How We Got Started: British Isles
May 2025
The Birth of the Movement in the British Isles
In the aftermath of two world wars and the dissolution of the British Empire, Britain and Ireland experienced a sharp decline in faith, particularly during the 1970s and 1980s. In 1982 the Charis Alliance sought to reverse this trend by sending two couples to Solihull, England (a suburb of Birmingham). Bill Kiddoo was one of our early missionaries there, and God led him to create the “Speaking Allowed Club,” which helped participants articulate their beliefs. And since Birmingham was the birthplace of legendary bands like Black Sabbath and Duran Duran, many locals strongly resonate with music, and God led David and Becky Schwan to start guitar clubs. Through the speaking club and guitar clubs, many individuals came to encounter the transformative message of Jesus. As a body of believers formed, they met in various places around the Solihull town center, including in people’s homes and at a bridge club. In 1996, the Charis church family found a consistent meeting space as they settled at Light Hall School in Shirley.The Growth of the Movement in the British Isles
In 2001, the church in Shirley sent out a team of six to start a church in the Frankley suburb, with another church eventually springing up in Yardley as well. In 2002, our movement continued to expand as Encompass deployed Tom and MaryAnn to London, who were joined by other couples in the following years. Our team in London served there for eight years. One of their ministries that gained traction was using puppets and drama to portray Bible stories schools. In 2010, that team moved to Frankley to support the church plant there. That same year, leadership of the Shirley church passed to Malcolm Stevens, who still pastors it today. At the same time Encompass was expanding to London (2002), we also sent a team of three couples to Dublin, Ireland, including Roy and Holly. By 2013, the team had successfully planted a church which was handed off to Irish leadership in 2016. Sadly, the church struggled for several years before eventually disbanding. God used that experience to shift Roy and Holly’s strategy—instead of planting new churches, they decided to come alongside existing churches and provide them with much-needed support. Even with this renewed strategy, their focus remains on sharing the gospel with those who have no access to the good news. They do this by embedding themselves as gospel seeds into various social networks around Dublin—clearly articulating the good news while also tangibly demonstrating it to their friends and acquaintances. Their hearts are to see new communities of faith started that are faithful to Jesus and His gospel in the greater Dublin area.A Call to Prayer and Support
Today, the Charis Alliance in the UK is made up of one church and two “points of light.” The church in Shirley, England continues meeting for worship together, while Roy and Holly continue leading our efforts in Dublin, Ireland.- Pray for God to fill Shirley Grace Church with young believers as they strive to reach the next generation.
- Pray for God to send new workers to join Roy and Holly’s team in Dublin as they build relationships and share the gospel.
- Pray that the believers who encountered Christ through this movement would shine as lights for Jesus wherever they go.
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