Alun Johnson is an elder and co-pastor at his church in Wales.
When did you trust Christ?
My parents always openly prayed for my and my siblings' salvation, and hearing them pray brought me under a conviction of sin and an acute awareness that I needed to be saved. When I was 13 years old, I went to a camp in Wales. It was there that I realised I couldn't delay any longer and went to speak to the camp chaplain about the way to be saved. I then returned to my tent and quietly prayed to God and expressed my faith in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross.
What have been the defining moments of your Christian walk?
Being heavily involved in the Welsh and English Christian Unions (CU) at Aberystwyth University helped me grow as a Christian and develop leadership skills as president of the Welsh CU during my second year at university. I also found a love for overseas missionary work, serving with IFES / InterVarsity camps in Slovakia. While living in Cardiff, I was heavily involved in the Heath Church's international students work, where we tried to communicate the Gospel to students from other countries through a wide variety of evangelistic events.
What do you hope to gain from participating?
I'm hoping that attending the Forum will expand my knowledge and appreciation of what God is doing across Europe, thereby encouraging me to continue to serve Him in whatever way I can in my own context. I'm hoping to forge links with other churches and individuals across Europe that will lead to mutual encouragement and open up doors of opportunity for the Gospel that perhaps we might not otherwise have had. In reporting back to my congregation, I would hope and pray that they would catch a vision of what God is doing across Europe, which would then stimulate them to continue to serve Christ with zeal and faith in our own locality.
What is your ministry?
Since November 2023, I've been serving as an elder and co-pastor at Hope Church Cefn Hengoed, with responsibility for preaching and pastoral oversight, whilst also continuing to lead the church's children's and men's ministries, and having specific responsibility for the church's evangelistic outreach. I am also a governor in the local Welsh primary school and have a well-being role there, leading assemblies, playing games with pupils, and providing pastoral support to the staff.
What is your leadership role or what were your past leadership roles?
President of the Welsh Christian Union at Aberystwyth University; leading Bible Studies and evangelistic outreaches at the Bay Church; deacon for many years at Hope Church Cefn Hengoed, with responsibility for leading the children's and men's ministry. Part of the Associated Evangelical Churches in Wales (AECW) Co-ordinating Committee, responsible for arranging and leading its annual house party.
Why should someone invest in your ministry?
Cefn Hengoed is not a well-known area, but I believe it is an area where God is at work, and that we are doing important work for Him. We are seeing increased numbers across many of our outreaches, including our weekly youth club and our men's and ladies' monthly breakfasts. Additionally, we are seeing increased numbers at our weekly prayer meetings and our two toddler groups.
