19 Mar 2026, 21:06Sharon Platt-McDonald, BUC Health, Adventist Community Services and Women’s Ministries Director
Adventist Women Impacting Their Communities
The British Union Conference (BUC) Women’s Ministries Department continues to acknowledge Seventh-day Adventist women who are positively impacting their communities. In this interview, we spotlight retired South England Conference minister, Pastor Rosemary Lethbridge, and her ongoing commitment to community outreach.
Growing up, Rosemary travelled with her parents, Pastor and Mrs Watson Southcott, across the British Union, gaining exposure to a wide range of churches and cultures. Observing both her father and her uncle, Pastor Michael Taylor, in their pastoral roles helped shape and influence her own sense of calling to ministry.
Rosemary has consistently used the talents God has given her to connect with people – both within the local church and the wider community. Her interests include miniature making, puppeteering, and card-making, all of which she has dedicated to ministry.
Together with her husband, Gordon, she has sought to fulfil Christ’s commission to make disciples. Over many years, they have taught, mentored, supported, and modelled community-focused ministry. Today, they enjoy retirement in Devon, while continuing to make a meaningful impact.
SPM – Pastor Lethbridge, please share with our readers your call to ministry.
RL – I had originally planned a career in horticulture. God, however, had other plans. Pastor Paul Clee, then President of the Welsh Mission, invited me to join the Mission ministry team. I found myself planting churches rather than gardens!
Later, while studying at Newbold College, the Holy Spirit profoundly redirected my life. Almost overnight, my passion and ministry focus changed. I developed a deep desire to help our largely secular society rediscover the benefits of living a life connected to God.
SPM – Your community outreach work has been extensive. Could you outline some of these initiatives? How did you decide which interventions were needed?
RL – First, I must acknowledge that none of these initiatives would have been possible without the sacrificial support of an incredible team of people.
In the church where I served before retirement, we sought to develop what we hoped would be a holistic gospel approach to community life. This meant helping people live fuller lives, learn to value themselves, serve others, and discover God’s deep love for them, while experiencing a balanced lifestyle that included friendship, community, and enjoyment.
I believe God uses both opportunistic and strategic approaches to help us impact communities. Strategic initiatives often came from simply living within the community and paying attention to local needs. We spoke with community leaders and researched existing services, including analysing census data to better understand the demographic profile of the area.
As a result, a range of initiatives were developed, including:
- A debt and benefits advice centre
- Craft, creative arts, and photography clubs
- Kayak, gymnastics, and netball clubs
- Participation in local committees
- Lunch clubs and healthy eating workshops
- Children and family support programmes
- Random acts of kindness initiatives
- Adult literacy support programmes
Our guiding principle was simple: whatever matters to the community should matter to us. Our daily prayer was, “Lord, let us be Your hands, feet, and mouthpiece.”
SPM – What inspired you to become so involved in community outreach?
RL – For me, the question is not what inspired me, but who. God placed a deep love for my neighbours in my heart. Because God has blessed me so richly, serving others felt like the most natural response.
SPM – What have been some of the outcomes and impacts of these initiatives?
RL – There are many, but a few stand out. As God opened our eyes to people’s struggles, we were able to respond in ways that helped make life more manageable.
At one of our debt centres, a lady discovered she was entitled to an additional £250 per week in benefits. We have also experienced the blessing of deep friendships.
For some, their understanding of God has shifted positively. Others have chosen to accept Jesus as their Saviour. Perhaps most rewarding has been seeing individuals flourish as they discover and use their God-given gifts.
SPM – What message would you like to leave with readers who want to become involved in community outreach?1
RL – Look for where God is already at work and partner with Him. Remember, you and your church do not have to start everything from scratch. Often, the most effective approach is to work alongside those who are already responding to local needs.
SPM – Thank you, Pastor Rosemary, for sharing your ministry journey with us.
The British Union Conference (BUC) Women’s Ministries Department continues to acknowledge Seventh-day Adventist women who are positively impacting their communities. In this interview, we spotlight retired South England Conference minister, Pastor Rosemary Lethbridge, and her ongoing commitment to community outreach.
Growing up, Rosemary travelled with her parents, Pastor and Mrs Watson Southcott, across the British Union, gaining exposure to a wide range of churches and cultures. Observing both her father and her uncle, Pastor Michael Taylor, in their pastoral roles helped shape and influence her own sense of calling to ministry.
Rosemary has consistently used the talents God has given her to connect with people – both within the local church and the wider community. Her interests include miniature making, puppeteering, and card-making, all of which she has dedicated to ministry.
Together with her husband, Gordon, she has sought to fulfil Christ’s commission to make disciples. Over many years, they have taught, mentored, supported, and modelled community-focused ministry. Today, they enjoy retirement in Devon, while continuing to make a meaningful impact.
SPM – Pastor Lethbridge, please share with our readers your call to ministry.
RL – I had originally planned a career in horticulture. God, however, had other plans. Pastor Paul Clee, then President of the Welsh Mission, invited me to join the Mission ministry team. I found myself planting churches rather than gardens!
Later, while studying at Newbold College, the Holy Spirit profoundly redirected my life. Almost overnight, my passion and ministry focus changed. I developed a deep desire to help our largely secular society rediscover the benefits of living a life connected to God.
SPM – Your community outreach work has been extensive. Could you outline some of these initiatives? How did you decide which interventions were needed?
RL – First, I must acknowledge that none of these initiatives would have been possible without the sacrificial support of an incredible team of people.
In the church where I served before retirement, we sought to develop what we hoped would be a holistic gospel approach to community life. This meant helping people live fuller lives, learn to value themselves, serve others, and discover God’s deep love for them, while experiencing a balanced lifestyle that included friendship, community, and enjoyment.
I believe God uses both opportunistic and strategic approaches to help us impact communities. Strategic initiatives often came from simply living within the community and paying attention to local needs. We spoke with community leaders and researched existing services, including analysing census data to better understand the demographic profile of the area.
As a result, a range of initiatives were developed, including:
- A debt and benefits advice centre
- Craft, creative arts, and photography clubs
- Kayak, gymnastics, and netball clubs
- Participation in local committees
- Lunch clubs and healthy eating workshops
- Children and family support programmes
- Random acts of kindness initiatives
- Adult literacy support programmes
Our guiding principle was simple: whatever matters to the community should matter to us. Our daily prayer was, “Lord, let us be Your hands, feet, and mouthpiece.”
SPM – What inspired you to become so involved in community outreach?
RL – For me, the question is not what inspired me, but who. God placed a deep love for my neighbours in my heart. Because God has blessed me so richly, serving others felt like the most natural response.
SPM – What have been some of the outcomes and impacts of these initiatives?
RL – There are many, but a few stand out. As God opened our eyes to people’s struggles, we were able to respond in ways that helped make life more manageable.
At one of our debt centres, a lady discovered she was entitled to an additional £250 per week in benefits. We have also experienced the blessing of deep friendships.
For some, their understanding of God has shifted positively. Others have chosen to accept Jesus as their Saviour. Perhaps most rewarding has been seeing individuals flourish as they discover and use their God-given gifts.
SPM – What message would you like to leave with readers who want to become involved in community outreach?1
RL – Look for where God is already at work and partner with Him. Remember, you and your church do not have to start everything from scratch. Often, the most effective approach is to work alongside those who are already responding to local needs.
SPM – Thank you, Pastor Rosemary, for sharing your ministry journey with us.
