ABOUT US
Kent Gospel Partnership is a network of Bible-centred, local churches in Kent who are committed to spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ across our region, and to supporting, encouraging and equipping each other as we seek to do this.
Churches and church leaders in the partnership come from different backgrounds (including: Independent, Anglican, Baptist) but are seeking to work together for the building and growth of the church of Jesus Christ through gospel ministry. We share a conviction that:
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The means of gospel ministry is the prayerful teaching of the Bible. It is as the Bible is taught in the power of the Spirit that God’s voice is heard.
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The heart of gospel ministry is the proclamation of Christ crucified. The message of the cross is God’s way of saving people from his coming wrath.
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The focus for gospel ministry is the local church. It is primarily through the local church that unbelievers are brought to faith in Christ and believers are built up in him.
The Kent Gospel Partnership is part of the of a growing network of Gospel Partnerships around the country.
Meet the Team
KGP Director
Richard Hagan
Richard grew up on the Isle of Sheppey and later returned to Kent in 2009 to plant Emmanuel church Canterbury with 8 others. When he served as an assistant minister in Dorset he was thrilled to see 50 churches come together for a large mission with Rico Tice. He is very keen to see Kent churches grow together in the confidence that the gospel really is god's power for salvation, and to be equipped to reach the 1.9 million lost people in this great county. He loves to pray Paul's prayer in 2 Thessalonians 3:1: 'pray for us that the message of the lord may spread rapidly and be honoured.' He is married to Corinne and they have 4 children. He loves reading military history, running with the dog and making music.
Contact Richard at: director@kentgospelpartnership.uk
KGP Steering Committee
The Steering Committee meet three times a year to plan the work of the Kent Gospel Partnership. The committee members are also Trustee's of the charity.
I came to know Jesus as a teenager as I let go of trying to earn acceptance with God and my heart was won by what Christ had done for me through his death and resurrection. I serve as an Associate Rector at St Nicholas in Sevenoaks. I got involved in the KGP because Kent needs Jesus. Partnering together as local churches across our denominations we will be far more effective in getting the good news about Jesus to Kent.
Matt Taylor
Chairman
Contact Matt at: matt@kentgospelpartnership.uk
Nigel Hoad
Nigel has been a member of the Steering Team for a few years and it is a privilege to serve Christ in this capacity among the churches in Kent. Nigel is also currently the Chair of the Kent Men's Convention, organised through and part of the Kent Gospel Partnership. He is an elder at Grace Fellowship, Ashford, having moved to Ashford on retirement from church planting in Ebbsfleet, Prior to working full-time in Christian ministry, Nigel was a Chartered Quantity Surveyor and Project Manager in the Construction Industry and is still involved helping churches redevelop their existing buildings. North Kent for several years. He has been married to Lucy for loads of years(!) and has three children and eight grandchildren. To keep him humble and contrite, he supports West Ham, but loves sport general and being active and travelling.
Simon Buss
Simon became pastor of Herne Bay Evangelical Free Church (FIEC) in 2021. He’s a new-comer to Kent, but family roots mean he keeps bumping into distant relatives! Simon is married to Victoria, and they have three kids, who are loving life by the sea. Before Kent, Simon was an architect in London, and an elder at Duke Street Church, Richmond. He's also spent several years living in Russia, researching Soviet Constructivist architecture, among other fascinating things. Simon had a first taste of gospel partnership at his university Christian union. Expecting it to be ‘dodgy’, he was deeply humbled to find brothers and sisters in Christ from various churches, more passionate than him about sharing the good news. So it’s exciting to be involved in KGP now, which offers churches a framework to enjoy gospel unity, without compromise, and by God’s grace to be more effective, together.
A few years ago, I moved with my family from London to Kent to be part of Emmanuel Church, Canterbury. Having previously worked as a commercial solicitor, I now enjoy looking after my family and home, and helping out with pastoral counselling and other bible study ministries at church. I am chair of the Kent Women’s Convention, one of KGP’s annual conferences. I also love trying out new recipes, cracking the crossword, and learning to play golf.
Katie Linforth
Administrator
