Leadership   

The Pastors

Pastor Jon Watts

Senior Pastor

Brought up in rural Bedfordshire among a Strict Baptist family I first studied practical Agriculture. Having rebelled as a teenager I was converted at Agricultural College through the witness of a fellow student. God clearly called me to the ministry and after a degree at London Bible College I spent 20 years ministering in Greenford, N.W. London before responding to God’s call to move to Sheffield to lead the Rock Christian Centre. Married to Tricia, an ex PE teacher, we have 3 wonderful children who help to keep us poor! Hobbies include DIY, gardening, cars and sailing.

Pastor Alex Phiri

Assistant Minister

I was brought up in a deeply religious home in my Country of Origin, Zambia. I went to Church until I was about twelve, then I quit. At the age of seventeen, after senselessly drifting through life a bit the Lord brought me back to Himself. I was all alone in my room when it all happened and as a result nobody believed me when I told them I had surrendered my life to Christ.

However, soon after that, He led me to a Spirit filled, bible believing Church. It was then that I received the call to full time ministry. So, in early 1992, I went to Bible College. On completing my Pastoral Studies and being ordained I served as a Youth Pastor in my home Church, then as Assistant Pastor and later as lecturer in the same College where I had been trained.

I came to the UK in 2002 with my lovely wife, Matilda. We did some ministry work in Milton Keynes for eight years and after completing my Doctor of Ministry program in October of 2010 the Lord led us to Rock Christian Centre in Sheffield. Prior to moving we had been friends for six years with the senior Pastor, Jon Watts and his family and with a lot of the other members of the Church. We are now part this loving Spiritual family and it feels great to be able to provide pastoral support to Jon and to see Matilda actively involved in the music ministry in the Church.

My interests/hobbies: Riding my bike, writing, reading and listening to classic music.

Pastor John Beyer

Associate Pastor

Born into a Christian family, I attended the Methodist Church in Oxenhope, a village in West Yorkshire, where I was converted in my late teens after a somewhat rebellious youth! I worked in the weaving industry before and after two years of National Service and then spent a year at Cliff College. I then qualified as a Baptist pastor whilst actually pastoring in Oxenhope, then Hebden Bridge and finally Southey Green Baptist Church (now Church on the Corner) on Parson Cross, Sheffield in 1967. During this time I had married Rosemary, who also grew up in Oxenhope, and we had three sons, Mark, David and Stephen.

The whole congregation left the Baptist denomination and the church building in 1978 and became the Firth Park Fellowship and eventually the Compass Christian Fellowship. When it became apparent that there was no one to take over the leadership of the latter as I saw retirement looming, God led us to follow up a long-standing link with Church on the Rock and after attending once a month for a year, we knew it was right for us to join with them. I didn’t retire after all but was appointed Associate Pastor and what a blessing it has been for us to be part of a young, growing church at this stage in our lives.

I enjoy reading, crosswords, old hymns and holidaying in Filey whenever possible!

The Elders

Robert Chisabingo

The early years of my life and education began in the country of Zambia. I was raised in a family where both parents were and still are followers of the Roman Catholic faith. At one stage I was earmarked to go into a seminary with the possibility of training as a `priest`. However when I went to University, I discovered Jesus Christ and accepted Him as my Lord and Saviour and decided to join an Evangelical Protestant church. I have had the privilege of serving God in the body of Christ from Deacon to Elder since becoming a Christian. I have also been involved in the ministry serving God with The Gideons and The Christian Medical Fellowship both in the UK and overseas where I have held various portfolios in these organisations.

Since coming to the UK to pursue postgraduate studies in 1990, I have worked for the NHS in various regions and am now settled in Sheffield working as a GP. I am married to Mercy and we have three lovely children. I am a keen follower of International politics, keen listener to radio 4 and listening to gospel music of varying beats. I like to play squash when I can get time and a willing partner!

Graham Leckey

Born and raised in Northern Ireland I came to university in Sheffield in 1978 and never went home! After graduating in Civil & Structural Engineering, I joined South Yorkshire Police and have worked at various locations around the force since 1981 with retirement a fast approaching likelihood in 2011!

I am widowed with two grown-up daughters and have been involved in church work all my life. I originally came from an Anglican background but moved to the Elim Pentecostal Church on meeting my wife. God has now planted me at Rock Christian Centre, where He graciously has allowed me to serve Him and the fellowship.

My interests/hobbies include reading, sport (more watching now that I’m older!) and keeping fit.

Hillary Sibanda

Born and bred in Zimbabwe I came to the UK in 2001 and straight to Sheffield and Church on the Rock. My Dad was a local pastor in the Rural District of Gokwe with the ‘Apostolic Faith Mission’. 

Married to Eveline, we have four children, two boys (both in the British Army) and two girls. I worked in Mechanical Engineering for over twenty years in Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia.

When I came to England I enrolled at Sheffield Hallam University to re-train as a teacher of Design and Technology. Having qualified and worked as a teacher for a few years I was unable to continue working as a teacher due to Immigration restrictions for which we were praying for a breakthrough.

Indeed what a breakrough!! God is faithful! Just before the end of the 2009. The family received great news from the Home office, after a long struggle with immigration issues the Home office granted us limited leave to remain with full benefits. This is particularly important as it enables our older daughter Lucia to go to University and I am now able to go back into teaching, In fact by God’s grace I have been given a long term supply position in my specialist subject area, and I can see God’s hand working through people I am working with.

Consulting Elder

Stan Dawson