The 9 – 5 of Julia Pascoe

While celebrating the good news of Easter, it's a time many think back to the Jewish roots of our faith. Jews for Jesus, a member of the Evangelical Alliance, works to spread the gospel to the Jewish people. We caught up with Julia Pascoe, director of the UK branch, to learn about an average day working for the charity.

I usually wake up between 6 and 8am depending on my schedule. As a missionary with Jews for Jesus, no two days are the same, but I try to begin each day with quiet time in God's word, seeking His wisdom, grace and mercy for the day. I also play guitar, spending time singing songs of worship.
I usually drive to our Jews for Jesus shop, to Bible study visits and most other areas of ministry. Occasionally I'll take the train. There's no set time that I leave my flat every day, it really depends on what I have on any given day.

Some days I start at 10am and get home at 10pm, other days I might start at 8am and finish at 6pm.

Once a week I meet with our team for prayer and to reflect on the week ahead. We pray for each other, give thanks for the folks we're reaching with the gospel and pray for the opportunities and challenges God has for us. I came to faith in Jesus almost 19 years ago and I've been on staff with Jews for Jesus for 13 years. I'm currently a missionary and director of our UK branch. Before I knew Jesus and before working in full-time ministry, my work life was very much a 9 to 5. In my early days of following the Lord, I often prayed for God to take me out of that. You've heard the saying 'be careful what you pray for'!

In 2003 I was invited to participate in an evangelistic outreach with Jews for Jesus and two weeks later I was invited to consider becoming a full-time missionary with the UK branch. This wasn't the kind of answer to my prayers that I was expecting – at the same time I was doing a course in Christian counselling and was convinced God was preparing me for that. I knew I couldn't ignore the invitation of full-time gospel proclamation to my Jewish people.

For me, mornings are the best time of the day for working on writing reports, preparing messages and anything that requires concentration and quiet. As the branch leader, I have a lot more administration to take care of than I'd choose, but I'm very thankful for the Jewish people I visit for Bible study. I'm extremely excited about Rachel, a new Jewish believer of just a few months. She is already sharing her faith with her Jewish and non- Jewish friends. Part of my ministry to her is to help her deal with some of the challenges we as Jewish believers in Jesus experience. Another important role that I have is helping Rachel find an evangelical church or messianic congregation so that she can connect to and become part of the body of Messiah. We are in the process of that and will soon be preparing for her baptism.

I usually have lunch between 12 and 2pm. I eat green vegetables with everything! In the afternoon I look at the other areas of my ministry, which includes street outreach – handing out gospel literature and asking people who they think Jesus is, looking for Jewish people who are open to reading the Bible to introduce them to Jesus. I also speak in churches across the UK sharing the Jewish roots of our Christian faith and helping Christians share their faith with their Jewish friends.

Being a missionary with Jews for Jesus isn't always easy, but it's a great way to serve. I don't consider full-time ministry as a job or going to work, I see it as a way of life. In the evening I enjoy making time to catch up with family and friends at every chance I get. 

I usually go to bed somewhere between 10 and 12pm.

As a member of the Evangelical Alliance, Jews for Jesus is one of 600 organisations supported by the Alliance. If you would like your organisation to become a member of the Alliance, visit eauk.org/join-us/