A pastor is moving on to pastures new after 12 years in Grantham.
Pastor John Ferguson ministered at the Grantham Seventh-day Adventist Church in Dudley Road, and has now been promoted to the role of executive secretary of the North England conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church based in Nottingham.
As well as chaplain to Dudley House School, Pastor Ferguson took on the role of football coach to the school team, which became a winning team.
Headteacher Jenny Johnson said: “Dudley House School is a family and John is very much part of that family. He goes above and beyond what is expected.”
Pupils gave him a gift of a trophy to the ‘best coach’ and a Liverpool FC shirt.
Pastor Ferguson has been an active member of the ministers’ fraternal and Churches Together, and also a street pastor.
Reverend Tony Pick said: “John and I shared a close friendship. Such good men we cannot do without.”
A celebration of his ministry in Grantham was attended by a number of representatives from churches and charities in the town. Tributes and gifts were presented.
Pastor Doug Sinclair thanked John on behalf of church members for his ministry as pastor and friend. A number of gifts were presented, including a specially commissioned Terry Shelbourne caricature.
Local group Charlies Ant provided musical entertainment on an Irish theme which included a performance of a ditty about Pastor Ferguson composed for the occasion.
Pastor Ferguson is married to Zenia and they have two sons, David and Martin.
