As from the 1 September Gordon Merk will lead the work in the beautiful village of Ardingly, West Sussex. Gordon has a Swiss Dad and an English Mum, and grew up in Switzerland until he moved to Bulgaria in 2002, where he married Veneta a year later. Veny (short for Veneta) is Bulgarian, and has served together with Gordon in the itinerant ministry as well as social and welfare outreaches to the needy and suffering of Bulgaria and Romania. Together they have two daughters, Elizabeth Valentina (2 years) and Christine Esther (4 months). They have just moved from Sweden to the UK, and feel very fortunate and happy to be here. They are very impressed with the people's friendliness - a hallmark of British culture - and have started to feel at home here, not only because of nice neighbours around 'The Manse,' but also because of the lovely people of Southwick Christian Community Church, which oversees the Congregational Church in Ardingly.
Gordon and Veny wish to be a blessing to the people of Ardingly and its surrounding villages and towns, and will seek to serve the needs of people and share God's love and good news as opportunity arises. There is a small number of Christians who are part of the church already, who will be taken care of by the new family. Gordon and Veny have both a strong testimony of how they came to faith in Jesus Christ, and how He has changed their lives in a wonderful way.
Gordon holds a B.A. (Bachelor of Arts) degree in Theology; in Switzerland he was first educated as a draughtsman, while he also worked with handicapped adults for almost two years - a work he loves very much! Veny is a primary school teacher (B.A.) and holds an M.A. in Family Consulation (i.e., counselling), and started her M.A. on School Administration. She has worked in outreaches to drug-addicted people in Sofia, Bulgaria, and has done research on orphans and abandoned children in her home country.
Gordon holds a B.A. (Bachelor of Arts) degree in Theology; in Switzerland he was first educated as a draughtsman, while he also worked with handicapped adults for almost two years - a work he loves very much! Veny is a primary school teacher (B.A.) and holds an M.A. in Family Consulation (i.e., counselling), and started her M.A. on School Administration. She has worked in outreaches to drug-addicted people in Sofia, Bulgaria, and has done research on orphans and abandoned children in her home country.
