The Ministers of FBC are Rev Rachel Taylor and Rev Geoff Cook.

Rachel is a newly accredited Baptist Minister and a graduate in theology from Spurgeon’s College with training placements at Canterbury and Aylesham Baptist Churches.

Rachel is married to George and they have one son, Noah.

Before a call to ministry, Rachel spent nearly two decades in the NHS as an Occupational Therapist in various settings around East Kent. God has been using Rachel’s NHS experience in her ministry in ways which are still evolving. The core beliefs of Occupational Therapy underpin Rachel’s ministry, such as a desire to empower others and enabling them to reach their potential and attain independence in their relationship with Christ.

During her time in the NHS, Rachel saw many forms of ill-health, dysfunction and the brokenness of humanity. From this, Rachel has developed a holistic view of health and a deep interest in the ways God can heal, restore and bring freedom to the most damaged and broken of lives. Rachel also has a particular heart for those who experience oppression or abuse. Isaiah 61 has been a key scripture that informs her ministry.

Rachel came to faith in 2014 after a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ. She is always keen to share her testimony, so do ask! Part of her calling has emerged from this encounter; a drive for mission and evangelism to “go and do likewise” and reveal Jesus to others.

Rachel feels a call to pioneering; new ways of doing and being church. Her other passions emerging from her training are prophetic ministry, prayer and freedom in the Holy Spirit. Rachel’s testimony over the last decade is of a powerful and good living God, revealed in Christ, who still desires to transform and save lives. She is still very much on a journey of getting to know this amazing God.

Rachel believes Jesus is present and at work in all areas of her life and witness, including her love of sport, which includes football, swimming and cycling. Her ‘go-to’ place to seek God is to walk in the local woods. She also enjoys reading, traveling, and talking over good food with family and friends.

Geoff is married with three daughters, and is a lifelong Chelsea fan. He completed a theology degree at Spurgeon’s College, London, then trained and worked as a secondary school teacher.

Following this, he joined Emmanuel Baptist Church in Gravesend as a Youth Ministry Worker in association with Kent Youth & Community Service.

Geoff set up The Windmill Youth Centre, and ran ‘Christmas Cracker’ projects for several years, raising funds and awareness of world issues through running pop-up restaurants and radio stations. He pioneered the Youth Worship event ‘No Limits’ in local schools.  He was Associate Minister with the same church in Gravesend for a number of years, helping to launch the Shears Green Congregation, before moving to Faversham in 1998.

In 1998 / 1999 Geoff was President of the Kent Baptist Association.  Since coming to Faversham, he has led the church through an extensive building renovation programme and been active within Churches Together in Faversham.  He chaired the local Christian Aid working group for many years, has served as a Trustee of Faversham Foodbank and the Khushi Feet charity since its inception.  He is eager to encourage Christians in Faversham to work together through the Hope Faversham initiative.  He has regularly taken school assemblies and was a Governor at Davington Primary School for ten years.

For 15 years Geoff served on first the Kent Baptist Association Council, then the SEBP Executive, and then as the executive member for the East Kent Baptist Network on the South Eastern Baptist Association (SEBA).  He is a member of SEBA’s Ministerial Recognition Group.  He also served for many years on the BMS World Mission Council, taught on the Kent Mission Shaped Ministry course, was a member of BBC Radio Kent’s The Sunday Programme Sunday Panel and is now an occasional contributor to the Premier Christian Radio Inspirational Breakfast news review.

Geoff enjoys music of all kinds, watching sport, walking, painting, genealogy, reading, camping and much else.  In 2013 he founded and directed Crescendo Community Choir, a Community Choir for Faversham, bringing together people of all ages and abilities who enjoy singing.