Our Present Diaconate
Ken
(2021 - )
I was born in a British Army camp in Hamburg, Germany, in 1947. My family returned to the UK when I was three months old to live in Mill Hill, north west London.
When I was older, I was a member of the 6th Hendon Boys Brigade for three years and it was here that I first became properly aware of God and our Lord Jesus – I twice won the Bible Cup.
I attended St Mary’s Church of England secondary school between the ages of 11 and 12.
We moved to Whitstable in December 1959 and I attended the local secondary school. There wasn’t a Boys Brigade in Whitstable at the time and my faith faded. I was invited to Whitstable Baptist Church in the mid-80s by my wife Christine who had developed a strong faith. God spoke to me through one particular sermon from our then minister, Rev Colin Speed.
We were invited to Spring Harvest and whilst in the big top I invited the Holy Spirit into my life and felt an indescribable sensation pass through me. For a few seconds I wasn’t with a several thousand people, I just experienced pure peace. My response to this was to wrap my arms around Christine and our friends Paul & Margaret and cry!
My faith developed from this point. I was baptised at Whitstable Baptist Church in 1993 and immediately became a member.
I am a member of the church maintenance team, mainly for internal and external painting, also gardener responsible with one helper for keeping the church grounds neat and tidy.
My wife Christine and I met at school – she was 13 and I was 12. We have been married 52 years and have a son, Paul, and a daughter, Helen, plus six grandchildren and four great grandchildren, all of whom we love dearly.
I thank God greatly for all of them.
Ken