CHURCH members have celebrated the retirement of a dedicated minister.

Pastor Peter Hannam and his wife Kath have stood down after more than 30 years at Huddersfield Elim Pentecostal Church – but plan to carry on working in retirement, teaching in Italy and working with street children in Honduras.

During their time the church has grown from a congregation of around 100 people to a multi-national, family-oriented church with a congregation of over 300.

The couple are well-known for their work in the community, running various children’s and youth clubs, and in recent years, through their work with asylum seekers and refugees based at the 611 Centre.

Said Peter: “It’s been a great privilege to serve as pastor of the church for 30 years.

“There’s not one highlight but it’s been great seeing people’s lives change over the years.

“Going to Honduras is quite a challenge but we’re looking forward to it.

“I was asked by the director of Elim International Churches and I’m going to mentor some pastors there and I’m hoping to use my experience to help people there.”

More than 500 people attended events at the church’s Grace Centre building to mark the long serving pastor’s retirement.

They included a human table football tournament, games afternoon, international food buffet and an evening looking back over the last three decades with old photos and videos, poems, songs and tributes written especially for the occasion.

Video messages of thanks were sent and played from around the world including the USA, Hong Kong and Australia.

Special services were also held and there was a presentation of gifts including two specially made books of thanks with personal tributes to the couple from the many church members and ministries whose lives they have touched.

Guest speaker Rev Gordon Neale passed on personal thanks from Elim’s National Leadership Team and gave a short message to Pastor Peter Hannam, who was also celebrating his 65th birthday.

The evening concluded with a firework finale.

Celebrations continue when new Senior Pastor Michael Reid, has a special induction service at the Grace Centre building on St John’s Road at 10.30am this Sunday with his personal testimony at the 6.30pm regular service.