In the Diocese of Rochester Evangelists are commissioned and appointed to serve under their incumbents and their job is enabling a personal awakening of faith in Christ among non-believers and those who have lost their faith. It involves sharing the good news about Jesus and his Kingdom by getting alongside people and being where they are.
Who are the Evangelists?
We are ordinary people of all ages and occupations who are Christians. Whilst all Christians are called to be a witness where they are to the love of God in their lives, evangelists are those people who, after selection and training by the church, have focussed that call to be witnesses in a particular way. Evangelists are those people who have a real 'heart' for the outsider, for those who as yet do not recognise the impact of God, through Jesus, in their lives. They are people who also help those who have lost their sense of faith to recover their relationship with God and to be strengthened in it.
Evangelists in the Diocese of Rochester work in a variety of ways. Some work specifically with children and young people in schools and clubs. Others work across age ranges. In some areas there is a specific work with the elderly. Some run small enquiry groups for adults either in churches, homes or even pubs. Others do estate visits especially to welcome newcomers to an area. Some are engaged in acts of 'servant evangelism' where we aim to do acts of kindness simply because God is a God of love. Some evangelists use the arts in their work while others are gifted speakers at outreach events.
To find out more about the work of a Diocesan Evangelist please download this file.
If you would like to know more about how to train to be a Diocesan Evangelist please contact the Warden of Evangelists, the Rev Canon Jean Kerr, by phone 01634 844508 or email
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Area Groups
Each evangelist is expected to be part of an area group for on-going training, mutual support and encouragement. Area groups meet 3 or 4 times a year. If you are not sure who your Area Group Leader is please contact Jean by email. There is now a Rochester Diocesan Evangelists Facebook page to help Evangelists share news, please click here.
Training Events
At the 2011 Residential Weekend we were joined by Bishop James who outlined plans for the future of Licenced Lay Ministers. During the Weekend the Evangelists were trained on how to run the new “Gossip the Good News Course”, click here for details.
Dickens Weekend & Sweeps Festival
Diocesan Evangelists have been assisting the Canon Missioner and Pioneer Curate at the Cathedral in ministering to visitors to the Cathedral on these busy festival weekends. In recent years this has included a spirituality tent where people can have a hand or foot massage, make prayer beads, receive prayer for healing, or hear what God is saying to them through a Jesus Deck reading. If you would like to take part alongside the evangelists please contact the Rev Canon Jean Kerr, by phone 01634 844508 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Outdoor Events
War and Peace Show, Paddock Wood
Each year a team of Diocesan Evangelists have a presence at the War and Peace Show by running the Oasis café. We are grateful to the Bishop’s Fund for Mission whose grant enables this outreach event to take place. We serve around 2000 cups of coffee, tea and soft drinks, feed around 50 fellow exhibitors at a welcome barbeque and prayed with and for? -well we simply lost count. More importantly we have established a church presence that shows that Christians do not have three heads, can laugh, can serve and are interested in people’s lives. In spite of us not charging for anything people kept giving donations and so last year we were able to send a little over £1200 to the Headley Court Rehabilitation Centre. Geoff Baker, Evangelist. This year’s total was £1670.
If you would like to join the team of volunteers please contact Geoff by email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
