Xplore boss to head up Church Army New Zealand

6 March 2009

Church Army Evangelist and Programme Leader of Xplore, Phil Clark has been appointed as National Director designate for Church Army New Zealand (CANZ).

Phil will take up his new post in September and will have responsibility for the strategic and operational direction of CANZA as it approaches its 75th anniversary in 2010. Phil replaces Peter Lloyd, the first New Zealand born National Director of CANZ who has led the Society over the past eight years, with a focus on training lay people to witness, training evangelists for local and national ministry, and promoting specialist evangelistic ministries. In the February edition of 'Grapevine' Peter wrote: "Reaching the next generation with the Gospel requires the inside knowledge of someone who is part of that generation and understands it well. Phil can do that. We will be in good hands as we step into an exciting future."

Announcing the appointment, Chairman of the Board of CANZ, Mr Alan Wood, said: "Phil comes to us with a passion for the Gospel, a wide-ranging experience in Church Army, and a firm commitment to the task of evangelism and the Church Army. He comes to us highly recommended and has a firm grasp of the new direction that we have taken, and knows what needs to be done to enable us to reach the least the last and the lost."

As Programme leader for Xplore, Church Army's Global Gap Year programme, Phil has developed a truly international perspective and awareness of the ministry of Church Army worldwide. He has undertaken research and delivered training in Australia and Jamaica, where he developed a fresh understanding of evangelism in very different cultural contexts. Back in 1998, as Minister of Page Moss in Liverpool, he had set up Church Army's first Kidz Klub, which grew to a ministry serving over 250 children and young people each week in one of the toughest areas in inner-city Merseyside. He became programme leader of Xplore in April 2007.

Phil comments; "When I was approached to consider the role of National Director of CANZ, there was a deep sense of God having prepared us as a family for such a move. The task will not be easy, with considerable financial challenges to address, in a land known for its beauty and friendliness, but not for its openness to the Gospel! But there is an even stronger sense of excitement, with new opportunities to build on excellent existing ministry and forge a new direction for CANZ."

Church Army UK's Chief Executive Mark Russell adds: "I am thrilled that Phil has been appointed as the new National Director for CANZ. Phil will make a massive contribution and his experience will impact the whole church there. He bristles with gifts, energy, charisma and passion for Jesus and the lost. Phil, Monika and their family are taking a huge step of faith, and stepping out with courage and vision, and in doing so they have my full support and prayers. Phil has an impressive track record of ministry here in the UK, and the success of Xplore is due to his energy and vision. My excitement for Phil is of course tinged with the sadness of losing a close friend and colleague from the team here. But we release Phil in love, with our prayers, and will stand with him as he begins this new post in the autumn."

For more on CANZ follow this link.