West Craven Baptists welcome their minister

An article by MARGARET NUTTER

WEST Craven Baptists are delighted to share the news that we were able to welcome the Revd Stephen Keyworth as the leader of our ministerial team.
This was done in our first gathering since the Covid-19 restrictions were imposed and was therefore a small, socially distanced yet intimate service. We hope to be able to invite others to share in a more public induction as soon as possible.
Following a career in aerospace, Stephen was called to ministry in 1992 and has ministered in Huddersfield, South Shields and Leicester. He has worked with the Northern Baptist Learning Community as a Regional Tutor and he comes to West Craven after seven years as Team Leader, Faith and Society, for the Baptist Union of Great Britain.
Many of you will be aware that his arrival in West Craven was delayed by serious neurological illness. It is a great joy that Stephen and his wife Liz (pictured right), plus their two Collies, are now settled into their new home. 
Stephen joins Julie Bryan to complete our ministerial team and this was celebrated in a service led by the Revd Richard Lewis, who has acted as our moderator for the last 2½ years.
Stephen has been called to West Craven at a time when the three churches of Salterforth, Mount Zion and Barnoldswick are on the verge of formally amalgamating into one and everyone is looking forward to his leadership through that transition and into a new and exciting future.
This is a time of change and challenge for all churches and West Craven Baptists give thanks to God that we are able to look to the future with two ministers whose complementary and varied expertise and experience will provide inspirational and enabling leadership. 
Please pray for the church and for Stephen and Julie as together we seek to discern where God is leading us.