On Tuesday 22 August almost 500 people packed into a church in South Bristol. Was this for a person with an international ministry, or for someone well known within the Christian community? Well no, actually. The Thanksgiving service was for Elaine Todman, the wife of Neil, the lead pastor of Headley Park Church.
Elaine became a Christian at the age of 16 through the witness of a friend at school and through a Billy Graham campaign.
Passion for the church
I got to know Elaine when Linda and I moved to Bristol to work with the Todmans in re-energising Headley Park Church, which was facing imminent closure. For five years we observed Elaine’s love for the Lord, her dedicated support of her husband and passion for the church. Elaine was no ‘ordinary’ pastor’s wife. In fact she refused to be defined in that way. Highly intelligent, vivacious, with a wonderful sense of humour, she was also a highly qualified doctor, specialising in obstetrics. She was an extrovert, and I always regretted being part of any sketch or drama with her because she mercilessly upstaged me!
