Ben served with Crosslinks in South Africa for 10 years, first as a short-term volunteer and then as a mission partner. He pastored Christ Church Hillbrow and taught at Johannesburg Bible College. After returning to the UK in November 2020, Ben joined Christ Church Stockport with a view to leading a church plant to north Manchester in 2022. 

Greater Manchester has one of the lowest rates in the country for regular church attendance. Many people nominally identify as Christians but have not understood and accepted the gospel. There is a great need for churches that will reach out to the population but, though there are a number of bible teaching churches in the city, there is need for many more, particularly in the northern boroughs

The new church plant will be launched with the support and guidance of Christ Church Stockport. Ben will spend January to June 2021 getting involved in the ministry of Christ Church whilst beginning to plan for the new church. He will start building partnerships with local Christians who can support the venture and gain a greater understanding of the local context. In the second half of 2021, Ben will start to a grow a core team and begin meetings with those considering joining the plant. Ben plans to move to north Manchester in January 2022, when he will start small group bible studies for the core team and run evangelistic events and courses. God willing, the church will launch officially in late 2022.

The aim of the new church is to glorify God by making, teaching and equipping disciples of Christ. They will proclaim Christ to those who do not know him and those who do, to bring unbelievers to faith and equip believers to serve one another, the wider church and the world.  

As Ben takes on this new ministry, he will remain a Crosslinks mission partner for the first year or so. Could you partner with Ben and this new project in prayer and/or giving? Subscribe to Ben's prayer letters and donate to his ministry using the sign-up boxes on this page.