How did you get interested in mission work?

I suppose my interest in “for’n parts” started at a young age, particularly as my Dad (now retired) visited far-flung places (some exotic and some not!) through his job as a civil engineer.  My brother and I would plot his itinerary on a map, and we always enjoyed the slide show on his return.  Through other members of my family, and growing up in a local church that had a keen mission interest kept this world awareness going. 

I expect, therefore, this is mostly why the majority of jobs I have done have focussed on work overseas (albeit sitting in a UK office).  If you drew a line from Morocco to Burma, then in my previous jobs with SGM Lifewords, Tearfund and Christian Aid I have been involved with countries on or either side of that line.

It has been a privilege to visit a number of those countries, and through my church’s partnership with a relief and development agency, I still have an active interest in Central Asia.

Do you come from a Christian background?

I grew up in a Christian family in south-west London, and went to the local Brethren assembly, going through Sunday school, Covenanters and the youth work.  Although I had learnt so much about Jesus and heard the gospel so many times, there was still something in me that thought I could still be good and get through in life.  However, when I was 15, it was at a weekend away with the youth fellowship led by James Jones (now Bishop of Liverpool, but then working for Scripture Union) that I was challenged by the heart cry of Paul in Romans 7:21-24, and gave my life to Jesus.

How did you first hear about Crosslinks?

My first contact with Crosslinks was over twenty five years ago, when I became friends with an older couple who had been missionaries in Burma to the Karen people.  We were part of a prayer fellowship that prayed regularly for the church and God’s work in south Asia.

Tell us a bit about you as a person...

I defected to south-east London almost twenty years ago when I got married to Lesley, and we have a daughter and two sons, and a granddaughter.

It is never too late in life for God to challenge you and ask you to change direction (ask Moses when you get the chance!).  Just over two years ago, God prodded and poked me to give up full-time work and apply for Radical Network, the church leadership and church-planting training course run by my church, Ichthus Christian Fellowship.  An exciting year of theology, fellowship and evangelism followed, in which God proved his faithfulness to us, and we now find ourselves in the beginnings of a new adventure.  Working three days a week as BEST Co-ordinator here at Crosslinks enables me to give two days for my church in Forest Hill.  Not what I thought I would be doing three years ago!

Thanks, Ian