Our History and Links with Other Ministries

On 29th September 1969 around 9 o’clock Simon came to Christ. He was 15 years old and had a life-changing encounter with Jesus which gave him a passion to see others find the Lord. While being discipled by Don and Heather Double, he was preaching regularly by the age of 17 and knew God was calling him to full-time ministry with Good News Crusade. He left his horticultural job at 18 and went ‘on the road’ in Britain and overseas preaching in churches, schools, missions, leading youth weekends and seeing thousands make commitments to follow Jesus. In 1977 Simon and Julia married and continued in the ministry together.

In the early 80's something of a dissatisfaction began to arise in Simon and Julia as they continued to see good fruit from their travelling ministry. So many young people on fire for God but so few churches who would lead and encourage them to reach their full potential in God. Simon’s involvement in local church leadership was well established by then having been an Elder for some time and as he grew in God a vision began to emerge for church planting and development.

In 1984 they felt God calling them to leave their role with Good News Crusade and to relocate to East Anglia in order to concentrate on church planting and development, and so ‘Plumbline’ was born. Links were already well established with Dick and Jean Jennings from Huntingdon who had been significantly blessed by Simon’s ministry while leading a youth group in their local Anglican church.

Around this same time Dick and Jean felt God calling them to leave their church in order to pioneer a new work in the Huntingdon area and asked Simon to help. So in 1985 Simon and Julia, and their 3 children, moved to Huntingdon to create an apostolic base from where a ‘Jerusalem, Judea and to the uttermost parts of the earth’ (Acts 1:8) vision would take shape. The Lord quickly added other key people into this vision and Huntingdonshire Community Church was soon born and other church plants began to take shape. Although there is still much seed to be sown and harvest to be reaped, the current Plumbline works across East Anglia have become established as God has opened up the way and joined people together to work for the fulfilment of God given visions and in strong relationships.

Simon has been travelling regularly into the Republic of Ireland since 1980 seeking to strengthen and develop the work of the Lord there. This work continues and though challenging in it’s pioneering nature, has a very special place in Simon and Julia’s heart and calling. Other overseas opportunities have opened up over the years, primarily based on relational joinings from the Lord. These continue to expand the work of Simon and the Plumbline team. They currently serve into a number of other nations.

We believe in the Biblical concept of there only being ONE Body of Christ, and that where brethren dwell together in unity blessing is commanded (see Psalm 103:1-3). Consequently the Plumbline family enjoys links with many other churches and ministries. These include:

• Evangelical Alliance
• Apostolic and prophetic leaders of other church groups from across the UK who Simon meets with regularly
• Grapevine, an annual camp celebration event run by Stuart Bell and the Ground level team
• Cross denominational links with many local church leaders

International links, please see Overseas Involvement.