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Profile They did however come from very different backgrounds Mark being brought up in the local Church of England church while Sarah has a background within the Brethren. |
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As diverse as their Spiritual backgrounds may seem their geographical one are even more. Sarah was born in Wolverhampton, then moved to Sheffield, back to the West Midlands before settling in Cumbria. Mark on the other hand was born and brought up in St. Helens. As children their paths cross when Mark attended a Pathfinder Camp that was held on the field which Sarah's parents owned! They finally met in 2001 when they both posted ad's on a Christian online dating site. Following their marriage in October 2001 they both settled down to live in Cumbria and started a family. Mark has always had a heart for children and has done lots with children since the age of 16 such as Boys Brigade Officer, Youth club leader, Sunday School teacher, Sunday School Co-ordinator and leader in charge of all children's work. His love of children and how they learn led him to train as a teacher, a job which he did until August 2010 when as a result of redundancy and God's calling he moved on to develop his ministry with Sarah. As part of the work Mark and Sarah did until COVID 19 hit in 2020 was to go into local schools and take assemblies, they also planned and ran holiday clubs and fun days. Mark is also a magician and can perform to children and families. Sarah on the other hand has worked in several jobs before becoming the practice manager for a local GP, a job she did until 2001 when she finished to become a housewife and mum. Sarah now supports Mark in all aspects of the work. Sarah occupies her day when she is not out and about with Mark helping to run the local Community centre as the bookings and admin person. The rest of the time she is organising Mark or having coffee times with Christian and non Christian friends and being a listening ear. She is also on the leadership team of the church and heads up the Pastoral Care Team. Mark and Sarah have big hearts for doing God's work amongst children and young people. With the support of their local church, Mark and Sarah run a group for 14 to 18 year olds called Ignite they want to see children be ignited with the Holy Spirit so they are not just God Smart but God Connected, as well Sarah also helps run Sunday school at their church. They have in the past run a week long holiday club each summer, with nearly everyone in the church getting involved. Over recent years Mark and Sarah have been invited to church fun days to present God's word to children and their parents. They have worked with another local church and help them to run a holiday club in the summer and various other events during the year. Mark also volunteered (until recently) as a Bible Explorer/OT Mini Presenter with Walk Thru the Bible Ministries teaching children both the Old and New Testament. Following Mark's redundancy in 2009 from his full time job which opened up the way for Mark and Sarah to go into schools with the gospel message. They started in September 2009 and regularly went into 3 local schools during that year, however this increased to around 21 schools by 2020 when COVID 19 sent us into Lockdown. In 2018 Mark had a new vision, to create a video recording studio. This vision was realised during 2019 and Mark set about producing short films for children to watch. This new venue really stepped up a gear during Lockdown and attention was turned to producing online assemblies for schools to watch as well as online services for church. The JFJ Video Project as it is called aims to continue producing material not just for children but for all ages and plans are a foot to scale up this work in the future. The privilege of going into schools fulfilled an ambition in both Mark and Sarah's ministry. God has truly blessed them in this work and they both feel they could do more for schools. The ending of Mark's job in 2009 led them to explore God's calling on their lives and it may be the opportunity God had been waiting for to lead them into full time ministry. Mark and Sarah have lots and lots of great ideas and they are praying into them and seeking God at every turn. They see their work moving into new areas as God directs them along the path He has laid out before them. For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Please pray for Mark and Sarah so that God will continue to confirm in a very real way His vision for this Ministry.
Updated October 2022 |
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