About Us

South Kent Community Church exists to demonstrate the love of God, to serve His purposes and see His Kingdom extended in the area of South Kent and beyond, by...

Reaching - out to our communities with the love of God.

  Bringing   - them into a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Growing - up into a community of God in the Holy Spirit.

 

In the mid 1980’s, following some wonderful moves of the Holy Spirit, God joined together a flourishing village mission and a small town Elim church to become the Community Church. Since then the vision has expanded continually and now embraces the wide area bordered within the towns of Folkestone, Hythe and Ashford, plus close links with another Salt & Light church in New Romney. Folkestone and Hythe’s decision to work as one was birthed in a prophetic word seven years ago and God has used it to produce a lively, pro-active committed church community in the locality.

For some time now we have received apostolic input through Salt & Light ministries, and other ministry gifts have been developing within the church.

In 2000 when current senior leader Graham Coombs took the helm, the prophetic word was that the church would “…move straight from 1st into 3rd gear without ever being in 2nd” – and maybe that describes the steep curve of opportunity  and growth through which the Lord is presently taking us. It would be hard to recognise this as being the same church to the one which was birthed around 20 years ago.

 

Graham and Diedra

Graham and Deirdre Coombs have led the church since January 2000, following seven years in which they pastored a single congregation.

Having completed six years in the police force, Graham trained at the Salt and Light Bible College in the early 1990’s. Sons James and Phillip are both married and living locally, James has two young daughters and Phillip has a daughter and son.

Graham’s parents Cyril and Margaret were the original founders of the church back in the 1950’s. Sadly, Cyril has recently  gone to be with the Lord, but Margaret is still an active and honoured member.

Vincent and Julie Oliver work closely with Graham and Deirdre across the life of thechurch. After twenty years in teaching, Vincent trained with Spurgeons Bible College in the early 1990’s, since then the couple have developed particular interests in international team ministry, as well as overseeing several key areas in the life of the church.

Daughters Joyce and Fiona are both married and live locally. Three lovely granddaughters and a grandson currently enrich Vincent and Julie’s lives.
Rod and Avril Sharp are longstanding members of the church, moving particularly in the prophetic. Rod completed a year at the King’s Bible College and in March 2007, he joined the church Eldership.

Norman and Angela Burnett share a passion for outreach. Angela is currently working for the church as a representative for Christians Against Poverty.

Ben, Amy and Rebekah keep their parents young!
John and Vanessa Sherwood have been a part of the church for some ten years during which they have built up a ministry of caring, including leading marriage courses and initiating a church focus in Hawkinge.

Daughter Mell is married to Matt and has blessed John and Vanessa with three special grandchildren living close by. John is a painter and decorator by trade but also works part-time for the church.