CONGREGATIONAL STORY
Reaching out in
Londonderry Billy McIlwaine, clerk of session in Waterside Presbyterian, explains how the Londonderry church has welcomed Ukrainians fleeing their homeland.
T
he mission statement of Waterside Presbyterian Church is: “Waterside Presbyterian Church exists to communicate the good news of the love of God shown to us in Christ Jesus; to bring individuals to a personal faith in him; to encourage and build up believers in their faith; to care for and support one another and to reach out in the love of Christ to a world in need by the enabling of the Holy Spirit and to the glory of God.” Little did we know that we would be reaching out to refugees from Ukraine. In July 2022, one of our members was contacted by Alister Torrens, a native from Garvagh, now working as principal lecturer in a theological college in Ukraine. Alister invited us to sponsor one and possibly two families who were fleeing from their homeland. Some had spent the previous six
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Herald June 2025
As a vacant congregation we don’t know what the future holds for us and our Ukrainian friends are in a similar position… months in underground shelters in Mariupol after their homes had been destroyed. We responded immediately to the request and after waiting for all paperwork to be completed, we welcomed the families in September. One couple in our church who had recently inherited their father’s bungalow, refurbished it and gave it to one family while another couple rented suitable accommodation for the other family. All their basic needs were met, including filling oil tanks and providing
groceries etc. Two and a half years later, we are now supporting 50 Ukrainians, ranging from three-month-old Mark to two grandmothers, living in 11 homes. One of our members ensured that all of the children and young people gained places in local primary and post-primary schools and arranged places with GPs and dentists, while another retired teacher invites some of the ladies to her home for language classes. Some adults have found employment locally. The families, for the most part, come from the Evangelical Reformed Church of God’s Covenant whose pastor was trained in a Presbyterian theological college. They have become fully involved in the life of our church and have refreshed our members in so many wonderful ways. They help in the Boys’ Brigade and their boys have joined the company. As the language barrier still exists
