Our Team – Love Essex

Rob Purnell
New Life Church, Wickford

Rob Purnell is a Senior Leader at New Life Church Crouch Valley. He is also a member of the Essex Shall Be Saved/Love Essex core team.

Rob has a passion for people and his desire is that every man, woman and child hears and responds to the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is also passionate about seeing people become disciples of Jesus, who are connected to local church and who are equipped/enabled to following their God-ordained purpose.

Rob is married to Lissie. He enjoys relaxing with his ever increasing family, watching Harlequins Rugby Club and playing tennis.

Peter Burgess
Southend Christian Fellowship

Peter has been part of the Leadership Team at Southend Christian Fellowship for over 10 years now. Prior to that he has held various management roles within the Insurance Industry. He has a particular strategic and visionary gift with a prophetic slant, which brings great benefit to the team. His passion is for seeing the Church and His Kingdom being built here on Earth and he loves to disciple others and help to release those around Him step into all that they are called to be.

More recently, his strategic gift has led him into other church / charity leadership environments where he can help envision, support and equip other leadership teams. He also loves to play or watch golf and cricket- neither of which he finds much time for at the moment!

Alan Cass
River Church, Chelmsford

Alan has been married to Diane for 43 years and they have two daughters, both married, and four grandchildren—all of whom they love very much.

Alan helped to lead Hope Community Church in Brentwood for several years whilst also working in Education as a Primary School Headteacher. He retired in 2009 and joined Eastgate Church in 2013. Alan works with a team led by Pete Carter and has a passion to see individuals and churches find their true identity in God and be instrumental in transforming communities and the nation by the Kingdom of God.

Alan now attends the River Church, Chelmsford but is still connected with Eastgate, running monthly ‘Living Fire’ meetings and administering the network of churches.

Alan loves his allotment and seeing things grow. He love fathering in all its forms; both physically with his immediate family and spiritually around the world. He is passionate about bringing the freedom of the Kingdom of God to all people wherever they are.

Phil Norton
Revival Church, Billericay

Phil is a retired Police Officer having served in London and then Essex. He is married to Linda for 33 years and has three children, a son-in-law and Grandson.

Phil has been the main leader for Street Pastors in Billericay for the last eight years and has enjoyed watching the expansion into School and Rail Pastors. He has also enjoyed volunteering at Billericay Town Football Club as a Football Pastor enjoying listening and caring for people that go to watch the game.

Phil attends Revival Church Billericay which meets in The Chantry Centre, Billericay, and in home groups.

Sally Watkinson
New Life Church, Wickford

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Paul Taylor

Worship Team Leader, New Life Church

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Daniel Gardner

Technical Wizard, New Life Church

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Madeline Davies
Oasis Church, Chelmsford

I’ve really enjoyed being part of the planning team for this Love-Essex event coming up on the 9th July at Sun Corner in Billericay. I’m part of the Oasis Church Chelmsford family and have been there some 14 years now. I love working with people and I help on the Welcome Team, pastoral side and help with the Children’s meetings. We have been praying every week for this upcoming event and, after the Pandemic, we very much believe that God is using events such as these to restore his Church at this time.

I’m a wife and mother to three grown-up children and I’m currently enjoying my garden with all its variety and surprise flowers that are regrowing. One of the things I enjoy is working with people from other Churches because together we can do more! This has been a golden opportunity for me to get involved in the County of Essex and I believe the God of miracles can change the reputation that Essex currently has.

Peter White
Billericay Baptist Church

Peter is married to long-suffering wife Corinne. They have no children but are experienced ‘host parents’, providing a home for young students serving their ‘year out’ with a Christian charity. They also have two nieces, two nephews and one cat.

Peter trained in advertising and marketing but ended up in graphic design for 25 years including 11 years as founder partner of a small agency you won’t have heard of. Peter’s skills are very much in the creative arts. When not designing for Love-Essex, he is variously, though not simultaneously, a musician (he is part of Billericay Baptist’s worship team), composer, amateur actor, playwright and director.

Peter left the commercial art industry in 2003. After 16 years as an office clerk, which ended rather abruptly with COVID-induced redundancy, he is somewhat surprised to find himself heading up Love-Essex marketing. God works in mysterious ways. If you don’t like this website, you can blame him.