I am delighted to announce that Simon Chaplin has accepted my invitation to join our church as our new Assistant Minister!
Simon is married to Amy, and they have three children: Liam (aged 8), Lily (aged 3), and Annabel (6 weeks). They will move into the 40 Fisher Street house in the week before Christmas, and will begin with us two weeks after Christmas.
Simon has been serving at St Mark’s Malabar Anglican Church for nearly ten years, initially as a student minister, and then after that as the full-time assistant minister. During this time he’s done everything from youth and children’s ministry, occasional services, and ministry training, through to regular preaching.
After completing a science degree, Simon worked as an industrial chemist before doing a two-year MTS Ministry Training Apprenticeship at the University of New South Wales, prior to heading to Moore College for his four-year theology degree.
I first met Simon when he was a kid in the youth group I led in the 1990’s, and I hadn’t really caught up with him until the recent commissioning service of our CMS missionaries Adrian and Anita Lovell, who also happen to be their close friends.
Please pray for Simon, Amy, Liam, Lily and Annabel as they prepare for many farewells and changes in the coming months.
Particularly pray that as they move to our neighbourhood that they will have many opportunities to help us grow in our knowledge and love of God, and that Simon will help equip us for ministry with each other in our church and in our region.