Phil and Julie
ASSOCIATE STORIES
We are the founder leaders at The Well Community Church in Camberwell, leaders with the Pioneer Network London and founding directors of REACH.
We are the founder leaders at The Well Community Church in Camberwell (thewellcc.org.uk), leaders with the Pioneer Network London (https://pioneer.org.uk), founding directors of REACHLondon.org and parents of two and grandparents to four mighty atoms. We’ve been in London since 83’ - so around 39 years! In the early years we were doing youth work and accommodation was a challenge from the start - we moved around a lot, which as any family with young children will know is really tough.
We then moved into church-planting in late 80’s and it became even more challenging to find a home because we were called to Brixton. Then through the miracle that is Mission Housing and it’s forbears they enabled us first to rent a family house at an affordable rate and subsequently to share buy the property. This allowed us to establish a secure home as we have led out in church planting and raised our family over 35 years. I think we are the earliest and longest benefactors of the vision of Mission Housing.
In this season of life we’ve been very much called to ‘go again’ in church planting as we’ve delegated leadership of The Well and are now acting as connectors, catalysts and leadership coaches through the new vehicle of REACH London.
REACH hosts conferences, learning communities and forums, we coach senior leaders and next generation leaders. We recently launched a new micro church named Oikos in our home this February 2023. Its a month old and last week one of our members led a friend to faith and so we have our first new disciple.
Our home continues to be a base of mission and Oikos comprises a passionate group of millennials praying for and reaching those of no faith and those who are done with church. The ‘nones’ and the ‘dones’.
Phil chairs an ecumenical borough unity network, Transform Southwark / www.sfj.org.uk which has run numerous prayer and missions initiatives over the years. The Well has run and hosted numerous community Projects
We partnered in launching and hosted https://www.pecan.org.uk A successful reemployment project that has supported thousands back into work, and fed thousands through their Peoples Pantry and Foodbanks.
We launched and ran Hope Primary School, a community school that ran for 15 years which over 500 pupils successfully passed through to secondary education.
We launched and ran a high street art gallery and an award winning High street cafe. The venue continues today as an ethical business employing young people at risk. See https://wearelumberjack.co.uk
“Without the miracle provision of Mission Housing, we would not have been able to remain in London, raise a family and lead out in the many ways God has directed us over the years. Barely a day goes by when we don't give thanks to God for this home.”
