A Ministry of Grace and Growth at Epping

There are some seasons in Church life where Paul’s instructions to “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:2-3) require particular attention and care.

At Epping Presbyterian Church (EPC), decisions made at the General Assembly regarding eldership have brought to the fore differing theological convictions and difficult conversations. This is where Caroline Clark, Pastoral Assistant at EPC, has been uniquely able to serve.

EPC were the winning recipients of the inaugural Women In Ministry Grant, and in 2025 recruited Caroline to serve full-time alongside the pastoral team. Over the past eighteen months, Caroline has become an integral part of the church's ministry team, contributing to the pastoral care, discipleship and spiritual growth of a congregation that has welcomed many new members in recent years.

While conversations around eldership at the 2026 General Assembly have deeply affected some members of the congregation, Caroline shares the privilege of walking alongside people experiencing grief and suffering, and witnessing God bring healing and a renewed confidence in their faith.

But even as EPC navigates these challenges, there has been incredible gospel joy and growth at EPC. Caroline shares her joy as she’s seen people welcomed into the life of the church and growing in their commitment to the church family. This was particularly evident at EPC’s first church camp in many years, where over 70% of those who attended had joined EPC within the past 5 years. This has also been reflected in a growing culture of corporate prayer through quarterly prayer nights where the church brings the needs of their community and missionaries before God and gives thanks as they witness his answers to their prayers. Caroline has been encouraged to see the Epic Kids leaders grow in their commitment and passion for their ministry, which in turn is strengthening the confidence and commitment of parents in the church. She is thankful to see how God is building up the church family and deepening its commitment to serving him and one another.

Epic Kids Leaders at SMBC Kid's Ministry Conference

For Rev Darwin Agahari, Caroline's contribution has been particularly evident in how naturally she has become part of the church family. Reflecting on her first eighteen months, he shared that members of Session were surprised she had been at Epping for such a short time, commenting that it felt as though she had been part of the congregation for much longer.

Perhaps one of the most encouraging developments has been the opportunity for Epping to recruit and fund a female ministry apprentice, who is now being trained by Caroline.

Darwin explains that having Caroline on staff has made this next step possible:

"This year, we've been able to recruit and fund a female apprentice because we have a female trainer. Please know that the committee's investment in this role is multiplying."

This is precisely the kind of long-term fruit the Women in Ministry Grant seeks to encourage. Investing in women serving in paid gospel ministry is not simply about meeting the immediate needs of a congregation. It is also about creating opportunities for women to train, disciple and equip others, building pathways for future generations of gospel workers.

Darwin shares that the grant has helped inspire the Epping congregation to invest in recruiting and training future female gospel workers. The church has also made the ongoing presence of a woman on its ministry staff a priority, with the hope of sustaining Caroline's role beyond the grant period.

As Epping looks towards another year of ministry, we give thanks to God for the way he is working through Caroline, the wider ministry team and the congregation. We pray that he will continue to deepen their love for Jesus and one another, bring comfort and healing where there is hurt, and raise up more workers for his harvest.

Please join us in praying for Caroline as she continues to serve and train others, for unity within the Epping church family, and for the congregation's bold prayer to see 5% growth through conversion. May the Lord continue to grow his church and multiply the fruit of this investment for many years to come.