Assemble Ground Team is a group of team and ministry leaders from across the church that are responsible for outworking the vision and culture of Assemble on the ground, on Sundays and throughout the week.
Assemble Church operates a flat leadership structure, attempting to closely imitate the leadership we read about in the book of Acts. The Senior Leadership Team are charged with leading the church from a pastoral and spiritual perspective. The team steers the direction of the teaching, worship, and prayer life of the church. The Senior Leadership Team hold the lead pastors to account.
Oli Utton
Newark has become my home since my wife, Olivia, and I moved here to help the church back in 2016. We met at university in Lincoln and after graduating both felt that God was calling us to an exciting opportunity in this wonderful town. Relationship and music have both played a critical part in my testimony and continue to shape my passion for worship. I’m convinced that when we grasp even a fraction of who God is we can’t help but respond in worship and so I want to encourage our church to do just that.
Olivia Utton
I was raised in a home that was always full of fun, food, and family. Gathering people together and making meaningful relationships is something I'm extremely passionate about and I see so much of the nature of God whilst sitting at the table together. I love connection and community and if it's happening over food then that's even better!
Alan Fox
My wife Dorothy, and I, were both born in Newark. We have 2 children and 6 wonderful Grandaughters. My passion is for Newark to discover the same reality of the transforming love of God we have experienced. I have seen this Love through faith in Jesus change so many lives, significantly amongst those with addictions and the marginalised with whom we have worked. It is important for me to be a part of a relational, vibrant, growing church demonstrating this Love.
David Rouse
Married to Sue, I have 6 children and 3 grandchildren. Prior to retirement I spent over 20 years as a senior church pastor, following my time in chartered accountancy. My passions are God, his Church, my family, and any Leicester sports team.
Theresa Thomas
I love that my walk with God and Church has always involved a sense of service. From teaching, to hosting, welcoming, organising, and decorating, I have been able to experience the incredible love and heart of Jesus and encourage others to feel his invitational, inclusive, and inspirational love also. My passion is that all will know and accept the love of God, serve each other with kindness and compassion, and ultimately draw people to have a deep and meaningful relationship with God. We are called to be Christ's Ambassadors - no matter who we are or where we are - and I love that at present, my season with God is in Newark and with Assemble.
Nicola Hey
Newark has always been my home, I grew up here and now I live here with my husband Stephen and my two young children. I was brought up going to Sunday school and then in my teens attended a local church youth group, I have served on many teams, from chair stacking, to worship team from kids to youth. Church has always been a huge part of my life and I am excited to be involved in something new, building church together, creating a culture which is God centred and passionate about serving this town which I call home.
Katie Pickering
Church has been an important part of my journey with God from childhood and I love being part of our church where we can share everyday life together. I am passionate about giving children in our locality the opportunity to experience the sense of community and practical expression of God's love that I witnessed from an early age and that ultimately brought me to faith.
Assemble Church operates a flat leadership structure, attempting to closely imitate the leadership we read about in the book of Acts. Dom & Samantha take a lead on the operational elements of the church in keeping with the vision of the church, and held to account by the Senior Leadership Team
I’m Dom, I’ve lived in Newark for most of my life - and I love this town. I want to see this town prosper in all areas of our lives. The church can’t solve every problem, but I believe it should have a significant part to play in trying. I’d like to be part of an even greater movement of unity and togetherness, across churches, but also across organisations, charities, businesses, emergency services, and other establishments. We started Assemble Church to serve Newark and the surrounding areas; to see people find home and hope; to show Newark the incredible Good News of the gospel message; and to give everyone the opportunity to accept or reject the message of Jesus. I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing, but there is an awesome team at Assemble Church, and as long as we keep our ears pointed to heaven, and our eyes fixed on Jesus, we can’t go too far wrong. I’m excited.
I have a connection to this town that stretches back generations - in fact members of the last 3 generations of my family even attended the school where Assemble Churches meets, and so to be part of leading this church is such an absolute privilege for me. Newark is part of who I am. Over the years we’ve had opportunities to move away and plant ourselves elsewhere, but Dom and I both feel the call of God over us to be part of His plan for this town. We don’t know yet what that’s going to end up looking like, but the Bible says that God’s word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path, and so as long as we keep following Him we know it’s going to be amazing!
