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serving the church, enabling mission: missionireland.org
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EDITORIAL
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The Big Sing Threshold Mission in a Million Ways Tennis Ministries Culture Vulture The Word Praying the Saviour's Way Crucial Questions One Church's Journey Getty Music ReachOut Connect Carswell's Column Keswick At Portstewart New Horizon Portrush Holiday Bible Week Newtownabbey Street Pastors Youth & Children Saving Eutychus Prison Fellowship Will You Be my Facebook Friend? Face to Facebook Directions Classifieds Light from any Quarter
Back issues available as downloadable PDF files Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/missionireland ReachOut,Church House,Belfast,Northern Ireland BT1 6DW Telephone:028 9032 2284 / from RoI:048 9032 2284 Email:reachout@presbyterianireland.org AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE BOARD OF MISSION IN IRELAND OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND Editor - Robin Fairbairn Design - MarkThompsonDesign.com The views expressed in the features,news reports,letters and book reviews of this magazine are not necessarily those of the Editor. Editorial comment and signed articles do not necessarily contain the official views of the Church,which can be laid down only by the General Assembly.Acceptance of advertisements does not imply endorsement of the goods or services.The Editor reserves the right to decline any advertisement or letter without assigning any reason.No correspondence can be entered into regarding non-publication of advertising or letters.
You in your small corner, and I in mine Robin Fairbairn, Editor Email: reachout@presbyterianireland.org
The rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem was a massive project undertaken by Nehemiah. Before doing this he was employed as the cupbearer to the King (Nehemiah 1:11).So what was it that so moved him to project manage this task and give us this Old Testament book bearing his name, rich with lessons for Christian living? Hopefully you are familiar with Nehemiah,but do you know the name Hanani? Nehemiah describes him as ‘one of my brothers’. It was he who reported the sad state of the situation back in Jerusalem. As Guy King says,‘That lit a flame in Nehemiah’s heart.It was as if he were a torch,set ablaze by this sad news of his beloved city’s condition.From that moment the torch would lead an eager crusade back to set up the wall again’. We know the name of the torch,Nehemiah,but are less familiar with Hanani who lit the flame in Nehemiah’s heart that changed his life.You and I may not be a Nehemiah,but oh how important it is to be faithful like Hanani.We may be familiar with the name of the famous preacher C.H.Spurgeon,of the Metropolitan Tabernacle,London,and converted in January 1850 at the age of 15.How was he converted? This is how he describes that time in his life: "I sometimes think I might have been in darkness and despair now,had it not been for the goodness of God in sending a snowstorm one Sunday morning,when I was going to a place of worship.When I could go no further,I turned down a court and came to a little Primitive Methodist Chapel.In that chapel there might be a dozen or fifteen people.The minister did not come that morning:snowed up,I suppose.A poor man,a shoemaker,a tailor,or something of that sort,went up into the pulpit to preach.He was obliged to stick to his text,for the simple reason that he had nothing else to say.The text was,'Look unto Me,and be ye saved,all the ends of the earth.' He did not even pronounce the words rightly,but that did not matter.” Who was that man? We don’t know.He was a Hanani, who by the Holy Spirit lit a torch in the life of C.H. Spurgeon.
Do you know the name of Dr Mordecai Ham? It was during a meeting he conducted that the world famous evangelist Billy Graham was converted. The spiritual journey of John Bunyan,who wrote Pilgrims Progress,began when in Bedford he listened to the spiritual conversation of some women who spoke about the new birth and work of God in their hearts. This was new to Buynan and would lead him to trusting Christ.Who were these women? We don’t know their names,but again they were like Hanani was to Nehemiah,and set Bunyan’s heart ablaze. ‘Jesus bids us shine with a pure,clear light, Like a little candle burning in the night. In this world of darkness so let us shine You in your small corner,and I in mine.’ This is a hymn I learned at Sunday school and sang as a child,and I am sure may others remember doing so too. During the power cuts caused by the heavy snow fall at the end of March,we certainly appreciated the difference the flickering light of a candle made in our home. Tuning in to listen to or watch the news,or by reading the newspapers we can be discouraged,as there is the realisation that darkness is all around. It is into this world that God has called us to be light; ‘In this world of darkness so let us shine’. We may not be torches like Nehemiah,C.H.Spurgeon, John Bunyan,or Billy Graham.However,in our communities,Sunday school class,youth organisation or workplace,we can pray that God will have us be like Hanani,for in these places we too may light the flame of some torch.As Guy Kings says,‘If you can’t be a Torch,be a Match,as Nehemiah’s brother,Hanani was.’
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It is such a privilege to praise God. Singing to Him can transform our perspective on life, it can release burdens and enable us to see the majesty and mystery of God. It is true that God has given us a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair (Isaiah 61:3).That’s why the Worship Panel have decided to run an event called
The Big Sing Feedback Comments Article by Revd Karen Campbell, Convener BMI Worship Panel
‘The Big Sing’ took place in the main hall in Assembly Buildings on Saturday 27 April. Choirs from all over Ireland joined together to sing Shepherd songs based on Psalm 23. As you read the comments it is clear that this was a day that those who attended really enjoyed. A CD of the event is available to purchase at a cost of £5.00 including P&P from the BMI Office.
The theme was special. I will be thinking about contentedness in God’s plan and shepherding
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The total love and support from the Lord
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The joy of singing with a large choir a foretaste of how wonderful heaven will be
Singing as the Body of Christ in Ireland from different churches but one choir praising God, focusing us on Heaven
Enthusiasm and resources to keep ‘singing a new song’
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The fellowship and the closeness of God while singing these pieces
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Threshold A Place of Transformation
Article by David Thompson, Mission Development Officer | email: dthompson@pcinet.org
General Assembly Fit for Purpose Theme 2013/14: ‘... A place of transformation, where people do not leave as they have entered but are challenged and changed, having encountered the living God present in the worship and the lives of His people ...’
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s a follow on from last year’s GOD SPEAKS: Good News for a church in exile material, September 2013 will see the launch of a new DVD Bible Study resource entitled, THRESHOLD: A Place of Transformation. Made up of six sessions adaptable for use in home Bible study groups, midweek meetings or church services,Threshold will offer one way for your congregation to engage with the General Assembly’s theme for 2013/14. This programme challenges the local church to be a place of transformation. Backed up by on-screen input from Dominic Smart, Minister of Gilcomston South Church in Aberdeen,the Bible studies take us back to a crucial turning point in the growth of the church in both breadth and depth in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles. In Acts chapters 10 and 11, the unlikely encounter between Peter and Cornelius sees the gospel cross the threshold from the Jewish into the Gentile world. In the process we see the gospel do its work in two directions. It transforms the hearts of Cornelius and his household who were hearing it for the first time. Equally, it moves the heart of a reluctant Apostle and hesitant church, which up until that point had been slow to see and embrace a very different future than they had imagined.
We too find ourselves on the threshold of a future that looks different from the past.We face the challenges of increasing secularisation, marginalisation and globalization. Rather than shrink back in fear, we want to continue to cross the thresholds God has laid before us, so playing our part in the ever increasing spread of the gospel. From the Place of Transformation theme: At times our congregations should be places of comfort, but at other times the Spirit takes us out of our comfort zone in order to renew us. Study themes include: • On the threshold of a new beginning: The place of transformation then and now • Beyond the threshold: The place of transformation discovered in the everyday world • Living on the threshold: The place of transformation where worship and real life meet • Pain threshold: The place of transformation uncovered in our hearts • Crossing the threshold: The place of transformation outside our comfort zone • Threshold of something bigger: The place of transformation for the whole church 6
In line with the Assembly’s Place of Transformation theme,the studies will challenge and encourage congregations in the areas of life-related worship, going beyond our comfort zone,and equipping and releasing members in mission and leadership. Six DVD clips will tell the stories of a variety of congregations from around the island of Ireland who are seeking to cross thresholds in their life and witness for God.The stories highlight crucial areas of our church’s life, including relating to migrants, mission to families, connecting with outsiders, showing practical care in the community, building good relations and forging links with churches in other parts of the world.We hope these stories will both inspire and extend the imagination of others as to what God can do when we choose to follow His calling for us as His people across Ireland and beyond. Ministers will receive a sample pack of materials in mid-May. In September, each congregation will be sent a free DVD containing all the material for the start of the new church year. Bible studies will be photocopiable and all the DVD clips will be available for free download on the PCI website. Should your congregation wish to purchase extra copies of either DVDs or Bible Study booklets, details of how to do so will be enclosed in the sample pack.
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In the meantime please pray for, and plan to use, this latest programme designed to help us rise to the challenges God places before us as we seek to further find and follow His leading to be a church fit for purpose.
FROM THE PLACE OF TRANSFORMATION THEME:
Congregations should be places where people find their lives and faith challenged and transformed by worship, study and fellowship together.
To see the sample video from Strand Presbyterian Church, Belfast, visit www.presbyterianireland.org or www.missionireland.org
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Being intentional on the adventure of mission
Article by Jason Lane, International Director of Innovista | www.innovista.org
There are a million ways to go about mission. And most of the time mission happens as we go about normal life. It's actually not primarily about missionaries or ministers. It's about people like you.When Jesus gave the Great Commission, the bit that's not always clear in English translations is that Jesus said, "As you Go, make disciples."
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ake disciples as you do normal life. As you raise children. As you live in your community. As you teach pupils, sell cars or build aeroplanes. As you eat and drink with friends. As you do everyday things, make disciples. There’s a million ways to go about mission. Mission always requires intention In the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman, John writes (4:4) that Jesus "had" to go through Samaria. But he didn't have to. There was another route that went around Samaria, one that many Jews took to avoid it, perhaps only going through it if they were in a hurry. But Jesus wasn't in a hurry - John tells us that He stayed here for two days (v.40). Jesus "had" to go through Samaria because He was doing, as He says later on, the will of His Father. And for Jesus at this point in time, the will of His Father was to go through Samaria and meet a woman who everyone else had no time for.
Mission always requires intention. It always requires a decision to put others first. It requires making decisions, sometimes very small and very simple decisions, to connect with people so that in time they can be introduced to Jesus. And the longer we're in the church, the more intentional we need to be. Because church activities and church people can consume our lives. There's research that shows the relationship between the amount of time someone has been a Christian and the number of friendships they have with people who are not in the church.What we would expect is that the longer we're Christians, the more like Jesus we become; and as Jesus was all about ‘seeking and saving the lost’, the more relationships we would have with people outside the church. Right? Wrong. It's the complete reverse. In fact, on average the longer people are Christians, the fewer friendships they have with people who do not darken the doors of the church. So, more intentionality is clearly required if we’re to really follow Jesus.
in a millionways 8
One small step at a time When my wife Rachel and I moved into our first apartment, we were excited about the opportunity to get to know our neighbours. But it was harder than we thought. No one knocked our door.We didn't bump into people in the corridors. We often saw a couple around our age leaving for work in the morning.We thought that maybe we'd see them around. And we started praying that we'd get an opportunity to bump into them. But nothing happened until Rachel went down the corridor, knocked on their door and asked them if they'd like to go out for dinner.They were delighted. That initial decision to knock on the door started a spiritual journey for them that they're still on.That knock started a friendship that has allowed us to share our faith with them, and they've even asked us to share it with their other friends! It all started with one small step. Like the step that Lisa, a young leader we train in Siberia, has taken. She is leaving her comfortable family home to move into student digs so that she can better build relationships with those who don't yet know Jesus. Indeed, Lisa's own journey of faith started just last year, when she got to know some Christians at a Valentines' Day party that a friend took the small step of inviting her to.
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in a millionways
Share YOUR two minute video on www.missionireland.org! It's hard If we're really honest, this is hard for us. It feels safe within the walls of the church, where we know each other and where we can get really good at talking about mission. But the adventure of mission requires us to be intentional.To knock a door.To spend time with someone.To take a small step. What step will you take today? g
Jason Lane is the International Director of Innovista, who work across Europe, Russia and Central Asia developing leaders in their 20s and 30s to lead local mission.To find out more about the Leadership Development on offer in Belfast and Dublin, visit www.innovista.ie/tempo or email ireland@innovista.org for more information
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inally we want our denominational prayer life to be better informed. Spread the word from Cork to Coleraine about how we can pray for you.
• Remember that the videos don’t need to be of exceptional quality, we aren’t trying to find the PCI’s answer to Stephen Spielberg and we also don’t need epic tales spread over three volumes like the Lord of the Rings. • Simply use your camera phone or laptop and tell us your story of mission in two minutes or less. • Once you have put your video together send it to us at Assembly Buildings on a DVD/CD/Pen drive, or you can upload it directly from the BMI website. • Remember the first 25 videos we receive will win their authors a voucher from iTunes, 10ofthose.com or Dobbies.We’ve had four videos already, so only 21 vouchers are now up for grabs! Don’t miss out! New videos have been uploaded from Ballynure, Monaghan and Rathcoole.Watch them on the BMI YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/user/PCIMissionIreland
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