Oak Grove leader joins Connect Norwich team

Darren Woodward, Senior leader at Oak Grove Community Church, has joined the core team who co-ordinate Connect Norwich.

Connect Norwich exists for the purpose of facilitating and encouraging good relationships between Christian leaders, their churches and organisations; provoking mission, and providing a point of communication across churches in greater Norwich area. Darren Woodward, Senior Pastor at Oak Grove Community Church is the newest member of the core team who lead Connect Norwich and co-ordinate its meetings.

Darren explains the importance of Connect Norwich: “It was an honour to be asked to join the core team. I don’t think it’s possible to read the Bible and miss the fact that Jesus was pretty keen on unity and collaboration.

“I’d like to think that Connect Norwich can be a vehicle that enables a greater awareness of promoting unity as we celebrate where God is increasingly at work in Norwich.

“Leadership can be a lonely place at times - I think Connect Norwich provides the time and space for those in Christian leadership to connect regularly with each other, to build relationships and to hear a bit of what’s going on in other areas of the city and surrounding area as well as being able to encourage and pray for each other – the lunches are great too! The informality enables links and connections to grow organically with others who are on similar journeys.

“For all of our differences in style and flavour of our varied gatherings and the nuances of serving in different locations. If nothing else we can unite around the person and practices of Jesus. I love it when churches interact and work together and whilst the Revelation picture of every tribe and tongue is yet to be realised, any initiative that facilitates those opportunities resonates with me.”

Darren was born and raised in Norwich and joined Oak Grove Community Church in April 1989. In total he has worked for Oak Grove for nearly 22 years initially as a community worker but then as church leader since 2013. 

Darren reports that “Right from the moment it was planted 90 years ago, Oak Grove has always been a church that serves it’s community.”

“Over my time within the church and latterly as the Senior Leader we have seen growth but also experienced decline much like other churches I guess but my testimony would be that God has remained faithful as have our church family. Despite the challenges of living counter culturally in today’s world the DNA at the heart of the church of generosity, hospitality and mission remains strong and I am confident that the community of North Norwich would be a poorer place without our consistent witness and service.”

During his life time, Darren has observed lots of changes in Norwich, particularly in terms of redevelopment and increasing diversity of population, all of which he believes “only make Norwich an even finer city to live in and to visit.”

Other members of the Connect Norwich Core Team are: Trevor Pimlott (Soul Church), Nick Blanch (Youth for Christ), Keith Morris (Network Norwich & Norfolk), Major Debbie Pearson (Norwich Salvation Army Citadel), Craig Deal (Gateway Vineyard), Tim Yau (Sprowston and North Norwich Team Ministry).

Visit this link for information about the next meeting of Connect Norwich: /Articles/714185/Network_Norwich_and_Norfolk/Partners/Connect_Norwich/Connect_Norwich_meeting_at_Proclaimers_in_May.aspx



Photo above courtesy of Darren Woodward