Married to Stephen, Kelli is also mum to 11-year-old, Dean and provides weekend foster care to children from families in need of weekend respite.

Although she is no stranger to The Wash Basin having previously been Manageress of The Upper Room café, this new role will be a very challenging one for Kelli, who now has overall responsibility for the centre as a whole.

The 35-year-old Galgorm woman adds: “My job is to oversee every aspect of The Wash Basin financially and spiritually as well as looking after all the volunteers and staff. We are also hosting students this year as Green Pastures is introducing a Servant Academy and I will be organising a timetable for them.”

Kelli’s enthusiasm as she embarks on this new task is obvious and born out of a real desire to serve the Saviour she came to know in a personal way just over three years ago.

She remembers: “When I got saved my life changed completely. I just got a real freedom. I had always went to Church and was involved in everything to do with it, but I didn’t really know about the goodness of God I was more brought up to fear Him.”

“I gave my life to the Lord and from then on it’s been amazing; my journey just keeps getting stronger and better. I never dreamt even this time last year that I would be in the job I am today”, adds Kelli.

Without doubt, the Lord has blessed Kelli with the ability to carry out her new responsibilities very well. That said she is fully aware that she can only fulfil the role in His strength.

Appropriately, the new co-ordinator is also keen to pay tribute to her predecessor, Karen, who is currently on maternity leave and will take up a new post with the Freedom Woman’s Centre at Green Pastures when she returns in March.

Says Kelli: “Karen has been so inspirational. Every gift and talent that God gave her she used to the full here at The Wash Basin. She has not forsaken us completely as she is staying on our Advisory Council and will be my crutch every time I need her.”

As Kelli takes charge at The Wash Basin, she presides over a programme that’s busier than ever.

There’s the Noah’s Ark (mums and tots) group on Thursday mornings from 10.15am-11.30am; The Link (After School Club) every Friday afternoon 3pm-4.30pm (P4-P7); Catch, (for primary school children) each Saturday morning. (10am-11.30am)

The Vineyard (Senior Citizens Ministry) is also set to continue every Tuesday with breakfast, (10am-12noon) and lunch (12noon-2pm) being provided there on alternate weeks. (A monthly Bible study, to be held at Green Pastures, will also form part of this when the new session begins.)

Another exciting development for The Wash Basin will be the employment of a full-time Youth Worker for the first time. Adam Campbell will take up his post in mid-September.

Together, he and Kelli are planning loads of new events in addition to the Vibe programme that already runs for teenagers on Tuesday night.