Jonny Pollock is married to Julie and father to Benjamin, Joshua and Caleb, as well as the pastor of Calvary Church Loughrea in Galway. He enjoys reading, writing, soccer and coffee. One of those fuels the others!
1. How did you become a Christian?
I came to faith in university in Belfast. I met a girl I liked who I found out was a Christian. She gave me a Bible, and I read it to try and pick holes in her faith; however, I came to find it spoke truth in a way I’d never heard before. By grace Jesus became my Saviour, and that girl my wife!
2. What lessons have you learnt since that you would want to pass on to a younger Christian version of yourself?
To keep the zeal of faith. Sometimes we can inadvertently disciple the joy out of new Christians in the hope that they develop “maturity”. I’ve come to realise that a zeal for Jesus, a hunger for His word, and a passion to share the gospel, is probably the most mature thing you can have as a believer.
3. How would you describe your prayer life?
Little and often – I’m very easily distracted. One habit I’ve picked up is to pray as God prompts things in my thinking, or people to my thoughts. I’m more of an ‘in the moment’ pray-er.
4. Which two or three Christian books apart from the Bible have most influenced your faith?
This might be cheating the question, but I have loved the Jesus Storybook Bible since reading with my kids when they were younger! I also re-read Gospel DNA by Richard Coekin once in a while, as it’s a great book on developing gospel culture in the local church. One book that was also really helpful in understanding the culture of the NT was Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes by Kenneth Bailey.
5. Who or what have been your biggest Christian influences?
Probably realising that people in my church are a bigger influence on me than “big names”. I’ve learned how to pray from elderly prayer warriors and learned more about serving from little children. I have also grown so much in my faith by being around people who are differently abled in church – we call them “super-power people” in our house!
6. What are the main challenges you believe Christians face today?
I think many of the challenges we face is the inertia of looking inward and not going into the world with the gospel. I’ve found, in my own heart also, that there are people and places that we don’t seem willing to go anymore because they are uncomfortable and challenging.
7. What encourages and what discourages you?
I love seeing new Christians wrestle with the Bible and asking profound questions about how they can live it out – this is a great joy and encouragement for me!
I think one discouragement is the hardship of many pastors and church leaders struggling with isolation and burnout. I believe as churches and networks we must do more to be honest with this reality and be compassionate in support of people.
8. What makes you laugh?
So many things! However, I laugh the most uncontrollably with my wife, normally over something simple or silly. We find ourselves crying with laughter, and in some ways can’t explain how we got there!
9. What would you want to say to the wider evangelical world?
Don’t be afraid to take risks on the impulsive people in church. I often find that impulses are often a sign that God has burdened and gifted people for His service, albeit in an awkward way in the beginning. Somewhere along the line we’ve tried to harness this in a way that has hindered or discouraged people. If encouraged in the right way, we might see a lot more emerging leaders emerge.
10. Which Biblical person (other than Jesus) do you most look forward to meeting in glory and why?
I’ve often been fascinated by Ananias in Acts 9. Having a vision and then meeting the Christian-hunter Paul must have been mind-blowing, and a real test of faith. Laying hands on Paul, caring for him, and vouching for him, must have been an interesting journey. I’d love to hear it from his perspective!
