Welcome to Sam Abramian

We take a short break from our usual reflections this week to introduce to you our new team member: Sam Abramian our new Director for the East, based in rural Norfolk. He and his wife Suzie have been part of the RM Network for a while now, (you may have seen their missional listening updates in MOSAIC), and he brings with him a wealth of experience in church leadership and missional listening. Sam also works as a hospital chaplain and has a heart of gold. We are excited to have him join the team and to see what God has in store for him at RM. We asked Sam a few questions so you could get to know him.

What do you like to do at the weekends?

“We like to get out as a family for walks, visiting places and doing something sporty like cycling, walking or running. We enjoy seeing people, particularly friends we’ve met through the school. My more solo passion is getting to the allotment.”

Which superhero would you be?

“Spiderman, because he’s someone living a normal life who then discovers he has abilities. Rather than relying on gadgets, he uses what he has and makes the webs work for what he’s doing.”

What are you passionate about?

“I love being outdoors and doing outdoor sports, particularly trail running, mountain biking and walking. I’m also enjoying barbecuing, as I’ve just got a bullet smoker. On a more serious note, I’m passionate about talking to people about Jesus and joining in with what God is doing in their lives. Being on the fringes and out in the community. Seeing people encounter God and experience healing.”

What has shaped you most in the last five years?

“The pioneering listening journey. It’s been a time of growth, with a strong sense of God deconstructing us on a personal level and then rebuilding us in terms of who we could be and how we live that out.”

What books or podcasts are you enjoying at the moment?

“I listen to a few podcasts: ‘Rebuilders’ by Mark Sayers, commenting on faith and culture; ‘The Rest Is Politics’; and A ‘Foggy Day on Olympus’, by a former church historian lecturer of mine, offering insight into the West, faith and the church. I’m also enjoying reading ‘The Patient Ferment of the Early Church’ by Alan Kreider and for lighter reading in the evenings, I’m working through ‘Little House on the Prairie’.”

When did you first sense a call towards rural ministry?

“It was when we moved to Hunstanton to lead the church there. Previously we lived in the urban South-East, so moving to coastal Norfolk was an eye-opener, and we soon realised we loved being in a rural area. The contrast was striking: in the urban context there was less connection, more busyness, more resources and more choice, while in the rural context there was more space, more time for people and a naturally better pace of life. Being part of a smaller community means you can get to know an entire place and genuinely live community life, which is amazing.”

Why RM?

“I first connected with RM through Simon Mattholie years ago at a leadership conference. We met people there who were working in rural contexts and speaking the same language, with challenges very similar to our own. RM just made sense. Later, as we moved further into missional listening, RM felt like home, and we really settled into their Network. When the opportunity arose to work with RM, it felt like a natural step and a chance to encourage others in rural places. As I step into this new role, I bring a heart for helping established churches explore pioneering ways of sharing the gospel and discipling others, alongside a desire to encourage those who don’t quite fit traditional ministry roles to find space where they can flourish as the people God created them to be.”

What would you like to see changed in the rural context over the next ten years?

“I’d love to see more people encouraged to follow God in what he’s already doing in rural contexts: listening to God and paying attention to how he is at work there.”

Welcome Sam! Please pray for us as we learn to work as a new team together, and for Sam as he enjoys this next adventure with us.

Jon & Jo

Jon Timms and Jo Allen

Joint CEOs, Rural Ministries