"Hello and welcome!"
Prior to moving to Israel, Fr Kevin was Vicar of the Parish of St Katharine with St Nicholas, Southbourne, in the Diocese of Winchester in the United Kingdom, a parish on the south coast and, like Jaffa, right next to the sea.
Fr Kevin was ordained by Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali in the Diocese of Rochester in 2008, after completion of his ordination training at Ripon College Cuddesdon in Oxford. Before his ministry as a priest, Fr Kevin was a police officer for 10 years, and had a variety of front line roles during that time. Fr Kevin has enjoyed learning Modern Hebrew over a number of years and is working towards fluency, and has a particular interest in 1st Century AD Judaism and Christianity. He became a follower of Jesus after being challenged by the text of Isaiah 53, as a result of studying Messianic prophecies in the Hebrew Bible.
Fr Kevin is passionate about supporting Christians to develop and exercise their own ministries within church life, as inspired by the Holy Spirit to do so, and by discerning what gifts the Lord has given them. He enjoys working collaboratively with members of the Church family, so we can move forward in faith together, building up and supporting one another as members of the Kingdom of God.
Jen grew up in a committed Christian family in Sussex in the United Kingdom, making her own decision to accept Christ as a teenager. Before moving to Israel, Jen was in charge of the Nursing team in a large GP Medical clinic in the Christchurch area, and also worked as one of the Nurse Practioners. As a lifelong nurse she has a wide variety of experience of working with people from all ages and backgrounds, and has supported Fr Kevin throughout his parish ministry.
With their children all now grown up and having 'flown the nest', they are joined in Israel by their small dog Trixie, who is looking forward to swimming in the sea at Jaffa! Recognising that the rebirth of the community at St Peter's means being prepared to commit to the long term, both Fr Kevin and Jen are looking forward to where the Holy Spirit will lead the ministry at St Peters, and to working with those who will join us.