Who We Are - Leaders
Elders
Godly leadership is a priority if any church is to function properly. In the New Testament, we see that the local church was led by ‘Elders’ (also referred to in the Bible as ‘overseers’), men who together held the ultimate responsibility for ‘pastoring’ (the actual word used in the Bible is ‘shepherding’) - directing, teaching, caring for and protecting - the church (Acts 20:17, 28). We therefore have a group of elders who together lead the church, rather than the more common (but we believe, non-Biblical) concept of a sole ‘Senior Pastor’. Elders aren’t voted into office - it’s the Holy Spirit who chooses and equips men for this service (Acts 20:28), and those working toward the church apostolically are involved in appointing them (Acts 14:23). However, though there isn’t a voting process, in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus1 in the New Testament, the apostle Paul sets out qualifications that men must have before they become elders, and the suitability of these men for leadership should be evident to and acknowledged by the congregation. Christ-like leaders lead by example.
Our Elders 
Ben Thorne
Ben became a Christian when he was 22 years old and spent much of his church life involved with traditional churches. He responded to the call of God to join Living Light in Taunton in 2004, a year after the church was planted. Ben was appointed as an Elder in October 2006 when the first Elders were set in. He is married to Angela and they have 5 children and live in Wellington.
Ben has worked as an environmental adviser to farmers in Somerset for 17 years and was released to work part-time for the church as an Elder in 2007. He still continues his farm advisory work on a part-time basis.
Ben concentrates on developing the church’s teaching ministry alongside bringing pastoral care to the church.
Dave Entwistle
Originally from Bolton, David became a Christian when he was 17. Having spent some time in churches in Loughborough and Bath, he moved with his family to Taunton in November 2003 to help plant Living Light. He was set in as an Elder in October 2006 when the first Elders were appointed in the church. He is married to Sarah and they have 4 children - Naomi, Charis, Olivia and Zac.
David works full-time as a sales manager for a company that designs and constructs specialist glazing and frontages for commercial developments all round England.
David often leads worship in church meetings and coordinates the worship teams.
Leaders and Staff
Many people play vital roles in the running of Living Light and in its ministries. The following people have key areas of responsibility in the church:
To contact us:
Homegroup Leaders
Richard and Paula Appleby
Bruce and Hannah Izzett
Trefor and Jade Jones
Paul and Emma Mew
Matthew and Deany Wright
Youth Leaders
Chris and Marie Izzett
Childrens' Leaders
Sarah Entwistle
Angela Thorne
Role of the Apostle
"It was [Christ] who gave some to be apostles...to prepare God’s people for works of service... " (Ephesians 4:11-12)
In our commitment to seeing church built on a Biblical basis and in a Biblical way, we see the role of the apostle as being just as contemporary and essential as the roles of prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher. We’re glad apostles are being raised up and recognised in this day, and that the church at large is benefiting from their gifting.
We’re also excited that, God having spoken to us prophetically in our early days that apostles (and other Ephesians 4 ministries) would be raised up in our midst, we’ve started to see it happen!
Originally from Blackpool, John submitted his life to the Lord when he was nineteen and was immediately gripped with a passion to see God glorified through His church. He served in many areas of leadership in churches in the U.K. before moving to the U.S.A. in 1993 to marry Kim, a native of Kenosha. John served as an elder of Living Light in Kenosha from 1994 until 2003 when, in response to the leading of God, he, Kim and their four children moved to Somerset, which led to the start of Living Light in Taunton, which is now well-established and growing.
While in the UK, John continued to be very involved with Living Light in Kenosha, his role transitioning to one of apostolic oversight to the church. John and his family moved back to the U.S.A. in 2007, and from there he oversees the congregations in Kenosha, Racine and Pleasant Prairie as well as, Living Light Church in Taunton, and Covenant Life Church in Lake City, Michigan. All of this work is carried out as part of One Church Ministries, which John leads.