On 3 February, Eastney Evangelical Church (EEC), Southsea, Portsmouth welcomed Chris Thomas to the pastorate.
He became a Christian early in his career in the Navy, and Eastney Evangelical, back in 1983, was the first church he ever attended.
Call to the ministry
Chris said he became ‘increasingly aware of a call to gospel ministry’ and retired early from the Navy. He completed a course of ministerial training at London Theological Seminary and became pastor of Bournville Evangelical Church (latterly Oak Tree Church) in Birmingham.
Through a connection with his brother, a missionary in Japan, supported by EEC for many years, Chris was called to be the pastor.
The Induction Service was a wonderfully happy occasion. Nick Roberts, a deacon with eldership responsibility, led the service and interregnum Moderator, Steve Bell (Grace Church, Ryde, Isle of Wight) preached on Acts 20.
EEC has a vision for gospel ministry in the heavily populated area of Eastney/Southsea, and, with other like-minded Bible churches, for Portsmouth as a whole.
