Members of Above Bar Church are involved in mission in the UK and beyond. The people on this page are those we have pledged to support particularly, but there are many others we love and pray for regularly, all around the world.
UK
Eddie and Sue Arthur are helping to equip Africans to translate the Bible into their own language with Wycliffe Bible translators. They work in various countries in Africa but are based in Southampton. Their driving belief is that everyone should have the opportunity to read God’s Word in their heart language. To find out how God has been at work and what exciting things they’ve seen, visit their website.
Martin and Marion Cooper have worked with The Navigators since 1972, with Martin serving from as National Director from 1996 to 2004. In the UK they are currently pioneering a discipleship ministry with those in their 50s and 60s, called Second Half Living. Martin is also involved in leading an international team of Navigator staff, which helps to facilitate church-related ministry around the world.
David and Judy Couchman live in Southampton with their two daughters, Hannah and Esther. David is involved in a communications ministry with Focus Radio, including writing, speaking, audio, DVDs, web sites, and training courses. One of these resources is Facing the Challenge, which equips Christians to understand postmodern culture and respond to it Biblically and effectively. If you’d like to receive David and Judy’s prayer letter, please write to them.
Colin and Brenda Lamb have spent most of their lives working in mission overseas and in the UK. Now Colin is part-time pastor of a small local church in Lilbourne, near Rugby. Brenda assists him in this ministry. Colin is also working part-time with Pioneers UK as a Member Care Consultant.
Steve and Debs McClure work with The Navigators UK and are primarily responsible for leading the Navigator student ministry in Southampton. They lead an experienced team of graduates and older students in seeking to make disciples of students. They also have strong links with Latvia where they work primarily with Russian speaking students. Steve and Debs have two children, Benjamin and Naomi. If you would like to know more about their work, visit the Southampton Navigators' website.
David Morrish is the National Director of The Navigators in France and his work involves monthly trips to France, especially to Paris and Strasbourg, and day-to-day running of the French Navigator ministry. He is based in Southampton.
Bryan and Joyce Stonehouse live in Chandlers Ford. Bryan is chair of International Teams UK and serves on the Above Bar Church short-term teams mission group. They are passionate about serving in their local Chandlers Ford cluster group.
Tony and Jane Watkins are based in Southampton, where Tony works with the Damaris Trust, helping people think about the interface between Christian faith and the culture we live in. He is the managing editor of Culturewatch.org and his articles are published there and in other magazines. Tony is married to Jane, who is the Above Bar Church Children’s Coordinator. Tony and Jane have three children, Charlie, Oliver and Pip.
Thompy and Gill Wright have worked with The Navigators UK in Southampton since 1986. Having had a number of roles, since 2010 Thompy has been responsible for developing disciplemaking in churches throughout the South East Region, alongside developing younger leaders nationally. Gill retired from nursing in 2007.
In 2011 they became active in developing clusters within our church, especially in their local Shirley area. Thompy began a part-time MA in Applied Theology in 2011, which he hopes to complete in 2013.
Europe
Peter and Kate Knowlson live in Penarroya, Cordoba, in Spain where they pastor a small congregation and seek to evangelise throughout the valley. Their ministry includes pastoring the local congregation, training others in the work, and the leadership and care of the provincial missionary team. Often a team from Above Bar Church’s older youth group, Rooted, have visited the Knowlsons for a summer mission.
Rogelio and Paula Prieto-Duran live in Spain, where Rogelio works with European Christian Mission International as training coordinator. His job involves facilitating, supporting and co-ordinating training and personal development at all levels of the agency and in all sending and receiving countries. Rogelio is a Latin Link trustee and a member of their People Resources Acton Group.
Rebecca Taylor lives in Loches, France, where she is part of a pioneering evangelical church plant. Her work involves evangelism, disciple-making, teaching the Bible, pastoral care and community building. She has lived in France for some time before, so has a great love of the culture, language and the people of France.
Africa
Zillah Whitehouse is a physiotherapist working with AIM International. She is based in Mbarara, Uganda, working both with the hospital and university. Her role focuses on discipleship through clinical work, lecturing and tutoring and church based contacts, and her involvement with AIM gives her opportunities to help local churches grow in a variety of areas. There’s more information about AIM on their website.
Asia
Poul and Carol Joensen are involved with church planting in a cross-cultural situation in Papua New Guinea. They spent some years learning the culture and language, and are now helping to teach literacy classes with two local literacy teachers. They also write lessons for teaching the Bible chronologically, as well as doing Bible translation into the tribal language.
Biddy Taylor served in Indonesia from 1978 to 1982 and then from 1993 to 2011. After 1997 she taught Christian Religious Education in Kalimantan, latterly teaching in a theological College which trains ministers for the major, local denomination. Her vision is for a revived national Church with a passion to share Jesus with the millions in Indonesia and overseas who have not heard about or responded to him. Biddy returned to Southampton in December 2011, retiring from OMF in March 2012. She now ministers in the UK in Above Bar Church, particularly with international students.
David and Mary Tucker teach and preach God’s Word and encourage Christians and church leaders, mainly in the developing world. They edit and produce Words of Life Bible study notes and assist their translation into a number of Asian languages including Tamil and Telugu (Indian), Mandarin (Chinese), Nepalese, Vietnamese and Cambodian.
Worldwide
Mark and Esther Dimond work with Operation Mobilisation ships. Mark is a member of the Human Resources Division and works as the Director for Crew Recruitment and Placement for OM Ships International (OMSI) and the Marine Operations Division of OM Ships International (OMSI). He is based in Mosbach, Germany. He and Esther together are also involved with some Member Care activities in the ship ministry. You can find out more on the OM Ships website.
Vic and Sue Jackopson are the founders of Hope Now, which Vic served as International President for 25 years. His work in Ukraine had a wide scope, including healthcare to children, support of orphans and street-kids, ministry in prisons, work in schools and among university students, church planting, evangelism and running a bible school and a conference and resort facility. Sue worked at his side in the office in Southampton. Vic is now the International Director of Our Father’s Arms, and will lead their teams to set up new homes for widows and orphans.