Church Army Officer, Gary Roberts, has been introduced by the Right Revd Harold Miller, Bishop of Down & Dromore, as Evangelist in Charge in the parish of Ardmore (Moyntagh).
Colin Taylor, who oversees Church Army evangelists in Ireland and Scotland, preached at the service on Friday 6 January in Ardmore church.
Gary was commissioned as a Church Army officer in 1985 and has served in St. Nicholas’ Carrickfergus and St. Matthew’s Yiewsley (a parish near Heathrow Airport). He was Assistant Diocesan Youth Officer in St. Alban’s Diocese and a leader of a team of churches in Weymouth before returning to Ireland in 1998. He cared for three churches in Co. Monaghan and developed youth and children’s ministry in Clogher Diocese. Since then he has served in St. Paul’s Church Lisburn and was in Ballymacarrett Parish in the Diocese of Down until the end of September last year.
“I am looking forward to sharing in ministry in the Ardmore and Esky churches, “ said Gary. “I hope to be able to get to know folk over the next few weeks or so as I settle into things.
“My main task initially will be to meet everyone at church and in their homes as I endeavour to put names to faces. I may need some help finding my way around the country roads!
“My wife, Angela and our daughter Kealy are also looking forward to meeting people and making friends.”