Story 66 - Kingdom Breakthrough Ministries

Jonathan and Paige Squirrell
Written by Suzie Abramian in conversation with Jonathan Squirrell - 30/11/2020

Jonathan is an accredited Baptist minister who, along with Paige, planted Beacon in 2009 on the former site of Bacton Baptist Church. And whilst they will be stepping down from their roles in senior leadership at Beacon, they will continue to remain in the church, as Jonathan will be officially seconded to Kingdom Breakthrough with the blessing of the BU Ministry Department. This step into, ‘freelance ministry’ which has been given great encouragement from Beacon Church, will also involve a giant leap of faith financially speaking as Jonathan and Paige’s income will effectively stop at the end of December. An intentional decision made by the couple in order to tangibly demonstrate different ways of doing ministry and to model to those they walk with the kind of sacrificial element of faith that is often required, so that as Jonathan says, ‘we’re not saying one thing but doing another.

Before we assume this is a ministry intending to offer bible courses, ministry training and Christian life coaching – which, amongst other things, it is! – it is perhaps important to explain this isn’t purely a class based, didactic teaching ministry. Jonathan highlights Ephesians 4 verse 12 as a key scripture for explaining how they intend to be a very practical, equipping ministry ‘to prepare God’s people for acts of work and service.’ This has already been practiced during their time leading the Beacon School of Supernatural Life which not only teaches from a solid biblical foundation about certain ministries but also encourages participants to practice and demonstrate the teaching.
As well as the emphasis placed upon equipping disciples, Jonathan also stresses the importance they will place on working within small groups, stating, ‘in order for every person to work in the small, they need to be equipped and released in Kingdom ministry.’ Even though this emphasis was identified by Jonathan and Paige long before the Coronavirus outbreak they have seen afresh over the last year the blessing when God’s church is broken down into smaller numbers and how vital it is for every member to be growing in discipleship and not just the few in official leadership.
When asked about the prompting for stepping out into this new ministry, Jonathan says that, ‘the clear word of God for us.... is that the way we do church, the way we are church, the way we see ecclesia expressed is not illegitimate but it’s not the only way.... it’s an expression but it’s not the only expression.’ In this Jonathan explains how their heart, especially for North Norfolk, is to see the wider church released to be church where they are, not necessarily within a church building or with a paid pastor but in order to achieve this, says Jonathan, ‘we need to equip people so that they realise they can contribute,’ an observation which also informs their desire to focus on smaller groups.
Here it is important to note how much Jonathan and Paige recognize the value and place of the local church and that what they are offering is intended to come alongside the wider church, not only for church leaders but as Jonathan succinctly puts it, ‘for any disciple with a pulse!’ Whilst encouraging participants on their courses to be part of a local fellowship and without the intention to plant a new church themselves, Jonathan says that they wouldn’t want to be a church replacement but rather to add to what the local church does in order ‘to compliment not substitute the local church.’
As this new ministry officially begins, Jonathan and Paige have highlighted the need to begin by being rooted in prayer and listening to God, especially during the first few months, as well as looking at various courses they will be able to offer online with the intention to deliver in person when restrictions allow. Their website, https://kingdombreakthrough.org explains further the kinds of courses and teaching available including the life coaching courses Paige runs.

In conclusion, Jonathan encourages the wider church to embrace the idea of small groups alongside and in addition to larger groups, advising us to see how ‘we live in a world where big is better and it’s crept into the church...don’t assume that God can’t work in the small as well as he can in the large.’ Furthermore, he urges us to be prepared to be creative in our thinking, to ask God if he is saying something to you in this season about how he wants you to go forward, not as a contradiction to the church elsewhere but to compliment it because ultimately, ‘if we’re about providing an environment for Jesus’ disciples we need to do things in a Jesus way.’
Jonathan and Paige welcome anyone who would like to have a conversation about any of the topics raised here to get in touch. Details found at https://kingdombreakthrough.org.