Our full time pastor is Stuart Wheatman. He is married to Sarah and they have three children, Rachel, Reuben and Simeon. Before moving to Brynmawr to plant the church, Stuart worked full time for Abergavenny Family Church and served as an elder. He was previously a qualified psychiatric nurse working in Pen-y-Fal hospital in Abergavenny and the surrounding areas. Alongside experience working in the local Church, Stuart completed a 2-year theology course entitled ‘Equipped for Ministry’ with New Frontiers International. Sarah trained as a general nurse in St. Bartholomew’s in London before moving to Wales where she worked in Nevill Hall Hospital. She assisted Stuart with youth work in Abergavenny Family Church as well as completing counselling training in the area of pregnancy crisis. She now assists Stuart with the work in the Church and binging up the children.
Stuart and Sarah Wheatman
Steve and Pat Makepeace
Chris Harris
Our Leaders
Steve and Pat Makepeace for the first 9 years of their Christian lives were active members of a Baptist Church in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey. During this time they did a 3 year discipleship course which developed in them a heart for outreach and mercy mission. They began to outreach initially in Ebbw Vale, and then across the UK, and Europe - Romania, Hungary and Austria taking the gospel and practical aid to refugees and orphanages. They then moved to Romania in full time ministry to be house mum and dad to nurture 14 girls and give them a firm foundation in the Word of God. This time was sadly cut short due to illness. They later moved to Australia where thry attended Bible College and ministered to aboriginal communities and drug/alcohol addicts and assisted a Pastor in North Queensland in all aspects of ministry. Whilst in Australia God called them back to Wales, where Stephen was Ordained and embarked on an itinerant ministry - with a heart to build unity between ministers and fellowships in the area. In 2006 they were led to join Brynmawr Family Church and now serve as part of the leadership team.
Chris Harris grew up in Aberdare, South Wales. As an 8 year old girl she knew she needed Jesus to be her saviour. As she came into her adolescent years she thought she needed other things. However, in her early 20’s she discovered that other things did not fulfil her longings. She knew she had to get back into her relationship with Jesus. In her late 20’s she attended All Nations Christian College in Hertfordshire, subsequently going to India and the Philippines for mission. Having lived in Wales, England and Scotland she has now returned to Wales. She has served as an active member of Abergavenny Family Church for many years, leading a homegroup as well as teaching through Women of the Word and developing and running the Christian bookshop. She joined the Church plant in Brynmawr and serves on the leadership team.