Kings Cross Rotary Presents - Rev Jon Owen - Wayside Chapel

Jon Owen became as Pastor and CEO of Wayside Chapel in July 2018. He initially joined Wayside

Chapel in 2016 as an Assistant Pastor where he also became Head of People and Culture based in

Kings Cross. Jon is of Sri-Lankan and Indian heritage. He was born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and

migrated to Australia with his family in the late 1970s. Jon is a qualified Social Worker and for 20

years was a member of Urban Neighbours Of Hope (UNOH), a religious order dedicated to living and

serving amongst the poor.

Jon and his wife Lisa have over the years shared their lives and their home with friends and

neighbours seeking asylum, refugees, people in recovery, and ex-prisoners. They have lived in a

housing commission suburb in Mount Druitt (Bidwill) for 10 years and during that time Jon got to see

immense beauty, engage with it and call it for what it is. During this time, Jon was determined to live

on the same amount of money as someone who relied upon the dole to exist. Jon is probably most

well-known for drawing the chook raffle in the documentary “Struggle Street”. He has also been

involved in chaplaincy work in Juvenile Detention and State High Schools. In this time, he has been

attacked by samurai swords, seen a battle tank drive past his house, nearly been arrested, and

mistakenly sent to immigration detention. Needless to say, he has a story for every occasion.

Jon heads up Wayside Chapel and continues Wayside’s mission of creating community with no “us

and them”. As an immigrant, Jon's life is testament to the power of hospitality and he is passionate

about working alongside people who are socially excluded as they seek reconciliation, welcome,

justice and healing and believes that Wayside's power lies in its proximity to the street. 

Jon and Lisa have two daughters through birth, Kshama and Kiera, and one through love, Jazmin.

For further media information and interview requests for Jon Owen contact Janine Huan, Marketing

and Communications Manager, on 0409 887 797 or email janine.huan@thewaysidechapel.com

About Wayside Chapel

Wayside Chapel has provided unconditional love, care and support for people on and around the

streets of Sydney since 1964. Today, under the banner of ‘Love over Hate’, Wayside runs two

community services centres, Wingspan Project, outreach service, mental health program, two

community cafés, and Aboriginal Program. All programs are designed to ensure that the most

marginalised members of our community have access to essential health, welfare, social and

recreational services, as well as a judgment-free place where people are welcome just to ‘be’.

For more information see waysidechapel.org.au