Speakers
Confirmed so far : Simon Ponsonby, Mark & Lindsay Melluish, Charity Quin, Matt Levitt - youth, James Hamilton & Freerunners - children, The Neals - pre-school, Susanna & Paul Coleman, Jenny Taylor, Sara Savage, Matt Finch, David Bracewell
Simon Ponsonby is Pastor of Theology at St Aldate’s, a role that combines teaching, travelling and writing. St Aldate’s is a vibrant Anglican church in the centre of Oxford. He is the author of 'More' and ‘God Inside Out’.
Mark Melluish is the Senior Pastor at St Paul's Ealing where Lindsay works with him as an Associate Pastor. In addition to all this, her role is to oversee the women’s and family ministries as well as helping with leadership training. They have 5 children and have been at St Paul's for 16 years. Mark and Lindsay are also part of the leadership team of New Wine, which is a network of over 700 churches.
Charity Quin is a local Singer/Songwriter. She is married with two grown up children, and has a wealth of experience both teaching and performing. Brought up in the Anglican Church, she is now a member of a Baptist church, where she sings in the worship band, and has served as an elder. To hear music clips, please visit www.charityquin.com & www.myspace.com/charityquin
Matt Levett is an experienced youth worker at The Forge Community Church (formerly Mendlesham Christian Fellowship), a trustee of Street Kids Direct and a sought after local speaker for youth events.
James Hamilton is the Managing Director of Bible to Life Productions and co-founder of Relive Resources. He is also Director of Children’s Work at Zion Christian Centre in Halesowen. As an experienced actor, writer, and church children’s leader, James has been involved in theatre, schools and children’s work throughout the UK, Europe, the Middle East, USA and Africa for over a decade. James leads ‘Freerunners’ - the 8-11's programme at Spring Harvest. James and his wife Cally train church children’s workers and lead various children’s events throughout the UK and abroad.
Susanna & Paul Coleman of Christian Concern for our Nation which is an organisation that exists to serve the Church by providing information to enable Christians to stand up publicly against a tide of unchristian legal and political changes in the United Kingdom. It brings together focused legal, policy and media expertise and strategic intervention in order to secure favourable legal and political outcomes in areas of concern.
Dr Jenny Taylor will be speaking on the subject of 'There is more to life than sex' (title to be confirmed) having written a book entitled ‘A Wild Constraint’ – The case for Chastity. Jenny is an established media professional, academic and writer. She has travelled widely seeing the work of civil society organizations all over Asia and Africa at first hand. She is an expert on the connection between faith and culture, on which she has addressed parliamentary and Commonwealth gatherings. Her doctorate is from SOAS in London on Islam and secularization. Jenny is Executive Director of Lapido Media.
Dr Sara Savage is co-author of a book called Conflict in Relationships, with a special chapter dedicated to difficult people, it moves on their work on the Human Face of Church. Sara is a Senior Research Associate in the Psychology and Religion Research Group at the University of Cambridge.
Rev Matt Finch is a Methodist Minister in the West Norfolk Circuit where he shares oversight of ten rural chapels. He is a Fresh Expressions Associate Missioner and passionate about seeing churches flourish in all contexts. He has experience of mission in a variety of places from the nightclubs of Ibiza to the more traditional rural Methodist Circuit.
For 25 years David Bracewell has been rector of St Saviour’s Guildford where the quality of preaching has played a significant part in the growth of the congregation to over 1000. He has also served in Bolton, Tonbridge Kent and Shipley in West Yokshire. He has taught Pastoral Studies at Ridley Hall Cambridge and serves on the Council of the ‘Leaders of Larger Churches’ network. He is married to Sue and they have three children and two grandchildren. He is now giving time to nurturing leaders in the Church of England. He will be leading the final evening celebration.