People

Martin Hull – Pastor

I was born and brought up in Woodford Green, Essex, one of 6 children. My Dad was an architect and college lecturer, and my Mum was a teacher.

My parents were both very committed Christians and I was taught the truth of God’s love for us in Jesus all through my childhood. Although I knew the Christian message it did not become real to me until my Dad suddenly died when I was 20. This was a very traumatic time for my Mum and for the whole family, but God used it to bring me to face the reality of His unchanging love through Christ in a very shaky, uncertain world.

When I left school at 18 I soon began work within management in the contract cleaning industry. I continued working in this sector of business for over 20 years before becoming a Church Pastor.

I trained for the Christian ministry at London Theological Seminary in North London and worked part time as a Pastor’s Assistant in my local church (Woodford Evangelical Church) for 6 years until I took up my current role here at Grove Hill in October 2001.

I met my wife Corrie, a local French teacher, at church where we were both involved as youth leaders in our 20s; we were married in 1983. We work very closely together in the church and enjoy walks in the Essex countryside. We still live in Woodford and have 3 grown up children, Matthew, Rachel and Laura.

Andre Beck – Assistant Pastor

I grew up in Port Elizabeth South Africa.  My mother was from a traditional Afrikaans-speaking home and my father was from a more alternative English-speaking background. I was also the younger of two brothers. The mixed backgrounds of my parents reflected in my upbringing. My mom used to take me and my brother and  to church when we were children but we soon abandoned the idea of following Jesus.

When I was a teenager our family went through a difficult time financially. This caused me to begin thinking more and more about the purpose of life, and about what was truly important. I was convinced that happiness was the highest virtue, and I sought this through surfing, drugs, drinking and relationships. However the more I sought to be happy, and the more drugs I consumed, more depressed and disillusioned I became. More and more, life seemed to be without meaning and without purpose.

Eventually, in desperation I picked up a Bible and read through the New Testament book by book. It was during this time that I came “face to face” with the real Jesus…and I was stunned. The more I read about Him, what He did and what He taught, the more I was compelled to follow Him. Now my greatest joy is knowing and following Jesus.

After my conversion I volunteered with Scripture Union in South Africa and was employed by my local church as an Assistant Pastor. During that time I also completed a theological qualification from the University of South Africa. However, I became more and more convinced that I needed further training, particularly in the area of Bible-handling. This led me to the St Helen’s Bishopsgate Associate Scheme here in London, after which time I joined Grove Hill in 2010 and started studying part-time at Oak Hill Theological College.

My wife Liz and I met in South Africa and have been married since 2006. Liz grew up in London and is a qualified teacher. We have a little boy named Jonny and are expecting the arrival of our second in April.