Called to Reader Ministry – Jonathan Hassin
Bishop David commissioned six new Diocesan Readers at a service in Dromore Cathedral on Tuesday 22 June. We asked two of them to share their journey.
Meet Jonathan Hassin from HOPE Community Church, Craigavon.
I grew up in Cookstown and my Mum and Dad saw going to church as very important. I rarely missed a Sunday service at St Luran’s (Derryloran) Parish Church, yet I never felt that God really impacted on me.
It wasn’t until later life that this changed, and I gave my life to Jesus in February 2012. I was helped to see faith in a new way by some of the people around me at that time and when I took part in an Alpha course that really opened the door for me to let go of my old life, confess my sins and ask Jesus into my heart.
Until I became a Christian, I had lived a life of fear and worry. That burden was lifted when I accepted God into my life and that is why I feel a strong connection to Proverbs 28:1 which says ‘The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion’.
Called
The freedom I have felt since I became a Christian is something I want to tell everyone about and becoming a Diocesan Reader will give me a lot of opportunity to do this. From a very early stage I felt called to preach the Gospel and to tell people about the difference my faith has made.
I have always felt comfortable talking to people and I was encouraged by those close to me to use this skill. On more than one occasion I have had words of encouragement at prayer meetings to be bold and proclaim the word of God.
Trained
The training was very interesting, but it was also really tough to find the right balance between work and family life. That only became harder when the pandemic hit, and without the support of my wife Lynsey and daughter Heléna I don’t think I would have made it to the end! The struggle was definitely worth it though and I believe the training provides a solid foundation on which to enter the Lay Ministry.
I trained with 10 people, 7 from Down and Dromore, and I couldn’t have made it through without their continual support and encouragement. Our group was varied in age and also experience of styles of Church worship and that only served to give me confidence for the future Church of Ireland. I also really loved learning from Revd Willie Nixon and Canon Brian Follis – that was definitely the highlight of my training – while the ever patient Andrew Brannigan was always on hand to point us in the right direction and remind us that the end goal was to serve the Church.
Commissioned for service
I am looking forward to helping churches throughout the diocese in any way that I can and hope that any chance I get I will boldly proclaim the Good News of the Gospel so many may know the true freedom that can only be found in redemption through Jesus Christ.