On Sunday the 22nd February, I preached my last sermon at Kairos Church as the Lead pastor, having planted the church in 2020. It was a very moving service with a variety of emotions. There was a natural sadness that comes with the end of a season, but there was also joy and gratitude in seeing the church growing into an established congregation.
There are a number of providences that have brought us to this juncture, and I’ll paste the update I shared on social media below. To sum it up here though, a comment made by Rev Kenny Borthwick last summer on Lewis, when we met for breakfast, captures it well: ‘It’s not the end of ministry, it’s a clarification of ministry.’ For the last five years, I’ve been church planting, leading evangelism teams and street outreaches, doing itinerate ministry, pastoring, conducting funerals alongside full time prison chaplaincy. This is without even mentioning family, my wife’s full time work at Street Connect, and a number of family health issues. All this to say, the situation was unsustainable.
‘It’s not the end of ministry, it’s a clarification of ministry.’ Rev Kenny Borthwick
This is not to say anything has been short circuited. It’s not. There was a grace upon us for the work we were carrying. Part of the process of discernment is recognising when the grace is lifting because the season is changing.
On Sunday I preached into the season on the subject of Becoming an Antioch Church. I also shared some of the personal circumstances that have led up to to this decision.
Through it all, we know that God is faithful and that his purposes will come to pass. The season is not without it’s difficulties, but it is also not without its joy and blessings.
Here is the statement that I posted on my personal Facebook Accounts following the announcement at the church. I thought it good to share it here on my blog, as I hope to be able to devote time to writing again. Reading and writing is a passion of mine, and during the last few years there just hasn’t been time. By God’s grace, I hope to be able to able to find time to read and write more consistently.
Transition Statement shared 24/02/2026
It is with a mixture of joy and sadness I write the following ministry update regarding Kairos Church.
Following a series of ongoing, and serious family health complications, alongside full time work/ministries Laura, myself, and the ACUK National Leadership team have discerned that the time has come for me to step back as lead pastor of Kairos Church.
I am however delighted to announce that Ps Alistair Matheson will step into the role of lead pastor on an interim basis for the next 1-2 years with the specific objectives (along with Ps Tom Workman) of developing the local leadership team and identifying a longer term lead pastor.
I will focus my energies primarily as a full time prison chaplain but in due course I will also be ordained as an ACUK Evangelist.
I will God-willing, continue to support Kairos, and other churches with preaching and evangelism equipping and outreaches. However, my main focus will be supporting my family and wife as we navigate health challenges.
Regarding the health challenges, Laura’s vision and mobility has suffered deterioration in recent months. (Laura’s sight has been damaged through Retinal vein occlusion (RVO), and hyper tension, both of which is resulting in treatment but which has also halted much needed surgery. Her mobility has deteriorated to the point where she cannot move about the home without crutches.
Throughout this season we are grateful to the the Lord for his strength and Alistair, Tom, and other pastors, along with the ministry team who have invested in supporting the church. Alistair is a widely respected national leader. I know, by God’s grace, under his leadership, the church will not only survive, but it will thrive.
I’m also deeply grateful to friends of Kairos from various parts of Scotland, UK, and indeed the world who have supported this work either financially, or through ministry, encouragement, or prayer. I am indebted to many Christians and leaders both in the ACUK and beyond who have stood with us and invested in this church when it was a barely formed vision. There are too many people to name individually, but I thank you for supporting us and helping the church get to where it is today. May God bless you richly.
So let me finish by saying thank you to Kairos Church for allowing me to serve you as your pastor, thank you for letting me preach the gospel to you, and thank you for your patience with my faults and mistakes – I’m sure there are many I’m not even aware of. And thank you for loving Jesus, loving his people and serving the Lord through this local expression of the church we call Kairos (a key or critical time in God’s purposes).
As a church, this is another Kairos moment, and we can say with confidence: “And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14
We also know that what God births, he sustains: “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Phil. 1:6
Jesus has promised to build his church, and he has promised that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I look forward to continued partnership in the gospel, as we navigate this new season, knowing that God is faithful.
Yours in Christ,
Ps John Caldwell
If you want to hear my last message as lead pastor and update to church you can find it here: (Along with a very powerful testimony from Laura).
Rev John James 