Announcement

7th January 2025

We have some important news to share. After much prayer our CEO, Emily Shepherd, a co-founder of Welcome Churches, has come to the decision that God is calling her on to new adventures and calling someone to lead Welcome Churches into the next season of mission.

As co-founder, Emily has been an invaluable asset to Welcome Churches. Her passion for refugees, justice, and the role of the local church has inspired us all. She has built strong partnerships, grown our influence and network and passionately developed our staff team.

Emily says: “It has been a complete privilege to be part of the Welcome Churches journey over the last eight years. After joining the team at Upbeat Communities in 2016, to help grow the national project, to seeing us become an independent charity in 2018, and seeing the exponential growth in churches across the UK welcoming refugees ever since, I am so grateful to God for his faithfulness and provision for Welcome Churches so far. 

Now that Welcome Churches has over 1400 churches in our Welcome Network, and is seeing thousands of refugees welcomed by local churches each year, I feel that the time has come for me to move on, and for Welcome Churches to have new leadership for the next stage in it's journey of equipping the UK Church to welcome the very special people who seek refuge and safety in the UK each year. I remain entirely passionate about the mission of Welcome Churches to see every refugee welcomed by the local church, and look forward to seeing how God will shape and grow the mission under new leadership”.

Marion Knell, on behalf of the board of trustees says: “I want to thank Emily so much for her service and commitment to Welcome Churches over the years. Emily has been part of Welcome Churches since it began and brings to the ministry a passion for refugees, for justice and for the role of the local church.  She has brought imagination, strategic thinking and the ability to create significant partnerships with organisations that share our values and vision. 

Whilst we are sorry to say goodbye, we are not dismayed but are confident in God’s purposes for both Emily and Welcome Churches in this time of change. The ministry is God’s first and foremost, a kingdom ministry which is in His hands. We wish Emily well in the next stage of her journey and are confident in the fantastic team we have to lead us forward in the next chapter in the life of Welcome Churches”.

While we are saddened to see Emily go, we are excited for her future endeavours. We are confident that God has great plans for both Emily and Welcome Churches.

We are grateful for your ongoing support and prayers. As we embark on this new chapter, please join us in praying that God will lead us to the person he's calling to lead this ministry. If you or someone you know might be that person, please look out for the advert for our new CEO or request the pack from us by emailing Tim (tim.leese@welcomechurches.org). We'd love to talk to anyone trying to discern whether God is calling them to this role.

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to our shared mission to welcome and support refugees.