Special Rector’s Forum: The Persecuted Church with Ruth and Clive Calver

Published March 17, 2026
Special Rector’s Forum: The Persecuted Church with Ruth and Clive Calver

A note from Susan Keller: As Christians in the West, we are often so absorbed in our own lives that we rarely––if ever––consider the challenges Christians in other parts of the world face. We must know and we must pray for these our brothers and sisters who suffer bravely for sake of Christ. Truly the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church. The World Missions Team is thrilled to welcome an incredible couple, Dr. Clive Calver and his wife, Ruth, to address this very topic.

View the 2026 World Watch List

About the Calvers: It truly is almost impossible to list all of the accomplishments the Calvers have achieved in their lives so far. Both earned  degrees from the London Bible School (now the London School of Theology), where Ruth’s father was the President. Clive served 14 years as director of the Evangelical Alliance for the United Kingdom, an organization that partners with thousands of evangelicals, churches, and organization across all four countries of the UK, serving to bring the love of Christ into the public square. for 14 years. His son Gavin has now taken up that role.  

Clive served as president of World Relief for seven years. He has been featured on the BBC, ABC Nightline, CNN, and NPR, and he has worked and traveled to at least 100 countries––that number is about 80 for Ruth! They both have intimate knowledge and relationships with countless Christians across the world who are being persecuted for their faith.

Clive and Ruth are both originally from London but have lived in the United States about 30 years. An ordained priest, Clive served as senior pastor of Walnut Hill Community Church in Bethel, CT, for eleven years, and he was the first pastor to arrive at nearby Sandy Hook Elementary School following the horrific 2012 shooting. He and Ruth organized a great deal of ministry for that community after that terrible event. Ruth is also an ordained minister and quite accomplished in her own right, leading multiple ministries for years wherever they have been. 

Clive and Ruth have four children (all of whom are serving in full-time ministry) and six grandchildren. They now live on Daniel Island to be near their daughter and her family in Mt. Pleasant.

Clive has written 29 books and is working on his 30th, and when he and Ruth are not traveling, he assists with preaching at the Anglican Church of the Holy Spirit on Daniel Island. We are thrilled that this amazing couple is so close and that we have the privilege of hearing from them on Palm Sunday.  

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