Jon's Letters

Letter from Jon, March 2025 

From [Christ] the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Eph 4:16

Dear Liberty Friends and Family

It was twenty years ago yesterday that I started working full time for Liberty Church, first as Associate Pastor and then, three years later, becoming Pastor.  When I left university, back in 1986, and began working in industry I had no inkling that one day I would be pastoring a church.  It was certainly not in my career plan, if indeed, I had a career plan.  But now, twenty years on, I feel incredibly blessed and grateful that I have had the opportunity to help lead this church over these years.

I just want to take this opportunity to say thank you to God and to you, the Liberty family, for making Liberty Church such a great church to be part of.  Fiona and I have felt personally so well supported and loved by so many over these years for which we are deeply grateful. 

Over these twenty years we have experienced great joy and also great pain together.  The church has changed in many ways and continues to change.  We have said goodbye to so many who were part of the Liberty family twenty years ago and welcomed in so many more. But I am so grateful to all who have walked with us over these years

I am so thankful for so many who have worked and continue to work so hard serving the church, our community and the wider world.  Whether it is making a toastie at our Thursday lunch, working in the kitchen, washing dishes, maintaining Liberty Centre, cutting down bushes on the land, praying for someone, getting alongside those who are struggling, leading a lifegroup, leading us in worship, preaching, organising and leading meetings, working with our children and youth, leading ministries, changing a nappy, cleaning a toilet, managing our finances, generously giving, offering someone a lift to church, organising a walk, a men's or women's breakfast, setting out chairs, welcoming people at the door, shepherding the flock, sharing the hope we have with those around us.  The list goes on and on. 

I love this church. Over these twenty years I have grown to love and appreciate the body of Christ more and more and to see the importance of local churches where people find hope, freedom, love and acceptance.  As I look out over our gathered church family on a Sunday I am deeply grateful for what God is doing among us in these days.  Years ago I put together a short  statement trying to encapsulate the sort of church I wanted Liberty to be.  It read:

A family of believers, committed to God and to each other, where people of all ages are finding hope, coming to faith and growing in their relationship with God, as we follow Christ together.

 The church I see now is that church and I am so grateful to be part of this family of believers.  Thank you again and all praise to our amazing, gracious God who has called us together and who dwells within us.  The best is yet to come.

 Much love and gratitude

 Jon