Beechwood Chapel is a small but growing church family on a social housing estate on the edge of Birkenhead on the Wirral. Our vision is to be a grace-filled community sharing good news - on our estate and beyond - with the aim to be a growing, church-planting church, especially reaching the urban poor. We are a part of the FIEC, Medhurst Ministries, the North West Gospel Partnership and the Wirral Gospel Partnership.
We are looking to recruit a person with a desire to work in deprived communities like ours, and to develop a role around them depending on their particular gifting, experience and interests (E.g. Co-Pastor, Assistant Pastor, Administrator, Women’s worker, etc). They will work alongside the church’s existing Staff and Elders to help the church be a faithful, witnessing community on our estate.
Church Context
Beechwood is one of three local estates built in the 1960s and 70s during Birkenhead’s redevelopment. Over time the area became overwhelmed by social deprivation and crime. No longer as dangerous as it once was, it still carries the scars of the past with ongoing drug and alcohol addiction, unemployment and continuing gang
violence. Despite the many social needs in the area the spiritual need is much greater. There is much nominal catholicism, apathy to the gospel, and even hostility to the God who “never helped me.”
Beechwood Chapel started from Brethren roots, relocating onto the estate as it was being built when the old building was CPO’d by the council. For four decades, a small group of Christians at the Chapel served faithfully in sharing the gospel and providing love and support to those in need. In 2012 they were joined by a group of
families and individuals from Christ Church Liverpool who moved onto the estate to help revitalise the church, with the vision of strengthening Beechwood Chapel to reach the people of our estate, and planting churches into other local estates where there is little or no existing Gospel witness. Despite some extreme trials, we have seen God at work in keeping and growing the church, bringing people to faith, and giving us many opportunities in the local community
Required Skills
Essential
• A heart for the urban poor.
• A willingness to come and live in the community and become a member of the church.
• A commitment to personal evangelism and prayer.
• A love for the local church.
• A legal right to work in the UK.
• There is an occupational requirement that the applicant must be in full agreement with the Beechwood Chapel Statement of Faith and willing to abide by our Doctrinal Distinctives.
Desirable
• Experience of evangelism and discipleship among the urban poor.
• Formal theological training.
• An understanding of the Brethren context.
• A theological commitment to free church ministry.
• Experience in discipling others.
To apply, or for further information, please contact us.
Contact us