Meet the team
Dave Smith
Current Role:
Senior Pastor
What I'm passionate about:
MCFC, reading, walking, praying, and all that lies ahead for KingsGate! The best is yet to come!
Interesting fact:
I'm the grandson of the late Lord Pearson of Kensington and Minnedosa.
Karen Smith
Current Role:
Co-senior Pastor
What I'm passionate about:
Not answering questions asking what I’m passionate about!!!
Interesting fact:
I’ve worked in a 1970s hair salon, a shoe shop, a care home, civil service and a factory in an Israeli Kibbutz.
Simon Deeks
Current Role:
My primary role in Peterborough is to oversee our Pastoral and Equip ministry, working with a great team of Area Pastors and supported by Jim Thody and Zia. You will find me occasionally hosting and speaking at weekend services as well as at key mid-week meetings, especially those involving leaders. I am also involved in the overall leadership of KingsGate, representing not only the pastoral and equip ministry of the church but also our work overseas.
What I'm passionate about:
Married to Zia, proud Father to William and Hannah, and unbearably delighted to be a grandparent to Elsie. Born in Nigeria, raised in Yorkshire, degree from Durham, 20 years secondary school teacher and over 11 years as a church pastor.
Interesting fact:
In my spare time I enjoy tandem riding with Zia, reading and watching TV box sets and most sport, and eating!
Zia Deeks
Current Role:
Head of KingsGate Kids
What I'm passionate about:
I love seeing our children encountering our heavenly Father and also seeing peoples lives transformed by the power of God’s love, as He sets them free from past hurts and hangups.
Interesting fact:
I have been a KingsGate member for over 20 years. In the past I’ve worked as an administrator, IT network manager and an IT teacher at secondary school level, but I left all that behind when God called me out to work full time for the church in 2014. I’m wife, daughter, sister, aunty, great aunty, niece and finally Grandma!
Sally Duffy
Current Role:
Executive Pastor (Operations & Management Support)
What I'm passionate about:
Our church family! I joined the KingsGate team in 2005 but volunteered a day a week in 2004. I used to be a Project Accountant for a Pharmaceutical Company in Cambridge.
Interesting fact:
I'm the proud owner of over 10 gerry cans!
Jasmine Allen
Current Role:
Head of Connect, Media and Communications
What I'm passionate about:
The goodness and power of God! Also peppermint tea in an enormous cup.
Interesting fact:
I have five grandchildren, and counting.
Jim Thody
Current Role:
Head of Pastoral Integration, eLearning and Safeguarding
What I'm passionate about:
I head up our pastoral integration at KingsGate, helping people on their journey of joining, and am responsible for safeguarding across all of KingsGate – additionally holding key responsibility for courses and online training.
Interesting fact:
I've been married to Sue for 37 years, and have two lovely daughters, now married, and two energetic grandsons! I love spending time with family and enjoy watching wildlife, photography & walks in the countryside.
Phil Timson
Current Role:
Head of Youth Ministry - multisite
What I'm passionate about:
Loving Jesus, my family, Cornwall, and the odd game of golf, whilst living my life to empower a generation of fearless missional disciples who are devoted to Jesus and contagious in their faith.
Interesting fact:
I am a secret nerd and used to represent England at chess!! Shhh, don’t tell anyone!
Sharon Keogh
Current Role:
Head of Community Action
What I'm passionate about:
I'm responsible for Community Action across the whole of KingsGate.
Interesting fact:
I'm married to Paul and we have two grown up children. In my spare time, I volunteer in the local community on several projects and love planning holidays.
Simon Benn
Current Role:
Head of Worship
What I'm passionate about:
I head up the Worship Department, which includes overseeing the worship teams in all locations, with help from an army of great colleagues, students, interns and volunteers. I'm based in Peterborough, with my wife Hannah, and our three children - Joel, Josiah & Esther.
Interesting fact:
As a self-confessed foodie, I love to spend time cooking (and subsequently eating!). I've also inherited an appreciation for big, bold, new world red wines, single malt whisky, which I love to enjoy with friends (in moderation, of course) in front of my new log burner. Perhaps one day this picture of near perfection will be completed by a Dalmation - probably just the one though.