JRow
JONATHANROWLAND
YOUTH PASTOR, BUSINESS OWNER (CEO) & PROFESSIONAL MUSICIAN
Jonathan was born in Hackney, London before moving to Enfield, Middlesex at the age of 5. He is a Christian, and a family man who has 3 boys.
Jonathan is currently the Youth Pastor at Tramway Christian Fellowship (TramwayCF) an ELIM Pentecostal Church in Edmonton, North London where he has been an Elder for 10 years; and the Music Director there for the last 14 years.
Jonathan is also on the National Youth Consultation Board for over 550 ELIM Pentecostal churches called “Limitless” giving input to the direction, impact and strategy of youth leaders, teams and the events that take place in a Limitless year.
Jonathan loves children and youth and has for around 21 years worked in youth teams including at his previous churches (New Testament Church of God) before launching the children and youth department at current church in Edmonton, London called TramwayCF.
Jonathan is also employed as Lead Mentor at EK Outreach Services a newish company in London, Manchester and also Midlands running at team of 80 mentors. EK Outreach is an alternative and SEND tuition service providing educational support to Local Authorities, Schools and Individuals. Jonathan directs his team of mentors to work with children and young people of any age, up to age of 25 going into their homes, online or getting them to the EK Outreach Centre in London, engaging them through mentoring, equipping them with core life skills, assisting them with education in the aim to improve their learning outcomes as some students have fallen through the gaps in education, some education has been non-existent, or some are finding it really challenging either through their SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities), SEMH (Social, Emotional and Mental Health Difficulties), or other reasons which preventing them from fully accessing education.
Jonathan was a Detective Constable in the Metropolitan Police Service where he served since 2003 first working in Haringey Borough as a ‘beat cop’ before going down the path of a detective in CID, Robbery, Burglary squads and Critical Incident team as well as Public Protection, Missing Persons, Domestic Violence and Child Sexual Exploitation teams. He then specialised in Family Liaison, Surveillance, Advance Interrogation Techniques and Forensic Search and Recovery which lead him to work on covert and confidential teams both in the UK and abroad which included Cyber Crimes, and eventually ending his career on Operation Trident Gangs Unit/Firearms Recovery Team.
Due to Jonathan’s background, he has found himself giving support to many parents with whose children exhibit challenging behaviour (gang culture, drugs abuse, violent, CSE behaviour etc) and often does freelance intervention work including youth life coaching.
Jonathan is also an entrepreneur and in 2014, started his own registered business called MyChurch.Events Limited which is an online Christian Advertising platform.
MyChurch.Events is very prominent in the UK Gospel Network, and Jonathan who is the CEO, currently has a reach of 100,000’s of people which is growing daily.
Black Lives Matter
‘Black Lives Matter’, this is very true. A question a child, youth or even an adult may rightly ask is that surely all lives matter.
All lives do matter!
However, not all lives are affected in such a negative way. It is a sad truth that people of colour are challenged by our society in a more negative way. This is why we all need the stark and simple reminder that ‘Black Lives Matter’.
The current anger, fear, and racial divide resulting from the tragic death of George Floyd is having a significant negative impact on many children, as well as adults, in our communities.
Jonathan has decided that whatever opportunity he gets he will speak about his story to others as he recognises how painful this senseless tragedy is for many members of his community.
While conversations about race may be difficult to have, it is essential that they take place in order for our community ,our children, youth and all to move forward. As a father of 3 boys, he sees it is important for us all to continue to commit to shared values that:
diversity is a strength and an asset;
every individual has equal human value;
and that a secure and safe environment and peaceful conflict resolution are essential to harmony in today's society.
"I am not ashamed to be a black man living in the United Kingdom and although sadly I having faced racism many times during my life so far, it has not and will not stop me being who I need to be. I will rise and use my gifts and talents to shine my God given light."
I have thankfully had the opportunity to share a tiny bit of my story to illuminate specific, timely issues, aiming to create safe dialogue to promote freedom, justice, and collective liberation.
#BLM I will always fight against #injustice, #inequality and against #racism.
