Stony Stratford
On Saturday 31 March, Keith Plant was inducted as pastor of Stony Stratford Evangelical Free Church (EFCC).
The service was chaired by Roger March, who was moderator during the interregnum and who is former pastor of near neighbour, Wolverton Evangelical Free Church.
Gareth Williams, pastor of Bala Evangelical Church and a friend of Keith’s, preached from 1 Corinthians 9:7-25, giving Mr Plant and the church warm words of encouragement as he outlined their responsibilities in the partnership of the gospel.
The day was of huge encouragement to the church. More than 100 friends, family and others from local churches attended.
Mr Plant and his wife Tracy moved recently from Harold Hill Evangelical Free Church, where he served seven and a half years as pastor. He succeeds Robert Lightowler, who was pastor at Stony Stratford for seven years and is now seeking to serve the Lord in Sierra Leone.
Mr Lightowler, who left at the end of June 2011, had approached Mr Plant in January that year. He knew Keith through the EFCC’s ministers’ prayer conference. After several meetings, preaching two Sundays, leading a Bible study and having various interviews, the church offered Mr Plant the pastorate in August 2011.
A few weeks’ prayer and consideration followed, after which Mr and Mrs Plant felt that this was where the Lord was leading them. Keith said he was ‘thrilled to be working in a church where the gospel has been held dear for many years.
‘I am looking forward to working in partnership, taking the good news of Christ to the community here in Stony Stratford’.
