Passing on the baton
I am breaking into my personal recollections of the history of Newfrontiers as another important transition has just taken place during Global2020, another milestone in our mission together.
Newfrontiers Together
Following the redefinition of Newfrontiers in 2011 from a family of churches to a gathering of apostles within the Newfrontiers family across the world a ‘Newfrontiers Together’ team was formed, not to lead Newfrontiers as such but to facilitate and coordinate initiatives across the spheres, as needed. David Devenish was asked to chair this team.
One of these initiatives has been taking place this week, the Global2020 conference. This should have been in Cyprus but in fact has been taking place online. An event of this type has been held annually for the senior leaders from across the 20+ spheres that now exist ever since the final Together on a Mission (TOAM) conference in Brighton in 2011.
Now Dave has come to a stage in life when he felt it was timely to pass on the baton and Global2020 was seen as an appropriate occasion for this to happen. Yesterday, in an atmosphere of love, close friendship and great appreciation Dave handed over the reins (to mix metaphors!) of team leadership to Steve Tibbert in a time of online prayer and commissioning involving various apostles from across the continents.
Dave Devenish
Dave has been part of the Newfrontiers family for many decades, having left his job in international banking to plant and lead Woodside Church in Bedford. He brought his church to the Downs Bible Week in the 80s and in due course became a member of Terry’s apostolic team.
Dave is not only a church leader, apostle and teacher but is also very prophetic. There have been many occasions when, over the past decades, he has brought both direct prophetic words and has also preached prophetically in ways that have shaped us as a movement of churches. He has also written several books, the latest being released this week, Succession or Multiplication?, about how the Newfrontiers family successfully transitioned to new leadership
I am so pleased to have David and Scilla as friends. May they continue to bless many churches and individuals around the world in this new season of their lives.
Steve Tibbert
Steve has been in ‘full time’ ministry for several decades and comes from a wonderful God-fearing family. It was a joy to work closely with his father Brian as he and I both served the Stoneleigh Bible Week for many years, where we also had the joy of Steve himself leading the youth ministry.
Steve has been leading Kings Church in Catford for 25 years and has built it into a substantial multi-ethnic community demonstrating the Kingdom of God in a very diverse area of south London.
Since the transition of 2011, when Terry Virgo and his team recognised and commissioned 15 different apostles in the Newfrontiers family, Steve has been regularly gathering the UK-based apostles to ensure close fellowship would be maintained. He is now taking a similar role on the international arena.
Thank you, Dave, and may God bless you Steve as you lead the Newfrontiers Together team into the next exciting phase of Kingdom extension!