Minister Stephen Hawkins and his family

Together Stephen & Diki bring to Wells their experience of mission and their vision of what life can be like living in the kingdom of God. By “being Jesus” to the lost, the broken and rejected in our city, Isaiah 61 is the theme Scripture for their life and ministry, both here and abroad… “to proclaim good news to the poor, bind up the broken-hearted, proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners”.

Stephen grew up in Reading and made a personal commitment to follow Jesus at a Billy Graham meeting, aged 12. He gained his first degree in environmental science, enabling him to live and work across the UK, Australia and New Zealand. On returning to Britain, Stephen trained in Christian counselling where he met Diki, from NE India, whose vision was to be a blessing, a “Jesus friend” to the lost, broken and rejected. Within six months of meeting, Stephen & Diki were married and living in India, pioneering and leading the ARK, a special ministry of Christian residential care, discipleship and rehabilitation, based in Diki’s hometown of Churachandpur, Manipur.

In 2019 Stephen & Diki sensed the Lord calling them to return to the UK. Settling in Wells, Stephen completed 3 years of full-time theology study and local church placement that led him to be called and ordained as the minister of our church in April 2024.

Stephen & Diki have been blessed with three children, Joshua (18), Faith (10) and Amy, in Heaven. Joshua is preparing for his A levels, while Faith is delightfully enjoying her final year at primary school here in Wells. Their middle child, Amy, was born in 2010 with Edwards syndrome and lived for only 10 weeks. Through Amy's life and death, Heaven has become a very real place for Diki & Stephen, giving them the strong faith and vision to strive to make a difference in people's lives that is eternally significant.

For more information on the ARK please visit www.WFLT.org