ABOUT US

We are a group of ordinary people from different backgrounds, life experiences and ages, who have one thing in common – our love for God, what He has done for us through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, and our desire to share His love with those around us.

None of us have life sorted – we’re all ‘works-in-progress’. But we believe that the message of Jesus is Good News for everyone, and the life He offers now and for all eternity gives us hope in this life, through death and forever. We’re seeking to live as Jesus’ disciples – people who are learning to walk in the ways of Jesus, and living this out in our everyday lives.

If you would like to know more about what we believe please check out the Presbyterian Church in Ireland website. 

MEET THE TEAM

In St Andrew’s we engage in a shared ministry where everyone is encouraged to use their gifts in the service of Jesus, both within the church family and in the wider world. Every member of the church family therefore, is part of the team!

We have two specific leadership teams – the Kirk Session and Congregational Committee – which have responsibility for different aspects of church family life. These are as follows:

The Kirk Session oversees the spiritual life and work of the church family, and is made up of a team of Ruling Elders and the Minister. Some of the main responsibilities of the Kirk Session include encouraging and building up God’s people, helping them to follow Jesus each day; ensuring God’s Word, the Bible, is faithfully taught and shared across all generations; and supporting and encouraging the various ministry teams that take place in the church.

The Committee works with the Kirk Session to coordinate the maintenance and development of the church building complex, oversee the finances of the church family, and look after all the administrative work that is involved in the life of the church family.

Kirk Session & Committee

  • Robert Beers

    Elder

  • Alan Briggs

    Elder

  • Daphne Campbell

    Elder

  • Stephen Carroll

    Elder

  • Kathy Croskery

    Elder

  • Les Dick

    Elder

  • Richard Gawn

    Elder

  • Jim Hill

    Elder

  • David Hooks

    Elder

  • Keith Hooks

    Elder

  • Walter Hope

    Elder

  • Mark Johnston

    Elder / Minister

  • John Little

    Elder

  • Neil McGurk

    Elder

  • Matthew Tomes

    Elder

  • Mildred Wylie

    Elder

  • Seona Carroll

    Committee

  • Norman Clark

    Committee

  • Andrew Croskery

    Committee

  • Lisa Gamble

    Committee

  • David Little

    Committee

  • Dave Michael

    Committee

  • John McBride

    Committee

  • Stephen Rowan

    Committee

  • John Stevenson

    Committee

  • Sandie Thompson

    Committee

  • John Wylie

    Committee

  • Mark Johnston

    Minister

    Mark Johnston has been the Minister of St Andrew’s since June 2016. He’s married to Gillian and they have three children – Daniel, Peter and Sophie. Originally from Templepatrick in Co Antrim, Mark and his family love being part of the St Andrew’s Church family, getting alongside people from the church and wider community, pointing others to Jesus, and encouraging followers of Jesus to grow in their faith each day.

    If you need help and support and would like to get in touch with Mark, please get in touch.

  • Bianka Little

    Administrator

    Bianka is married to David and they have one cat - Beef. They love playing boardgames with friends like Catan and Scythe.

    As administrator, she works to help in many different ways to provide administrative support and develop communications within the church and across the wider community. When she’s not working as administrator, she runs her own photography and graphic design business.

Giving

As followers of Jesus, we believe that everything we have is a gift from God, and therefore it's natural for us to want to say 'thank you' out of the resources we have been entrusted with in return.  Jesus told his disciples, "Freely you have received, freely give."

In the Old Testament, God's people gave a tenth (a tithe) of their income to the Lord's work in the Temple.  Since Jesus lived on earth and as His Church has grown, His followers are liberated from such legalism. We are free to give far more than a mere tenth if we wish.  This applies not just to our financial resources, but also how we use the gifts and talents God has blessed us with, and the use of our time too to serve Him through His Church.

In St Andrew's our Free Will Offerings (FWO) are used to help fund all our ministries, support various organisations across the wider community that are seeking to show the love and hope of Jesus in practical ways, and provide for those who are in need.  We use some of our funds to support God's Kingdom work across Ireland and in other parts of the world (e.g. Middle East, Africa, and supporting vital ministries such as Samaritan's Purse and Open Doors around the world).  The remaining contributions from our Free Will Offerings (FWO) pay for salaries of staff, who minister to children, young people, families, elderly members of the church family and community; the upkeep of the church buildings so that we can keep serving the wider community; and for various Presbyterian Church in Ireland projects in Ireland and across the world (e.g. hospital, military, prison and university chaplaincy, nursing homes and training for ministry).

As followers of Jesus, we know that the resources we have been given are not really 'ours.'  They have only been lent to us.  They all belong to God anyway, so we aim to use them wisely and generously for Kingdom and eternal purposes.

If you'd like to find out more about giving, for the ongoing work of God's Kingdom across our local community and wider world, please feel free to get in touch with us by email at:  info@standrewsbangor.org.uk