- Missions
Michael Duquesnel sat in the barber’s chair when the question came: Why would an American move to Hoylake, a town of 6,000 people west of Liverpool, England?
The Michigan native shared that he had moved to work as a pastoral apprentice with Hoylake Evangelical Church. Then Duquesnel asked the barber what he thought about Christianity and the church.
‘I’ve never thought about it,’ the barber replied that day in 2021.
Duquesnel expected the barber to be more familiar with Jesus and a life of faith. Instead, he encountered a living example of spiritual reality: The British are a least-reached people group.
“The U.K. is in need of Christ very badly,” he said. “It’s such an overlooked country.”
Related: What’s the full Converge response to the U.K.’s spiritual needs?
Partnerships create significant outcomes for Christ’s mission
Historic churches with strong ministries that created vibrant faith throughout the kingdom formerly defined Duquesnel’s image of the region’s spiritual vitality. But he’s encountered the opposite while serving as a pastoral apprentice at Hoylake Evangelical Church.
The Alliance for Transatlantic Theological Training (AT3), a Converge partner, welcomed him as an apprentice for two years after he did a short internship. These opportunities connect believers from outside the U.K. with British churches.
AT3 helps American believers gain skills for ministry in post-Christian contexts by learning from U.K. church leaders. The collaborative ministry also seeks to supply British churches with additional ministry staff.
“I really loved the idea to come learn from those ministers who have been working in the trenches for years,” Duquesnel said. “The work has been tough at times, but the Lord has been faithful.”
Related: An Arizona church reflected with a British church on shared challenges.
The fruit is coming by God’s grace as Hoylake Evangelical Church’s pastor and congregation have embraced Duquesnel. He frequently preaches and fulfills a variety of other pastoral roles.
God is working through the partnership to prepare Duquesnel and help the church grow. The congregation currently lacks elders, leaving the pastor shouldering several responsibilities. So, Duquesnel can help in many ways.
The congregation hosted a Christmas craft fair in December 2023 to reach the community.
The fair included a short gospel presentation, which exposed a woman to Christ for the first time. Weeks later, she gave her life to Christ and plans to get baptized this summer.
“This woman is truly sold out for Christ,” he said. “I could see it from month one.”
Converge is asking God for a gospel movement among every least-reached people group – in our generation. Learn how we are playing a role in accomplishing the Great Commission and how you can be involved.
