Originally moving to study a secular theology degree, I found myself leaving early to complete two year internship with Cornerstone Church Liverpool, turning down good opportunities to work secularly (McDonald’s!) and join a church plant in Kensington. Five years later I’m a full-time elder, serving God’s people and passionately participating in mission within our community.

Although I get to participate in many aspects of the life of the church and community engagement, these are some of the things I particularly love getting to do:

I love getting to engage in one on one discipleship during the week with people indigenous to Kensington from very different backgrounds and life experiences

I love getting to be present for our mercy ministries such as Tots n Tiny’s and our Community Fridge during the week - participating in courses, community engagement and sharing the gospel

I love getting to do door to door evangelism, street outreach and getting to pray for non-believers in our community.

I love getting to be involved in schools work and writing specific curriculum for the variety of children within our church

I love getting to be part of a staff team that’s working within Kensington to logistically see people encounter Jesus through our church, community groups, and ministries

I love getting to be a paid elder, having my work directly inform how I seek to care for people within our church and give time to prepare sermons and theological materials

I love directly getting to use my three years of theological training at Crosslands Seminary to inform my work within a disadvantaged community brings (drug use, mental health issues, poverty etc)

Because of the nature of our disadvantaged community, our congregation will simply not be able to support my salary, everything we do at Hope predominantly relies on God blessing us with external funding.

Over the years I’ve come across some great grants and generous givers to continue to do the work I’ve been called to and that other leaders have affirmed in me. However, individual giving also massively helps. If I had 20 people giving up to £100 a month, that would ridiculously help in continuing to have a salary that frees me up to work in our area.

If you would like to support the work I’m doing, click the button below, which takes you to our giving section on the church website, and whether that’s prayer, words of encouragement or financial giving - that’s partnership for me!

(If you are donating or setting up a direct debit, please use the church back account details with a reference of “Josh Hope”)

I’ve felt and followed the call to full-time ministry despite vowing as a young person never to follow in my family’s footsteps and be involved in ministry! I’m immensely satisfied in my current position and want to set down roots by starting the Veale family here and seeing continual fruit in Kenny.

I believe that this is the start in what could be a long-term vocation of ministry leadership and pastoring - and I’m excited to see what God does next, which could look like permanently remaining in Kensington.