By Hayley Beckett on 26th September 2024
Just before the summer we advertised for three roles, CYF Networker, EcoChurch enabler and Pioneer Networker. We have good news that we have been able to appoint all three roles. The new team members introduced below.
All new roles begin on 1 October 2024
Vicky trained at Bristol Baptist College and has been in church-based children and families ministry for over ten years. Until recently she served as Pastor for Children & Families at Shoeburyness & Thorpe Bay Baptist Church and her work in the local community there involved serving local Primary and Secondary schools in taking assemblies, providing school chaplaincy, and serving as a Governor responsible for Safeguarding. Over the past two years Vicky has worked closely with the youth team at her church, and over the past year has supported the church through their pastoral vacancy.
Beyond the local church Vicky has served as an EBA trustee, is part of the national Baptist CYF Roundtable, and has led sessions exploring creativity and prayer at Baptist Assembly. Vicky has also provided support and encouragement to students who are training to become youth and children’s workers.
Vicky is a trained Godly Play practitioner, has previously been a Pre-School Deputy Manager, and is enthusiastic about toddler group ministry. She is looking forward to sharing her experience and knowledge, and hearing stories from across the CYF ministry of churches in the Eastern Baptist Association.
Hello, 🙂 I’m Gina, mum to my 8yr old daughter, and Occupational therapist for part of the week in the NHS. Over the past 25years I’ve often run Fairtrade stalls at churches and community events. In the past few years I’ve been part of my churches Green group helping our church achieve their Bronze A Rocha Eco award. 3 years ago I set up a little Eco pop up, called Global Community Saturday with a wonderful team of women, that runs once a month from one of our churches community spaces, helping local Eco small businesses, and local charities regularly meet their community. As part of this we also run a little Children’s Growing Club. I also volunteer with my local Friends of the Earth group and the All Rise Care Bank. I’m looking forward to helping support Baptist churches in their Eco journey 🤗
Hi I’m Sharon, I have a background of working in health and the voluntary sector. Having involvement with the environmental movement for a number of years has enabled me to develop a keen awareness of the widespread effects of climate change. I look forward to making a positive impact on combating these changes by working with the Eastern Baptist Association and individual churches as they go through their Eco-Church award journey.
Chris Duffett has served as a creative evangelist pioneering for nearly 30 years. He is currently Principal of The Light College and Collective, a college that trains church planters and evangelists all over the UK. He steps aside from his role as principal September 2025.
He is a, storyteller, poet and artist. He is a former president of the Baptist Union of Great Britain. One of his biggest joys is serving as a regular chaplain on the island of Bardsey, a remote off grid island off the North Welsh coast.
Chris is married to Ruth, who serves as a teaching assistant, they live in rural Cambridgeshire and are nearly empty nesters, but their grown up children keep boomeranging home.
Chris loves to paint prophetically and his natural painting habitat is in pubs and cafes. He seeks to bring images from God’s heart that strengthen, encourage and comfort. Find out more at: www.chrisduffettART.com and www.lightcollege.ac.uk
Chris writes: ‘I have a heart for pioneers and I am looking forward to networking with and gathering our EBA pioneers together and encouraging them to keep going and reaching those who have yet to encounter the amazing love of God. Over the past 30 years I’ve worked out that pioneers need mums and dads to cheer them on and champion what they do. That is my prayer as I begin this new role, that somehow I may encourage those who are called to pioneer.’
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