New Evangelical Alliance head "A gift to the church in Scotland"

New General Director has shaped some of the UK's most successful grass roots Church initiatives

08 January 2009

Church leaders in Scotland have welcomed the appointment of Steve Clifford - whose innovation and leadership has helped shape some of the UK Church’s biggest national campaigns in the past decade - as the Evangelical Alliance’s new General Director.

Clifford, 54, chair of the Hope 08 campaign and the international youth festival Soul Survivor, will take over the role as head of one of Britain's oldest evangelical Christian organisations in early April.

Keith Short, Senior Pastor of Bishopbriggs Community Church near Glasgow and leader of the Scottish Network of Churches, said, "I am thrilled with the appointment. Steve loves the Church and loves the mission of the Church. He not only understands the Church but understands the culture in which we operate. I am confident he will be a gift to the Church in Scotland as we seek together to impact our nation with the Gospel. He has a long history of working for unity and a real heart for mission."

Rev Fred Drummond, National Director of Evangelical Alliance Scotland, said: "Steve is a man with a passion for Jesus and seeks to be an agent for transformation. He is a highly respected leader of vision with a deeply spiritual heart. I am excited by what God may do through Steve’s leadership in the years to come."

Already an Evangelical Alliance board member, Clifford said he is inspired by the direction the Alliance is taking and honoured to be following in the footsteps of previous General Director Joel Edwards.

"The Church is alive and kicking in Scotland and evangelicals are often at the forefront of local initiatives," he said.

"At this time of incredible change and national and international crisis, there are wonderful opportunities for the church to present the good news of Jesus in words and action.

"The Evangelical Alliance is uniquely positioned to fulfil a pivotal role in seeing change in our nation, by working with others to serve and give leadership to the evangelical community. By encouraging all to love and care for the people that surround them, we can together bring fresh hope to our neighbours."

Mike Talbot, the Alliance's Chair of Board, said: "We are delighted to make this appointment. Steve has a real passion for the Church on the ground and developing young people, which has given him a strong sense of the issues that matter to Christians and non-Christians alike.

"His ability to build partnerships with people from across the Christian spectrum, galvanising youth into action and showcasing the transforming work of the church to the nation, leave us in no doubt that he is the right person to take the Alliance forward."

Clifford chaired and, with others, brought leadership to Hope 08, a national initiative which last year supported the church across the UK in a year of mission, through words and actions, representing thousands of churches as they got involved in their communities.

Hope 08 was commended by police, government and royalty with Gordon Brown recently holding an event to honour their volunteers at 10 Downing St and Prince Charles hosting a celebratory event at Clarence House.

Clifford has been chair of the leadership team of Soul Survivor, an international youth ministry running festivals attended by 25,000 young people in the UK alone. He is to continue being involved with this ministry, though the exact nature of the relationship is yet to be decided.

Clifford's previous roles also include member of the Spring Harvest board, chair of Soul in the City London and chair of March for Jesus International.

He worked as a teacher in the 1980s before leaving to work with the Church in 1985, church planting and running leadership and discipleship teams.

He currently attends a church in West London. Clifford is married to Ann and has a son Jake and a daughter Jordan.

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