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site last updated:
Friday 7th August 2009, 6:00pm (UK Time)
About our Pastors
Pastor: Bob
Forder
Assistant Pastor: Barry Forder
Pastor: Bob
Forder
Bob began his
Christian ministry in 1974 working with teenagers in Deal, Kent,
as a youth leader. This continued for 15 years and during that
time, with Maureen his wife, and other leaders, he took many
different groups of teenagers to Greenbelt Christian Arts
festivals and also ran house-party weekends for many years.
As part of the
youth work he began a monthly coffee bar called Manna House
which gave Christian bands the opportunity to develop their
talents and also provided a place for people to meet with other
Christians. Many of these young people have since married and
now have teenagers of their own.
For a time Bob
and his family were involved with ‘Galilee’ which was a trust
presenting the gospel through music to various venues across
southern England including prisons and cathedrals.
Some time later
as a way of linking youth living in Kent together, Bob and
Maureen produced numerous issues of ‘Alive magazine’ which
contained articles written by some of the teenagers plus
Christian music reviews, Bible studies, current events, topical
issues as seen from a biblical perspective and a ‘what’s on’
section. He was also involved in many other aspects of church
life. He played drums in the music group each week and led times
of praise on many occasions.
He had, (and
still has) a real desire to keep to the inerrant word of God and
he led numerous study groups. Through work contacts and
Christian friends he formed strong links with many sound
Christian ministries such as Creation Science Movement /
Reachout Trust / Barry Smith and George Curle (End times) and
others. Also, his love of the Word of God increased his
understanding of the place of Israel and the Jewish people in
God’s plan. Throughout this time he had a small recording
studio, which was used to record tapes of the church music group
and also his family.
In 1992, after
much prayer, he was led by God to form Deal Christian
Fellowship. At first there were a dozen or so who met in homes
but within a couple of months they began to meet in a school,
followed some years later to a community centre. Many vital
lessons have been learnt and Bob continued to seek God’s will
for the fellowship.
By a series of
amazing events, through the prayers of many, God answered the
request for a building for DCF. Another local free church who
had a building were praying for more people and God brought us
all together.
Seven years on,
Bob is pastoring and teaching a committed church,
verse by
verse and chapter by chapter, whose desire is to be taught the Word
of God and so it is yet another blessing that through various
contacts made in 2002/3 at a FACT conference in Portsmouth he
has linked with other pastors, mainly from Calvary Chapels, which
has expanded the resources available to DCF.
The church has
now officially become part of Calvary Chapel. Bob and Maureen have three grown up children Katie,
Barry and Simeon, who are all involved in the ministry at DCF
and also have four grandchildren.
Assistant Pastor: Barry Forder
Barry was born and
raised in a Christian family, in Deal, Kent and attended a local
church where his parents were actively involved with both youth work
and music so he became very accustomed to church life.
He soon developed a love for God and a real understanding of what
the Christian life should be by studying the Bible for himself. He
played drums in church and in a band with other like - minded
Christians which led them to minister in local schools and other
venues.
As time went on Barry (and his parents, sister and brother) moved
church, led by a desire to study God’s Word in depth. They had
contacts with some sincere Bible believing teachers and had the
opportunity to attend the F.A.C.T. Conferences in Portsmouth (F.A.C.T.
is Fellowship of Active Christian Thinkers).
This heightened Barry’s love for the Word of God and has found him
to be a knowledgeable teacher in his own right now. He has forged
many links with other Bible teachers such as Pastor Ron Matsen,
Chuck Missler and numerous Calvary Chapel Pastors.
Barry often speaks at other Calvary Chapel Churches besides being
Assistant Pastor at DCF, leading Worship at DCF and leading the
weekly Bible Studies. He also ‘pastors’ Calvary Chapel Poole once a
month which is a fairly new addition to his busy ministry. Recently
he has co-hosted Cross Talk, which was a weekly programme on Genesis
TV with Pastor Ron Matsen which was a Q & A session following Ron’s
hour long teaching.
Currently living in Deal, Barry is supported by his wife Joy who is
a constant encouragement to him. They were both previously involved
with youth work at DCF; Joy is still a leader of the 7-11’s group
called Livewires. They have a little daughter Mahlah who is
naturally being brought up to know and understand about her Heavenly
Father.
Barry’s ‘tent-making’ is done as a business account manager for BT.
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