Rev Jon Bellfield
I certainly don’t conform to the image of your “traditional Methodist Minister” and you’ll find that out when you meet me. I still share the same belief as all of the rest of Birdwell Methodist Church: that God’s word is true, that Jesus changes lives - and that trusting in Jesus is a better way to live life. I am married to Jackie and we have 4 children aged between 6 and 28. We live in Hoyland just south of Barnsley where we do normal family things and have the normal joys and stresses of family life. Our favourite TV programmes are Stargate, the Simpson’s and Balamory. I like watching sport and making excuses for not going to the gym. My work at Birdwell focuses on encouraging Birdwell Methodist Church to become more and more the community Church for Birdwell and Worsborough Dale. We have been gladdened to see a greater number of people using the building during the week and coming to worship on Sundays. Before being a Methodist minister I worked for a housing association working especially with different agencies on behalf of tenants with disabilities. My specialist experience and expertise is helping ex-offenders and in drug rehabilitation. Over the years I have been blessed by seeing many people’s lives transformed for the better because they heard about Jesus and believed in Him. There is not much I can think of that will shock me and if you want to chat about anything you can, in confidence. e-mail me at revjonnyb@btinternet.com or telephone 01226 747577 Jesus Christ came to Earth for everyone and so I believe that all Churches should be accessible to everyone, from rich to poor, whatever education background and from whatever race and ethnic background. I hope that anyone who comes to looking for Jesus can and will be accepted into the loving, caring group of people that are the "Community Church" Birdwell Methodist Church. Rev. Jon Bellfield |
The hymn writer Frances Crosby wrote a famous hymn “To God Be The Glory”. A line in that song says “The vilest offender who truly believes, That moment from Jesus a pardon receives” This line resonates with me personally. For most of my life I was not a Christian; my life was outside the church and I knew nothing about Jesus or God. When I found out about Jesus some 13 years ago it changed my life completely. It was as if I had been dead before and, from that moment had become alive.