storylines: simon poole

Simon, tell us a bit about your family and your work life...

Well, I have 3 children: Emily, Tom and Sarah (20,18 &15) and my darling wife, Kim. I am a Housemaster at Hurst College so I have an extended family of 51 teenage boys! I am Head of Psychology and teach Biology up to Advanced Level and coach rugby, basketball and athletics. I also run the sailing at the College.

Do you find your job rewarding?

It’s very demanding but yes, hugely rewarding. I feel I play some part in the lives of those in my care and help them to grow into responsible, considerate young adults who have developed a sense of achievement.

You have a busy job and life - and yet seem to always be organising some exciting event for The Point! (a pub lunch/walk, sailing weekends, men's dinner, football, etc). Where do you get all the energy, enthusiasm and time?!

I am keen to do my bit for The Point and am happy to find time for this. It would be nice if there were more hours in the day though!

You've been running our MBG men's group for a while now at The Point. How's it all going? Any particular highlights so far? What's the vision for the group?

The growing sense of camaraderie amongst the men offers the greatest satisfaction and our Tuesday evening indoor football sessions have been a great success as was the fabulous day out on a yacht in the Solent. We are also having our first ‘Men’s Dinner’ with a guest speaker this month and there are about forty attending which is fantastic! However, we are all intrinsically aware of other MBG objectives: to extend a hand of friendship and support to those who are in need in the community and to help those who are on a journey of finding their way to Christ. MBG have had opportunities to do this: odd ‘cleaning up the environment’ jobs, offering members of the community with partial sight a ‘night out at the Opera’ (an open air performance by Opera Brava) and general and informal discussions about The Point and personal faith with members and non-members of the church. The group is still in its relative infancy but it is hoped more events will be organized to further strengthen the fellowship amongst the men at The Point and to play a bigger out-reach role in the community.
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How long have you been at the church?

Just over one year.

Tell us a little about your journey to faith... would you say you were a Christian before coming to The Point?

I thought I was a Christian. I led a morally sound life, went to church regularly and was a ‘good person’ but I was rather non-committal about claiming to be one. I have been part of one church or another for most of my adult life but although I have heard many teach the gospel, strangely I was not really listening.
The teaching, the people, the music (and the coffee!) are excellent at The Point and it was as if I woke up from a long slumber, sat up and realised where I was and what was happening in my life. It all became so much more meaningful. That was last November and I soon enrolled for the Life Shapes and Alpha courses which helped guide me along. I have come a long way and my journey is far from over but I can say now with confidence that I am a Christian.

I think I heard you say once that as soon as arriving at The Point, you felt like you were welcomed and belonged... do you think that's a key thing for a church to aim for?

Yes. The Point has made welcoming newcomers a priority and this certainly helped me when I first arrived. It is an interesting challenge though, to try to keep the church community close and yet wanting it to grow. Every Sunday there are new faces and it is a job to remember the names that go with them! It’s certainly an important issue.

What was the deciding moment when you made the choice to worship Jesus with your life and become a Christian?

I suppose the key moment was when Will was giving one of his 15 minute talks during coffee time at St Paul’s. The topic was ‘forgiveness’. It wasn’t just a moral message. For the first time I felt He was speaking to me. I thought it significant at the time but did not realise just how much it would affect me.

Has your attitude to life changed since you started to follow Christ? How has it impacted your work and family life?

There is no doubt it has changed my life. I see the obstacles that may lie in my path in a different light and my faith influences the decisions I make. I also value more the relationships I have with others and I try to lead my life with more humility. I am also more aware that I have a purpose in the Church and that I have not yet fulfilled it.

And finally, let's end with a really deep question. What is your favourite curry dish?

Chicken Jalfresy which I consume regularly at a great restaurant not a million miles away!

"I suppose the key moment was when Will was giving one of his 15 minute talks during coffee time at St Paul’s. The topic was ‘forgiveness’. It wasn’t just a moral message. For the first time I felt He was speaking to me. I thought it significant at the time but did not realise just how much it would affect me."