Brian Jones, originally from Liverpool and pastor of Port Erin Evangelical Church on the Isle of Man, died in Liverpool on 6 December 2006 after a short illness.
A service was held at Belvidere Road Baptist Church, Liverpool, which over 300 people attended and at which Stuart Olyott spoke. In the early years, Belvidere Road Baptist Church and European Missionary Fellowship assisted the Port Erin church in supporting Brian and his family. Chris Rogers spoke at a thanksgiving service for Brian at Port Erin, where 200 attended.
Both speakers sought to use the example of Brian’s life to draw the congregation’s attention to the Lord Jesus Christ, emphasising Brian’s stress on the need for a personal relationship with God through faith in Christ.
There was a great number of family and friends at both services, many of whom would never have heard the gospel.
Nothing would have pleased Brian more than knowing that someone had come to know the Lord through these services.
Faithfulness
Brian’s pastorate was marked out by his faithfulness. He was faithful to his Lord personally, and sought to encourage church members to be likewise. Over 16 years he equipped the church with a sound theological and doctrinal understanding. His preaching was practical too, as he sought to apply the Word of God to our lives.
Brian was particularly gifted in children’s work. He and his wife Lynn led the weekly Tuesday Club for young children, organised the annual holiday Bible club, and for a number of years organised the beach mission on Port Erin beach for two weeks during the school summer holidays with help from other churches in England.
Work amongst youth and adults was also a priority. Brian introduced ‘Contact’ for teenagers, evangelistic quiz nights, barbeques, the Christianity Explored course and regular leaflet distribution around the town. He enjoyed going into the local school to take assembly, spoke monthly at an addiction group and worked for an adoption agency for 10 hours a week.
Please pray for the church as it seeks to provide a witness to Christ in Port Erin. Please remember to pray for the family, Brian leaves a widow Lynn, and grown up children, Sarah, Andrew Peter and Vanessa. Brian, a servant of the Lord, will be sadly missed.
