Germinate appoint South West Ambassador
Germinate: The Arthur Rank Centre has since 1972, helped support and strengthen the UK’s 15,000 rural churches through a programme of community and social projects, resourcing and training.
Through the provision of a comprehensive range of worship resources and rural stories, ideas and inspiration online and though the magazine, Country Way, individuals and churches have been able to respond positively to change and impact the communities they serve. The highly popular Rural Ministry Course has been running for over 30 years and Germinate now offers a range of training courses, workshops and group events designed to develop the creative and entrepreneurial skills of the rural church in 3 key areas:
- Church Life – supporting congregations
- Mission – helping communities flourish
- Training – developing church leaders and congregations
In order to increase the impact of Germinate, a number of locally-based Ambassadors have been appointed to be the ‘face of Germinate in a local setting’ and Stephen Derges has been appointed to cover the South West Region.
Stephen grew up in North Devon and knows the West Country well having lived and worked in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Wiltshire. He was a senior manager in a UK bank and was the Pastor of a rapidly growing Baptist Church in a Shropshire market town as well as continuing his Consultancy practice. Stephen returned to Devon 2 years ago and is now actively involved in his local (rural) church based just outside Exeter.
Stephen’s primary role with Germinate is to be on hand to assist churches and their leaders by providing advice on Germinate’s activities and resources and to help groups and individuals navigate through the ever-changing nature of rural ministry.
If you would like Stephen to come along to a church service, church leaders’ meeting or any other event to share on any aspect of Germinate’s ministry, please contact him on 07929 835796 or at stephend@germinate.net