Beverly Drake

Beverly was born in Blackpool to Salvationist parents. When she was 18 months old the doctors at Blackpool Victoria Hospital diagnosed her with a life threatening heart condition and gave her 50/50 as to whether she would live. Her operation was the first performed on a child using a special cardiac machine. She was placed on many prayer chains, including the Elim church at Fredora Avenue (now Clifton Christian Centre Langdale Road). Her survival and subsequent recovery was put down to the huge volume of prayers and the Lord’s answering in the miraculous.

Beverly grew up in ‘the Army’ and attended what was the Citadel Coronation Street, then at their current location in Raikes Parade at the old Blackpool Grammar School buildings. Beverly was trained to sing while at the Salvation Army, her gift for song has developed over the years in various forms. When she left ‘the Army’ to join Alan at Elim she was asked to form a worship group to sing ‘choruses’, this developed into the main form of singing. As Alan moved, Beverly’s gift for singing broadened to more contemporary styles and for a period at Blackpool Christian Centre she sang with Keith & Charlotte Shackleton and BCC’s own worship group. When Alan planted a church Beverly was ‘given’ the task of leading the worship, mainly accompanied by herself! Although she has broadened her platform of style she retains the range, clarity and diversity which her ‘Army’ training gave her.

Beverly has a strong natural gift for prayer and moves in the Spirit with sensitivity and freedom, this combination allows for open and free worship, both in action and through her singing.

Beverly has a demanding full-time position as an NHS Manager at the local hospital, she is a Pastor’s wife & mother to Adam. Beverly has a natural gift which is that she has compassion and a listening heart, this is attributed to her deep love of the Lord. She comes to New Waters Christian Fellowship with the desire to see the lost saved and those who are seeking a deeper relationship with God filled by the Holy Spirit.