UPFC UK Team Members
Bobby Gilpin
(Pictured above)
Hi I am Bobby I have been a Christian for 11 years or so and very early on in my Christian life I was a very enthusiastic new Christian getting a bit of a reputation for myself as being a "scary cult boy" at my college as all I did was invite people to church and talk about Jesus all of the time. There was one particular Religious studies class that used to have discussions about me. In my 2nd year I ended up joining this class which was an amazing opportunity to have some deeper discussions than I had, had before.
In this class, I did an assignment where I had to describe and evaluate 2 Christian cults. I had no idea what this meant but on my study I was soon introduced to the Mormon and Jehovah's Witness Faiths. I ended up putting my details on the Jehovah's Witness official page and when they came to my door I tried to challenge them but really had no idea what to say and went away very confused.
This made me look at the bible in depth probably for the first time just to see if what these guys were saying was right, like the Bereans in Acts 17:11. As I did this I realised that the message of salvation, from faith in Christ and the uncreated Glorious God over all was a foreign concept in varing extents to Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses. Over the months that followed as I studied them more and had more chances to speak to them, I realised that there was something more to this and that this was Gods call on my life.
As the years have gone on I have had the chance to witness to countless Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses and have started speaking at churches equipping Christians on how to reach them, and have also had 2 ministry trips to Utah which was an excellent opportunity to witness to many people and learn from other Christians. My desire is to witness to people on a deeper level and equip Christians to reach out to people in a knowledgeable way using the bible as much as possible to show what the true Christian message is.
Vicky Gilpin
(Pictured above)
I have been a Christian for around 13 years now, and before meeting Bobby I didn't know much about Mormons or jehovahs Witnesses or any other faith. I confess I was probably more likely to hide behind the sofa and ignore the door, than open it to a member of one of these churches! I think the main problem was a lack of confidence in knowing what to say. You can tell them your a Christian, but that won't put them off speaking to you, as far as their concerned, your lacking something, Your faith isn't enough. Over the years ( we've been married for 8 years now,) We've had many discussions with Mormon's and Jehovah's Witnesses, stopping them and speaking to them on the street whenever we see them, and also having them regularly meet with us in our home.
To begin with I was interested, I enjoyed these discussions, but I didn't feel called the way Bobby was. Over the last year however, God has strongly put this ministry on my heart. Bobby is know among our friends as someone obsessed with cults, I feel I am quickly becoming equally obsessed!
I still have much to learn, but I have had many years of meeting with people from these groups, attending their meetings reading books about them and even reading their books. It is very much my desire to become more and more equipped, in sharing Christianity with others,
whatever Faith they may be from, and to help encourage, even challenge other Christians to share the gospel as Jesus commanded us to do.
Matthew 28:19-20New International Version (NIV)
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
(Pictured above)
Hi I am Bobby I have been a Christian for 11 years or so and very early on in my Christian life I was a very enthusiastic new Christian getting a bit of a reputation for myself as being a "scary cult boy" at my college as all I did was invite people to church and talk about Jesus all of the time. There was one particular Religious studies class that used to have discussions about me. In my 2nd year I ended up joining this class which was an amazing opportunity to have some deeper discussions than I had, had before.
In this class, I did an assignment where I had to describe and evaluate 2 Christian cults. I had no idea what this meant but on my study I was soon introduced to the Mormon and Jehovah's Witness Faiths. I ended up putting my details on the Jehovah's Witness official page and when they came to my door I tried to challenge them but really had no idea what to say and went away very confused.
This made me look at the bible in depth probably for the first time just to see if what these guys were saying was right, like the Bereans in Acts 17:11. As I did this I realised that the message of salvation, from faith in Christ and the uncreated Glorious God over all was a foreign concept in varing extents to Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses. Over the months that followed as I studied them more and had more chances to speak to them, I realised that there was something more to this and that this was Gods call on my life.
As the years have gone on I have had the chance to witness to countless Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses and have started speaking at churches equipping Christians on how to reach them, and have also had 2 ministry trips to Utah which was an excellent opportunity to witness to many people and learn from other Christians. My desire is to witness to people on a deeper level and equip Christians to reach out to people in a knowledgeable way using the bible as much as possible to show what the true Christian message is.
Vicky Gilpin
(Pictured above)
I have been a Christian for around 13 years now, and before meeting Bobby I didn't know much about Mormons or jehovahs Witnesses or any other faith. I confess I was probably more likely to hide behind the sofa and ignore the door, than open it to a member of one of these churches! I think the main problem was a lack of confidence in knowing what to say. You can tell them your a Christian, but that won't put them off speaking to you, as far as their concerned, your lacking something, Your faith isn't enough. Over the years ( we've been married for 8 years now,) We've had many discussions with Mormon's and Jehovah's Witnesses, stopping them and speaking to them on the street whenever we see them, and also having them regularly meet with us in our home.
To begin with I was interested, I enjoyed these discussions, but I didn't feel called the way Bobby was. Over the last year however, God has strongly put this ministry on my heart. Bobby is know among our friends as someone obsessed with cults, I feel I am quickly becoming equally obsessed!
I still have much to learn, but I have had many years of meeting with people from these groups, attending their meetings reading books about them and even reading their books. It is very much my desire to become more and more equipped, in sharing Christianity with others,
whatever Faith they may be from, and to help encourage, even challenge other Christians to share the gospel as Jesus commanded us to do.
Matthew 28:19-20New International Version (NIV)
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Tony Brown
Having been shocked by the sudden death of my mother, I suddenly
had a desire to understand more about the meaning of life. I had no Christian or
religious upbringing to fall back on for answers, so when the Jehovah’s
Witnesses called I was an easy target. After spending nearly four years with
this group, I was, by the grace of God set free.
Since becoming a Christian over 20 years ago, I have always had a
love and concern for those who, seeking Jesus, have been misled and
misinformed. I have a lot of experience in talking to Jehovah’s Witnesses (and those caught in other cults)
about Jesus and I have held training sessions equipping believers to reach out to these, often ignored, people.
My passion is to see those caught in cults set
free in the name of Jesus and to equip Christians to share the Gospel with those
who coming knocking on their door.
After gaining a theology degree at the Nazarene Theological
Collegein Manchester, I taught Religious
Education to Secondary School students and then subsequently became a Chaplain
at the school. I am now co-Pastor of Sunbridge Road Mission in Bradford. I
am married to Cath and together we have three children.
Tony is a regular contributor to our Jehovah's Witness blog and is available to speak on the importance
communicating the gospel with Jehovah's Witnesses and how to go about this.