Why Birmingham?
Birmingham, the chief city in the West Midlands of England is the third largest population center in the UK. Although only a short two-hour train ride from London, in many ways the two cities could not be more different.
While London represents the English elite—royalty and government—Birmingham has always been the capital of the working man. In fact, the whole of the West Midlands is the heart of the Industrial Revolution and still today attracts the working class from across the globe, alongside of its famous University, which is one of the most diverse learning centers on the planet.
The city hums with the combination of these two key demographics—the youth and the working class all drawn to the city by the hopes of a better life. In the midst of this, the demographics change drastically town by town and neighborhood by neighborhood. The kingdom response to this intense diversity has been a network of smaller, neighborhood churches focused on creating relevant community expressions of the gospel paired with services and programs that tangibly impact the immediate local population.
Meet the host
Rich and Rachel Hendrikson
Rich and Rachel Hendrikson are missionaries with GEM, serving in Birmingham, UK. They have dedicated the past 13 years to full-time international missions—spending ten years in France before relocating to Birmingham for the past three.
Originally from the beautiful state of Wisconsin, Rich and Rachel have four children. They have the joy of networking with churches and ministries in Birmingham where they are involved in ministry to young people, life coaching, friendship evangelism to the homeless, and they are also passionate about teaching and developing resources.
Both Rich and Rachel are graduates of Moody Bible College. In their free time, they enjoy playing games with their family, visiting the seaside, exploring England’s historical sites, and hosting gatherings in their home.