in England and Wales.

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.

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.

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.’

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.

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.’

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.’

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.’

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.

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.

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.’

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”.’

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.’

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.