30 Years of Home Church.

As Home Church celebrates 30 years of ministry, community, and transformation, we took time to sit down with our founding ministers, Ian and Jackie, to honour their legacy and hear their reflections on the journey so far. We wanted to know: how did it all begin? What were the struggles and triumphs along the way? And what are their hopes and dreams for the future of Home Church?

Here’s what they shared.

A Call to Build

The story of Home Church began with a call — not from a denomination or a leadership board, but from God Himself. Ian and Jackie were serving faithfully on the leadership team at Paignton Living Waters when they began to sense a divine nudge. It wasn’t just ambition or opportunity; it was obedience to a promise — one they believed God had made not just to them, but to the people of Torquay.

They dared to say “yes,” not with all the answers, but with the faith that “perhaps God” was in it. Stepping out on the foundation of John 15:16, they embraced the call to “go and bear fruit — fruit that will last.” It was about more than starting a Sunday service; it was about building a home — a place where future generations, even their own grandchildren, would love to belong.

The Early Days: Real, Raw, and Radical

Planting a church was not glamorous. It was hard work — and they did it all. From preaching and leading worship, to cleaning toilets and welcoming visitors, Ian and Jackie were all in. The early days demanded a willingness to multitask, to juggle family, career, and the weight of leadership all at once.

“There were moments we felt like quitting,” they shared, “but the call of God kept us anchored.”

They made a conscious decision to do church differently. No masks. No “Sunday best” personas. They wanted to cultivate a culture where people could be real, authentic, and transparent. A place where freedom in Jesus wasn't just a slogan — it was a way of life.

But it wasn’t easy.

“There were battles,” Jackie recalled, “battles our generation had to fight so the next generation could have a head start.” That meant challenging rituals and religious traditions that held people back. It meant learning to lead while carrying the personal cost: the pressures of being bi-vocational, raising children in the spotlight, and navigating the unpredictable nature of people — those who praise you one day and criticise you the next.

And yet, even in the hardship, there was joy.

They remember great moments — milestone events, powerful encounters with God’s presence, and the privilege of journeying with people through all seasons of life. They watched lives transform. They saw brokenness become wholeness. And perhaps most beautifully, they saw their own children grow up experiencing firsthand the goodness and faithfulness of God.

Lessons from the Journey

Three decades of ministry bring wisdom that can’t be taught in a classroom. When asked what lessons they’ve learned, Ian and Jackie shared a treasure trove of insight:

• Be yourself. Don’t try to copy someone else’s model. Originality carries authenticity.
• Faithfulness matters. Keep going, especially when it’s tough.
• Lead by example. Never ask others to do what you won’t do yourself.
• Guard your heart. A thick skin and a soft heart is a rare but essential combination.
• Hold tightly — but not too tight. Know when to lead, and know when to let go.

They also shared deeply personal priorities: love your spouse more than the bride of Christ. Love your children more than the children of God. And always serve the God of the people before trying to serve the people of God.

Discipleship, they stressed, must be more than attendance. Building church is about building people — helping them grow in Christ, not just filling seats.

They reminded us of the difference between a shepherd and a hireling: one stays and cares, the other runs when it’s hard. Through the years, they’ve chosen to stay, care, and lead with integrity.

A Dream for the Future

Now, as we stand at this 30-year milestone, Ian and Jackie see it not as an ending, but a launch pad.

Their dream? That Home Church would always be a place where Jesus is the centre — where the poor, the lost, and the broken are welcomed and find belonging. A house of prayer. A Spirit-filled, Word-anchored, sending community.

They dream of continued growth — fruit that lasts — and branches that reach beyond our own walls. A church that doesn’t just entertain people, but mobilises them. A place where the mosaic of broken lives is pieced together into something beautiful. A church that stays pioneering, never settling, always stretching toward the next adventure with God.

There’s also a vision for practical expansion: new buildings, expanded reach, and increasing influence in our community and beyond. But the heartbeat remains the same — people. Real people, encountering a real God, and being changed forever.

Conclusion: Thank You

Thank you, Ian and Jackie, for saying “yes” when it would have been easier to say no. For pouring your lives into this church family. For leading with humility, authenticity, and boldness. And for laying down what you built with open hands, trusting God to continue what He began.

Thank you, Home Church family — past and present — for being part of this story. We stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before, and we look forward with faith to all that is to come.

Let’s keep building. Let’s keep praying. Let’s keep loving. Let’s keep going.

Jon Baldwin, Associate Leader, Home Church