We’re proving that two are better than one …

For a small church like Ingatestone Elim, bi-vocational leadership has made outreach and nurturing a diverse congregation possible, say Lee Carmichael and Sid Thurlow.

In many ways, Lee Carmichael and Sid Thurlow are like chalk and cheese.

Lee has 20 years’ experience as an Elim pastor while Sid spent 30 years in crime, addiction and prison.

Yet together, they lead the team at Ingatestone Elim Church – and are proof that bi-vocational leadership can be a perfect solution for smaller churches.

The story began when Lee came to Ingatestone in November 2014.

“The congregation couldn’t afford to pay a full-time salary so we agreed I’d work one day a week in a school and the rest in church,” he says.

Immediately, Lee set out to revamp the church’s tired building, which dated back in part to 1933.

“Ingatestone is proper middle-class commuter territory and the church looked like a run-down village hall,” he says.

“We had a pledge day and people gave sacrificially, which meant we could spend £342,000. We ripped out virtually everything bar the walls of the original church and the roof.”

The church had been growing steadily before the project, with new members transferring to Ingatestone or joining after coming to faith.

“We had seven baptisms across the first three years, including a chap called Basil who found faith and got baptised at 92!”

Post-Covid and with the building work completed, the church grew rapidly as lockdown restrictions lifted.

Lee decided to continue working bi-vocationally and recruit a part-time assistant pastor.

Sid diverts here to explain the miraculous way he and Lee crossed paths.

“I came from a background of addiction, crime and drugs.

I spent many years in prison, which is where I came to know Jesus,” he says.

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