St Stephen’s Church in Redditch has received funding from the national church as part of our renewal programme to have a church of at least 150 people in every major area of population. Since launching as a renewal church, the congregation has already doubled in size and some of the funding is being used to build a core team which will help support continued growth.
Renewal Church Leader, Fraser Oates, said: “Recently we have recruited a Worship Director, Youth Pastor, Children and Families’ Pastor and Operations’ Director. When we advertised these new roles, we were intentional in making them very pioneering. Rather than setting out specific job descriptions, we wanted to be open to where God was leading; find the right person and build the role around them. We’ve been absolutely blessed with our new appointments, and I think we’re at a pivotal moment for St Stephen’s Church.”
Joshua Williams started in January as the new Worship Director. He has a varied background and was keen to explore what his life might look like if he spent his working day making disciples. He said: “I really wanted to follow through on what God wanted me to do. I knew I wanted to be involved in ministry in some way and felt that if God was opening a door, then that was the door I should walk through. When I saw the role at St Stephen’s, it felt like an extension of my identity.”
Joshua leads worship on a Sunday morning but is also involved in local schools and the hospital as well as working with a local gambling addiction charity with which St Stephen is building a relationship.
“I started with a policy of meeting people where they’re at, which is a very different approach than starting by thinking about what the church needs to look like. It can be very powerful,” said Joshua. “The doors that have opened have not necessarily been those that I might have been seeking to push, but God has allowed time to build relationships and provide opportunities.”
He has been working with St Stephen’s CE First school to start a choir, teaching songs with a Christian message. At the end of the summer term this resulted in an invitation for the school to perform at the Trinity High School Concert.
“We performed Amazing Grace alongside other schools within the same Trust,” said Joshua. “That also helped me network with other local schools and start conversations about what I might be able to do to support them.”
Leyone Sylvester started as Youth Pastor at St Stephen’s Church in July. Her background is as a biomedical scientist and senior researcher but is also a member of a Baptist Church in Walsall and felt God calling her in a different direction.
“Over the last 6-8 months I’ve spent time in prayer and fasting asking God to lead me and when I saw the Youth Pastor role advertised at St Stephen’s Church, it felt like the answer to that prayer,” said Leyone.
“I am looking forward to seeing how God is moving in this space and growing his family before exploring different ideas to help young people come to and grow in faith.”
Fraser said: “We have been holding space for young people over the past year as there are at least six schools and colleges in the area and lots of young people walk past. During the summer term we have been trying different ways to provide support during exams, opening the church and having a pop up ‘Lightbox’ stand outside. It will make a real difference to have Leyone starting as our Youth Pastor.”
Work is also already growing with children and families. Bethan Craner is the new Children and Families’ Pastor at the church and has started a Mainly Music session on a Wednesday during term time alongside a monthly ecumenical Messy Church. Over 100 pancakes were served on Shrove Tuesday!
Churchwarden, Rhiannon Walpole, said: “We now regularly welcome over 60 adults and 15 children each week, with more than 40 new people joining us since September. We are seeing genuine renewal - people encountering God weekly, growing in discipleship, and stepping into spiritual freedom alongside a really positive change in culture around children and young people, engaging within and throughout our worship. Our new appointments can only increase our opportunities to reach more people and share the Good News of Jesus with them.”
