After serving with Chapel Missions Italy for three years in Rome, the Lord opened a door for Kirk and Mindy Crager to serve alongside the ministry of Calvary Chapel Stockport in the Greater Manchester* area of northern England. After originally being asked to come and work with youth and in evangelism, the Cragers were asked to take on the leadership of the small church plant.
The church has existed since the Victorian era, but in 1998 Calvary Chapel was asked to take on the dwindling church. Since then, Pastors Ken Sutton and Mike Murray have laid a solid foundation of the Word of God and have seen some fruit in steering the church towards a more healthy future. Now the Kirk and Mindy are seeking to be faithful to build on this foundation with the Word, care, and prayer in order to see a solid and growing church family that can reach the Greater Manchester area with the gospel of Christ and a valid representation of Jesus.
*Manchester is a metropolitan area of several million with Stockport being one of the boroughs of greater Manchester. Stockport itself is a community about the size of Boise.
the vision
Our vision is to glorify Jesus Christ through the teaching of the whole counsel of the Word of God to the church family that we have inherited. We desire to love and serve the people here and to see a healthy body of Christ grow as we stay close to Jesus who the head of the body.
The general area of Stockport was once described by the great Methodist evangelist John Wesley as "hard ground," in reference to the lack of spiritual interest in the area. We have found this to be true as well, but have also seen hearts crying out to have direction and guidance. It is our hope to be used by the Lord to break through the spiritual apathy and see children, youth, young families, and the many international peoples here given the firm foundation of the gospel and the Word of God.
We of course desire to accomplish this by letting the Lord work through us and just being available to do whatever He places before us. For more information regarding the current prayer needs, outreaches, and teachings of the ministry please visit www.calvarystockport.co.uk.