Growing in Faith Through the LLM Course

We are pleased to introduce Debby Johnson, our new Licensed Lay Minister (LLM), who has joined our ministry team after her licensing this September.

Debby brings a wealth of experience and a deep passion for serving others, and we are eager to share her journey with you.

From the Classroom to the Church: My LLM Journey

Training as an LLM has stretched me in ways I never expected — from sparking deeper conversations about faith to standing outside a church inviting strangers to talk about God. Here’s what I’ve been learning along the way.

AS A FORMER teacher, I’ve always valued open and honest discussions — whether with students about ethics or now with fellow learners about faith. That’s why one of the highlights of my Licensed Lay Ministry (LLM) course has been exploring belief together. These conversations have given me confidence to speak openly about my own faith, even in unexpected settings — like standing outside Holy Trinity Hounslow (HTH), inviting passers-by to talk about God. Honestly, that felt far scarier than facing a classroom of teenagers!

Sharing with others in training has also broadened my understanding of how people worship in different traditions. Because of this, attending services at HTH felt less of a shock and more of an opportunity to be inspired. I now look forward to visiting other churches with a more open heart and mind.

The course itself has been a joy. As a lifelong learner, I’ve loved the reading and reflection, which will serve me well in preparing sermons and resources for my future ministry at Ss Philip & James. I know planning and study will be both challenging and life-giving, and I pray that my work helps others draw closer to God and discover their own calling.

For now, I’m grateful to be serving as LLM at SsPJ and as Chaplain to the 2025–26 Diocese of London LLM cohort. I’m excited to see where God leads next — both for me and for those I serve alongside.

Debby's love of travel has taken her across the world, including to Petra in Jordan, where she visited the world's oldest Christian church. Here she is pictured at Mount Hebron.

Debby's Next Chapter

As Debby prepares to settle into her new role as Licensed Lay Minister she shared a few words about her hopes for the future.

"I am eager to preach more frequently and take an active part in advancing Ss Philip & James within the EcoChurch initiative."

"I also hope to be able to make use of my creative talents to develop resources for faith development and reflection."

A Word From Our Vicar

We are delighted to welcome Debby as she begins this next stage of her ministry with us. Over the coming year she will be mentored in her new role, and we know her passion for caring for the environment and developing spiritually will be a real blessing to our Church.

As part of the ministry team, Debby will share in leading our worship and nurturing our spiritual life, and she will also be serving as Chaplain to the new cohort of Licensed Lay Ministers. We are excited to have her with us and look forward to all that lies ahead. Welcome aboard Debby!