Worship leader Matt Redman to leave Soul Survivor church in Watford

IN A SURPRISE announcement Britain's most popular worship leader and songwriter Matt Redman has declared his intention to leave the Soul Survivor church and ministry. Said the statement, "'Over the last few months we've been sensing that our role with Soul Survivor will be changing quite significantly. In short, we feel we will be moving on from our current level of involvement there and have a sense that God will be basing us somewhere else within the UK. "Being on the leadership of Soul Survivor and within that community has had a huge impact on our lives. We have made lifelong friendships there and have been privileged to see God do some amazing things. It is a relationship we are sure will last for a very long time and our moving is based in a sense of God's fresh calling and not for negative reasons. In fact, we will still be ministering in various ways with Mike Pilavachi and the rest of the Soul Survivor team in the months and years to come.

"We love Soul Survivor; the people and the values it stands for. God is doing some wonderful things there and the effects are being felt amongst youth all over the world. With such exciting plans as the forthcoming London 2004 mission, we feel there is a holy momentum building at Soul Survivor which could have a wonderful impact on our nation. So, it is with sadness that we will not be involved right at the heart of an organisation with such a wonderful vision. Yet, we are also excited and confident that God has spoken strongly to us and has some adventurous plans in store for us in the future."

Matt and his wife Beth Redman will be relocating to the south coast of England. The worship leader is currently in Los Angeles recording a new album with producers Jason Halbert and Dwayne Larring.