Mark Berry
Mark Berry is Pioneer Leader of Telford Missional Community, otherwise known as Safespace, a community engaging with people who do not normally connect with church.
The Community was founded in 2005 with a two-fold objective. Firstly to explore what a Christian community with mission at its heart might look like in 21st century Britain and secondly to engage in mission amongst the growing population of 20s and 30s in Telford who are not connected to the existing church.
Telford is a growing town, born in the mid-sixties and part of the spread of ‘New Towns’ at that time. It is situated roughly halfway between the north tip of Birmingham and the Welsh border, just east of Shrewsbury. Fewer than 1.5 per cent of the adult population attend or are members of church.
Mark is married to Louisa and has a young son, Nathan. He trained and worked in the theatre as a lighting designer before moving into youth ministry in 1994. Since then he has ministered in a variety of churches and regions.
During this time, he noticed that while a lot of resources were being ploughed into working with young people in the church a huge – and growing - population of younger people had no contact or relationship with Christianity whatsoever. It was to counteract this, and a desire to engage in a faith that was incarnate within the culture of today, that saw him spending more and more time with those outside of church culture.
Mark was surprised to find that many of these young people expressed a sense of their own spirituality and had experiences that they themselves defined as spiritual.
It was this journey that led Mark to Telford, where he and the community have found themselves working and ministering in places like AFC Telford Football Club, Telford Shopping Centre, Telford College of Technology and Arts, Parent and Toddler groups and at the local Mind, Body, Spirit festivals and fairs. The community has also developed its own liturgies and rhythm of life.
Mark is part of the CMS Mission Leadership and Communities Team, developing and supporting both mission and new ways of being church within an emerging culture.
Prayer points
For our work and ministry in AFC Telford Football Club
For our ministry in the Mind, Body, Spirit community
For our children's spirituality/creation walks and our pilgrimage walks for the un-churched
For the life of the community, and our group and individual relationships and ministries
For healing, and bringing of Shalom to the town and region of Telford and Wrekin
Tags: "mission partners" mark berry "mark berry" telford "safe space" pioneer "pioneer leader" "mind, body, spirit" "
Last updated: 17/12/2007 19:44
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