Bishop of Lichfield welcomes Mark Russell to College of Evangelists

28 April 2008

Mark Russell, Church Army Chief Executive, was admitted yesterday to The College of Evangelists by Rt Rev Jonathan Gledhill, Bishop of Lichfield.

" The College of Evangelists is not a building or a training institute but a body of men and women gifted in evangelism," said the Rt Rev Jonathan Gledhill, Bishop of Lichfield and the Chairman of the College, to 8 candidates who were admitted to the College in a special service at Southwark Cathedral.

The College of Evangelists was established in 1999 by the then Archbishops of Canterbury and York and enables those with a gift for evangelism that goes beyond the local church to be recognised by the Archbishops and provide a source of fellowship and support by which the gifts of the members of the college can be more widely known.

"When evangelists who have a ministry which is more than local are invited beyond their own diocese to help in missions or other events, they will now have a means of recognition and commendation," said Bishop Jonathan. "This will give them fresh confidence to develop their gifts and will encourage a new generation of evangelists"

Mark Russell comments; "I'm thrilled and honoured to be invited to be a member of the College of Evangelists. Being admitted to the college today is a privilege, not just for me but for Church Army."

"Church Army has a proud pedigree in training up evangelists and church-planters from the grass-roots church. The national College of Evangelists is proud to admit the Chief Executive as an evangelist with a national remit and looks forward to working with Church Army in serving the nation with the Gospel". says Bishop Jonathan Gledhill.