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 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 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 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 when 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

Stan Dawson

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 RCC 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 have been unable to continue working as a teacher due to Immigration restrictions for which we are praying for a breakthrough.