Bio's of our 2016 speakers

Emma Whittick

I first heard the Gospel when some friends from Aberystwyth Christian Union dragged me practically kicking and screaming to one of their weekly meetings. I'd survived my first 21 years of life very nicely without God thank you very much. What harm could a CU meeting do?

Let's just say God had very different ideas! When I became a Christian all I wanted to do was to tell others about Jesus.

And that's just what I've been doing for the past 13 years.

I've had the privilege of learning from Evangelists in the City Missions, Through Faith Missions, Scripture Union and of course fpe.

I love training and equipping others to share their faith and that was at the heart of my recent role as Deanery Evangelist in West Wales.

Now I've completed of my ordination training and I'm excited to be ministering among the Parish of Dafen and Felinfoel as Assistant Curate.

Mark Russell

In 2006, at the age of 31, Mark Russell was appointed as Chief Executive of Church Army, a leading mission agency of the Anglican Church. In this role he leads a team of over 500 people working across the UK and Ireland.

He is a sought-after conference speaker and preacher and has addressed major Christian gatherings all over the world.

He has been a contributor to various BBC TV and radio shows, as well as Sky News.

Mark grew up in Northern Ireland and read Law at Queens’ University in Belfast. After two years of trouble shooting

management in industry, he served for three years as the Youth Pastor of Lurgan Methodist Church in Northern Ireland.

Mark developed a pioneering youth work and became chaplain to a high school.

In 1999, Mark was awarded the ‘British Gas Tomorrow’s People Award’.

This award was presented to him for his cross-community work, bringing Catholic and Protestant young people together

across Northern Ireland in the run up to the Good Friday Agreement.

In 2000, Mark was appointed as Youth Minister of Christ Church Chorleywood, working with young people across South West Hertfordshire.

In 2004 he was appointed, for a 7 year term, as the youngest member of the Archbishops’ Council,

the senior strategic body of the Church of England.

Alongside this he was a member of the Church of England’s Parliament, the General Synod. Mark is best known for his passionate commitment to issues facing young people and social justice.

Mark is a natural evangelist, and loves to share his faith with others.

He is a member of the Archbishops’ College of Evangelists, and an Honorary Canon of Worcester Cathedral.

He sits on the Council of Reference for Fusion and Youth for Christ, and is a member of the Mission and Public Affairs Council of the Church of England.

Mark loves social media, and his twitter following numbers over 6000 people (@markrusselluk).

He was presented with the ‘Christian Tweeter of the Year’ Award in 2013 and 2014.

In his spare time he loves travelling, the gym and

a good red wine.

There will of course be all the usual things -

fellowship, prayer, fun, lively worship, ministry time and catch-up time.