Who We Are...
Brass Tacks is a registered charity whose primary aim is to provide practical help such as manpower and expertise to those involved in Christian mission. We have been in operation since 1986 and have worked on over 150 projects mainly in Europe and Sub-Sahara Africa.
Mission Statement
- Our mission is to relieve missionaries and full-time Christian workers of their maintenance, mechanical and building work.
- We build new or renovate existing buildings.
- We encourage Christians by involving them in mission work.
- We provide local workers with hands-on training during the course of the project.
With the exception of our three full-time workers, all of the work is undertaken by volunteers who have skills appropriate to the particular project. Our biggest needs are generally for those with building, electrical and plumbing skills.
Volunteers
Should you wish to be added to our list of potential volunteers, you will need to complete an application form which can be downloaded from our downloads page.
Project Proposals
If you have a project proposal for us, please make initial contact by email, and we will advise from there. Brass Tacks provide expertise and labour, we do not provide funds for building materials, the purchase of materials is the responsibility of the people who request the project.
Brass Tacks Directors
Jim Armstrong
Jim is married to Elma and they live in Ayrshire. They fellowship in Townhead Christian Fellowship in Stevenston. After 32 years in banking, he left in 2016 and joined Echoes of Service (now Echoes International). He helped in the merger of Interlink and Echoes of Services up to 2018 and afterwards worked as the Operations Director, until the start of 2021. He has also served at the General Director of Echoes International until he retired at the end of Dec 2025.
Luke Butler
Luke is a practical individual who brings real world experience to the Brass Tacks board. Having previously been involved in running a successful tree surgery and landscaping business, Luke understands the value of hard work, perseverance, and teamwork. He’s multi-skilled and isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. He recognises that he falls short of God’s perfect standard and is grateful for the wonderful grace, which comes through the love of Jesus. While involved with Brass Tacks, Luke seeks to imitate that love by ‘serving those who serve’.
Colin Haxton
Colin is the Executive Director of Brass Tacks, initially appointed in July 2025, having previously served as a board member of the charity for 5½ years. Colin’s career in the commercial sector spans almost 40 years, with the majority being spent in a senior Sales & Marketing role with GAP Hire Solutions. He and his wife, Morag, are members of Kirkliston Community Church where Colin serves as a deacon.
Lawrence McCleery
Lawrence studied Architecture at The University of Sheffield, completing a Masters in Architecture in 2008. After working in professional practice and qualifying as a Chartered Architect, he moved to the family business, which he runs as a sole practitioner: diagnosing building defects, advising clients and directing contractors on a wide variety of projects. His blend of work expertise and gospel-centred service prompted Lawrence to respond to the call of God to serve with Brass Tacks, as a board director since 2023 and now as Operations Director. He continues to run his consultancy business half-time.
Sam Philips
Sam is a Chartered Civil Engineer and has spent 40 years in Consultancy. He has a longstanding interest in mission and has visited mission workers in Africa, India, Pakistan and Hong Kong as well as in Europe. He is a Board member and Trustee of the North West Zambia Development Trust which has developed the Zengamina hydro-electric scheme for Kalene Mission Hospital and its surrounding District and visits Zambia annually since 2005. Sam is a member and Home Group Leader of Scrabo Hall Church, Newtownards, Northern Ireland.
Matt Pitts
Matt serves as General Director for Echoes International, a close partner organisation of Brass Tacks, supporting mission partners engaged in cross-cultural mission around the world. He lives in Exmouth, Devon and fellowships at Exmouth Chapel, where he serves as an elder.
Alistair Small
Alistair has been married for over 40 years and has 2 daughters and 8 grandchildren. He serves as an elder and treasurer at Central Gospel Hall in Irvine. With a career spanning around 40 years, he is a project leader within a local authority’s architecture team where he combines professional expertise with a strong desire to serve the Lord. He has a real heart for mission work and has followed Brass Tacks since 1994, after reading their magazine about the varied practical projects that assist missionaries and Christian workers around the world.
David Thorp
David was a regular volunteer working on projects in UK, France and Zambia from 2002-2010. He is a chartered building surveyor and is an overseer at Church Street Gospel Hall in Coventry.
Paul Trotman
Paul trained as a mechanical draughtsman and later became self-employed working in property maintenance. He has been a board member with Brass Tacks for 23 years and has helped on a number of projects, travelling to many countries, including Zambia, Tanzania and Albania as well as others in Europe and the UK. Paul is also a Trustee for Hebron Hall Conference Centre and Bethel House care home, Cardiff. He has been married to Helen for over 50 years and they both attend Litchard Mission Church, Bridgend, where Paul is an elder.
Naomi Wyatt
Naomi presently serves the Lord as a missionary in Tottenham, alongside her husband. They are members of Brook Street Chapel. She is also a qualified commercial property solicitor, having worked at international law firms - primarily on large redevelopment projects, mainly involving stations in central London. Whilst Naomi often has the opportunity to use her legal expertise in the course of mission work, assisting contacts in the community with illegal evictions and landlord and tenant disputes, she is glad that her skill set can be utilised to further the Lord’s work further afield via serving on the Brass Tacks board.