John and Sarah Gieske

Gieskes 2026 Sarah was commissioned from St John’s in 2006 and met John (from the USA) in Senegal in 2011; Peter Breckwoldt married us in 2013. Our children Elizabeth (Y5), Andrew (Y3), Joanna (Y1) and Esther (b. January 2025) are growing up in Senegal, educated at home by Sarah.

This year John helped record Matthew’s Gospel in Wolof (Senegal’s main language) and several Epistles in Jola-Karon. He also enjoyed recording local musicians singing Scripture-based songs in three languages, his favourite being the Wolof Christmas songs. Training has been another key focus: he led an audio production course to raise up a new generation of Christian audio technicians around the world, and taught video dubbing to technicians from around French-speaking Africa.

The coming year is full of possibilities yet to be finalised. John expects to record the book of Proverbs in Wolof and, potentially, Genesis to Joshua in Nkeniso (pseudonym). We look forward to helping other translation teams record Scripture and Scripture-based materials for their own people. Pray that many would come to faith, and many more would grow in faith, as they hear the word of God in the languages that speak to them best. ‘Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.’ (Romans 10:17)

Latest news & prayer requests here

Link Person: Becky Lee 07910 332590 88beckylee@gmail.com

Planning your Visit

Welcome to St John's Church!

We are so delighted that you have found our website. We are a Church family in Wimborne for anyone living, working or studying around this area. Whoever you are, whatever your age, whether you’re an experienced Christian or not, we would love you to join us.

From an intrigued onlooker to the committed follower we are keen that everyone should grow in relationship with God through knowing Jesus. To help us do that our emphasis is on hearing God speak to us by his Holy Spirit through his word, the Bible. Each of us knows that we only grow in a relationship with someone and get to know them when we spend time listening to them and responding and reacting to what they say. So the focus of St John’s is on listening to God’s word, talking to him in prayer and taking up all that he says.

The Church family here at St John’s longs to help anyone who wants to investigate the life of Jesus. On this site you will find people, meetings, talks and events shaped to help you take another step forward in finding out more about God and his love for us in Jesus, and to help you get linked into the church family life.

We hope to have the opportunity to meet you personally in the very near future and that you will quickly feel at home at St John’s.

Stuart Hull and Nigel Day (Churchwardens)
Please note that we are currently seeking a new Vicar, following the retirement of Revd Peter Breckwoldt in July 2025