Rich Lomath

Rich Lomath, our new “Primary schools’, Families and Children’s Lead” (quite a mouthful!) introduces himself …
I am following in the 2,000 year old career path of changing from a tax collector to a church worker. Why have I made the change? I have always had a passion for sharing the bible with children and God has blessed me with the ability to communicate with children - possibly because I am still a child at heart!
Since my teenage years I have enjoyed being involved in a range of children’s ministries, including helping to lead Superstars, teaching in Sunday schools, leading midweek groups, and being a leader on residential camps. I also set up a pre-school class in the mission school in Nepal when we lived there. 
At university I studied to become a primary school teacher, but in my last year felt that this was not the direction that God wanted me to go in, so I ended up working for HMRC (the tax people). My first role was a debt collector.
My time with HMRC came to an end when the decision was made to close my office. I had always wanted to move back into working with children, in some form or another, and when the job at church came up, I felt that this was God’s timing and calling for me.
I am excited about the opportunities that working for the church will bring and being able to share God’s word with the three primary schools in our parish. I am also looking forward to helping St James’ by the Park to continue to develop into an intergenerational church community and be a place where people of all ages can come together and meet with God.

“This was God’s timing and calling for me.” ​