About
We are a group of stirrers and shakers.
We believe the gospel is beautiful and leads to full life.
We want to help the Church stimulate curiosity in new ways.
Hi, from the Stir team.
Over the years we’ve spent a long time learning how to have gospel conversations with young people, friends and neighbours who seem completely indifferent to matters of faith. What we’ve found out is that many people are not against God, rather they have absolutely no sense of how He is relevant to their life. Their questions are not so much theological or ‘apologetical’, but rather, incredibly practical. So we are working on how to overcome the relevancy barrier and have better conversations that open the door for the gospel.
Start to Stir became a registered charity in the UK in 2023 and is in an exciting innovation and start up phase.
Meet the Team
Darin Stevens
Director
Darin has worked with youth for over twenty-five years. The mission of Start to Stir flows from his experience of sharing faith with youth who are several generations removed from the Church. Darin has degrees in Biblical Studies (BA) and Theology (MDiv). He helped to build a placement-based Theology and Mission degree for youth ministers with ForMission College where he served as a lecturer, module leader, curriculum developer and coach.
At his local church in Witney, he helps lead the youth ministry and also coaches lay mission leaders.
Becca Rimmer
Head of Creative
Becca is a trained Creative with a background in advertising, tourism and hospitality, as well as being an ordained church leader. With degrees in Spanish with Portuguese (BA Hons) and Theology, Ministry and Mission (BA Hons) she brings a variety of skills and passions to the Start to Stir team. Becca’s role is all about working with the Stir community to keep improving our current tools, creating new content for our website and socials and dreaming up exciting new tools that equip everyday Christians to Stir faith and curiosity. Becca loves seeing people come alive to all they were created to be and is part of a church planting team on Park Barn estate in Guildford.
Michael Boorman
Digital Content Specialist
Michael has years of experience producing online content, helping brands to connect with millions of people around the world. He is responsible for creating engaging content to help more Stirrers to be able to access the resources they need with ease. Michael has a particular passion for those that feel lost or have experienced challenges with their mental health, and has supported his local church in Bicester as a Wellbeing Group Leader in partnership with Kintsugi Hope.
Joy Stevens
Head of Engagement
Joy has degrees in Communication (BA) and Theology (MRE) and brings 25 years of mission, education and youth work experience to bear on her roles at Start to Stir. She is responsible for equipping people to Stir gospel curiosity, as well as growing the stirring community and envisioning donors and partners. Joy has a teenage-sized whole in her heart and serves as the Youth Ministry Director at her local church in Witney.
Meet our Trustees
Allen Moxham
Trustee
Allen is a communications professional with over 30 years experience in the communications industry and Christian charity sector. He has previously served as Head of Communications for the Evangelical Alliance and Open Doors and now leads Spirit Level Communications where he helps organisations articulate their vision and sharpen their brand engagement. Allen has serves on the leadership team at Cogges Church and is a great husband to Lynn, and dad to two teenage children.
Dave Williams
Trustee
Dave chairs the Board of Trustees for Start to Stir, drawing on many years' experience as a local church Minister as well as his extensive experience as a charity trustee. Dave now works part-time managing a foodbank warehouse in Folkestone. He is also husband to Cathy and dad to four grown children and enjoys being a granddad plus gym visits and long walks up lots of mountains.
Beth Ann Hunter
Trustee
Beth Ann has served young people for over 20 years through her and her husband’s roles with Young Life UK. She currently serves as a Young Life Area Director in Welwyn Hatfield, Hertfordshire and has been running the Stir Course in her local secondary school. Beth Ann is passionate about building relationships where the gospel can be graciously demonstrated and is mum to three teenage children.
Matt Mason
Trustee
Matt is a qualified accountant with over 20 years of experience in the profession. He is currently the Chief Finance Officer for a premium UK domestic appliance manufacturer and a board member of the UK trade body. Matt has served on the leadership team of Cogges Church for the last 2 years as well as previously serving on the Board of Trustees for a charity working in Malawi. He is husband to Liz and dad to three sons.
Colin Piper
Advisor
Colin Piper has over 40 years' youth ministry experience in around 70 nations. Previously Colin studied law in England, launched a national youth ministry organisation that trained and supported youth ministers and, alongside his wife Melissa, helped to lead a church in London. Now, in his role as the Executive Director of the Youth Commission for the World Evangelical Alliance, he draws youth ministries and organisations from across the globe together for the purpose of partnering and developing national and regional visions.
Articles
Start learning why & how to stir
Beginners guide one
Why is it so difficult to share faith?
In our ministry to youth outside the church, we grew tired of answering questions nobody was asking. We felt like giving up. Why was everyone so indifferent to God?
As we searched for clues, we finally understood why we felt so stuck and found that we were not alone.
Read more
Beginners guide two
Should we try a new starting point?
As we reached out into our schools and community, we felt that unless we found a different way to present the gospel, we could not keep going.
We finally learned the questions people today are asking and the way they decide what answers ring true.
Read more
Beginners guide three
How Do We Stir Curiosity?
We wondered if we could stimulate spiritual interest by helping our teenagers experience their soul in action. We experimented by stirring up several emotions and longings, called attention to them as spiritual and highlighted the desire to connect with Someone greater.
It sparked curiosity and we were soon starting by stirring.
Read more
Beginners guide four
WHEN WILL WE TALK ABOUT JESUS?
Simply helping people to become aware of their true spiritual nature was not enough. It was only a starting point. We had to learn how to use this awareness to introduce them to God, help them encounter Jesus and then invite them to make a faith commitment.
Could this new approach actually work?
Read more
