Eighteen years working for motor racing teams might seem like odd preparation for mission work in Africa, but apparently not to God! With our children Jack (12), Harry (10) and Robyn (7), we are now preparing to move to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to take up new roles there with MAF.
Stewart was brought up in a Christian family and first made a commitment at the age of 15 during a youth group house party. He had always had a keen interest in motor racing and studied mechanical engineering at Hatfield Polytechnic, with the aim of pursuing a career in motorsport. In 1992, Stewart began working in touring car racing, followed by the Le Mans 24-hour race and later with Jaguar in Formula 1.
For Michelle, this move is the result of a calling to mission in Africa, which she first felt at the age of eight during a school assembly. After coming to know Jesus aged 19, she studied world religions and history at Crewe and Alsager College, then followed this up with a PGCE at Newcastle University to become a secondary schoolteacher.
After meeting in Michelle’s home town of Norwich, we married and moved to Kettering a year later. We joined Christ the King Church soon afterwards, and have been involved in a variety of activities but particularly in the children’s and youth work.
In the last few years, we have felt God calling us clearly into full-time mission service overseas. This led us on a brief trip to Tanzania last year to explore potential opportunities to serve there with MAF. Stewart will be taking on the role of Base Manager at Dar es Salaam, overseeing the office and liaising with other mission organisations and NGOs in the region.
As we embark on this challenge, we are looking for a team of people committed to supporting us prayerfully, financially, or both. Could you be one of them?