Norwich Central Baptist Church has recently welcomed Andy Eyre, who has moved with his family from Guernsey, to take up the role as Youth and Childrens’ Pastor.
A special commissioning service was held at NCBC on April 19, where the regional minister Revd Richard Lewis, and the congregation of around 200 people formally welcomed Andy.
Andy was previously youth pastor at Holy Trinity Church on Guernsey. He, along with his wife Ellie and their three children, moved to Norwich last month to begin the role at NCBC where Andy will lead and develop the youth and children’s work at the church.
Minister Mark Fairweather-Tall explained that the process of looking for a youth and children’s pastor began around 18 months ago, after the co-pastor Rev James East left to take up ministry at St Andrew’s Church in Cambridge. This marked a new phase in the life of the church, and a month of prayer followed resulting in the search for an individual whose main skills would be in youth work, but with a responsibility for children so an integrated approach could be used right through the ages. Mark said, “We wanted someone whose primary calling was to the church in Norwich.”
Mark described Andy as “enthusiastic… with lots of ideas, lots of insight and good thinking behind it… someone who is faithful to God’.
Andy was living with his family on Guernsey, the second-largest of the Channel Islands and his residency was due to expire at the end of March so he had been looking for a new role. He admits that he had never heard of Norwich and had been looking at other advertisements and had even been offered a role elsewhere. He said, “I just really sensed God saying I’ve got to be in Norwich.” He is excited about joining the team at NCBC and working alongside Mark in what he describes as “an amazing and exciting time.” Andy has “a burden for young people and has a deep calling to serve God and reach the lost.”
Richard Lewis preached on Nehemiah, focusing on the need to rebuild – not starting from scratch but on firm foundations already laid – and drew parallels to what Andy will be doing with the youth and children’s work at the church and in the community.
NCBC has a weekly youth group, mainly attended by young people from the local community, a popular roller skating club and thriving parent and toddler groups in addition to youth church, which involves over 40 children and young people every week.
Pictured above: Richard Lewis with Andy and below: church leaders pray for Andy and his family.
Follow Andy on Twitter @AndyDEyre
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