bio



A bit about me and how I ended up in the Gambia...


I'm Jonny.  I grew up in beautiful West Sussex in England, threw frisbees around at uni in beautiful Durham (and studied a bit of Theology), then settled in beautiful Oxford for 7 happy years, sharing the good news of Jesus with young people through schools and Christian activity holidays.

Beautiful Sussex, Durham and Oxford

Knowing God
Whilst running away from my Christian upbringing as a teenager (cliché alert...), one night I found myself at a talk with God's word on my lap - it cut me to the heart as the seriousness of my rebellion against not just people but God himself pressed itself upon me.  That summer I went again to a Christian activity holiday where I'd heard the "good news" about Jesus before but previously shrugged it off, considering it more like bad news for any chances of fun in life.

But this was God's moment of opening my eyes to see his extravagant love and goodness in sending Jesus for me: his eternal son came to live the life I'd failed to live, and die the death I deserved to die.  Jesus was offering me divine friendship, eternal security and full forgiveness.  As the compelling character of Jesus and the extraordinary events of his death and resurrection were explained, his love for me became irresistible.  An older guy there (now a church leader and friend) shared the following words of Jesus with me:

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." - John 10:10

Until then, I thought that knowing and following Jesus would "steal and kill and destroy" my life. I reckoned life "to the full" was as far from Jesus as possible.  Through these words, God was telling me that the opposite was true and my life was turned upside-down.  Gradually, from that moment on, I began to understand and experience that Jesus alone truly offers eternal safety, absolute security and deepest satisfaction.

So I began to walk through life with Jesus as my Saviour, Master and Friend.  Every day I continue to let Him down: sometimes in small ways, sometimes in bigger ways.  But He never has and never will let me down; He is the "friend who sticks closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24).  And knowing Him and His Father by His Spirit really is life "to the full", enjoyable right now and forever!

Boboi beach, southern Gambia, 2005 - a bit of a favourite
Experiencing the Gambia
In 2005 I spent 4 months in the small West African country of the Gambia on a Crosslinks Gap Team. It was a time of significant spiritual growth for me, setting me up with firm foundations for university.  I never particularly imagined going back...


Then in 2008 I began working for this camps ministry which had been key for my own coming to know Jesus.  But the plan for Year 1 changed rapidly when the male leader for that year's Gambia team needed a substitute.  My new boss signed me up!  It was an extremely demanding experience, acting as older brother / teacher / pastor / dad / leader / friend to a team of 10 gappies for 4 months, far from home with not a few slightly hairy moments...  (Ask another time.)

Amidst the unexpectedness of the whole thing, and the stretching challenges, there was one passing comment from a Sierra Leonean Christian worker in the Gambia, which lodged itself in my mind, and landed like a seed that would grow over the coming years...

"We Africans have so much zeal and enthusiasm. But we need to be shown how to teach the Bible faithfully." - Brother P

Bodyboarding at Boboi in 2005

It was a humble and candid observation.  But it also sounded like an invitation.  Could it be...?

Even by this stage, though I was fresh-faced and in my young twenties, I had been so blessed with rigorous expository Bible teaching and clear introductions to biblical and systematic theology through camps and church.  I felt compelled to ask myself: "Would I not share what I've so generously been given with those who are hungrily asking for it?"

That was 2009.  And over the following 6 years, I had opportunities to gain experience in teaching the Bible, discipling individuals, and various administrative skills as I worked for the camps.  It increasingly felt like there was only one path ahead to pursue: the Gambia.  Gradually, as I sought counsel from many and various people, I was encouraged to press on and I approached Crosslinks, confident in their gospel vision and biblical priorities.

Present and future in the Gambia
Since 2005 I've known a particular pastor in the Gambia whose wisdom, godliness and giftedness in preaching made a big impact on me and many other Gappies since.  We kept in touch and, as he filled me in on an exciting new project, an opportunity arose for me to get involved.  He now leads a small Bible School called "Servants of the Word", which is where I'm now teaching: working alongside others, learning from them and seeking to assist with biblical teaching.  We'll see what opportunities this leads to and, during an initial 3-year term with Crosslinks, we'll consider what the longer-term future might hold.

--

As the apostle Paul neared the end of his life and looked on to beyond the age of the apostles, he commissioned a young church leader Timothy, saying:
"You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others." - 2 Timothy 2:1-2
This is God's method of growing his church from generation to generation.  The trustworthy apostolic message about Jesus needs to be entrusted to people who can in due course teach it to others.  I am humbled by the privilege of being involved in this urgent and vital work, alongside dear brothers and sisters in the Gambia.

I am weak and do not feel up to it.  I dare say Timothy felt similarly.  Praise God that his grace in Christ is sufficient to meet all our needs: "be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus".

Classic Gambian sunset

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