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The guest speaker at our festival services on Sunday 6 th May comes to us from Kent, England, where he has recently taken up the post of Chief Executive of Church Army. |
Mark Russell
A County Armagh man by birth, Mark Russell graduated in Law from Queen’s University, but soon realised that his real passion lay in reaching people with the love of Christ.Prior to taking up his appointment with Church Army, Mark headed up a very successful youth ministry initiative at Christ Church, Chorleywood. However his passion and ability as a ‘plain talking’ visionary and communicator began to be recognised throughout the mainland and he was appointed the youngest member of the Archbishops’ Council, as well as becoming a respected and popular member of the General Synod of the Church of England.
In taking up his new role as Chief Executive, Mark became only the eighth man to hold the office since Church Army was founded by Rev Wilson Carlisle in 1882 - and is also the first person to hold the office who is neither ordained nor a Church Army officer!
News of his appointment was received with great excitement in the Church and, amongst the host of Church Leaders who welcomed Church Army’s choice of leader, the Archbishop of York. The Most Revd & Rt. Hon Dr John Sentamu wrote,
"This is an inspired appointment. Mark Russell has brought great gifts to the Archbishops' Council and will do the same for the Church Army. Mark has an infectious love for Jesus Christ and just the refreshing commitment to evangelism that the Church Army and the rest of the Church of England needs right now."
We are thrilled that Mark has accepted our invitation to Lambeg and look forward to his ministry at both our Family Service at 11.00 a.m. and our evening Festival Service at 6.30 p.m. on Sunday 6 th May.