Governing Board

For policy and pastoral oversight of CPR the Governing Board consists of Brian Edwards, David Fortune (as Director of Ministry), John Temple, Sean Willis and Timothy Laurence.

Brian Edwards was pastor of an evangelical church in south west London for thirty years before taking on a wider ministry supported by his home church. He is the author of twenty books including Christian theology and historical biography, and edits the popular Day One Travel Guide series. Brian was President of the FIEC for three years and now preaches and lectures in the UK and abroad and is Chairman of the Praise! hymnbook Editorial Board. Together with his wife Barbara, who died in 1998, they authored the widely used marriage preparation book No Longer Two.

David Fortune is CPR Ministries Director of Ministry and a member of its Board, since he founded CPR after working in prisons in the London area. David had been involved in teaching the Bible and sharing the Bible in prison long before he left his calling as a church pastor in two London evangelical churches, between 1985 and 2007. He is a natural leader, gifted Bible teacher, and has a heart for the lost. Gerard  Chrispin says of him: ‘He is so untiring in his work for the gospel that it makes me feel as if I am fast asleep by comparison, and most people tell me to ease up! They should look at his work schedule!’ David has a heart for people and for the gospel and produces an endless flow of resources and initiatives for CPR which reflects that practical concern. He loves to set up and run Bible studies in prisons, recruit and train teams of able folks to keep them going, and keep an eye on them while he goes off to expand the work further. But he is forever taking meetings too, and the men and women in prison love to have him minister to them. He says, ‘I just love going into prison for Christ!’ His wife, Diana, is completely behind him in this work and a faithful prayer warrior. Please will you pray for him too – it will be a good investment of your time in the Christian message and in people.

John Temple is an international business man having been Chief Executive of the listed multinational Plessey based in South Africa until 1998 and then founded the Saratoga group of companies trading in the USA, UK and South Africa. He has held virtually every office in a local church from youth leader to elder and has devoted much of his energy to living out the practical implications of his faith. He lives with his wife, Yvonne, in the UK. He serves on several committees and writes on the practical applications of sound doctrine. He has two books in print and a third about to be published. He holds a Ph.D from Kings College, London.

Timothy Laurence is serving as London Chairman and Public Theology Associate for the Lawyers' Christian Fellowship. Formerly a financial institutions lawyer in the City, he is now studying at London Theological Seminary and the Kirby Laing Institute for Christian Ethics at Tyndale House, Cambridge.

Sean Willis is a Managing Director for an international conference company. He was saved in October 2001 and has been working in gospel-based prison ministry in South Africa and London since 2003. Sean lives in South West London with his wife Sally and they have been blessed with two children. Sean and Sally are active members of their local church. He holds a B.Soc.Sc. (Hons) and an MA. Like David, he delights in sharing Christ in prisons and immigration removal centres.

Senior Staff Associates

Gerard & Phillippa Chrispin are thrilled to be in the CPR team as Senior Staff Associates and to work with, and under, David. Previously they pioneered DayOne Prison Ministries (with which CPR still works very closely) and then Daylight Christian Prison Trust, from which they retired at the end of 2008. They often say how weak they feel for the task and how much they need God’s Spirit and Christian prayers. A former criminal lawyer with a strong desire to teach God’s word and help people to Christ, Gerard is currently expanding his photo-illustrated series of How can ---? booklets, published by DayOne and greatly used in prisons and elsewhere. The new edition of The Bible Panorama is also much used inside prisons to help detainees understand the Bible. Gerard and Phillippa have been involved together in pastoral ministry and are still in United Beach Missions, Christian Answer, Missions Vacances and Young Life. Phillippa is Gerard’s constant ‘right hand’. She is excellent in women’s prisons and much appreciated in men’s prisons with Gerard. She says it’s simply a question of ‘Buy one – get one free!’

Administrator & Coordinator Women's Ministry

Tracy Sickel has worked in administration for 25 years with various  companies and Christian charities. She has been involved with many aspects of Church life: running toddler groups, youth clubs, serving as a deacon, she is currently Church administrator and an active Street Pastor. Tracy is married to John and has twin daughters. She currently spends one day a week 'inside' although we hope to increase this to two. Tracy also does an additional two days of admin for CPR.