Previous Deacons
Jean R.
(1998 - 2004, 2008 - 2016)
I grew up in a Christian home in Minnesota, USA, and have been blessed with so many role-models in my faith journey. Yearly Bible Camps were a big influence on my decision to follow Jesus as a teenager. I came to university at Canterbury as a student, and there met my first husband, Dave Kitchen. When we moved to Whitstable, early in our marriage, and began looking for a church to attend, we were so warmly welcomed here at Middle Wall that we never left. The church here has been a major part of my life over the last 35 years, and the church family has loved and supported us, most notably when Dave was diagnosed with cancer, and subsequently died in 2000. The family mourned with me then, and rejoiced with me when Geoff and I met and were married in March, 2003. I have three grown-up children, and Geoff has four, and between us we enjoy eight grandchildren.
I have worked with children and young people in the church in the past, and been involved in much of the music-making here, currently as worship leader and organist. I led the choir at the school where I taught for many years before retiring three years ago. It is a pleasure to come back and serve as part of the Diaconate again after a break of some years.
I believe passionately that we are called to love and serve each other in the context of a local church, and that God helps us to grow more and more like Him in this way.
“God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love - like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love”Ephesians 4: 15-16. (The Message Bible)