IAN & PAULINE COLE..
Founders of World Prayer Centre
Ian and Pauline Cole are the founders of the World Prayer Centre. They both travel and network globally with prayer leaders and organisations around the world to mobilise prayer and bring back amazing stories of what God is doing around the world to encourage believers in the UK. Pauline Cole is also the Financial Administrator.
The vision for the World Prayer Centre was first given in 1990 to Ian Cole, who is founder and chairman of the Birmingham-based charity Cornerstone and formerly leader of the national prayer network Pray for Revival. Pray for Revival started in Birmingham in 1986 with a group of leaders who met to pray for the city, but whose vision over the nineties was extended to the nation and then to the world. Cornerstone Christian Charity (founded in 1980) was pioneered and developed through the 1980’s and 1990’s and ran up until 2010 – concluding after 30 years of life. It made a large impact on the lives of many young people, through reaching out to homeless young people and families in need and had a strong emphasis on the poor.
STEVE BOTHAM
Director
Steve Botham is the Director of World Prayer Centre giving a strategic lead to WPC's work with a focus on resources, partnerships, fundraising and expanding our reach. His passion is to equip and enthuse people to pray in ever increasing numbers!
Steve comes from a business background, having worked in senior roles in HR and Training in the Motor Industry and Financial Services. He joined Caret a Christian-led consultancy firm in 2001 specialising in strategy, change, leadership and coaching eventually becoming their CEO. He is Chair of the Chamberlain Forum a community based think-tank based in Birmingham and Vice Chair of Selly Park Girls school one of the UK's best schools for added value.
Steve became a Christian in 1975 and has been a church leader, a member of the Billy Graham training team for Mission England, and for fifteen years a trustee of the World Prayer Centre.
JANE HOLLOWAY
National Prayer Director
Jane Holloway joined the team in May 2005. Prior to joining WPC, she was involved in various jobs linked with prayer and mission, including working for the UK Evangelical Alliance as Prayer Co-ordinator for 7 years and Prayer and Evangelism Co-ordinator for 2 years.
Jane is passionate about helping the church rediscover the centrality of prayer in its life and mission. Her job enables her to teach, write, mobilise and network in prayer across the British Isles & Ireland.
She facilitates Prayer Connections Network across England and the Connecting the Isles group of leaders from across the British Isles. She is on the Evangelical Alliance Council of Reference. She currently serves on the HOPE National Leadership Team; the Prayer Alert team which produces a weekly strategic prayer resource email; the steering group for Thy Kingdom Come Pentecost week of prayer and acts as a consultant to churches and organisations as required.
Prayer – a beginners guide by Bible Reading Fellowship is now out of print
Community Prayer Cells – how to be good news neighbours is a small group prayer resource that is now out print. PDF copy is available from the World Prayer Centre.
LAURENCE SHARMAN
Operations Director
Laurence Sharman joined the World Prayer Centre team in 2005 as the Operations Manager. He is experienced in organising and managing events and working with teams of volunteers. He also has experience in leading large and small groups of people in worshiping our wonderful Saviour Jesus Christ. So although his primary role in the team is Operations, he also carries a heart for worship.
Laurence’s passion is to lead people into a deeper place of worship with God. He has been worship pastor in a local church, and has run his own worship ministry for longer than he can remember. His desire to see a paradigm shift in the spiritual life of the City through worship, prayer and praise rubs off on many people around him. As Operations Manager, he works closely with all of the team, trying to keep everyone together, looking at all the different ministries and networks that WPC is in relationship with, and carries overall responsibility for managing, organising and maintaining events in line with the WPC vision.
NATASHA RUDDOCK
Communications Manager
Natasha Ruddock re-joined the World Prayer Centre in April 2015 as the Communications Manager.
She manages all internal and external communication for WPC. This includes managing the website, social media, compiling printed resources, establishing a clear brand for WPC and marketing what we do. She has spearheaded moving WPC towards a more digital audience in a world that is moving quickly and technology is rapidly changing.
Natasha previously worked at World Prayer Centre from 2005 – 2009 as Personal Assistant to the National Prayer Director. She left to get married in 2009 and moved to Manchester. She has worked for United Christian Broadcasters as the Editor of the ‘Prayer for Today’ magazine, and then overseeing prayer as the UCB Prayer Editor, creating the UCB Prayer platform.
Natasha is a Minister’s wife and oversees the Community Change Programme for Victory Outreach church Manchester, which works within the local community and has an anointing to work with those affected by drug and alcohol addiction.
COLIN & CHRISSIE GREAVES
Team Leaders - WPC Teams
Colin & Chrissie Greaves have lived and worked in Cumbria for over 30 years. Following careers in engineering management and business administration respectively they were called to local church leadership in Cumbria.
Their wider experience includes mentoring, networking with leadership and prayer, co-ordinating prayer missions and conferences, and leading prayer teams.
They have worked with WPC Prayer Teams both in this country and overseas for several years. They have three adult children and their home in South Cumbria is a house of prayer and hospitality where they welcome individuals and small groups for prayer, reflection and relaxation.