Kevin Engel, Honorary Life Member

Kevin Engel speaking at his Honorary Life Membership Award Ceremony

With Bishop Alfred Stanway in 1972 he started the Australian Christian Literature Society (ACLS) in 1972 and through similar agencies provided training and consultations over the next 27 years in more than 40 countries. A trained accountant, Kevin officiated as WACC Treasurer from 1976-1999 and during this time was manager of some fourteen Christian bookshops in Australia.

Kevin has published in English and Swahili (and has works translated into Indonesian and Thai languages), on subjects ranging from accounting to purchasing and marketing, to the history of the Kiswahili Bible. He has engaged in radio and television broadcasting, and even today continues to support Christian publishing by tutoring, via the internet, three Chinese students.

Kevin’s lifelong labour of establishing and supporting Christian publishing and bookshops in Asia, Africa and Latin America was celebrated with the award ceremony and a service in London. Using an entertaining chat-show format, WACC’s Vice-President Piet Halma interviewed Kevin bringing out anecdotes and deep insights on Christian communication as well as a few predictions. Engel, who is now 76, amused the gathering with the extraordinary energy and humour which has characterised his long and remarkable career in Christian communication. Following the service a reception was held in the WACC offices where Kevin told stories and was presented with many messages of congratulations from around the world.