lives
Trevor Johnston
My name is Trevor Johnston and I am the Church of Ireland Chaplain at the Jordanstown and Belfast campuses of UU. I've been here for 4 years, working with students and staff, encouraging both sets of people to have a think about Jesus. My role is to help them think a bit more clearly about him.
It would be incredibly easy to wander through life either without thinking about Jesus at all or not coming into contact with the real Jesus. Not, by the way, the Jesus of Taladega Nights ("dear sweet baby Jesus") or of old church songs (Gentle Jesus, meek and mild), but the real Jesus, who walked on water, turned water into wine, described himself as the wine of life (if you drink it, you'll never get thirsty), ended his life with a spectacular comeback - he really did die and he really is alive today - and who was talked about, treated as and described, in what was written about him, as the maker of the universe. Even his death (the most significant thing about him) was unusual, in that he willingly died as a sacrifice for our sticking our fists in God's face and rejecting his rule over us.
I became a Christian at the age of 13, not through anything that religion did to me, but through realising that I'd totally orientated my life away from the true and living God and by saying thanks for Jesus's death for me, acknowledging that there was absolutely nothing that I could do to impress God or get him to accept me. It's a fantastic relief to know that there is absolutely nothing to fear from God in terms of him having anything against me. That is why I do the job I'm doing, helping others to meet the real Jesus, not the fake one of religion or folk culture.
I'm married to Joy (over 11 years) and we have 4 of the most beautiful people in the whole wide world as daughters: Emily, Lucy, Ruby and Molly. Here they are. I grew up in South Armagh on a farm, went to school in Armagh city, attended Jordanstown as a music student, worked for a church just behind Queen's Uni, studied in Dublin, worked in Carrickfergus, then ended up back in Jordanstown in this job. I like to relax (!) with the kids, enjoying good food and good craic, watching Prison Break, Dragon's Den, and Mock the Week, ideally all at once...
Give me a shout sometime if you're interested in any of the above. Even if you're not and want a chat about anything, it'd be great to meet you! Just don't tell me what's happening in series 4 of Prison Break... Cheers.