CROCUS MINISTRIES

Crocus Ministries was founded in the Autumn of 1993, by three people:

• Mrs Margaret Jobling, Head of the Mathematics Dept. of a local secondary school and sixth form college
• Mrs Norma Heasman, Principal Pharmacist at a local hospital, and
• Mr John Heasman, Pharmacist and Manager of a local store of Boots the Chemist.

These 3 key personnel had a wide range of Christian experience in Churches and home-based adult and youth fellowships in addition to our professional experience in counselling and assisting other people.
John was a Member of the Association of Christian Counsellors.
Norma is a full member of the Institute of Counselling.
Margaret is a M.B.T.I. facilitator.
Between 1994 and 1997, Margaret, John and Norma took early retirement from their secular work.

We had been drawn by the Lord to Isaiah ch. 35 where The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom and it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.

Over the following year we met most Mondays and we were led into seeing that we were to facilitate the blooming of the crocus in the Church.

The crocus in the Holy Land lies dormant, but given the right conditions the fragile flower bursts up against all the odds to bloom, producing a wonderful spectacle in the wilderness.

We asked what we were to do and the answer came as in Isaiah 35v3. Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; That whole chapter seemed so meaningful that we asked how we could obey the Lord.

Mr Steve Laugher and his wife Dr Lynn Laugher, both with a wide experience in leadership development programmes, joined us as fellow directors and trustees in late 1994.
Lynn became Treasurer in 2002.
Steve became Chairman in 2003.

Mrs Margaret Jobling resigned in 2001 to live abroad.

Mr Richard Curtis, after years of valued practical help in Crocus, joined as a trustee and director in 2002.

Mrs Norma Heasman became Director for Personnel in 2002.

Mr John Heasman went to be with the Lord in late 2003. His contribution to Crocus Ministries and to the lives of many guests, contacts and partners has been invaluable. His role as Secretary to the organisation will be hard to follow. Nevertheless, we believe that the Lord will provide the right person for us and we continue to seek a replacement.