Stephen comes from Newry and worked in Health Care management until 2009. He volunteers with Contemporary Christianity (formerly ECONI) and with Irish Baptist Networks and these keep his admin skills refreshed! He has been involved with Tearfund over many years, and is on the Board of Third Space Co-operative in Dublin. He was involved in leadership in Newry Baptist Church for over 20 years and now worships at Windsor and coordinates a small group meeting in Dromore/Hillsborough. He enjoys hill walking, some gardening and conversations over a meal.

Andrew lives in Bangor and worked in the Northern Ireland Civil Service from 1980 to 2019. He was appointed OBE in 2020 for services to victims and survivors of abuse. He is an elder in Hamilton Road Baptist Church and Chairman of their Board of Trustees. He also serves on the Executive Committee of the Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland and is a Director of the Seamen’s Christian Friend Society. He is married to Heather and they have three grown-up children and four grandchildren, now living in Scotland and Germany. Other interests include fishing, music, motorcycling and membership of several conservation groups.

Heather has been married to Andrew since 1980; they live together in Bangor. From 1981 until 2018, she was both a primary and secondary level school teacher of music and religious studies. She has attended Hamilton Road Baptist Church all her life, where she is involved in mission and pastoral care, and leads the GriefShare programme. Heather and Andrew have three adult children and four grandchildren who live in Scotland and Germany, where they provide free holiday accommodation! Now retired, Heather’s hobbies include music, reading, solving puzzles and travelling.

I met Paul, my husband, when we were both students at Stranmillis College, Belfast, studying music and education. Primary schools have been my main ‘frontline’ places of employment. I enjoy reading, music (especially classical, both listening to and participating in), cooking, baking and travelling. We have had opportunities to live in other countries and we are now worshipping at Windsor in Belfast where I am involved in teaching English to speakers of other languages who come from over 14 different countries.

Christine and I married in 1981 and our journey in church life has been within baptistic churches including, since 1997, involvement in the Baptist communion in four countries. My career has embraced a range of roles including high school teacher, health promotion specialist and university academic. Now, being semi-retired, I am involved with a project in the European Baptist context related to Freedom of Religion and Belief and am also supporting the work of Belfast Bible College. To relax, I enjoy involvement in music-making, reading and gardening.

Jennifer is from Belfast and is married with two adult sons. After over 22 years working in the Health Service she has returned to working in faith-based admin. Jennifer is a member of the Strandtown Church and has served in several roles and ministries there; she is currently Church Secretary. A keen sports fan who loves the outdoors, Jennifer also enjoys reading, thought-provoking conversation and good food!

Hadden has been married to Betty for 60 years and they have had four children (one in heaven) and ten grandchildren. He pursued undergraduate and doctoral studies in Engineering at Queen’s University Belfast. Then he practised engineering, and lectured in both the University of Ulster and Queen’s University. He served for some years in the NI Schools Inspectorate before being surprised by a call into the Baptist Pastorate in middle life. After serving 15 years as Pastor of Ballynahinch Baptist Church he and his wife spent a year at John Brown University, Arkansas, USA as Missionaries in Residence. Betty and he are members of Windsor Baptist Church. He is involved in a regular preaching and teaching ministry and helps with co-ordination and teaching on the JBU Irish Studies Program. Hadden has a passion for practical, visible networking and co-operation among the followers of Jesus at home and abroad.