The Missions Team

	Chris Jones Having had a passion for and been involved with missions for as long as I can remember, I have the privilege of doing a job that I love, working alongside a team that makes my role so much more enjoyable. I have a great family and I always say that my two children (one at uni and one at school), keep me young and up to date with things, but on the other hand I think they just make me feel really old! Sport is a passion for me and I love to watch and participate as much as I can, although having managed to complete the Belfast marathon again this year, I have promised myself this really is the last! Being a Welshman brings with it many blessings and of course the joy of following our great rugby nation is just one!

	Kathy Cooper I have been in Elim Missions since Noah was a boy – well it seems like that sometimes! I first joined the Department back in March 1988. Missions has been close to my heart ever since my parents (Tom and Ruth Walker) used to go to Elim places overseas and come back and show me slides (anyone remember those?) and tell me all about their visits. This made me want to play my part in some small way to serve and support those ‘doing the job’ at the sharp end. My role is PA to Chris Jones and also Missions Office Manager. No one day is ever the same and it is a privilege to be involved in Christian ministry. My most favourite thing is when all my family is together - I have two sons and two grandchildren. And Dave and I get away as often as we can in our motorhome – Croatia is the furthest we have been; a destination most people would fly to, but we drive!

	Paul Hudson Having been an Area Missions Director for West Africa for a few years, in January 2009 I was invited to take on a new role as Missions Development Director. I have been creating a strategy for training abroad, both for our missionaries and the many pastors and leaders Elim are in relationship with, plus developing mission training in the UK. It means I get to meet many people which I love. I also love food - all kinds apart from olives! I also love my wife and my two kids, even though they think they can beat me at sports. I became a Christian when I was 8 years old when watching the film 'Thief in the Night', a film about Jesus' second coming and the rapture of the true church. It frightened me into the kingdom. I am pastor of a great church in Dewsbury which really is great. My three top dreams (aside from being part of the rapture) are:1. Attend U2 concert (done that one - awesome) 2. Run a marathon 3. Learn to play the trombone.

	John Martin I joined the missions team in April 2005, taking responsibility for the creative side of the operation, which is all things graphic design, film, website and generally wanting more shrubs in the office! After graduating with an Art and Design degree I really didn’t give a second thought to missions, it was just guys in sandals going to Africa to ‘convert people’. How wrong I was! Of course that is part of it, and actually sandals in Africa are quite a good idea as it gets hot, but please lose the socks!! But I can truly say I am a sold out missions nut! In my spare time I like to drastically increase the size of my elastic band ball and also read all guns blazing, action-packed, spy, crime books and watch TV shows of a similar nature, as well as the West Wing along with my wife Cara. My heart and passion is split between releasing people to know that they can be all that they think they might be and using all my skills to show God’s creativity, oh… and throwing my elastic band ball at Dan. I feel it is my personal mission to live long enough to see the Worcester Warriors win the League!

	Dan Johnston I took part in the Elim Missions Year Out programme in 2007, where I was initially part of a team that went to be involved with the Elim work in Kosovo and Macedonia and then part of a team to the Philippines. The seven months I experienced in these places changed the direction of my life and gave me a real enthusiasm for missions and a desire to be a part of a work that endeavours to share the gospel around the world. I joined the Missions Department in September 2008. My role is primarily based around administrating and analysing the department’s finances with regards to giving and support, paying of invoices, payments to missionaries, etc. Also, on Mondays I’m in Gloucester studying towards a Business HNC at the College there. I live in Cheltenham with my wife Siobhan and my daughter Niamh, who take up the large majority of my non-vocational activity. I also enjoy playing / watching / listening to almost any sport I come across.

	Mandy Campbell I joined the Elim International Missions Team in October 2007. My role involves setting up and organising mission placements for people who want to have a ‘mission experience’, either short or long term. We organise placements for people of all ages and from all walks of life. I love this work because I believe that there is nothing quite like having ‘hands on’ experience on the mission field. Such experiences can radically change our mind sets, our values and ultimately our hearts. I am also Chairperson of Elim Lifelink. Lifelink’s ministry is based around the scripture in Proverbs 31:20: “She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.” You can find out more about Lifelink by clicking here. When I am not working I love to spend my time with family. My husband Dave and I enjoy days out at the coast, eating oriental food or curling up on the sofa to watch endless episodes of Spooks! We have two grown up daughters Sophie and Amy, and a scrumptious little granddaughter called Nevaeh. We also have a great son in law called Jamie. One of the greatest passions in my life is my football team Derby County. I grew up in Derbyshire and remember being taken to football matches with my Dad from the age of about 10. I have followed the ‘Rams’ ever since, and go and watch the home games as often as I can – usually dragging Dave along with me!!

	Sophie Lavery I am the most recent member of the missions team, joining Elim Missions in August 2009. For many years I have been involved with a wide variety of missions work overseas and in the UK and am filled with a desire to help serve those working on the mission field. As part of the missions team my role is based around the administration side of the department. Regardless of the task, it is exciting to know I am contributing to be part of a bigger picture that is God’s Kingdom and am rewarded in knowing that I can help in some of that work. The past three years have been significant for me as I have become a wife and completed an Applied Theology BA HONS at the Elim Bible College and feel blessed and excited to have taken my next step in life as a part of the missions team. For hobbies I am interested in Art and love to dance. Reading is something I’d love to say I do a lot of but to be honest the TV can often take its place! Other than that it tends to be time with family and friends which must include shopping, hot chocolate, DVD’s and chocolate!

	Christina Barron I have always felt that mission is in my blood; both my grandparents and great grandparents were missionaries and I am still unearthing new stories that they had to tell. Opportunities to travel on several short term missions in Europe and Africa have also changed my own perspective on the world. Still, it is an unexpected surprise to find myself working for Elim Missions since April 2010, but one which I feel is full of God’s call. As one who relishes any opportunity to draw up a to-do list, I am looking forward to getting to grips with mission administration, but mostly I feel privileged to be part of this team that seeks the kind of transformation that Jesus brings. Currently, my spare time mainly involves gazing in awe at the beautiful views around the Elim International Centre, but I can also be found escaping into a book or film or watching a good game of practically any sport. I love spending time with people, travelling, listening to decent music and being outdoors- show me mountains and water and I’m a happy girl!