Board Members
Mark Smith is a Chartered Accountant who for many years ran his
own professional firm specialising in charities and small businesses.
He retired from professional practice to become the Secretary
to the Keswick Convention. He lives in Heathfield, Sussex and
is married to Barbara. He has been Chairman of the Board since
2001.
James Barrett trained as an engineering apprentice with Rolls-Royce, gaining graduate and post graduate qualifications at Bristol University and Imperial College of London University as well as Goettingen and Berlin Universities in Germany . James has been in aviation all his life for 24 years at Rolls-Royce and 23 years as the Deputy Chairman and head of the UK GE Aircraft Engine business. Pioneering work was done at both, including putting Concorde into service at RR and launching the world's still largest jet engine at GE. James has been at the forefront of global aviation leadership, but this has always been accompanied by a passionate support of mission outreach in some of the remotest and most deprived regions of the world. James, and his treasured wife Marion of 45 years, live in central London . They have 4 grandchildren.
Richard Bewes was until 2004 the Rector of All Souls Church, Langham Place . The son of missionary parents he has a keen interest in Africa and serves as Chairman of the African Enterprise Board in the UK . A prolific author, Bible teacher and conference speaker, he has regularly taught at the Billy Graham Training Centre, The Cove, Asheville , USA .
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Roger Chilvers is an evangelist and Church Leader working with Counties, a national evangelistic association in the UK and is the Director of the Church Planting Initiative. Since 1983 he has also worked with many of the BGEA Missions in the UK and in many other parts of the world where he was responsible for the Training, Counselling and Follow-up. These include Moscow , Mission World from Essen , Mission 89 in London , Sheffield, Mission England , Jamaica etc. he also has spoken at several BGEA Schools of Evangelism including Amsterdam 2000. Roger also served on the National Committee for Evangelism of Churches Together in England . He chairs the English Evangelists' Institute and also serves as a Director of the George Muller Foundation. Roger is leader of Hillview Evangelical Church in Gloucester , England which has recently planted a new church on a large new housing area of the city. Roger and his wife Hazel have three grown children.
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Peter Copestake has been involved in Operation Christmas Child since the early 90s, including three years as Area Co-ordinator for Manchester up until January 2007. He is on the board of and company secretary for Operation Mobilisation in the UK , and for Relief Education & Development International (RED). He is married to Barbara, who is also a keen and avid supporter of Samaritan's Purse.
John Gallagher is a Barrister with Hardwicke Building . He has a broad practice with experience in personal injury, professional indemnity and malpractice, clinical negligence, general contract and insurance claims, and disciplinary tribunal inquiries. He became Chancellor of the Diocese of Rochester in 2005.
Franklin Graham is the President and Chief Executive Officer of both Samaritan’s Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Under his leadership Samaritan’s Purse has grown enormously. It now operates in more than 100 countries worldwide and reflects Franklin’s heart for the poorest and most needy of society. He also preaches at evangelistic festivals around the world. He is based in Boone, North Carolina and married to Jane Austin. They have three sons a daughter and four grandchildren.
Andrew Lawrence is the Finance and Business Services Director at the BBC World Service Trust, the BBC's international charity that uses media and communications to reduce poverty and promote human rights. Andrew trained as a Chartered Accountant with Coopers & Lybrand before moving into corporate finance and management consultancy, including a number of years in Kenya with Price Waterhouse. After senior management positions in the food and water industries he moved into the charity sector where he was Finance and Operations Director at the Evangelical Alliance and then Finance Director at WaterAid. He lives in Teddington, west London with his wife Lesley and their three children.
Gottfried Osei-Mensah is a preacher, Bible teacher and one of Africa’s most respected and sought after Christian leaders. He was born in Ghana and is presently the Chairman of African Enterprise International Partnership Board. He lives in Reading with his wife Audrey and they have two grown-up children.
Mark Thomas is the managing director of MDN Fusion, a HR company specializing in leadership and personal development. Mark has previously worked with Samaritan's Purse over a 4 year period advising on organizational development and people management issues . He is married to Julie and lives in Basingstoke . Mark's company, MDN Fusion, ( www.mdnfusion.com ) provides organisational and leadership development as well as people management services for third world and UK Christian charities as well as commercial organizations and secular charities. It is also committed to helping CHILD's Trust, ( www.childstrust.org.uk ) a charity dedicated to the development of underprivileged children.
Jean Wilson has worked with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association for almost 45 years. She is a close friend of the Graham family and has had involvement in Samaritan's Purse from its inception in the UK . A native of Blackpool, Jean lives in London and worships at All Souls Church , Langham Place . She is a Director and Company Secretary.
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