Four new evangelists commissioned by Church Army

From left to right: Dawn Hudson, Karen Webb, Gordon Lamb, Nicholas Lebey

The Church Army has commissioned four new evangelists from its Mission-Based Training Course. 

The four-year course includes academic study and practical placements, and was completed by Gordon Lamb, Karen Webb, Dawn Hudson and Nicholas Lebey.

They have each received a Foundation Degree in Evangelism by York St John University, which is approved by the Church of England Ministry Division.

Reflecting on her experience, Hudson said one of her most memorable moments was leading someone to faith in a mobile phone shop.

"Also, as part of the Pentecost Celebration in the town centre of Leamington Spa, I was handed a microphone and asked to preach and share my testimony in the open air," said Hudson, who was based at the Warwick Gates Centre of Mission.

"It was perhaps one of the most exciting and scary things I've done. But as I was speaking I could see that the words God was giving me were connecting with people. It was brilliant."

Lebey, who has been working with non-churched young people as part of the Sorted Project at the Bradford Centre of Mission, said: "It has been a privilege seeing so many young people coming to faith, being baptised and then going on to serve in the Sorted church as young leaders.

"A special time that stands out was when I took 12 young people on a retreat to Ingleton in the Yorkshire Dales. One of the days we walked up a nearby hill and when we reached the top we stopped and spent some time looking at Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. It was a really amazing time."

The commissioning was held at the Wilson Carlile Centre in Sheffield.  Leading the service were the Bishop of Chelmsford and Church Army Chair, the Right Reverend Stephen Cottrell, and Church Army Chief Executive, Mark Russell.

Hudson has since been given a new post as a pioneer evangelist in Sheffield with a focus on people experiencing mental illness, while Lebey will be joining the Greenwich Centre of Mission in London.

Lamb will be based at Trinity Churches in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, and Webb will continue to work at the Lisburn Centre of Mission in Northern Ireland.