A Success Story: Whaddon Road EPC
Let me tell you a story. In 2002, an MTW worker called Rev Tim Horn began a church plant in Cheltenham 2002 which in time became Naunton Lane Evangelical Presbyterian Church. It grew bit by bit, and in 2008 a British minister, Rev Andy Young, took over the work. The work continued to grow. In 2012, Rev David Pfeiffer joined Andy Young in Cheltenham as a ministerial assistant. Another church in Cheltenham (which would become Whaddon Road Evangelical Presbyterian Church), reached out for help. They had 5 members with an average age of 77 and decided in 2014 to call David Pfeiffer as their minister. This church grew bit by bit, through the preaching of the Word and by the power of the Spirit. In 2015, David Pfeiffer got in touch with Rev Larry Wilkes and his wife Mandy through MTW to see if he would be willing to join in the work at Whaddon Road. Praise God that they did! After 4 years of support raising, they finally arrived!
Meanwhile, in 2018, Rev Andy Young began a new church plant, Oxford Evangelical Presbyterian Church. Rev Michael Cochran came to Cheltenham from the US to help in the work both at Naunton Lane and Whaddon Road. He felt a call to church planting, and in 2020 planted Gloucester Evangelical Presbyterian Church.
Do you see the picture? The Lord is doing a steady but wonderful work in this part of the UK. This is despite our weakness and has been a real challenge, but the Lord is so very gracious! Larry and Mandy Wilkes have become a hugely valued part of this work. This is a collaborative effort - the Lord calls us to work together. Larry has a heart for preaching the gospel and does so regularly at Whaddon Road. They have a heart for discipleship, meeting up with members of the church one on one, couple to couple, leading groups (ladies' meetings, students/20s/30s) and patiently encouraging them in Christ. They have a heart for the lost, hosting international students and meeting with them one to one. They have a heart for the needy, giving of their time and resources self-sacrificially in numerous ways.
Watch the video to meet Larry and hear a bit more. Do join in supporting us through prayer - we need the Lord's help! And do consider giving financially, knowing that you are not just contributing to the work of a Christian couple, not just the work of a local church, not just the extension of the kingdom of God in the UK, but to an eternal work of great value.
Whaddon Road Evangelical Presbyterian Church
Whaddon Road, Cheltenham GL52 5LZ
Sundays 11:00 am and 6:00 pm (watch live on YouTube)
http://whaddonevangelicalchurch.org
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