Community Outreach Worker Own Page
Jason Balbirnie – Community Outreach Worker
Jason arrived at Wesley in February 2010. He is a Christian with a diverse experience in life and ministry. To date he has worked as an evangelist; youth minister; an English teacher; missionary worker and a project manager with a housing association in Suffolk.
Educated in Suffolk, Jason became a Christian in 1987. In 1990 he went to Moorlands Bible College in Dorset, graduating in 1992. He obtained work as a youth minister within an Anglican parish, specialising in youth and family work, drugs, alcohol and domestic counselling.
Jason returned from Korea in early 2007 having worked as an English language tutor and with Samsung Tesco in South Korea. With a covert Christian organisation, linking up with the North Korean underground church he helped to take in supply resources, news from the West and gospels in the Korean language.
On returning to the U.K Jason married Colleen and they have a two year old daughter, Jessica.
As the Outreach & Community worker at Wesley Methodist church Jason is involved in many different facets in ministering from the church into the local community. Every day is a challenge! Talking to and helping the homeless; organising youth work; play and events at Wesley church such as a Teddy Bear’s picnic; an Easter Egg Hunt; an Arty Party morning. He has also set up SPLAT classes (Spirit Life and Art) every Sunday morning and helping children and families to deal with problems.
Jason is training to be a local preacher within the Cambridge circuit. He has just finished writing his first book “Short accounts of the imperfect Christian” which has recently been published.
SPLAT – Spirit, Life, Art & Teaching
For young people age 5 – 15
At Wesley we are developing a new Sunday children’s & young people’s work called SPLAT. It is a combination of the more traditional Sunday school and modern holiday club fun.
We always start with a memory verse followed by a prologue in the form of an informal chat about what the scripture in the memory verse is about.
Following this we move into a 20 – 25 minute art session which is aimed at having fun, based on the verse of scripture for the day and giving time for the leaders to talk and build a relationship with the SPLAT members.
To conclude we do a memory verse test and the SPLAT members are encouraged to use the bible.
It is simple yet effective. We started SPLAT in March this year (2010). We have just finished for the summer holidays and will be resuming Sunday 5th September – all children and youth aged 5 – 15 are welcome, for younger ones we do have a crèche. We worship with the whole church for the first 15 – 20 mins and then meet in the SPLAT room (known in the week as the upper room)
Ok, so here’s the challenge – Come to church, meet some brilliant people and know that your kids are getting great teaching (and doing some great art)!
Unsure? Well I guess you will never know until you put your toe in the water!
So come and join us for fun, fellowship and a bit of messy art – 10.30am - starting the 5th September. Hope to see you there!
For any further info or questions I will be happy to email you /talk with you.
Contact: Jason Balbirnie Tel: 01223 352115 email: outreachworker@wesleycam.org.uk
