A Calling That Came Later in Life
Martin Jones did not grow up expecting to become a minister. In fact, he came to Christian faith at the age of 47. Today, he is married to Valerie, serving in Baptist ministry, and helping lead a season of growth and renewal in a local church.
Faith quickly became a family story as well as a personal one. Martin later had the privilege of leading his mother to faith at the age of 79. His own journey had been quietly supported for decades — his sister had prayed for him for 32 years and was there to help baptise him when he made his public commitment to Christ.
Just two days after becoming a Christian, Martin sensed a clear prompting from the Holy Spirit. “Help people find God,” he recalls hearing — words that would go on to shape the direction of his life and ministry.
From Illness to Spiritual Depth
In 2016, Martin faced a life-threatening illness that required 18 months of recovery. What could have been a season of despair became a time of deep spiritual formation.
During that period, he became rooted in Scripture and devoted to prayer. When his health returned, so did a renewed sense of purpose. Martin describes receiving a call to a “ministry of reconciliation” — with a simple focus: reaching those who do not yet know Christ and teaching those who do.
That season crystallised several lifelong convictions: that it is the Holy Spirit who ultimately makes disciples, that being with God must come before doing for God, and that life itself is a gift meant to be enjoyed with gratitude.
Pioneering New Expressions of Church
His passion is clear: forming “disciples who make disciples” and helping more traditional churches discover how to start small groups and plant new congregations.
Together with Valerie, Martin has helped pioneer a range of outreach and church initiatives. These include a street talk ministry, a community lunch club, a café church, and a house church plant as part of the Myriad movement.
“Prayer is where it all begins,” he says. “We pray, and the Lord builds His Church. Our role is to welcome people, love them as they are, release their gifts, and help them grow into maturity and Christlikeness.”
He is passionate about disciple-making movements and church planting — and is also an avid American football fan. His team? “Go Pats!”
Equipped for Ministry
Martin studied for a BA (Hons) in Theology, Mission and Evangelism at the Light College, University of Chester. He later began an MTh with Ministerial Formation at Spurgeon’s College before its sudden closure.
Following recommendations from Peter Dunn of Big Life UK, conversations with Rev Dr Alex Harris and Revd Dr Nike Adebajo, Martin continued his Baptist Minister in Training at St Hild in 2025. He speaks warmly of the support he received from staff during the transition and hopes to resume his Master’s studies there in 2026.
“One of the unexpected blessings of studying at St Hild”, he says, “has been the strong devotional and missional emphasis of the course, alongside the encouragement of a supportive cohort and tutors.”
Ministry in Sandy: Signs of Growth
Martin now serves at Sandy Baptist Church in the Central Region, where he is witnessing significant change.
In just 15 months, average attendance has grown from 14 to 33, with 45 people now connected to the church. Membership has doubled, five baptisms have taken place — with three more planned — and five new deacons have been appointed.
Outreach has extended into the community, with more than 90 Bibles given away alongside invitations to two new Bible study groups. Two new congregations now meet on Sundays and Tuesday evenings, involving 26 new Christians or seekers. Both groups are led by believers baptised in July 2025, and one of those leaders has already begun ministerial training.
For Martin, the progress is simple to explain: “All glory to God.”
