Since the last edition of The Cornerstone the summer weeks have come and gone – and in many ways what busy weeks they were in the work of God! Three Bible Clubs were convened – in Ballykeel, the North Centre, and Ballee. Each of the Bible Clubs was blessed by the Lord in terms of the number of children reached and brought under the sound of the Gospel. In addition, the evening Gospel meetings in each venue were blessed with the Lord’s help and presence. This was especially the case in Ballee with many unconverted attending and a full tent each night. Above all, the Lord worked in some hearts, and it is so encouraging to see the spiritual fruit that has come forth under the preaching of the Word. As I write these lines, our children’s mission with Rev. Ryan McKee is underway, and we look forward to the blessing of heaven upon the truth brought to many young hearts. While children’s work presents many challenges, it is a valuable and vital ministry. Sincere thanks goes to all who labour so faithfully in this department of Christ’s cause. Bringing the Gospel to the young would be utterly impossible without such diligent helpers. All of us are fully aware of the crisis that has arisen in Western Africa due to this resurgence of the Ebola virus. The situation is vexing to all but especially to Joanne and Rev. DiCanio. Please continue to pray for the over-ruling providence of God in the situation, and remember the special prayer time on Saturday October 11 th in Lisburn. We need the Lord to intervene and by His sovereign power reverse the situation so that His servants may resume their labours in Liberia. In closing, pray much for the week of preaching that will take place in November with the Rev. John Wagner. It will be good to have him here and fellowship with him again. But knowing him as I do, he earnestly desires fervent prayer for his ministry among us. Three evenings of prayer – Monday 3 rd to Wednesday 5 th of November – have been set apart by the Kirk Session to seek God’s blessing on His servant’s labours with us. Plan now for all these gatherings; it is our desire that the Lord will come mightily among us. A Word from our Minister Issue 32 [email protected]October 2014 THE BI-MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF BALLYMENA FREE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Youth Council 40th Anniversary This summer, I had the privilege of being a leader at the annual Youth Council summer camp in Shannaghmore Activity centre,. The camp was run by Rev Stephen Pollock and youth worker, Jonny Smith. Forty-three young people were brought together from all over the province, including twelve of our own Youth Fellowship. As always, this week was a great opportunity for new friendships to be made and spiritual instruction to be given. Every day began with a short devotion, then the sleep- deprived campers set out for a day packed with fun activities including, raft building, canoeing, high ropes and team building. Every evening Rev Pollock and Jonny brought a very relevant message focusing on the beginning, the meaning, and the end of life; then the campers enjoyed some free time before the midnight room devotions. The week ended with sad goodbyes amongst the campers, but thoughts quickly turned to reunions and continued friendships. Eccl 12 v 1 “Remember now thy creator in the days of thy youth.” Youth Council Camp A large number of young people attended the special service held for the 40th Anniversary of the Youth Council. Dr Cairns, who was instrumental in setting up the Youth Council 40 years ago, was a special guest along with his wife. Dr and Mrs Cairns cut an anniversary cake to mark the occasion. Rachel Houston
Transcript
Since the last edition of The Cornerstone the summer weeks have come and gone – and in many ways what busy weeks they were in the work of God! Three Bible Clubs were convened – in Ballykeel, the North Centre, and Ballee. Each of the Bible Clubs was blessed by the Lord in terms of the number of children reached and brought under the sound of the Gospel. In addition, the evening Gospel meetings in each venue were blessed
with the Lord’s help and presence. This was especially the case in Ballee with many unconverted attending and a full tent each night. Above all, the Lord worked in some hearts, and it is so encouraging to see the spiritual fruit that has come forth under the preaching of the Word. As I write these lines, our children’s mission with Rev. Ryan McKee is underway, and we look forward to the blessing of heaven upon the truth brought to many young hearts. While children’s work presents many challenges, it is a valuable and vital ministry. Sincere thanks goes to all who labour so faithfully in this department of Christ’s cause. Bringing the Gospel to the young would be utterly impossible without such diligent helpers. All of us are fully aware of the crisis that has arisen in Western Africa due to this resurgence of the Ebola virus. The
situation is vexing to all but especially to Joanne and Rev. DiCanio. Please continue to pray for the over-ruling providence of God in the situation, and remember the special prayer time on Saturday October 11
th in Lisburn. We
need the Lord to intervene and by His sovereign power reverse the situation so that His servants may resume their labours in Liberia. In closing, pray much for the week of
THE BI-MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF BALLYMENA FREE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Youth Council
40th Anniversary
This summer, I had the privilege of being a leader at the annual Youth Council summer camp in Shannaghmore Activity centre,. The camp was run by Rev Stephen Pollock and youth worker, Jonny Smith. Forty-three young people
were brought together from all over the province, including twelve of our own Youth Fellowship. As always, this week was a great opportunity for new
friendships to be made and spiritual instruction to be given. Every day began with a short devotion, then the sleep- deprived campers set out for a day packed with fun activities
including, raft building, canoeing, high ropes and team building. Every evening Rev Pollock and Jonny brought a very relevant message focusing on the beginning, the meaning, and the end of life; then the campers enjoyed some free time before the midnight room devotions. The week ended with sad goodbyes amongst the campers, but thoughts quickly turned to reunions and continued friendships. Eccl 12 v 1 “Remember now thy creator in the days of thy youth.”
Youth Council
Camp
A large number of young people attended the special service held for the 40th Anniversary of the Youth Council. Dr Cairns, who was instrumental in setting up the Youth Council 40 years ago, was a special guest along with his wife. Dr and Mrs Cairns cut an anniversary cake to mark the occasion.
Rachel Houston
From 6th until 28th of August I was part of a team sent to Brazil to carry out manual labour on behalf of New Tribes mission. The main purpose of the trip, and the task that we spent the majority of our time doing, was working in a mission compound in a town called Boa Vista. Here, apartments were being built for the missionaries working with the tribes in the Amazon Jungle. As their work tends to be very isolated, it is advised that they take a certain amount of time out of the tribes every year and these
apartments give them a place to stay. We also had the opportunity to visit a missionary school on the banks of the Amazon river in Manaus, where missionaries’ children are sent to be educated - proper education is not always available in the tribal setting. My lasting impression of this country was one of stark contrasts. In the cities
on almost every street corner, an evangelical or Pentecostal church can be found. However, the tribes in the heart of the Amazon where New Tribes are working are so darkened and ignorant of any Gospel truth it is hard to believe that both these groups live in the same country. Please pray for the work of New Tribes mission as they endeavour to bring the light of the gospel into the darkest rainforests of Brazil.
NTM Summit
Team - Brazil
Outreach Kyle Hamilton
The 2014 Commonwealth Games was a great opportunity for the Youth Council to send a group of young people to Glasgow to spread the gospel. Our congregation was represented by Stephen and Jerusha Greer, Emma Wilkinson, and myself. In total, there were twenty young people from across our denomination involved in this outreach, working with the congregation in Rutherglen. The Rev Irwin, along with Rev David Stewart, Mrs Stewart, and Paul Hanna (a theological student at the Whitefield College) led the group over the ten
days. The outreach took place at a number of the games venues in Glasgow – Hampden Park, Tollcross Swimming Centre, Emirates Arena, and along some of the routes of the time trials. Over 37,000 gospel tracts were given to the multitudes attending these events. Some good conversations followed and contacts were made. Part of the outreach included door-to-door work in the Rutherglen area. We also had the opportunity to take part in the church services whether by leading, testifying, reading, or group singing. All can testify to knowing God’s help and blessing in the times of outreach,
prayer and fellowship. Special thanks to Rev Irwin and the congregation in Rutherglen for their kind hospitality. Please continue to pray for Glasgow, that once again it may flourish through the preaching of the Word.
Commonwealth
Outreach
Emma Stirling
For six weeks during June and July, I travelled back to Papua New Guinea, joining a team of 25 young people to take part in New Tribes Mission’s Interface program. The program is a training course in the work of tribal missions. In the classroom sessions, we were taught on subjects ranging from phonetics to Bible
translation. In practical sessions involving the national people we were taught the national language (Tok Pisin) as well as how to build a traditional PNG
house and cook a typical meal. During the final week of the course, we travelled twelve hours by road to a remote tribal church in the highlands region where NTM missionaries have planted a work. We spent our time with the
believers of North Wahgi, worshipping with them on Sunday along with language learning, hunting, and gardening.
The time spent in a real tribal environment brought to life all that we had been taught during the course and it was a great encouragement to see the strength and maturity of this small body of believers. Glenn Hamilton
NTM Interface
Programme
New Babies
Larne Free Presbyterian Church held a Children's & Youth Outreach week from the 18th-22nd August. A team of six was comprised of Heather Johnston, Sarah Fleming and Stephen Nelson from Sixmilecross; Alana Stewart from Magherafelt, Paul Smyth from Ardaragh and myself. We began each day with devotions, prayer and door to door work before
running the bus for the children's meeting at 3 pm and again for a youth meeting at 7.30 pm. The response from unsaved youth was sometimes poor, but we were very encouraged by young people from local churches regularly attending the youth meeting. During the Sunday evening service eight children took part by singing and reciting Scripture. Looking back, we are very thankful for seeing new
children and youth at the meetings, for parents attending the Sunday service, and for one little girl who went home and asked the Lord to save her. Please pray for those who attended the
meetings, for the bus driver Robert, who showed signs of interest, and for Rev Brown and family as they labour faithfully for God. There have been encouraging reports of ten new children at the weekly meeting and we give God the glory.
Youth Council
Outreach in
Larne
Little Jude Ferguson, the new-born son of Mark and Gillian Ferguson.
Rebecca, Anne, a new baby sister for Deborah and Esther Bell,
daughters of David and Joy Bell.
Glenarm Outreach
SS Superintendent James McCosh with Harry Crabbe and Anna Houston, winners of the Junior
Bible class Exam.
Stephen Greer
Youth Away Day
This summer we had the opportunity to go to Canada to take part in Vacation Bible School (VBS) in British Columbia. There were two camps held - the first week for teenagers and the second week for children. We were involved with the Youth Camp. Each day started with devotions taken by leaders both from Northern Ireland
and Canada. We then had a meeting where we all came together and had a time of praise, followed by the preacher for the week, Colin Tinsley speaking on relevant issues that young people face.
When we went back into our rooms, we discussed the message that had been preached with the young people. We had great times of conversation, when the young people opened up and talked
about the challenges they face. There was a full day of activities with the young people and more discussion at night. The second week was a Bible club with the children held in a little church. There was a full programme for them to take part in, but the highlight of the week was seeing a little girl put her trust in Christ.
Paul and Cheryl McIntyre
Vacation Bible
School in
British Columbia
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“It’s not an easy road we are travelling to Heaven, For many are the thorns on the way...” These words are true for so many of God’s people, including me, but at the start of my testimony I want to thank the Lord for all His love and mercy to me through every trial. I was born on 23
rd October, 1968, the
second child of William and Margaret Brown. As children, we were sent to Sunday school in the Waveney Road Church. When the 1975 Gospel mission came to the Town Hall in Ballymena, my father got saved; also, during that time, my elder brother Thomas, my younger sister Sharon and I, all trusted the Lord as our Saviour at Sunday School. Although I was young, I remember Miss Margaret Greer, who was my teacher, taking Sharon and I into the little side room at the front of the Waveney Road and showing us the way of salvation. From that time on, Ballymena Free Presbyterian Church became a central part of life in our family. During my early childhood and into my teens, I suffered from bad health and was always weak and prone to all types of illness. In Primary 2, it was discovered that I had no hearing in my left ear, but my other problems were not investigated until I was thirteen. After various tests, I was told that I had major problems with my heart, including a murmur and faulty valves. It wasn’t until I was thirty two, however, that the doctors decided surgery was necessary. I underwent heart surgery
to replace faulty valves, but there was already damage to the heart which could not be rectified. My childhood and teenage years revolved around home, church and school. Because of my illness, I wasn’t able to go out with friends as other young people did, and so Youth Fellowship was a real blessing to me. I loved the friendship and fun on a Friday night, and I was chief photographer and “video taker” on many trips and weekends. I have so many happy memories of Youth Fellowship, particularly under the leadership of Alastair Hamilton and Jim Houston. In September 2005, my life took a happy and surprising turn. It was at supper after the dedication service of Rodney and Anne Balmer’s son, that I first set eyes on Mr Adrian McCrory. Adrian had been attending Sunday evening services with Rodney; and after that particular Sunday night, he had stayed behind to put his trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. He came in for supper afterwards and he was glowing with joy as many spoke a word of encouragement to him. At the prayer meeting a week later, he was standing waiting in the hall; and I plucked up the courage to go over and speak to him. From that first conversation, Adrian and I just “clicked” and we began to meet at regular intervals to chat. We had the common bond of salvation and also of having lived with serious illness since childhood. Romance soon followed and one of the happiest days of my life was 21
st
June 2007 when Adrian and I got married. Adrian was only out of hospital a month before, due to serious liver problems, and he had also been diagnosed with diabetes. We settled into married life, but Adrian’s illness was a continuing worry. He was sent to Kings Hospital London to be assessed for a liver transplant in February 2011, but became very ill just after he arrived. He returned home, and his health continued to deteriorate over the coming weeks. Even in this severe trial, Adrian and I knew a great peace, and the Lord gave us strength. When
he lay in ICU, there was a peace of God “that passeth all understanding”. The verse that Adrian loved was II Chronicles 20 v 17, and my verse was Joshua 1 v 9 “Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
On 15th June 2011, Adrian went home
to be with the Lord. I miss Adrian very much, but rejoice that He is with the Lord. I would like to thank the church family for all their love and support; you will never know how much it has meant to me. I also thank God for my loving parents and family who have been there for me over the years. My brother David, who was born when I was fourteen, has also been a great encouragement as I have seen him serve the Lord as a minister. The messages from Rev Greer and Rev Laverty, preached week by week continue to encourage and bless me. The road of life is not an easy one, but that lovely hymn ends – “A better day is coming when home in the glory, We’ll rest in perfect peace over there.”
