John and Kay Payne at their Berwick home.By Jim Mynard
REVEREND John Payne has taken up a calling to St Andrews Uniting Church, Berwick.
Mr Payne started with the church on Sunday, 11 February, a day of storms.
“We had no electricity for my first service and it was a case of back to basics.
“We had to be sure to speak up.”
Nevertheless, Mr Payne had another reason for a memorable first day because the church was packed with worshippers.
Mr Payne was born into a churchgoing family in Glasgow, Scotland.
He first trained as a computer programmer.
“Despite my upbringing, I was 18 before I became a Christian.
“I had a lovely background and eventually became a follower of Jesus.”
“During my early 20s I was called to become a full time minister in the church and trained in Edinburgh.
“I became a Church of Scotland minister.”
He has since worked and ministered in parishes throughout Scotland and in Melbourne and this provided him with a broad range of experience.
He worked as a school chaplain at Toorak College for the past four years.
Mr Payne and his wife, Kay, have adult children Ian, Emma, Sam, Felicity, Sophie, and Anna.
He follows the Richmond Football Club.
“We are excited to be here and excited by the growth in this area.
“We hope to be able to serve the Berwick community and deliver the good work of Jesus,” he said.
