The island city of Portsmouth is the most densely populated city in Britain and home to a thriving and fast-growing university. But gospel witness on the island is thin. That is all changing, though.
For some years, member churches of the Solent Gospel Partnership have wished to see some new impetus for ministry in Portsmouth.
Steve Bell is a member of the Solent Gospel Partnership steering committee and comments: ‘As a group of Bible-driven and gospel-centred churches in the Solent region, we long to see new churches planted and existing churches strengthened. The need for this is nowhere greater than in the heart of the city of Portsmouth.’
Christ Church Southampton
That burden has recently also begun to weigh heavily on one of the newer member churches of the Solent Gospel Partnership, Christ Church Southampton.
Back in May 2011, a small team led by Orlando Saer moved to Southampton to join with some faithful saints who were meeting in the north of the city. Five years on, God has blessed the work beyond the wildest expectations of those early pioneers. Christ Church Southampton now meets in three congregations each Sunday and in around 25 small groups at different points in the week for Bible study, prayer, evangelism and encouragement.
The work of Christ Church Southampton among students, internationals, twenties and young families is thriving, and the staff team now numbers over 15.
Many people have been wonderfully converted and a steady trickle of people is being sent off to Bible College and other forms of training for ministry.
Looking for opportunities
But from the very beginning, a key element in the church’s vision has been to look for opportunities to plant new congregations and churches. Although not initially thinking of Portsmouth, in late 2014 the leadership began conversations with other Solent Gospel Partnership members and were encouraged to pray and plan about a work in that city. A church plant in Portsmouth, 20 miles down the road, became a very real possibility.
‘We had been seeking God’s will about where we should plant a new work and we came to a conviction that he was pointing us towards working with others in Portsmouth. This was confirmed to us in so many ways’, said Orlando.
Moving with the vision
Things have moved quickly. Jon Shulver was appointed to lead the work and he and his family have been living in Portsmouth since October 2015. Jon was formerly associate minister at Farnham Baptist Church and, more recently, the director of Contagious Bible Ministries.
‘We have settled quickly into Portsmouth and have a real love for the city’, says Jon, ‘I am grateful to God for the vision and desire that many have had to see a new church established here.’
A number of people have agreed to move to the city to help start the work and a launch team is now meeting monthly for prayer and planning. A potential venue has been identified which gives good access to students and local residents. Sunday meetings are now scheduled to start within the next few weeks, ahead of a public launch in September. The new church will be known as Cornerstone Church Portsmouth.
As a new work, it has support not just from Christ Church, but also from the FIEC and the Solent Gospel Partnership. Consultation with existing churches in the Portsmouth area has been very positive and overwhelmingly welcoming.
Answer to prayer
Evan Richards is the pastor of Grace Baptist Church – an established church in Portsmouth meeting in the Copner area. Evan has been praying for more gospel witness and so has welcomed the idea of Cornerstone beginning to meet in the city. ‘Portsmouth is a city of great gospel need and opportunity for new gospel church plants. I have been praying for sometime that Portsmouth would see more gospel-based churches established and Christ-exalting communities raised up in the city. I would value fellowship in the gospel with like-minded churches and pastors and will prayerfully and practically support such God-glorifying work.’
There is a great sense of excitement among the launch team about what lies ahead. ‘We’re all delighted and humbled to be involved in this exciting new ministry’, said Jon Shulver, ‘It is the desire of the launch team to come to know Jesus more and to make him known to the people of Portsmouth. We realise we are dependent on God for that to happen.’
As this exciting new gospel initiative in Portsmouth starts, Jon and the team ask that the wider evangelical community join them in prayer and practical support. Please pray for Jon and Jo Shulver as they settle in the city to lead the work. Pray for fellow workers of all ages to join the new congregation. Pray for continued good relationships and gospel unity with established churches in the area. And pray for the people of Portsmouth, a city of more than 200,000 souls, most of whom do not know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.
