James Crockett is ordained deacon (OLM)
Congratulations to Revd James Crockett who was ordained deacon (OLM) at a service in St John’s Orangefield on Sunday 4 September. James will continue as church plant leader in Braniel Community Church in East Belfast.
James was ordained by Bishop David along with Ross Munro and the address was given by Revd Simon Genoe, rector of Magheralin Parish and Joint Diocesan Director of Ordinands.
James shares his journey to ordination
I grew up in the church. My home congregation of Carnmoney Presbyterian was where I went to BB, CE, Youth Club and on Sundays.
I loved being around the church building but didn’t care much for Christians if I’m honest. When my parents gave me the choice to go or stay, I swapped church for the pub. My weekends were spent either at a pub a club or a party.
Then I met my now wife Adele and she had questions about life, God, the bible etc and was surprised at how many of those questions I could answer. For some though I needed an expert, so I asked my Mum who was a Christian. She invited us to Carnmoney’s Alpha Course where we both came to know and accept Jesus as our personal Saviour.
I always knew if I took that step God would require all of me, even my working life and so I led teams at my home church, trying to satisfy that which I knew God wanted from me. After several years and a bit of a crisis I finally spoke to my minister John Dickinson, and he suggested doing New Wine’s Evangelist Training Course under the watchful eye of George Newell. I found myself offered the position in Braniel Community Church, and when the offer to go forward for ordination came along from Bishop David, after some prayer and advice I decided this was the right thing for me to do.
I’ve led Braniel now for 2 and a half years, a vibrant, new missional expression of church with a DNA of Hope, Heal, Belong in Jesus. As a family we are blessed by God to be where we are, and we look forward to continuing to serve Him, as He wills.
