Robert & Kathleen Burdett

The Burdetts

Robert, an English citizen (from the Isle of Man) and Kathleen (an American from Chicago) met under somewhat miraculous circumstances, whilst college students in the south of France. It was during that year that first Kathleen, then Robert, came to faith in Christ. After her year abroad in France, Kathleen started attending Calvary Memorial Church. Robert graduated from Middlesex University with a BA (Hons) in Modern English Studies and subsequently received an MA from Wheaton College in Christian Ministry. Kathleen graduated with a BA in French from Rosary College (now Dominican University) and attended Moody Bible Institute for their one year Advanced Studies Program. 

In 1980 Robert and Kathleen went back to France on a short-term missions trip, where they got engaged. In 1981 they were married at Calvary and in 1982 Robert started working for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, first at Triton College, then subsequently at Elgin Community College as well. In 1992, after the fall of communism, they lead the first of many short-term trips to Russia, helping to establish CCX, the Russian equivalent of InterVarsity. In 2018 they started partnering with ChSA, the Polish student movement, leading groups of InterVarsity staff overseas to help build up the student work in Poland. Their next trip is planned for April 2025.

Robert is responsible for training and mentoring InterVarsity staff in Indiana and Illinois and currently supervises nine staff around the Region. Robert and Kathleen have three daughters and five grandchildren. Robert is a lifelong supporter of Liverpool Football Club, the best football (soccer) team on the planet!