This week, we celebrate our partnership with Junction 42 and welcome John O’Connor (Junction 42 Head of National Resources), to share with us how he is seeing God move in our prisons and amongst those on the edge of our societies.
What exactly is Junction 42?
Junction 42 is a local charity that is passionate about seeing the lives of offenders and their communities transformed by Jesus. Founded in 2012 by a team who were all experienced in working with offenders in prisons and in communities, Junction 42 continue to be driven by a passion to see lives transformed, empowered and set free.
Today, Junction 42 work in 130 prisons and communities, across the UK, supporting people through the difficult journey of custody and rehabilitation.
How are Junction 42 connected to TVC Church?
As a Church, we have a longstanding partnership with Junction 42. You may not know this, but some of our Church leaders often go into local prisons with Junction 42 in order to reach out to inmates! Currently, Lynda Dunkley and Pete Conroy are visiting a local prison regularly, to run an Alpha course. They are really enjoying taking the love and hope of Jesus into the prison and are seeing people make a decision to begin following Jesus, while in prison.
We also run two Connect Communities, in partnership with Junction 42, one in Stockton and one in Middlesbrough. You can read all about them here.
Who is John O’Connor?
John was born in Newcastle, a stone’s throw away from the River Tyne. He spent most of his youth in addiction, crime and inevitably in prison. All that changed when he had an encounter with Jesus in HMP Durham in 1999 and he was completely transformed.
He has been married for 20 years to the lovely Joanne O’Connor and has 2 beautiful teenage daughter’s Kesiah and Leoni.
He is passionate about ministry and kingdom business and runs multiple successful businesses.
TVC Church has journeyed with John for a good number of years now and many of our leaders have got to know him very well as we have partnered to establish our Connect Communities. It is a fruitful relationship and we commend him to you.
We are looking forward to hearing from him this coming Sunday – we hope you will be there!
18 May 2023
