Former sailor is new South Norfolk church pastor
Former sailor and nurse, David Humphries, has been inducted as the new pastor at Carleton Rode Baptist Church in South Norfolk.
Steven Halstead, from CRBC, said: “After an interregnum that lasted for 2½ years and much searching and prayer, the Lord has sent us David, who began his ministry here with us on May 24. We had David’s induction service on June 26 when the Chapel was full to capacity, and we were pleased to welcome friends of David and his wife Sue who had come to be part of the service. There were also friends of the chapel, members of the Anglican community as well as our congregation.
“We praise and thank God for this new chapter in the life of our chapel and look forward to the future with renewed enthusiasm.”
David was born and grew up in Fareham, Hampshire, and became a Christian at a men’s breakfast when he was 19 and was training to be a deck officer in the Merchant Navy. After leaving the Navy he went to work in North Wales at a Christian outdoor centre where he met Sue. They were married in 1986 and have two grown-up children.
After completing nurse training in Leicester, the couple moved to Mexborough where David helped plant a church. After working in the NHS for a further nine years, David started training as a Baptist minister and was ordained in 2001; serving as a student minister and then full-time minster at Scapegoat Hill Baptist Church.
In 2009, the family moved to Leeds when David became the minister of Blenheim Baptist Church, set amongst the universities in Leeds. During a break from ministry due to ill health, David worked as a gardener and bus driver and working on a local charity farm called ‘Caring for Life’ until they were called to Carleton Rode Baptist Church.
David said: “Having been here a few weeks it has been exciting learning of all that the Lord has been doing over the years at Carleton Rode Baptist Church. His wonderful provision to the fellowship in both people and finance. There is a real spiritual maturity in the fellowship which bears testimony to the Lord Jesus and previous pastorates and we are looking forward to seeing what the Lord has planned for the future.”
David and Sue have taken up residence in the Manse at Bunwell and are busy settling into their new home and getting to know the area as they enjoy dog walking, bird watching and being in the outdoors.
Pictured above are David and Sue Humphries outside Carleton Rode Baptist Church.
Keith Morris, 30/07/2021
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