The Leadership Team is made up of Pastor, our Elder and Deacons.
The Deacons care for Upper Trosnant’s administration. They meet together once a month to pray for the Church, followed by the business meeting where they discuss and organise events and services, finance, building maintenance, health and safety, and pastoral matters.
Keith Says: I was born in the East End of London, but have lived in Pontypool since 1992. My wife Barbara and I first came to Upper Trosnant because we wanted to get married in Church. We were baptised and became member of Upper Trosnant in August 2009, and I was elected a Deacon and Church Treasurer in September 2011.
Deacon/Treasurer:
Keith Fordham
At the Annual General Meeting we discuss and decide which local, national and international charities we will support. Our Church could not exist without the generous and faithful donations of those who worship here Sunday by Sunday, and it is my role to see that the money is spent wisely and effectively in fulfilling our mission of Proclaiming Christ in Pontypool. Keeping our buildings clean, safe and warm makes an important contribution to our Fellowship, and financial planning is needed to ensure that funds are available for on-going building work. The church also pays for the free refreshments that are enjoyed by the congregation after each service, and for our regular fellowship meals. One of the best parts of my job is giving away ten per cent of the church’s total offering each year! God instructed his people to tithe their money, and the church follows this by deciding
Deacon:
David Breese
David says: I was not brought up in a Christian home. I was brought up in the small farming community of Llandovery in the mountains of mid-Wales where everyone knew everyone else. As children, we never went to church. My family emigrated to South Africa in 1965. I met Lorraine in 1983. My life was a mess until I met Lorraine.
We got married and had two lovely children. Lorraine and I went through a very bad patch in our marriage. This was when Lorraine came to know the Lord in a very real way. I could see a big change in her but didn’t realise why. This way of life continued for three years until I read a booklet called “Ultimate Questions by John Blanchard”.
I read it through from cover to cover. My mind kept going back to a section that I had read in that booklet. I read it over and over. Then for the first time in my life I went down on my knees and prayed for forgiveness from the Lord.
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We came back to the UK in 2005 for our children’s future and God moved us to Pontypool in February 2023. We started attending Upper Trosnant Baptist Church. The first time I attended I felt that this was where the Lord wanted me. It is a privilege to be asked to serve on the Deaconate and I will do my best to serve the Lord here to the best of my ability.
Lorraine says: I was born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa. I've been married to Dave since 1984. I come from a large family of nine children. Sunday school was where I first learnt about God. I was particularly ‘taken’ as a young child with the miracles that Jesus performed and imagined myself being right there and feeling the awe and excitement of the miracles
Deacon:
Lorraine Breese
He performed. He sought me out much later in life though, at the age of 27 while married to Dave. I soon found out that living with God in my life brought positive real-life changes in all aspects of life. Having come through difficult teenage to young adult years with many challenges – I never knew then, that life could be so exhilarating and that walking in a relationship with God could be so personal, so close. Living in England since 2005 has also shown me that God’s family is one family – worldwide – needless to say my ‘family’ has grown some over these past years.
Upper Trosnant is a wonderful family to be part of, and I’m excited to see what God is going to do in this small part of His bigger church. It is God's grace that has changed my life and it is a joy to be part of His church here in Pontypool. Serving as a deacon and secretary is a huge privilege for me; and it’s great to be part of a wonderful leadership team who are eager to seek God and His will for the church and the local community.