Who am I? I’m a young trainee pastor, just finished studying at WEST (a Bible College in South Wales) as well as being involved in ministry in my local church, Malpas Road Evangelical Church. I’m into surfing, punk, art and Japanese novels amongst other things. I’m married to Caz. At the moment I’m considering my future ministry, serving God in whatever way that’d be.
Why Saint Jonny? Because I’m a saint! Not that I’ve been ’sainted’ by any particular church institution, nor that I’m particularly good or better than anyone else (after all I’m also a sinner!), but that I’ve chosen to follow Christ and had his forgiveness take effect upon my life. The Bible uses saint to refer to anyone who is a Christian, and so I’m reclaiming the title, mostly because it sounds cool!
What’s this blog for? Just my musings and thinking about stuff as I go further in ministry with some autobiographical stuff chucked in there as well. I forget things quite easily so it’s helpful for me to write them down, and if anyone else can benefit from them then even better!
What brand of Christianity? If I had to label-up, then I would describe myself as evangelical1, radical-reformed2, progressive3, emerging4, orthodox5, catholic6 and independent7. In short, I follow Jesus Christ as he is revealed in his written word the Bible.
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1Believing the Bible as the authoritative source of knowledge of Christ.
2Reformed being in line with those who came out of the Roman Catholic Church but radical being one of those who doesn’t want to reform by the monarchy or state.
3Things for me aren’t stuck in the 16th Century. I’m about current thinking and current practice/style.
4Emerging, as opposed to emergent, means that I am of a postmodern generation seeking to reach others of a postmodern generation. However, this doesn’t mean I’m against truth nor that I don’t believe in absolutes.
5I agree with the early church creeds and councils.
6I’m not the only Christian. There are plenty of others in all sorts of different churches.
7I don’t fit in a denomination.
I like your brand statement. ;-)