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New Pastor at Deeside

Date Added: 01 Nov, 2005

'Passing on the Baton'. That was the phrase used by Lynton Jones, elder at Deeside Evangelical Christian Church, to describe the joint commissioning and induction service held on Saturday 16 July 2005. The event itself was fairly unusual with no gap between one pastor leaving and the next one arriving.

Over 200 were present for the occasion.Alan & Pat Davey (and their children Gwilym and Catrin) were commissioned to work with UFM in Bordeaux.Alan arrived at the church a single man, but after 14 years at the church, firstly as an assistant and then for 12 years as pastor, they now begin a new phase of life and ministry in the south of France. During the service Alan commented that we were joining together 'to rejoice in God's goodness and to mark the beginning of two new gospel ministries'. An account of the Davey's call to France can be found in the June 2005 edition of Evangelicals Now.

In the second part of the service Alan inducted Martin Downes as the new pastor at Deeside. Martin had previously been working as the UCCF team leader for Wales. Martin and Debbie (and their children Lowri and Kezia) move to Deeside from Swansea. The induction took the form of public vows expressing commitment to the Word, the gospel, zeal for God's glory, a holy and prayerful life, and the unity, doctrine and peace of the church. Fittingly, Peter Milsom the founding pastor of the church and Director of UFM led in prayer

Stuart Olyott preached from Paul's farewell address to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20. Paul's ministry was marked by clear priorities, personal integrity, obvious courage, deep emotion, unwavering faithfulness, hard work, extraordinary insight and practical wisdom. Paul's approach was summed up in the words of the Lord Jesus 'it is better to give than to receive'. Stuart Olyott stressed that all the marks of Paul's ministry are summed up in these words, and it is this that will energise our service in Deeside and in Bordeaux.

Martin Downes

Associated Clusters: North East (Click to view)