My name is Darren and I have the pleasure of serving as an Elder and Managing Trustee here at Emmanuel. I am trained as a Mechanical Engineer but I'm actually employed in a variety of positions which includes being a Response Driver for the Health Service. I am married and have 4 children - Chelsie, Cailtin, Samuel and Sophia. My wife Carol is the Supervisor of a local Preschool, however, she also finds time during the week to lead the popular toddler group here at the Centre and another one at a local church school.

Having a young family keeps me busy (as you can imagine) but if any free time does present itself, I have occasionally been spotted in the local gym which I surprisingly enjoy. Alternatively, you're just as likely to find me in front of the TV cheering for Manchester United FC which, I feel, brings a good balance to the church, considering that Pastor Stu supports our fierce rivals - Liverpool.

I was originally brought up in Ulverston but spent my last few school years in Redditch, Worcestershire.  In Ulverston, as a young lad and at my Mother's request, I attended the Methodist Church where I was a member of the Boys Brigade. It was there that I gained my first insight into the God of the Bible, although church then was more of a Sunday thing rather than a lifestyle. In 1987, I was introduced to a personal relationship with Christ through a school friend called Tim.

Redditch is where I spent most of what I now refer to as my ‘prodigal years’. During this time I made many mistakes and resisted God’s call on my life. I always knew deep-down that He wanted me to be in the church but I’d fallen for the lie that God just wanted to restrict my life and make me miserable. I thought God was against all the fun things in life… how wrong I was! God’s desire was for me to enter the fullness of life which is a life consumed by knowing Him. Thankfully, He brought me to a place of brokenness, at which point, I cried out to Him in sorrow. I had been the master of my own life for too long and finally those rebellious years came to a God-ordained end!

Being a recipient of God’s grace and having been given another chance, I really do know that God transforms the lives of real people from all types of backgrounds. My life wasn't good, my background ignoble but I'm actually quite ordinary -honest! I know first-hand that an 'extraordinary God' loves ordinary people... just like you and me! In the same sense I know many ordinary people have decided that religion’s not for them. Guess what? Religion isn't what anyone has ever needed, and it is not what we at Emmanuel Christian Centre are promoting. Religion has never got anyone into heaven, and self-righteous living hasn't moved anybody closer to God. The living God who created the universe is not sitting up in heaven hoping that you find religion. He wants you to actually know Him!  

In response to God’s clear direction I returned to Ulverston in 2002 to join the Emmanuel Christian Centre. I joined the leadership team in 2006 as an Elder with the responsibility for teaching and training on communication with God. I also spent a short time deputising for the pastor whilst he and his family were serving abroad.

Other ministry related responsibilities include working with Servants of the Lord Ministries (SOLM) who are a training ministry serving the body of Christ. The teachings of SOLM and their foundational book, My Sheep Hear My Voice, have been a real inspiration to me. I believe their message is invaluable to all Christian’s who have a heart after God, from the seasoned saint to the returning prodigal. They teach clear, detailed and easy to understand instructions on how to have an exciting walk with God. I'm also a student of theirs and working with them means I get to travel to a number of other countries each year. 

As a church we are in fellowship with the Assemblies of God but for me personally to be marked within a Christian brand just isn’t enough. I aspire to grow in the knowledge of Truth regardless of which denominational marker that crosses. In simplest terms I’d describe myself as a follower of Christ and it’s His teaching I want to follow… My aim in life is to embrace the priceless privilege of knowing Jesus as my Lord and to progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him (Philippians 3:8 Amplified Bible, Emphasis Mine). As a leader I want others to experience that priceless privilege too!