Different Gifts, Different Service | Jonty Cornford

Ever wondered how your unique gifts could be a blessing to others in mission and ministry? In our new series we feature the many faces across our Church who are serving where they are, with what God has given them. We hope that it will be a blessing and an inspiration. 

Meet Jonty Cornford

Current ministry / Job role:

Pastor for Uniting Heart & Soul’s “Filthy Hope” ministry. 

What you love about being involved in this ministry?

I am super passionate about a type of faith that transcends being a theoretical or intellectual process, and actually becomes something that impacts and changes the way that we live our lives. The greatest joy that I get from working in this role is in having robust conversations with Rev Vanessa Williams-Henke and guests on the podcast about what this looks like, and then interacting with our listeners as we pace these things out in our day-to-day lives. Seeing the work that I do have a real, tangible effect on people and how they live out their discipleship is incredibly rewarding and life-giving for me.

What do you find most challenging?

The most challenging element of my role is usually linked to being on the front lines of the rapidly changing and evolving ways we communicate and share information across the internet. Not since the printing press has communication shifted in such a radical way, and this shift continues to grow and escalate faster than we are able to keep up with and properly understand. It is in this environment that I find myself exploring new ways of communicating the Gospel in authentic and honest ways, and being on this frontier is incredibly challenging, especially when large sections of our communities, churches and councils are still trying to catch up with the rate of change. It is in this challenge that I feel great excitement, passion and drive to continue to spread the Gospel as the world around us changes again radically every single day.  

What you are looking forward to in your ministry/church in the year ahead?

I’m always excited to meet and talk to new and interesting people on the podcast, but I’m especially excited to see the gathered community continue to grow. We held a live taping of the podcast earlier this year that was very successful, and will be hosting another later this year, but on top of that I’m super excited to see what other pockets of community gather and flourish around this ministry. 

Anything else you might want to share?

The next live event we are running is on Sunday October 27th, and will be another live show for the podcast - we’d love to see you there! Other than that, my mission for Filthy Hope has always been to be present amongst the non-Sunday of peoples' faith journeys. “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead,” (James 2:17). My encouragement for people is to think about what their time at church on a Sunday is prompting them to do over the rest of their week.

We'd love to tell your story

We would love to tell the story of your ministry in your Congregation. Simply get in touch and we'll send you some questions.

If you are interested in telling us your story, simply send an email to contactus@nswact.uca.org.au.