Church leadership

Lee Emerson

Lee was born in Lincoln, but moved to Southampton in 1968, where he attended grammar school. After a short spell in the Army, he studied History at Cambridge University, and then went on to train as a teacher at London University. After 20 years in the profession, Lee left teaching to be part of a leadership team of a church in Somerset for four years, before taking up the post of Pastor at Scott Drive in 2006.   Lee was converted from a vague belief in God to genuine faith in Christ in 1979 while he was a student, and was baptised at Above Bar Church, Southampton, in 1980. He was awarded the Certificate in Theology from Moore College, Sydney, in 2004, after completing the College’s correspondence course. He has also lectured at the Peninsula Gospel Partnership Training Course.

Lee’s principal work in the church is to preach and teach the Scriptures, to pray and to pastor the congregation, with the help of the leadership team. His ambition is to see Scott Drive Church grow, both numerically (as men and women, young and old, come to faith in Jesus Christ), and spiritually, so that believers mature in their faith, and Christ receives the honour He is due in the hearts of the people who belong to Him.

Lee is married to Annette, and they have two adult children. 

Stephen Owen

Steve attended Exeter School as a pupil and has lived in the East Devon area most of his life. He came to faith in Christ in his 30s, and joined Scott Drive Church in 2001, becoming a deacon a short time later, and an elder in 2017.

Steve has worked for many years in business, and is a prominent member of the Gideons. He has a preaching ministry of his own in some of the local churches in the area, often deputising for Lee when he is away.

Steve is married to Jan and they have three adult children.

Ian Margeson

Ian was for many years involved in the academic world, lecturing in History at what is now  Gloucester University. After moving to Budleigh Salterton, he was invited by a friend to Scott Drive Church, where he heard and believed the gospel in 2008. Ian was baptised at the church in 2011, and was elected onto the diaconate later that year. Ian helps with the finances, and gives time and prayer to those with pastoral needs in the fellowship.

Gurjit Malli

Gurjit  was born in the West Midlands to a Sikh family, and came live in Devon in 2003 when he and his brother took over a newsagent business in Exmouth. Later this was sold, and Gurjit found more satisfaction in working in a nursing home, where he met his wife-to-be, Kym, who was already a Christian. Gurjit himself came to faith in 2008, after his housemate became a Christian and challenged him about eternal salvation. He was baptised in 2009. Gurjit & Kym now both work in Exeter, but live in Exmouth a short distance from Scott Drive Church, which they started attending in 2016. Both have a passion to reach unsaved people, and Gurjit has been involved in the church’s evangelism as well as serving in other ways.

He was elected a deacon in 2018.

Gary Currie

Gary came to Exmouth in 2010 after living in Medway most of his life, and having nothing to do with the church. In 2018 he was invited to do the Christianity Explored course which profoundly affected his thinking and led him to investigate Christianity properly for the first time. As he came to understand the gospel, he experienced a remarkable conversion, and began a new life in his 60s! He became the premises manager for the church in 2021, and in this capacity has overseen the transformation of the church gardens.

He was elected a deacon later that year. 

Iain Randall 

Iain grew up in Essex, but has been living in Devon for more than 20 years. Iain became a Christian at the age of 18 after reading Ephesians 1. He has been married to Chloe since 1999, and they now have 5 children together. During the week he works as an advisor for a group of primary schools, and since joining Scott Drive in 2021 he enjoys contributing to the worship and preaching ministries of the church. He was elected as an elder in July 2022.

Jon Hughes

Jon was born and raised in Essex. He became a Christian at 19 after reading a Christian tract whilst training to be an outdoor activity instructor. He worked in Devon at a Christian outdoor centre on Dartmoor but later moved back to Essex where he spent the next 15 years in various roles working with young people. Before taking on the role of Assistant Pastor at Scott Drive in 2023, Jon trained for pastoral ministry at London Seminary for two years. He has been married to his wife Katie since 2015 and they have three young children.  

His role at Scott Drive includes assisting the eldership with their responsibilities, specifically preaching & teaching, pastoral care and evangelistic outreach. He also has oversight of the church’s youth work.  

Jon’s longing is for the people of Exmouth, both young and old, to come to faith in Jesus Christ and for believers in the church to deepen their relationship with Jesus, being equipped to bring glory to his name.  

Deb Copperwheat

Deb is married to Andrew and they have lived in Exmouth since 2022. 

Whilst studying Tourism at Strathclyde University in 1989, Deb met a Christian friend who told her about God’s love for her and her urgent need of a Saviour. For the first time, the good news about Jesus made sense and struck her as true. To Deb’s great surprise, she was wonderfully and mercifully converted and was committed to sharing her faith from that point on.

After a couple of years in the travel industry, she spent two years at Moorlands Bible College and then worked as a Regional Staffworker with UCCF for four years, equipping student leaders of Christian Unions in universities in the Midlands. After this, Deb spent 24 years supporting children and young people with visual impairment in mainstream and specialist education, whilst being involved in evangelism and discipleship in local churches.

Deb’s part-time role on the staff at Scott Drive includes pastoral work and prayer, one-to-one/small group Bible study and outreach in the community. She longs to see people come to know the Lord Jesus and to grow in their faith.