FEBRUARY 2020
RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU
One woman’s struggle with severe mental illness
IDENTITY
Helping young people with their mental health
A COMPLICATED GRIEF The tragedy of suicide
A legacy led by love – a gift in your Will to Christian Aid At Christian Aid, everything we do is led by love. Growing numbers of people are being led by love to leave a gift to Christian Aid in their Will. By joining them, you could ensure that your dedication to ending poverty lives on after you are gone. To find out more about how a gift in your Will can leave a lasting gift to the world, please visit caid.ie/gifts-in-wills. To get your free Guide to Gifts in Wills, or to speak to us about leaving a gift in your Will, please email: giftsinwills@christian-aid.org or call 028 9064 8133 (Belfast) or 01 496 7040 (Dublin).
Christine Parakuo and her son Samson Kishoyian, Narok County, Kenya. Photo: Jimmy Obuya
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CONTENTS | FEBRUARY 2020
FEATURES
6
Enjoying God in prayer Moderator’s prayer initiative
12 Nominees for Moderator announced Four ministers up for the role
14 Addressing the elephant in the room Mental health initiative started by St Andrew’s, Bangor
16 Mental health and mission Why we need to pray for the mental health of our global mission workers
18 “Dying to talk about it”
The work of PCI’s Fresh Light counselling service
20 Becoming mentally aware
Interview with a consultant psychiatrist
Addressing the elephant in the room p14
32 Right in front of you
One woman’s struggle with severe mental illness
Please pray for me
I’m frightened
34 Identity
Helping young people with their mental health
I feel lost
I am so alone
36 A complicated grief
I want to give up
The tragedy of suicide
REGULARS
4 7 8 9 13 23 31 38 40 43 45 47
Mental health and mission p16
Letters News As I see it My story As I see it Mission Connect Talking points Reviews Life in PCI In this month Arthur Clarke Betsy Cameron
CONTRIBUTORS
Cover illustration Barry Falls February 2020 No. 828 £1.50 (€1.80) Published by: The Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Assembly Buildings, Belfast BT1 6DW. T: +44 (0)28 9032 2284 E: herald@presbyterianireland.org W: www.presbyterianireland.org
A complicated grief p36
Editor: Sarah Harding Subscriptions and Advertising: Elaine Huddleston; Lisa Skinner; Suzanne Hamilton Design and Layout: Edward Connolly Printing: W & G Baird Ltd.
Sharon Hastings is the author of Wrestling with My Thoughts: A doctor with severe mental illness discovers strength. She lives in Newcastle, Co Down, with her husband and two dogs.
Suzanne Hamilton is Senior Communications Assistant for the Herald. She attends Ballyholme Presbyterian in Bangor, is married to Steven and mum to twin boys.
Paul Jamieson is minister of Hillhall Presbyterian Church and chairperson of the Fresh Light advisory group.
Tom Finnegan is the Training Development Officer for PCI. In this role Tom develops and delivers training and resources for congregational life and witness.
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. Letters may be edited for publication. No correspondence can be entered into regarding non-publication of advertisements or letters.
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland is a Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC104483); Registered Charity in Republic of Ireland (20015695).
Herald February 2020
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EDITORIAL
LETTERS Political involvement
Mental health matters
I recently came across the following saying: “One out of four people in this country is mentally unbalanced. Think of your three closest friends… if they seem okay, then you’re the one!” We can chuckle, but the truth is mental health is something that affects us all. Keeping good mental health all of the time is probably an impossible task; all of us will stumble at some point and the effects and severity of this will vary from person to person. Mental health matters, not only because it affects the functionality of the individual concerned, but also because it can dramatically impact their physical wellbeing, not to mention cause distress and worry to their loved ones and/or themselves. The topic of mental health has been widespread in the media of late, helping to reduce much of the stigma associated with it. Our Church, in various ways, has addressed the issue over the years, but there is still work to do. As Rev Peter Lyle, who bravely shares his experience of depression, comments, “For all the progress made, mental health issues are still perceived, by many, as personal weakness or an inability to cope with what’s on your plate.” It was these misconceptions and the apparent rise in mental health difficulties that led to this themed edition of the Herald. I hope inside you will find something that is relevant, interesting or helpful to you or someone you know. Many contributors reflect that being a person of faith can increase the stigma – there is often an assumption that Christians should not struggle mentally – and this can cause guilt and an unwillingness to open up or seek help. Conversely, trusting in God is a significant factor involved in healing, or at least in persevering. Sharon Hastings who tells her story of living with a severe mental illness says, “We…can continue to praise God in our frailty.” She testifies to the truth of 2 Corinthians 12:9: “But [Jesus] said to me, ‘My grace is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” Peter Lyle believes that the church has a unique opportunity to support people and bring about change: “…as a family of faith – sharing life together – allowing people the place to talk openly and honestly.” At the start of a new year and new decade, I hope and pray that this edition of the Herald will stimulate some honest conversations, increase an awareness of what people struggle with, and prompt anyone who feels the burden of mental health difficulties to seek and find the help they need.
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Dear Editor Mark Neale’s letter, published in the December/January edition, raises a number of important points that are shared by members of Christians in Politics (CiPol). CiPol is an all-party, nondenominational organisation that aspires to emphasise ‘Kingdom before Tribe’ and to raise the very issues that were mentioned in Mark’s letter. CiPol has long encouraged Christians to come together and form/join local groups, to pray and support one another in their political journeys. Following two seminars, one at New Wine Ireland and the other at New Horizon, a new group has now formed that meets in County Antrim. It is CiPol’s intention that there should be a number of similar groups geographically spread around both Northern Ireland and also in the Republic of Ireland, whose aim is to develop positive relations with politicians at Council, Assembly, Parliament and European levels. This is not something that we can achieve within a short period of time, it will be a developing process, but it needs to begin with Christians being willing to speak out, not only for themselves but for others, as Mark’s letter so clearly articulates. More information about
CiPol can be found by visiting the website: www.christiansinpolitics.org.uk For specific details of our work on this side of the Irish Sea, please contact John, NI local group coordinator, at this email address: NI@christiansinpolitics.org.uk John Kildea Coleraine
The Confession unites us Dear Editor Betsy Cameron’s article on Walter Brueggemann contained a number of reflections (all from leaders of the ‘Being Presbyterian’ group), with a common theme of calling us to “see what [the Bible] might be saying that has not been noticed before.” It would be arrogant to assume we will see something that has never been noticed before in 2,000 years of Christian history, but it would be humble to test our own views against the accumulated wisdom of those 2,000 years. In her personal column, Ms Cameron expressed perplexity about how we “settle into our ideas and beliefs” and rightly looked back to the Apostles’ Creed as an important part of our faith, but made no mention of the Westminster Confession. Creeds are ecumenical, in the best sense of the word, providing fundamentals that all Christians should agree with, but consequently they
Letters to the Editor Write to: Presbyterian Herald, Assembly Buildings, Belfast BT1 6DW Email: herald@presbyterianireland.org
are narrow in scope. It is the Confession that defines us as Presbyterians, covering a much broader range of important topics. It is the result of many years of prayerful, spiritual reflection and discussion, and a great blessing to us. Walter Brueggemann’s progressive theology and view of the Bible as “disjunctive and incoherent” can only lead to the destruction of biblical authority, to confusion, and to bickering over our own individualistic, idiosyncratic views, but the tried and tested wisdom of the Confession brings us a clarity and confidence that we can unite around. If there is any perplexity about our beliefs then perhaps we have failed as ministers to explain the precious truths we hold to and need to do more to catechise our people so that instead of confusion there will clarity and confidence – not just in the Confession, but in the Christ it speaks of. Rev Jonathan Boyd Minister, Hyde Park and Lylehill
Dwindling PCI
Dear Editor I am deeply committed to my Presbyterian church. For 75 years I have belonged, been employed by, served and worshipped there. It therefore grieves me to see it dwindling before my eyes. 2030 has been predicted for our demise by a highly respected ex-professor from Union.
Please note: Letters are limited to 300 words and may be edited for clarity and length. They will only be published in the Herald if the author’s name and address have been supplied to the editor. On request these will be withheld from print. Anonymous letters will not be considered for publication. The views expressed in the letters are not necessarily those of the Editor or PCI.
As numbers reduce, the money to pay for ministers and to sustain congregations will disappear too, yet I don’t perceive any vision – or should I say urgency? The thriving congregations are becoming more congregational, and so the strugglers are left to their own devices to sink or swim. If we were even a well-run business, the loss of ‘customers’ would be top of the agenda at every board meeting. If it isn’t top of the agenda in kirk sessions and presbyteries could that be a definition of complacency? Young people are deserting us in droves and joining fellowships that meet their spiritual needs; others, I regret to say, are simply judging us to be the standard example of what church is, and deciding they can do without church. That hurts. Young people have never been so aware and independent of tradition. They aren’t stupid either. They recognise churches run exclusively by older men as clubs that fail to be the allembracing, equal and caring fellowships they should be. I am blessed and privileged to belong to one of the latter. It is growing and a joy to attend. If it were not so what would I do? Thankfully, unlike many, I don’t have to answer that question. Bill Moore Carrickfergus
If you or anyone close to you is affected by any of the issues raised in this themed edition of the Herald, you can contact Samaritans free on 116 123 (all-Ireland). Children and young people can contact Childline 24 hours a day on 0800 1111 or visit http://childline.org. uk (NI) or phone 1800 66 66 66 or visit http://childline.ie (Republic of Ireland).
Topical Tweets @PCIModerator Terrific insight into modern prison service and the focus on the rehabilitation of offenders. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to those who serve in this work. Good to hear of the change in Maghaberry specifically. We hold all the staff and those involved in Chaplaincy in prayer @PeterLynas So a deal has been done to restore powersharing in Northern Ireland. This is broadly to be welcomed – we have been without a government for too long with significant negative consequences. But much prayer is still required for our leaders and our land. @pciassembly In this bitterly cold time of the year, we remember those who are homeless or sleeping rough. Pray for organisations who meet the needs of rough sleepers, providing round the clock shelter, warmth, food and support. @Mindwisenv We have the highest rate of suicide and the highest level of mental ill health in the UK. @Rethink 1 in 100 of us live with #schizophrenia, yet it is still one of the most stigmatised mental illnesses. Here at Rethink we want to change that. @KellyBonner The Executive will publish a Mental Health Action Plan within 2 months; a Mental Health Strategy by December 2020; a successor strategy and action plan to the Strategic Direction for Alcohol and Drugs Phase 2 within 3 months #Stormontdeal @BPSLisburn In our #MadeForMoreNI workshop, we chatted about healthy minds and sharing how we feel. The stress balloon challenge illustrated we each need to find time to talk #MentalHealthMatters
Herald February 2020
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PRAYER
Enjoying God
in prayer
Moderator, Dr William Henry, explains why he is launching a prayer week in March.
O
ne of my most vivid memories of a car journey is from a holiday in Arizona, not long after we were married. Staring straight ahead, not a word spoken for mile after agonising mile. The cause of extreme quiet in the car was not due to argument or disagreement, but due to circumstance – it was late at night and we were on a motorway through a remote desert with our car fuel indicator silently screaming empty. We were so desperate for the sight of a signpost to services or twinkling lights in the distance indicating an approaching town that this was the only thing we could focus on. We hadn’t the energy for casual chatter, and it was a sweet relief when we eventually spotted a garage and freewheeled off the slip road to where our problem could be remedied. In that memory I’m reminded that we knew we needed the fuel, and we were aware that this was the only way that our ongoing safety could be assured. It was an occasion when I had an awareness of a desperate need and a concern that would not lessen in my mind. It’s not hard to see the connections to how we view prayer and our urgent need to rely fully on God. In my term as Moderator, as I have talked to people throughout our congregations, many have spoken to me of such a real deep longing and concern for God to awaken the church. It’s been mentioned to me time and again of the need to know the blessing of God upon his church and our land. Looking back, it was this same spiritual yearning that I believe God laid upon my heart as I chose my Moderatorial theme – ‘Enjoying God’. There is something about that little phrase that resonates with all of us, reminding us of what is most essential and where our focus should be centred. Regardless of the age or stage of life we are at, we are called to live resolutely and freely for God. I believe there is a growing sense that
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God can work in a new and refreshing way in our own land. I also believe that prompting is Spirit-led and that God is calling us to renewed prayer. That is why I am asking for a special week of prayer in March where we will pray as individuals and as churches, seeking God’s blessing and a renewed awakening to God. When we consider prayer, our minds so often drift to pressing needs, such as illness, family issues, or some other problem or event. There is a place for such concerns but in this instance, I am calling the Church to pray for the spiritual needs of our land and specifically for God’s church in this land. This is an urgent need and I encourage you to make it a genuine focus. When a Church prays for revival that Church is praying for a power not their own, but for the power of the Holy Spirit to be poured out in greater measure than they can imagine. To encourage this initiative to be accessible for everyone I have prepared a variety of materials for different purposes.
can do through his church. Families can make use of a daily prayer activity.
Whole church worship
In my term as Moderator… many have spoken to me of such a real deep longing and concern for God to awaken the church.
The times when we gather together are special, and to aid our corporate worship there will be material suitable for a congregational evening of praise and prayer – from what is provided you can select whether to have it interactive or more traditional. On top of this, suggestions for intercessory prayer on Sundays will be available. All these materials will be made available on the PCI website to be downloaded (www.presbyterianireland.org). For this special week, as we pray focusing on Enjoying God, let us be aware of God himself, praying for an awakening to him, and a fresh feeling of being awed by his saving power. Jesus said, “Apart from me you can do nothing” ( John 15:5). We, our friends, family and nation need God infinitely more than anything else. And because we can do nothing of any real and lasting value without God, we cannot do anything real and lasting without prayer. Join with me as we pray with passion and power, with urgency and expectancy, with humility and without ceasing, to: “Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20).
Personal quiet time
The Moderator’s Prayer Week will run from 1-8 March 2020.
Personal quiet time is important and there are already a variety of PCIproduced devotional materials, which hopefully many of you are subscribed to. (See panel for details.) During this week of prayer these will follow the common theme so that we are focused in our praying.
Family devotion I believe it is important to encourage our children to pray and to see what God
PCI devotional material Tides is a short Bible reflection emailed out daily. Let’s Pray is a weekly email and A5 booklet resource, providing prayer topics and requests on all aspects of the life and work of the Church. It is also available on the popular PrayerMate mobile app.
IN THE ROUND | NEWS 4 Corners Festival The findings of a landmark study into how Presbyterians were impacted by the Troubles will come under the spotlight at the eighth annual 4 Corners Festival which runs until 9 February. The festival, co-founded and codirected by Presbyterian minister Rev Steve Stockman and Roman Catholic priest Fr Martin Magill, has as its theme ‘Building a City of Grace’. One of the events will debate issues arising from the recently published book Considering Grace: Presbyterians and the Troubles by Gladys Ganiel and Jamie Yohanis, and will include a response from former Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon. The book was inspired by the Presbyterian Church in Ireland’s sub-group on Dealing with the Past, chaired by Rev Tony Davidson. One of the highlights of the festival will be an evening with Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol in Fitzroy Presbyterian Church. Keynote speakers at another event, in May Street Presbyterian Church, will be homeless campaigner Fr Peter McVerry SJ and Ruth Koch, NI director of Tearfund. For further details see http://4cornersfestival.com
Church leaders meet PSNI Chief Constable Church leaders expressed their support for the work of the Police Service for Northern Ireland, particularly community policing, during a recent meeting with PSNI representatives. PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne is pictured with Rev Sam McGuffin (President, Methodist Church in Ireland), Rev Brian Anderson (President, Irish Council of Churches), Archbishop Eamon Martin (Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh), Archbishop Richard Clarke (Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh), and Dr William Henry (PCI Moderator).
Welcome for new Deal The leaders of Ireland’s main Churches have welcomed the agreement reached between Northern Ireland’s political parties, the UK and Irish governments. In their statement, the leaders of the Church of Ireland, Methodist Church in Ireland, Roman Catholic Church, Presbyterian Church in Ireland and the Irish Council of Churches said, “We believe that the agreement, ‘New Decade, New Approach’, is ambitious in its content and reflects a balanced accommodation that is focused on the common good; and one that we hope can begin to address the political and social crisis that has developed due to the prolonged absence of a functioning Executive and Assembly… “As Church leaders, we also welcome the renewed focus on reconciliation, which will be central to the Executive’s approach, and welcome practical commitments to extend welfare mitigations, address significant challenges in education and health, tackle the mental health crisis, and deal with the continued scourge of paramilitarism and sectarianism… “We will continue to offer our prayers for all involved in making this agreement work, encouraging them, for the sake of the whole community, to grasp fully this new opportunity.
IN BRIEF New director The Evangelical Alliance has appointed Peter Lynas as its UK director. In this role he will work alongside new CEO Gavin Calver. Mr Lynas said, “The work of the Evangelical Alliance in terms of mission, unity and voice has never been more important. We have an incredible range of members, a fantastic staff team, and together we can make Jesus known across the UK.” David Smyth becomes head of Evangelical Alliance Northern Ireland – the role Mr Lynas held since 2011.
Volunteers sought Aware, an organisation providing support for those impacted by depression, bipolar disorder and other mood related conditions, is looking for volunteers. For further information visit http://aware.ie/volunteering or telephone +353 (0)1 661 7211.
PCI responds to NI abortion consultation The Presbyterian Church in Ireland has published its response to the Secretary of State’s consultation on a new legal framework for abortion services in Northern Ireland. In its 5,000-word submission, the Church expressed its continued opposition to the imposition of this legislation and restated its view that matters relating to abortion provision should be respected as devolved issues. It also stated its concern that the proposals take a ‘maximalist’ approach to the implementation of legislative requirements and that in the rush to eliminate barriers to access to abortion services, essential safeguards, which provide protection for women and girls, are being removed. In making its submission, the Church said that it is “well aware
of the deep human tragedies that lie behind all crisis pregnancies”. It also stated that the issue was not simply “a theological or academic exercise for the Church”, as many of its ministers, and others in congregations “had journeyed alongside women and families who have experienced a pregnancy crisis and have been presented with difficult decisions”. With regard to medical and health professionals who will be directly affected by the introduction of the new legal framework, the consultation states that: “Although conscientious objection is not the sole preserve of people from different faith backgrounds, it is likely that most conscientious objection will come from people of faith.” The Church called on the NIO and the Department of
Health “to produce a model of service delivery, that protects the right of those tasked with the delivery of the framework to conscientiously object, whilst ensuring patient safety”. Rev Daniel Kane, convener of the Council for Public Affairs, which is making the submission on behalf of PCI, said, “No matter how we view abortion, I’m sure that the overwhelming majority of people in Northern Ireland would agree that these proposals go too far. We trust that the Secretary of State will seriously consider all the submissions received on the details of this consultation and seek to create a society which points to a better story, one of hope and human flourishing, of life and humanity, even in the most difficult of circumstances.”
Climate justice Christian Aid has produced a range of helpful resources to encourage congregations to give, act and pray for climate justice throughout this Lenten season. Some of the resources can be downloaded from http://caid.ie/lent and the cash collection boxes can be ordered by phoning Dublin 01 496 7040 or Belfast 028 9064 8133. Christian Aid is also launching a Year of Prayer in 2020, which individuals and churches can sign up to be part of a continuous chain of prayer for climate justice.
Herald February 2020
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AS I SEE IT...
Suicide, death and the loss of hope in Ballymena Martin McNeely
I
’d just buried a young man, not even 30 years old in Ballee to good health habits, committed mentoring, accountability, Cemetery. He was the second young man under 30 I had the encouragement of education and achievement of goals. It buried, barely a week from Christmas Day. A mourner stood requires sacrifice, self-discipline and a deep wariness of one’s by the graveside. She is an intelligent, hard-working local own self. We are sinful people, with a propensity to make wrong mother and grandmother. I had buried her younger brother. She choices as well as doing good. Life therefore works best when had years earlier lost her own husband. “There’s no hope in this hope is channelled through structures: family stability, work, town,” she said. “No hope at all. None.” love of neighbour and worship – God’s moral law to be precise. The forces conspiring against hope in our town are wide The despair at present is tangible. This is multiplied by the ranging. Without question the ready availability of drugs fuels under-resourcing of psychiatric care services. But fundamentally hopelessness. Suicidal pressures and the wider use of drugs are all of us outside of the health system have a responsibility to so often linked. The narcissistic world of social media promotes create a context in which healing can flourish. People have to a culture orientated around questions of “How I should feel?” want to change. We must work with them and their families in or “What image should I promote?” Such offering hope. a contrast to an older generation which Practically how does that take shape? There is no hope in life asked “How can I serve?” or “What is my Firstly, we have to have that biblical duty to others?” Or as we Presbyterians are and no sense of account realism in our understanding: mankind want to ask: “What is my chief end?” in God’s image; fallen; changed eternally. This has led to made I believe one of the big factors through faith in Christ; and a consequent contributing to the sense of despair is whole person transformation of body a valueless culture. that traditional parameters of dying and and soul. This means the gospel is more death have changed. God is not viewed in the traditional sense than cerebral information passed to the brain. It is the transfer of an eternal Deity to whom humans must give an account. of a fallen person into a redeemed community of love. This Somehow, God should bless us if we die. We will not be judged. community mentors with Bible teaching, food, sport, creative Life on earth is valueless. Why should life in eternity be a place connections. Congregations must focus on being places of of condemnation? There is no hope in life and no sense of physical as well as spiritual renewal – especially for young account eternally. This has led to a valueless culture. Recently men. Leadership focus on male role models is critical in this I read the weekly theatre and film reviews of the New Yorker regard. In some contexts that will be a solid BB company. In magazine. Nearly every single storyline running features despair other areas it might be an older man taking younger men under and brokenness. If that is the culture in the highbrow bourgeois their wing for food and Bible study. Fundamentally we could world of Manhattan, what is the baseline narrative being transform the mental health picture by encouraging whole propagated on YouTube? families to plan for a Sabbath – what a novel idea! In our home, It took me a moment to come to terms with the cold truth that means no electronic media activity or ordinary work on a of these matters, as my friend by the graveside perceived it. Is Sunday afternoon. As a family we chill out, walk, enjoy creation, there no hope? I considered what an indictment it served on me eat ice cream and savour rich time together. As a congregation as a Christian minister. “May the God of hope fill you with all we work hard at developing the same culture: coffee, tea, with joy and peace in believing” writes Paul to the church in Romans lots of emphasis on friendship and the joy of being together in 15:13. Are our churches and communities offering hope? How church. much hope do I offer in my preaching? Of course, the reality The truth is, there is hope in the world. Christ has risen, the of judgment and of giving account beyond the grave is the Holy Spirit has been given, and God does transform health, confession of our faith (WCF 32). But there is a balance. The body and soul, for our good, and in his eternal love. reality of judgment with the hope of grace. We must preach and teach both. Rev Dr Martin McNeely has been minister of Ballykeel Church, The good news is I do know young people who have broken Ballymena for 12 years. free from the drugs and despair. Certainly, the hope of faith in Christ is foundational. But this is built on by trusting, loving relationships in which right choices are promoted. This leads
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MY STORY... Rev Peter Lyle, minister of Ballyholme Presbyterian in Bangor, shares his experience of depression.
Overcoming the darkness
T
he fact that I have had second thoughts about writing ship, admitting that he was the problem. I remember my first this article is testament to the stigma that still exists appointment with the psychiatrist, the first tablets and asking around mental health issues. Those who will read this myself, “Is this what you have come to?” Honestly, it was the are my family, those who sit with me on presbytery first demanding but positive step. In order to turn in the right and committees in Assembly Building, or for whom I am their direction, you need to recognise that you are headed in the minister. That bothers me because for all the progress made, wrong one. mental health issues are still perceived, by many, as personal This gave me permission to ask for help. Psalm 25 says: “My weakness or an inability to cope with what’s on your plate. This eyes are always on the Lord, for he rescues me…Turn to me is all the more sobering as, for me, it all happened a decade ago and have mercy, for I am alone and in deep distress.” I travelled and subsequently, I have encouraged people to speak up about to Edinburgh for a psychological assessment. The input of their struggles rather than hide them away. health professionals was invaluable and set me off on a path of Recently in Bangor we held a week-long, town-wide event remarkable discovery and, ultimately, help. I soon realised that called ‘Bangor Cares’, focusing on mental health issues. The my predicament was not an inability to deal with one situation. mascot was an elephant because one school pupil described A whole host of life issues had come together to make the sea the issue as ‘the elephant in the room’. of depression that I was sinking in. In Ballyholme, we hosted a ‘Bring your I had been ‘down’ before I came to realise that I was not alone. elephant to church’ service. We encouraged The World Health Organisation reckons but I knew this was people to bring a toy elephant to declare that 1 in 4 people will experience mental before God their own personal struggles health issues (a figure based only on different. It was darker or those of someone close to them. It was those attending a doctor). This is where also intended to send out the message that and consuming. the church can really make an important everyone is welcome in our church, for we contribution as a family of faith – sharing all carry our ‘elephants’ with us to worship. I told my story and life together – allowing people the place to talk openly and what follows is some of what I shared. honestly. I believe that the Lord is always with us and looking A great darkness descended on me in 2008. It arrived on a back I can trace an amazing story, but it is important to say that beautiful summer evening as I drove, with my wife, through the many times it did not feel like he was present. Peak District. The bright sunlit evening was contradicted by a I was counselled by health professionals and a ministry couple, growing feeling inside akin to the murkiest, overcast, coldest the Lord and doctors working in tandem, the spiritual and the winter’s afternoon, as I withdrew in to myself for an initial physical. I came to realise that my illness wasn’t my fault, I was period of about three hours. My thoughts became irrational not inadequate in some way. I had fallen ill just like anyone with and I was filled with a dreadful sense of hopelessness. Inside flu or a chest infection. Unlike those illnesses, however, there my head, I held self-destructive conversations which I knew were no bandages or visible symptoms. Hence, the stigma. were nonsense but perversely satisfied – like scratching an itch Ultimately, there was no dramatic breakthrough, I simply in a way that hurts. The concern was I could not muster any started to realise that my days were becoming brighter. It took resistance to it. Like many, I had been ‘down’ before but I knew time and patience, particularly from those closest to me, but this was different. It was darker and consuming. Within days I I found restoration and discovered that “the Lord is close to knew I was in trouble, but it was months before I admitted it. the brokenhearted and rescues those whose spirits are crushed” Facing up to the issue was the turning point, like Jonah on the (Psalm 34:18). Herald February 2020
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NEWS | PCI
News Pantomime outing
Book launch
Aaron House is a PCI residential home in Dundonald, Belfast, for those with a profound learning disability. At Christmas time residents from Aaron House, accompanied by staff, attended the Waterfront Hall to see the pantomime The Frozen Princess.
The Presbyterian Historical Society of Ireland has produced Sketches of Irish Presbyterians (dated 1803) by Dr William Campbell. Dr Campbell was a prominent figure in Irish Presbyterianism during the latter years of the 18th century, becoming Moderator of the Synod of Ulster in 1773. His published writings and surviving manuscripts and correspondence give an insight into the theological and political movements of the time. This edition of his most significant manuscript, is priced at £20 and includes an introductory and biographical essay by Dr Donald Patton, chairman of the Presbyterian Historical Society of Ireland. It can be ordered through www.presbyterianhistoryireland.com In a special offer, A True Narrative of the Rise and Progress of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland 1623-1670 by Patrick Adair, The Autobiography of Robert Blair of Bangor, 1593-1636 and Dr Campbell’s history are available for £30.
Theology for All Union Theological College continues its Theology for All series over the next two months. On Wednesday nights during February, Dr Desi Alexander will offer a series on Genesis and Exodus. The four evenings will explore how these books point forward to the coming of Jesus Christ, looking in particular at how he will restore the broken relationship between God and humanity. On Wednesday nights during March, Professor Gordon Campbell will offer a series on Revelation. Professor Campbell has made Revelation the focus of his research for many years and has many insights to offer on the interpretation of this fascinating book. Each evening begins at 7.30pm, includes a short tea break, and concludes by 9.30pm. The cost is £10 per evening, £30 for the four-week series, and £50 for all eight evenings. Significant discounts are available for groups of four or more. Students are free. Contact Union College on +44 (0)28 9020 5080 or email admin@union.ac.uk to register.
Christmas at Union Union Theological College Principal Dr Stafford Carson pictured at the college’s Christmas dinner.
Cracker events PCI congregations hosted Christmas Cracker events over the festive period, providing respite days for families of young people and adults who have a learning disability. Having visited one of the events, Moderator Dr William
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Henry said, “It was a fun-filled time with craft activities, food and games, all set in the middle of a church family who are practically showing love and care. Here I saw the church demonstrating the love and compassion of Jesus,
taking time to listen, to help and support, getting alongside others and actually doing something that enabled someone else to enjoy God.”
Kids’ Crew Come and volunteer to be a part of PCI’s Kids’ Big Day Out event. A crew of 30-40 is needed to welcome the children to the Ballymena event on 4 April, help them to interact with all the experiences and encourage them to take part. The crew is crucial to the success of the event. To download a Kids’ Crew application form, go to www.presbyterianireland.org/ events
Find out more on www.presbyterianireland.org
Events
DIARY DATES Going Deeper, Going Wider
Transform PCI’s young adults’ conference called Transform will be take place from 27–28 March at May Street Presbyterian, Belfast. This is a great chance to gather with young adults from across the denomination for 24 hours of Bible teaching, seminars, discussion, food and much more. The theme will be ‘Joy in the Every-Day’. Speakers include Marty Gray, Rachel Jones and Josh McCance, with worship led by Ben McKendry (Wellington). To book a place go to www.presbyterianireland.org/ transform
Hashtags and Hormones Taking place in Assembly Buildings on Thursday 13 February, Hashtags and Hormones is an exciting opportunity to gather as parents, carers, teachers, youth workers, or just anyone who has contact with children or young people. If you have ever felt overwhelmed or ill-equipped to deal with the hot topics of our time then you will be in good company as the event will raise awareness about what’s happening in the lives of young people, and tackle the tricky conversations around puberty, relationships, and sex. God’s heart for relationships is such a good message to share, so let’s regain our confidence in this message and renew our commitment to share it. Hashtags and Hormones runs from 7pm to 9.30pm and costs £5 per person. Places can be booked at www.presbyterianireland.org/ events
On Tuesday 25 February, Assembly Buildings will host Going Deeper, Going Wider: Reimagining your congregation’s involvement in global mission. In all the busyness of congregational life perhaps it seems like our involvement in mission never gets beyond our postcode, never mind to the ends of the earth. What if we had a lively, ongoing relationship overseas that made our congregation’s involvement in global mission more personal? Bryan Knell, author of The Heart of Church and Mission, will encourage and envision congregations to reflect upon how they can have a gospel footprint in another part of the world. This event is for ministers, mission agents, mission committee members, or anyone with an interest in helping their congregation become more involved in global mission. The event, which runs from 7.45pm to 9.30pm, is free but please register at: www.presbyterianireland.org/events
Kids’ Big Day Out This year’s Kids’ Big Day Out will look at God’s faithfulness over time. In this year of 2020, we are going to think about how God can see the big picture of his plan for his people, and that he is faithful to the promises he made to Abraham that were partly fulfilled through Jesus and will come fully true in heaven. Encourage your children’s ministry team to come along to the event this year and find out how clearly you can see the promises that God has made. The event takes place at Wellington Presbyterian, Ballymena on Saturday 4 April between 1.45pm and 4pm. Tickets cost £4 and all children must be accompanied by a responsible adult. To book a place go to www.presbyterianireland.org/events
One Anothers This is an event that addresses the challenge of building the community of the church in our generation. Whether it is developing our pastoral life, discipleship, worship, leadership, intergenerational ministry or outreach, none of it can happen if we keep our distance from one another. So, how can we take steps towards a more relationship rich church life? A series of events are planned for the period Tuesday 28 April to Friday 1 May. Guest speaker at each event will be Dr Edward T. Welch, author of Side By Side and Caring for One Another. For a full list of each event, along with times and locations please go to www.presbyterianireland.org/events Booking will open on Monday 3 February. Cost to be confirmed.
Resources Tides Tides is a simple yet powerful resource to help develop regular rhythms of Bible reading. Each weekday morning, Tides provides you with a section of God’s Word to read, a short reflection sharing what this could mean for your life, and a simple way for you to respond. This is a homegrown resource, created and written by contributors from right across the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. To register visit: www.presbyterianireland.org/tides
February Taking Care foundation training Ballygowan Presbyterian – Thursday 6
Taking Care refresher training Greystone Road Presbyterian – Tuesday 11 First Markethill Presbyterian – Thursday 13 Arklow Presbyterian – Tuesday 25
The Church and Boys Assembly Buildings, Belfast – Saturday 8
Pulling Together (Ards Youth Presbytery Gathering) Movilla Presbyterian – Saturday 8
Hashtags and Hormones Assembly Buildings, Belfast – Thursday 13
Connect4More Regional Youth Assembly Garvagh Presbyterian – Saturday 15
Going Deeper, Going Wider Assembly Buildings, Belfast – Tuesday 25
March Transform Carnmoney Central – Friday 27 to Saturday 28
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Nominees for Moderator announced The Presbyterian Church in Ireland has announced a shortlist of four ministers, from which one will be selected by ministers and elders later this month to be the formal nominee to be the Church’s next Moderator.
T
he annual selection of the formal nominee for Moderator will take place on 4 February when presbyteries will meet independently at different locations across Ireland. The process begins each year in the late autumn when members of presbyteries begin to suggest the names of ministers who they would like to see considered. The Clerk of the General Assembly and General Secretary of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Rev Trevor Gribben, then approaches those on this ‘long list’ to see if they would be willing to have their names go forward to the next stage. “In all that we do, at the heart of the Church is our central calling to proclaim and live out the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in a constantly changing world. Our constitution clearly states that ‘The Lord Jesus Christ is the sole King and Head of the Church…’ so as a denomination our Moderator is not
Rev David Bruce BSSc, BD Born in 1957, David Bruce was ordained in 1984 as UCCF Secretary and installed as assistant minister in Wellington Street, Ballymena in 1985. He became minister of Clontarf, Ormand Quay and Scots churches in 1987, General Director of SU NI in 1992 and Board of Mission in Ireland Secretary in 2007, continuing as the Council for Mission in Ireland Secretary in 2015. He was convener of the Social Service Committee 1987-93 and co-convener of the Board of Social Witness 1990-93.
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Rev Dr Trevor McCormick, BA, BD (QUB), DMin Trevor McCormick was installed as minister of First Kilrea Presbyterian Church in 1986 and with Boveedy Presbyterian (stated supply) in 2009, both in County Londonderry. Born in 1958, he was ordained as assistant minister of First Carrickfergus Presbyterian Church, County Antrim in 1984. Trevor was convener of the Presbyterian Residential Trust Committee (1996-2003) and has convened the PCI’s Council for Social Witness since 2015. He is also clerk of the Presbytery of Coleraine and Limavady.
the ‘head of the church’, but the most senior office bearer and principal public representative. As such, he or she plays an important role in the life and ministry of PCI across Ireland and further afield,” Mr Gribben explained. Having ‘moderated’, or chaired the General Assembly, the Moderator will then step aside from their own congregation to focus on their busy year ahead. On average a Moderator will undertake over 300 engagements, preaching most Sundays, representing PCI at various public and state events, undertaking an overseas tour and four presbytery tours to encourage local churches in their work and witness. The Moderator-Designate will succeed Rt Rev Dr William Henry, who will continue to serve as Moderator until the opening night of the week-long General Assembly, which takes place from Monday 1 June to Friday 5 June 2020.
Rev Richard Murray BA, BD Richard Murray has been the minister of Drumreagh and Dromore Presbyterian churches in County Antrim and County Londonderry respectively since 2016. Born in 1965, Richard was ordained as minister of Hilltown and Clonduff Presbyterian churches, County Down in 1997 before being called to Connor Presbyterian Church, County Antrim in 2005 where he was installed as minister.
Rev Mairisíne Stanfield BD Mairisíne Stanfield has been minister of First Presbyterian Church, Bangor in County Down since 2013. Born in 1965, she was ordained in 1990 as assistant minister of Regent Street Presbyterian Church, Newtownards, County Down. Mairisíne was installed as minister of First Presbyterian Church, Ballynahinch in County Down in 1993, before being called to First Bangor 20 years later.
AS I SEE IT...
Investment needed for young people Caroline Thompson
I
’ve worked within mental health services for children Mental health services are there to support the young people and young people for over 10 years now. I see my job as a who feel their life is not the way it is meant to be and everyday privilege because I get to journey alongside young people life is too hard. The psychological work is always aimed at and families, both through moments of deepest joy at helping young people to think, feel and behave in more one end of the spectrum, and moments of darkness at the balanced and healthier ways. Often systemic support will be other end. My hope for every family that I see is that we will offered including family therapy, parenting groups, therapeutic be able to build their resilience, their capacity to cope with groups and working alongside schools and local community whatever joys and whatever sufferings that life throws at them. groups. I have experienced the privilege of saying goodbye to young One frustration for us is that there has been more money people who at one point thought they might not be alive to invested in physical health than in mental health in recent see their future, let alone be able to live years; this is something that we find really a meaningful life without the support of hard because we know the impact that If I had one message I someone like me or something like the early invention in mental health has on could give to the church the future. We know that people can be service we provide. The team that I work with includes in all of this, it would be dependant on adult mental health services psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, if they don’t get the right support offered that the need for mental at the right time. nurses and other professionals. Over the last few years there has been a steady If I had one message I could give to health services for increase in the number of referrals. One the church in all of this, it would be that children and young of the reasons for this might be that our the need for mental health services for society is better at recognising mental children and young people is huge, the people is huge... health difficulties whenever they start. demand on these services is really high It might be because there is less stigma around talking about and I would ask you to pray for us. I would ask you to pray mental health or maybe just that life is more difficult for our for strong leadership within our mental health services, most young people to cope with. Certainly, as a society and as parents, specifically I’d ask you pray that more money is released to us so we can put much too much pressure on our young people as we can serve the needs of our young people and families better. they grow physically. Because we see them physically mature, in Will you also pray for our staff who have a very difficult job to turn we expect them to be able to think, feel and cope in more do and can get burnt out with the demands of their day-to-day mature ways. The message that we would often give is that the work? And as a Church would you think about how you can be teenage brain is under construction so adult thinking, maturity intentional in offering emotional support to young people and and coping skills are just not something that their brains are their families? Can we make it okay to admit that living in this ready for. They are going to need good, quality adult support all broken world is a really difficult thing to do and problems can along the way. always be expected? The children and young people who walk through our doors, every single day, suffer from many different types of problems: Caroline Thompson is a clinical psychologist working in the area of anxiety; obsessive compulsive disorder; school refusal; gender mental health with children and young people. This is an adapted identity; trauma; depression; self-harm; suicidal ideation and extract from Caroline’s speech at the 2019 General Assembly, as part lots more. Many of our young people also have diagnosis of of the alternative presentation by the Council for Public Affairs. neuro-developmental difficulties, including autism or attention deficit disorder which makes our therapeutic task much more complex. Trying to live normal everyday life with depression or anxiety, as a young person who feels that life is not worth living, can be very hard. And while adolescence is meant to be a time of fun and curiosity and taking age-appropriate risks, it can easily become a time of suffering, feeling different than the way you know you’re meant to, and feeling very isolated and alone. Herald February 2020
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CONGREGATIONAL STORY
Addressing
the elephant in the room Suzanne Hamilton looks at how a collaboration between St Andrew’s Presbyterian, Bangor and a primary school led to a community-wide mental health initiative.
‘H
ealthy heads, healthy hearts, healthy community’ was the strapline of a unique initiative to promote mental health and wellbeing in the north Down coastal town of Bangor recently. Called ‘Bangor Cares’, the week-long event brought together people from all walks of life, including schools, churches, youth groups, businesses and statutory bodies – all seeking to show local people they are cared about. Among those at the forefront of the initiative was St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. In fact, it was an ongoing collaboration between the congregation and the neighbouring school, Clandeboye Primary, which sparked the whole idea. For the past two years the church has hosted a Prayer Space in order to teach the children, as part of the RE curriculum, what prayer is. What emerged from this year’s event was shocking, as Rev Mark Johnston (minister of St Andrew’s) explains, “We were struck by the number of young people who were struggling with mental health challenges. As young as P4, these kids were talking and opening up about anxiety, not sleeping at night-time, night terrors and self-esteem issues. There
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seemed to be a correlation with access to devices and the challenge of unsupervised screen time.” Upon raising the matter with Clandeboye’s board of governors, it was decided to approach the principal of Bangor Academy as the post-primary school was already doing great work in this area, with mental health first aiders and the promotion of the ‘Man Down’ campaign.
It takes everybody…to look out for one another, particularly when it comes to our mental health and wellbeing.
Mark says a meeting between himself and the two principals revealed that the matters being discussed were not just concerns for Clandeboye Primary or the town of Bangor, but were societal issues. “We decided we needed to throw the net open,” explains Mark. An open meeting held in March saw around 70-80 turn up. “We were pretty overwhelmed as we hadn’t been expecting that interest, but it was clearly an issue on people’s hearts and minds,” says Mark. From this meeting it was decided to hold a week of events at the end of September to promote mental health. With no money involved, a diverse group of people from all sections of the community formed a steering group to coordinate a week of events. In parallel to the steering group were meetings of Church Works (an organisation aimed at improving communication amongst the Christian community in north Down), with an expanded membership to explore the activities which could be organised by churches and groups such as Scripture Union and Young Life. Key to any decisions though were the thoughts of young people. Groups of children from five local primary
and two post-primary schools were consulted, during which mental health was described as the elephant in the room. This inspired the logo for the week – a yellow elephant. Yellow is a colour associated with Bangor and the elephant represented the mental health issues that people generally don’t talk about. The message behind the campaign clearly resonated with many people. As well as volunteers from faith and nonfaith backgrounds, organisations such as the PSNI and local businesses gave their backing. Throughout the week, a giant yellow elephant toured schools and shopping centres to raise awareness of the campaign. The leisure centre gave discounted swimming sessions, and local business Thunder Park provided scooter displays at 10 primary schools as well as a roadshow in the town centre. First Bangor and Hamilton Road Presbyterian churches were among those to open their doors as a drop-in. Bangor Chamber of Commerce produced 20,000 leaflets and these were distributed widely, including through schools and churches. The digital generation were also reached through posts on Facebook, Instagram and through #bangorcares. Each day of the week was themed along the five steps to wellbeing, which statutory bodies promote: connect, be active, take notice, keep learning and give. ‘Mindfulness Monday’ raised awareness of those agencies which provide support for those facing concerns about mental health issues. Social justice charity Extern launched its youth engagement service, which offers a safe environment for young people to explore, learn and develop their emotional wellbeing. A 30-minute creative mindfulness session for children was also held as part of Monday’s events. ‘Talk about it Tuesday’ provided places for people to go to talk about mental
…the world is digitally distracted and filled with hurry sickness, with people not knowing who they are any more… health concerns, including a workshop and pop-up cafés. Care for the Family also ran a session looking at how to parent in the digital age. ‘Work out Wednesday’ encouraged people of all ages to put down their devices and engage in fun together. A football tournament saw 20 primary school teams compete for the Bangor Cares Cup, while Kilcooley allotments used it as an opportunity to launch a meditation garden. Research has shown that getting involved in charity and church organisations can help those struggling with mental health and wellbeing, and this was the idea behind ‘Thoughtfulness Thursday’. ‘Forward-looking Friday’ looked at how what had been learnt during the week could be used going forward.
‘Social Saturday’ encouraged families to turn off their phones for a day and take part in a digital detox. It was a day to ‘shop local’, get into parks and explore the world around them. The churches also got together and served tea and coffee and 2,500 buns at the Bangor 10K race, to encourage the athletes and their families to linger afterwards. The whole week ended with ‘Sharing Sunday’. A number of churches held special events to mark Bangor Cares week, while those who have no faith were encouraged to go for a walk, have a coffee and share their experiences. A celebration event in St Andrew’s saw contributions from a range of individuals as well as a time of prayer. “It was good coming together at the end of the week and to pray for the town,” says Mark. The feedback from the week has been very positive, with many people reaching out for help. Representatives from other towns across Ireland have also been in touch, to see if a similar event could be replicated in their area. Stressing the importance of events such as Bangor Cares, Mark says, “It takes everybody, every single individual in the town to look out for one another, particularly when it comes to our mental health and wellbeing.” He says the world is digitally distracted and filled with hurry sickness, with people not knowing who they are any more and adds, “There’s so much coming at us from social media. Real relationships are breaking down. As Christians we know whose we are and whom we serve. Our hope is in Jesus… and now more than ever we have a great opportunity and responsibility to share this hope with a world that is crying out for help.”
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Please pray for me
I’m frightened
I feel lost
I am so alone
Mental health & mission
I want to give up
Sarah Harding finds out how we can prayerfully support those engaged in overseas mission, in regard to their mental health.
P
CI currently has 21 global mission workers situated around the world, working in a range of fields, such as church planting, education, medicine and evangelism. Helen Johnston, PCI’s Mission Support Officer, explains that in sending people out, Helen Johnston our Church looks after them in a holistic way. “Member care is the phrase that covers all things: spiritual, physical, emotional and cognitive/creative. Whenever we’re sending out cross-cultural workers, we need to be looking at them as a whole person – helping them to be as healthy as they can be in all aspects of their life.” One important element of this is in regard to their mental health; assessing them before they go, supporting them when they’re away and helping them to readjust when they come home. Joy Gowdy, a former counsellor with Healthlink 360 and also former PCI missionary to Nepal, explains that a key
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aspect of preparing the person to go is helping them to understand themselves a bit better. “Sometimes people go into mission, not with a great Joy Gowdy understanding of their own limitations or even their own preferences.” Therefore, sending organisations will use personality tests to help assess how someone might cope out of their comfort zone and how resilient they will be with change.
Whenever we’re sending out cross-cultural workers, we need to be… helping them to be as healthy as they can be in all aspects of their life.
Joy says, “When we’re in our own culture, among our friends and family, we have a very natural support network of people who are there to turn to. When you’re working cross culturally, obviously, the support of the Lord is the vital thing and that’s what energises you, so it’s important that your relationship with God is strong. But the other support networks are usually at a distance or withdrawn.” Part of Helen Johnston’s job is helping PCI global mission workers to prepare for going overseas. “I give them a lot of resources for their emotional health, including reflective processes: what causes them stress? What do they anticipate is going to be challenging for them? (What is challenging for one person is not necessarily challenging for another.) What are the things that they do here that is useful to keep them healthy emotionally and can those things be transported to a new country? If not,
what are they going to do about it and what help do they need to develop an equivalent habit to aid good emotional wellbeing?” Joy uses the word ‘resourcing’, saying “What is it that you use to resource yourself, what gives you the energy and enjoyment to be refreshed and go back into your work?” These can be simply things like reading, walking, cooking etc. It is a concept that is useful to think about for all of us, no matter what setting we are in, but Joy highlights why it is particularly important for those overseas. “You’re going to come up against obstacles and difficulties because that’s what life’s like. Some of the obstacles are bigger, or can appear bigger, in a crosscultural mission setting, simply because of spiritual opposition and the fact that you’re not in a familiar environment, so you’re having to find a way to live in a culture that’s not your own.” Joy believes that there is a spiritual significance to working in other countries, where other religions may be more dominant than Christianity. “When you are faced all the time with idols and idol worship and you see how people are living under that oppression, then it can dampen your own spiritual vitality. I experienced that once myself in Nepal – being woken in the night and feeling that oppression. However, all I had to do was call on the name of Jesus and that oppression lifted.” Joy and Helen both agree that communication is vital for staying mentally healthy. PCI global mission workers come home every two years, partly for deputation and speaking in churches, but also for what Helen calls “R&R – rest and reconnection”. This is allowing the person to slow down and gain refreshment; for example, if they are living somewhere without many green spaces, they can enjoy that when back in Ireland. During this time, they will have the chance to undertake a personal review and talk to a trained psychologist about their experiences. Joy says, “For most people, emotional health issues are improved by good communication with other people. If you’re feeling that you’re withdrawing from people or you’re not coping, then it’s very important to have somebody to talk to, and being able to process what you’ve experienced.”
It’s important to pray for good preparation for people before they go – in terms of people knowing themselves a little better… Like many forms of ministry, Joy agrees that global mission workers can be so dedicated to what they’re doing, for wellintentioned reasons, but it’s necessary to take time out. “If they’re in an intense situation, they need the opportunity to get out of that regularly for a break…a holiday period is very important.”
terms of people knowing themselves a little better and knowing what they need to operate well. And then when they’re in a cross-cultural setting, I would say pray for times of refreshment, and that means physical, spiritual and psychological refreshment. Also pray for them to have a solid relationship with God – that there’s an honest communication with God, as well as honest communication with others.” To read about all of PCI’s global mission workers and find out more about supporting them financially or prayerfully, please go to: www.presbyterianireland.org
Short-term mission
Resources
Whilst going overseas for a long period of time will present someone with mental health challenges to be overcome, Joy and Helen point out that even short-term mission can have an impact on someone’s mental health and it’s worth churches considering this when sending teams out. Joy says, “I think for some people who have never been in a cross-cultural setting before, it can be quite overwhelming and may be quite frightening in some cases. Or there can be unexpected trauma, that can have a huge impact on people, so it’s good to be aware of those things.” Helen stresses that what the person or team are involved in can be significant, particularly if it’s something like humanitarian work which could be distressing. “It’s as much about what you’re doing as the length of time you’re serving, and the two things go together.” She continues, “A really key thing for coming back is what we call a good debrief – a time when people can say what they need to say. They will have been influenced by the experience they’ve had, so it’s understanding that and giving them time.”
If you or your church is sending individuals or teams overseas, you may find the following resources helpful:
What to pray for PCI churches and individuals are passionate about supporting our global mission workers financially and prayerfully, but perhaps we don’t often think about praying for their mental health. Joy believes it should be a priority prayer topic and offers the following advice: “It’s important to pray for good preparation for people before they go – in
‘Do it Well’ Mission Toolkit This is a set of easyto-read booklets that offer helpful advice and practical tips to those who are responsible for ‘sending’, as well as those who will be ‘going on’, short-term mission teams overseas. The toolkit consists of five A5-sized booklets: • Thinking of Going? • Doing the Groundwork • Ready, Steady, Go! • Finishing Well • Resources and Links Available for download from the PCI website: www.presbyterianireland.org Resilience in Life and Faith: Finding your strength in God by Tony Horsfall and Debbie Hawker BRF £9.99 This book will encourage you to develop your resilience and to prepare for the challenges that life throws at us in an increasingly difficult world.
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UNITED APPEAL
“Dying to talk about it” Paul Jamieson highlights the work of Fresh Light, PCI’s counselling service.
H
elen was deeply depressed; her confidence, self-esteem and sense of significance had been beaten out of her. With tears running down her face she spoke softly, “Will you pray with me? I am struggling with forgiveness and the stigma of divorce. Alcohol is my only comfort. I’m in a dark place; I am anxious, afraid, but dying to talk about it!” She told me her story, of years of domestic violence, emotional and financial abuse. The final straw was a physical assault that landed Helen in hospital with severe injuries for a week. Helen began to slowly rebuild her life with much help, counselling and support. What a privilege in ministry to be part of a person’s story and to remind them of God’s bigger story of grace and forgiveness. I listened, read and prayed with her. I exercised all my pastoral
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skills as a minister but realised that this broken woman needed the expertise of a counsellor. Helen’s life was transformed by both pastoral care and professional counselling, distinctively different but both essential to her situation. She found her way out of that dark place into the light. She ditched the bottle and reconnected with church. She rediscovered joy and fulfilment. She relinquished the burden of guilt and went on to live a purpose-driven life.
Some of us still think that Christians should never get depressed or feel suicidal and if we are, we are letting God down in some way.
Mental health is a taboo subject, as Meriel Pinkerton (a counselling supervisor for Fresh Light and auxiliary minister in First Bangor Presbyterian) reflects: “There is still a stigma around talking about subjects such as depression, suicide and self-harm. However, we must take a hard look at the evidence and the consequences of not talking.” The NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) states that there were 307 recorded deaths by suicide in 2018, of which 228 were male and 79 female. Men in Northern Ireland are almost three times as likely to take their own lives as women. It is more probable that men aged 20-49 die of suicide than anything else. In the UK, every two minutes a man takes his life. In Ireland, provisional figures by the Central Statistics Office show there were 352 suicide deaths in 2018 – 282 were male and 70 were female. Across
the world there is a suicide every 40 seconds (male and female). These are all startling statistics. Men are less likely to talk to someone about how they are feeling than women. So let’s help end the silence. Some of us still think that Christians should never get depressed or feel suicidal and if we are, we are letting God down in some way. Maybe we need to take a closer look at some of the Old Testament prophets like Jeremiah or Elijah. It took Helen a period of time to pluck up the courage and come forward to engage in counselling. Helen was listened to and resourced to deal with the trauma of her past, enabling her to face the future with hope and confidence. Fresh Light counselling has a team of professionally trained counsellors who are able to deal with a wide range of issues. These include: anxiety; depression; suicidal thoughts; self-harm; low selfesteem; bereavement; sexual abuse; domestic violence; work-related stress; and relationship difficulties. As our leaflet states, we are available to those of all faiths and none. Anyone can refer themselves to our counselling ministry and no issue is too small. All our counsellors have a strong Christian faith and are committed to standards of best practice and ethics in their counselling. With God’s help we seek to bring hope, strength and comfort into difficult life situations. Stephanie Windrum, the coordinator of the ministry, explains a little of the origins of Fresh Light: “In early 1990, the South Belfast Presbytery identified a demand for couples’ counselling; by June 1993 several volunteer counsellors worked from Church House under the banner of ‘Marriage Care Counselling’. Since then, the ministry has developed and witnessed numerous changes.
“Currently counselling is managed by the Council for Congregational Life and Witness and since 2017 is known as ‘Fresh Light’. These changes reflect an expanding and developing role for the ministry. It provides support in a number of areas, including Ballymena, Ballynahinch, Belfast, Lisburn, Lurgan, and Magherafelt.
Fresh Light supports congregational pastoral care but can offer another level of counselling expertise… “As a form of Christian counselling, Fresh Light counsellors operate within the framework of PCI’s Theology, Ethics and Practice. They offer a confidential counselling ministry for adults in distress and are able to respond in a Christlike manner. They meet people where they are and seek to take them forward through a caring and empathic approach which can result in inner healing and spiritual restoration.” Rev David Thompson, Secretary for the Council of Congregational Life and Witness, comments: “Fresh Light supports congregational pastoral care but can offer another level of counselling expertise, bringing additional support to a congregation. Individuals
can apply directly to avail of the ministry or be signposted by a minister, friend or family member. The service is open to everyone. Those who arrive at our door will be welcomed and supported. We desire to offer counselling based on the Bible’s understanding of life and the world.” As chairperson of the panel, I commend this ministry to all people struggling with mental health issues – perhaps like Helen you are dying to talk! Please get in touch. A recent Fresh Light male client expressed the difference it made to his life in the following way: “I attended Fresh Light for my anxiety and panic attacks. I have recently started a new job and find myself loving it. I know I couldn’t have done that without my counsellor from Fresh Light. A big thank you!” Further details about how to make a first appointment to explore the type of help on offer and the process leading to ongoing support can be made by telephoning +44(0)28 9261 0586 on weekdays between 9am and 1pm. Messages can be left on the answering machine outside of these hours. A short video is available to show in churches at www.presbyterianireland.org/ freshlight Paul Jamieson is minister of Hillhall Presbyterian Church and chairperson of the Fresh Light advisory group.
To watch a short film about the work of Fresh Light, please visit www.presbyterianireland.org/unitedappeal
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Becoming mentally aware Sarah Harding talks to Dr Ken Yeow about his insights and advice into the whole area of mental health.
D
r Ken Yeow is a consultant psychiatrist who is currently working in the field of intellectual disability, having previously specialised in eating disorders. He has aided PCI in its work with mental health for many years, having been a keynote speaker at ‘Breaking the Silence’ (a Youth Assembly initiative back in 2014) and is a regular seminar speaker at PCI’s pastoral care roadshow (regional events aimed at training congregations in pastoral care). He is passionate about helping churches and individuals to tackle the problem of ill-mental health, and says it’s unclear whether the problems associated with it are getting worse or whether there is just more awareness. “It’s hard to know…you hear about it more. I think the stigma is becoming less. In the media it’s quite an open topic…So that’s certainly helped reduce the awkwardness of the issue.” He believes there are a number of factors contributing to poor mental health in our society today: “Families are not as cohesive as before; new technology; social media; pace of life; complexity. We share the burden of global distress, so I think the way in which information is so quickly and intensely distributed is key. It’s information overload and our brains are not fully prepared to handle all that. “But then again, I’ve only lived less than 50 years. If I was living during World War Two – would I have said that was a stressful time? Or during the Roman Empire? Are there just cycles of intense periods in life? Maybe it’s hard whenever you live.” Perhaps one thing that is different about our current age lies in our ability to handle stressful situations and our
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Dr Ken Yeow
apparent lack of resilience to cope. Dr Yeow cites the rise of the self-esteem movement, dating back to the 1960s, which began a focus on nurturing the inner being. “The risk is you sway too much towards being self-focused and thinking of your own needs primarily. You need a balance of the inward (dealing with stuff on the inside), but there also needs to be an outward focus – the ability to help others and contribute to society. That’s a more fully orbed approach to mental health.” Dr Yeow believes that expressing emotion in a healthy way is a significant factor to maintaining good mental health. “The inability to cope with/ express/share/process/work through emotional difficulties in a healthy way, means it comes out in a less healthy way. Addictions is a good example of that. If you’ve learnt to cope with your distress or conflict through the use of a substance or an activity that brings temporary relief, then you can very easily get stuck in a cycle of addiction.”
Spiritual health Dr Yeow is clear that the whole area of mental health is intertwined with our spiritual health. “We have body, mind and spirit and we’re all one, so you can’t divorce your physical body and your mental life from your spiritual life.”
He recognises that there is often a difficulty for individuals or churches when dealing with the issue because of the guilt that can be present – caused by the assumption that people of faith should not struggle mentally. “We need to get better at that – that’s why I enjoy doing seminars and talking to people, because churches have a role to teach people well about these things and to have a mature view on it. There are many instances where good professional help is needed in addition to any spiritual practices or disciplines.” However, he also identifies that situations can be complicated. “The Christian life is one of seeking to become more Christlike – of holiness and purity. And there is such a thing as sin, and such a thing as disobedience, and those things in themselves can lead to mental health struggles. If you are living in persistent, flagrant disobedience and sin, then it would not be inappropriate to have some negative feelings about it, which may well motivate you to check and repent and come back to the Lord. So, we need to get better at the emotional and supportive side, but we also need to get better at the admonition and pastoral discipline side of things.”
Church response So, are we as the church getting better at broaching the subject of mental health and tackling it? Dr Yeow believes so. “In my little sphere, I’ve had the opportunity to meet with different Churches [denominations] and do talks here and there. The very fact that Churches are organising these things is a great sign. What I would like to see is some central coordination where you can bring these Churches together and encourage one another.”
Recognising signs Life is full of ups and downs and there will be normal stresses and strains that accompany that. So, what are some of the signs when we should be concerned about our own mental health or the health of someone close to us? “Two important things to think about are distress and function – so if somebody appears very distressed and they’re very preoccupied with a problem or if their function drops, be it at school, at work or at home…they generally need more support and help.
We all feel difficult things…The ability to express that and share that…it’s very necessary. It’s part of the Christian life.
“If it’s a problem of stress, burnout or exhaustion, bordering on depression, then the ability to be aware of that is helpful. A lot of things in mental health start with awareness – if you’re not aware, you’re not going to do anything about it.” Awareness is also crucial for friends and loved ones, although intervening to suggest someone needs help can be tricky. Navigating conversations can require wisdom and sensitivity. The first thing Dr Yeow recommends for this is prayer. “Your first starting point is ‘Help Lord!’” There needs to be an openness and honesty that allows the person who is struggling to feel safe and able to talk and accept help, although Dr Yeow acknowledges that this is “all very difficult”. It very much depends on the nature of the situation and the severity of it as to how a loved one should deal with it, and in extreme instances where there is threat to life, emergency services should be sought immediately.
Prevention In all instances of mental health problems, Dr Yeow believes that awareness is extremely significant in prevention. “The trick is finding what works for you. One person’s stress relieving mechanism is somebody else’s anxiety provoking mechanism… If watching a Netflix series actually helps you to relax and puts you in a better frame of mind, there’s a place for that.”
Illustration Barry Falls
Training people in congregations who are involved in pastoral care is an important element. “Awareness is a big thing, and the ability to be the kind of people that can draw others out. So, listening well, taking time, not feeling compelled to jump in with solutions – these are skills. Some of these things can take years to develop, but they are things that everyone can grow in.” Dr Yeow is also keen to point out that churches must be very careful to maintain confidentiality when dealing with these difficult issues. “It’s one thing to say the church needs to be involved, but at the same time, there’s a lot of wisdom in how you do it in a way that’s sensitive and doesn’t betray confidence.” It’s important to realise too that churches have a great opportunity to help families and young people with mental health, as the evidence shows that helping people to have good practices lays a good foundation for the future; creating a culture of healthy expression of emotions and supporting parents to create that kind of culture at home can be of real benefit. Dr Yeow says, “We all feel difficult things, that’s part of life. It’s not a bad thing, it’s not sinful, it’s not something to be ashamed of. The ability to express that and share that and to gather with others with shared difficulties – it’s very necessary. It’s part of the Christian life.”
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As well as the usual advice of taking care of our nutrition, exercising and getting enough rest, Dr Yeow points out: “From a Christian perspective, I would have to say it does start with your relationship with God. That’s a great source of strength – having the kind of relationship where you can bring everything to him and not be afraid to talk about the pain and the confusion in his presence.” This is also where the church can play a part. “Growing in faith and getting good teaching, being discipled well and being in a healthy church” are all things Dr Yeow highlights as being very helpful. Whilst there are times when we will all struggle and other times when some of us will need professional help to deal with difficulties, Dr Yeow, in his book Personal
A lot of things in mental health start with awareness – if you’re not aware, you’re not going to do anything about it.” Freedom, reminds us that God is with us throughout. “…we no longer need to fear our difficulties/struggles/trials but see them as instruments of transformation. We can embrace them as the very things that will bring us closer to God and deeper in him. In fact, the more challenging a situation is, the more grace that we stand to experience and the better the training in righteousness we receive!”
Mental health resources for pastoral care Tom Finnegan, PCI’s Training Development Officer, outlines some recommendations for pastoral care in our congregations in regard to mental health. Mental health is one of those areas of pastoral care in which we have to turn to the experts. However, there are two key ways in which ministers, elders and others providing pastoral care can help. One is in the first response to an immediate need. This involves recognising a potentially serious mental health problem and helping the person obtain the expert attention they require. The second way pastoral care complements expert help is through ongoing pastoral support. Both of these ways of helping require some knowledge of mental health problems. There are a number of resources available to equip those providing pastoral care with the basic skills required. One of the best ways to be equipped is to attend a two-day mental health first aid course. The course is similar in format to a normal first aid course. It covers common mental health problems along with ways to respond and provide support. Subjects covered include understanding what professional help is available, accessing suicide risk, the basics of depression, anxiety disorders, psychosis and substance use disorders. Mental health first aid courses are often run by mental health charities like Aware NI and are sometimes available free of charge. The best way to find a course is to Google ‘mental health first aid’ and search for one in your local area. Anyone involved in a full- or part-time role in pastoral care would greatly benefit from attending a course. Those who provide pastoral care on a voluntary basis, either formally or informally (perhaps with a family member or friend), to people who have mental health difficulties would also find the course helpful.
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Personal Freedom: How the gospel can be good for your mental health by Ken Yeow £5 Dr Ken Yeow, a consultant psychiatrist in Northern Ireland, integrates an understanding of the gospel with mental health problems. This book is intended to be read by people who may be struggling with mental health problems but could also be very useful for those providing pastoral care to people with mental health problems.
In addition, the following resources are available from the Presbyterian Church in Ireland: Short video on mental health: www.presbyterianireland.org/pastorallifevideos This video (which includes three optional discussion questions) could be shown to the congregation to raise awareness of pastoral care and mental health or used with elders or a pastoral care team for a short training session. Training module on mental health awareness and pastoral care. This training module complete with trainer and participant notes is designed for use with elders and pastoral care teams. It is available on request by email from clw@presbyterianireland.org Mental health resources list: www.presbyterianireland.org/mentalhealthresources This extensive resource list signposts mental health resources and services in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Included in the resource list is a list of books. Two books which are of great value to anyone who is involved in congregational pastoral care are: Personal Freedom: How the gospel can be good for your mental health by Dr Ken Yeow and Mindful of the Light: Practical help and spiritual hope for mental health by Dr Stephen Critchlow. Fresh Light. This ministry of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland offers counselling for a variety of stressful life circumstances arising from, but not limited to, relationship difficulties, bereavement and loss, abuse, lack of trust, childlessness, sexual health, family issues, anxiety and depression. An appointment for counselling can be made by telephoning +44 (0)28 9261 0586 on weekdays between 9am and 1pm.
FEBRUARY 2020
Mission Connect
The challenge of church planting
In the wee small hours Rev Ken Doherty
Mission news from workers around Ireland and the world.
God’s tender touch Eleanor Drysdale Entering a new chapter John McCandless Providing witness through words and actions Rev Jonathan Porter Alert and ready to adapt Peter and Jayne Fleming
Every aspect of our Church’s mission depends to some extent on United Appeal. Hundreds of projects and programmes at home and overseas are helping to advance God’s kingdom, showing God’s love in action to hundreds of thousands of people.
The challenge of church planting James and Heather Cochrane
Including February prayer diary
In the wee small hours Rev Ken Doherty
Chaplain, Mater Hospital, Belfast
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ne night recently, I was called out to one of the sites of It is important to say that we miss out on many patients we the Belfast Trust in the wee small hours of the morning. would like to see, for they do not appear on our in-patient lists. It was another emergency, another patient in a critical This applies to every denomination, and probably every hospital condition. The person concerned had been admitted just a few in every trust area. The reasons for this are many and varied. hours previously. Surgery was not an option. On my arrival I met Sometimes patients are very ill on admission and can answer with the whole family. I talked with the patient, read a portion of very few questions, if any. Sometimes they feel that they will Scripture and prayed a simple but sincere prayer. The response be admitted for only a few days at most and would not wish to was remarkable. In the patient’s semi-conscious state, she was able trouble the chaplain. Some patients are very private, and do not to mouth the Scripture reading along with me word for word. After wish to disclose their denomination to anyone. Some describe we had prayed, she opened themselves as Christian, not her eyes and looked up knowing that there is no code The patient is always central. intently. Then, moments later, in the system for such a (logical) she passed away. One of the description! Sometimes a Each patient has the right to the best family explained that some patient will say that their own pastoral care we can provide. years previously her mum had minister will visit. However, given her heart to the Lord. sometimes patients are not The whole family was deeply grateful for what seemed like such a asked by anyone (at the point of admission) what faith group miraculous sequence of events. they belong to. I would encourage every colleague in the parish The work of the chaplaincy goes on day by day and night by ministry to note the above points, and bring them to the attention night. There is always someone either on duty or on call. Of course, of their parishioners on a regular basis. Then when someone is we do not work alone. We work alongside the local parish minister, admitted they will know what to expect, what to say at that crucial the local church visitation team and our colleagues and partners time; or if the patient isn’t capable of answering, the next of kin across the many different disciplines in the clinical setting. We will be able to answer on their behalf. learn very quickly that to everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven. There is a time to speak as well Please pray: as a time to be quiet; a time to grieve as well as a time to dance • Give thanks for Ken and the other PCI hospital chaplains and the (Ecclesiastes 3). important work they do. The patient is always central. Each patient has the right to the • Pray that God will guide them in their pastoral care with each best pastoral care we can provide. We may only see a patient once individual person. or twice, so every visit has to be a positive experience. Mission Connect | Herald February 2020
God’s tender touch
Eleanor Drysdale
Deaconess, Wellington Presbyterian Church, Ballymena
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have served in Wellington as a deaconess since October 2001, mum’s bed in accident and emergency at 4am to check you are with responsibilities in the areas of pastoral care, women’s okay because she recognised the name on the list. ministry and prayer. The majority of my week is taken up with So often I have been the one who has had the privilege of being pastoral care, meeting with people in their homes or in hospital. there for other people, walking with them through both the joys I also lead a women’s Bible and the sorrows, yet God study fortnightly on a Thursday constantly reminds me that Pastoral care is a vital part of our church morning, as well as helping to I am part of a church family lead a Life Group of women and that there are times when ministry, and God has given me the privilege I need to let the family care on a Thursday evening. The ministry to women includes for me – that isn’t always easy. of walking with many people. being part of the team leading But I have been so blessed Wellington PW. I am also by those who have walked involved with helping to lead and train the congregation’s prayer and prayed with me, members of my women’s Bible study group, ministry team. my Life Group, members of Presbyterian Women and individuals Pastoral care is a vital part of our church ministry, and God has throughout the church family. given me the privilege of walking with many people for 18 years. “And he will raise you up on eagle’s wings He has allowed me to see a generation grow up and start to make Bear you on the breath of dawn their own way in life. He has allowed me to see people come to Make you to shine like the sun faith and to watch their faith grow. There have been times when I And hold you in the palm of his hand.” have watched people walk away from God and that is painful, but Shane and Shane, Psalms live, Psalm 91 regardless, the pastoral care continues in the hope that they would turn back to God. Please pray: Sometimes the most special moments of God’s tender touch • Give thanks to God that he knows exactly when we need come when you least expect them. The wee boy with autism who encouragement and rest. suddenly holds your hand as you walk down the corridor; the child • Give thanks for the privilege of being his servant and being able who is profoundly deaf suddenly seems to hear what you have to journey with people. asked him and replies; the mum who is dealing with lots of her • Pray for Eleanor as she continues her work in pastoral care own problems, yet sends you a text at 7.15am to ask how you are, ministry at Wellington. knowing things have been difficult; the nurse who arrives at your Mission Connect | Herald February 2020
Entering a new chapter John McCandless
Community outreach worker, Mountpottinger and McQuiston Memorial churches, Belfast
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love the sentiment of this heartfelt message from Peter Pan: support and co-workers. I have learned more than I have given “Never say goodbye, because saying goodbye means going in this place. I have watched as the toddlers’ group has grown away, and going away means forgetting.” and developed and taken much encouragement from seeing Last September, this phrase was important to me when my the support it has given to parents and carers in the community. days serving as a community outreach worker in Mersey Street We have been blessed to see the men’s group on a Friday grow Presbyterian Church came to an end after 13 years. in number and also in heart, as the men meet together there. It was my home church for Partnering and meeting almost 40 years. It was a place We have been blessed to see the men’s group on up with other like-minded where so many people over churches in south Belfast. the years encouraged me, and McQuiston is where I did my a Friday grow in number and also in heart, a place where I spent so many accredited preacher training as the men meet together. hours being taught. It helped and I have been accepted to shape me as a follower of well by the volunteers and Christ and a doer of his work. Thank you, people of Mersey Street staff here. Already I have been adopted into many groups, young congregation! and not so young, as well as people’s hearts as we work together, October 2019 saw me enter a new chapter in my life of reaching partners in sharing God’s love. I thank you for your prayers. out to people. Whilst continuing to work with Mountpottinger Presbyterian, I am now excited to work also with McQuiston Memorial. They are both endearing to me and each of them have influenced me, built me up and been an encouragement in my ministry for some years. We have planned some joint ventures in the community and with members. The work I have been entrusted with is very wide Please pray: and varied. Toddler groups and after-school groups, men’s lunch • Give thanks for a vision of reaching out to others with Christ’s club and community lunch group. Relationship evangelism in a love. ‘coffee and craic’ setting, seniors’ groups and youth organisations, • Give thanks for seeing people reached and changed. peppered with some sharing and teaching ministry. • Give thanks and pray for those who support John’s work in Over the past seven years, the people of Mountpottinger prayer. congregation, in the same way as Mersey Street, have been my Mission Connect | Herald February 2020
Providing witness through words and actions
Rev Jonathan Porter
Minister of Dundalk Presbyterian Church
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undalk Presbyterian Church is a small congregation located Dundalk soup kitchen. In October 2019 we started a parent and in the centre of the major town in County Louth in Ireland. toddler group in our church hall, and we have been amazed at the Since August 2019, it has been my privilege to be the great response by members of the local community. This has been minister of this church. a wonderful opportunity for us as a church to get to know some There is always a warm welcome on Sunday mornings when the of the young families in the area. Throughout all these events and congregation meets together clubs, we seek to be a witness to worship God. The church for Christ through our words My hope is that we as a church will be a people and actions. family comprises a good mix of younger and older people, of prayer, a people who are a blessing in our town As we enter a new year, I children and families, bornam excited about all that God and a people who seek to promote the good news has planned for us here in and-bred Dundalk locals and people from different countries Dundalk. This year, my hope to everyone. and cultures. The cultural is that we as a church will be a diversity was evident at our people of prayer, a people who carol service in December when 12 different church members read are a blessing in our town and a people who seek to promote the Isaiah 9:6 in their native languages, including Indonesian, French good news to everyone. and African, to name a few. Thank you all for your prayers and support. If you are ever in One of our aims as a church is to proclaim the gospel. Sunday Dundalk on a Sunday morning, please call in and join us for morning services give us the opportunity to do that, and the tea worship as we would love to see you. and coffee we enjoy together afterwards allows us to connect with one another and greet visitors and newcomers. Throughout the week, we have two Bible study groups aimed at enabling people Please pray: to discuss God’s Word together in a relaxed environment. • Give thanks for God’s continued faithfulness to the church over Our church also aims to reach out into our local town. Over the the years. years the church has established a good reputation within the • Give thanks for all those connected with our church. town through various events and community-focused groups. • Pray that God would bless the preaching of his Word. The church’s bowls club is well supported by people from different • Pray that God would build his church and enable us to serve backgrounds and religions, and we engage with the whole town him. through events like our annual car boot sale. Throughout the • Pray for opportunities to share the gospel with others. year our Presbyterian Women group runs various events that not • Pray for myself and my family as we settle into the town and the only provide opportunities for fellowship, but also raise sizeable life of the church. amounts of money to support local charities, including the Mission Connect | Herald February 2020
Alert and ready to adapt
Peter and Jayne Fleming Global mission workers in Nepal
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nyone travelling the busy roads of Kathmandu knows how see the role of the church in the world; visiting actual projects important it is to be alert and ready to alter direction at and encouraging local congregations and leaders; spending time a moment’s notice depending on what traffic, potholes, with cluster team leaders to support and care for them in the pedestrians, roadworks or cattle are coming your way. Like moving challenges of leadership in isolated places. along the roads, our work and responsibilities continue to demand One of the most positive developments in recent times has been that we are ready to adapt the reception given to two rapidly. books produced with the help When Christians live like Jesus, they are It is a regular experience of UMN (one in English, the at Kathmandu International other Nepali). These are now bringing glory to him and contributing to Study Centre (KISC) to be being used widely. The English the betterment of society. saying goodbye to a number book on integral mission has of children and also to be sold out and a revision is about welcoming new ones as parents move from one place of work to to begin before a reprint. Since these books are making an impact, another. That means regular change for Jayne and her class as they it will be well worth the effort. lose some and begin the settling-in process for others who may On the roads, we make constant adjustment, but the end have come from Korea, America, Netherlands, UK, Australia, India destination remains the same. Likewise, as life and responsibilities or Nepal itself. adjust nearly every week, our hopes and goals remain. We are In United Mission to Nepal (UMN) there has been an ongoing living in this country as very happy guests. We are learning and change process over many years, and in the last two years this enjoying so much and seeking to honour God by living in his has accelerated. Throughout the eight clusters and two hospitals presence and sharing his grace. All this with the desire that people there are a huge range of projects being carried out through the experience fullness of life for all in a transformed Nepali society. work of UMN staff and local partner organisations and people ‘on the ground’. It is almost impossible to grasp the range of it all, and nothing stands still. Please pray: Peter’s work is mainly focused on motivating Nepali Christians • Pray for Jayne in the daily work of helping children both learn to play a positive part in the community, serving others and and adjust to life in school and Nepal. going the extra mile in seeking to do good to all. Ultimately the • Pray for Peter in all his relationships with UMN staff and partners motivation for this is our Lord, the ‘suffering servant’ who went as he tries to encourage them to follow the example of Christ. all the way in demonstrating the love of God. When Christians • Pray for UMN and the ability to adjust to changing live like Jesus, they are bringing glory to him and contributing to circumstances in this nation – there are many significant the betterment of society. Peter’s time is divided in many ways: challenges ahead in coming months. engaging with theological writers and lecturers; helping students Mission Connect | Herald February 2020
The challenge of church planting
James and Heather Cochrane Global mission workers in Portugal
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here are more people on the move today than ever evangelical church in Portugal is a foreign import. before. According to the United Nations, the number of In the last 18 months Comunidade Pedras Vivas (CPV) has international migrants in the world reached 272 million experienced 200% growth due to immigrants arriving from Brazil. in 2019 with Europe hosting the largest number (82 million), It has been exciting as our small numbers swelled into a dynamic followed by northern America (59 million) and northern Africa and body of believers, transforming our worship services and bringing western Asia (49 million). It is not surprising that this movement of new enthusiasm to the small group. While we continue to be people has a significant impact delighted to have our Brazilian on global mission and church brothers and sisters among us, Our desire is to develop a kingdom culture… planting strategies. we are aware that we could be At the end of November perceived as a foreign church. the picture we see in Revelation with peoples 2019, James attended a It is a constant challenge and European Evangelical Mission from every nation, language, race and tongue we continue to grapple with Association (EEMA) conference the questions mentioned worshipping the Lamb. in Budapest, Hungary which above. Will CPV become a reflected on the opportunities Brazilian church and remain and challenges associated with church planting among diaspora separated from Portuguese culture? Are we doing everything immigrant communities in Europe. Some of the questions which to be culturally sensitive to the host culture? Is it possible to were grappled with were: Should immigrant churches reflect develop a kingdom culture which transcends both? Because of their own culture and, in so doing, remain isolated from the host the common language of Portuguese, our desire is to develop a culture? Or should they become assimilated by the host culture? kingdom culture. Surely this is the picture we see in Revelation Or, is there a third option of developing a ‘kingdom’ culture which with peoples from every nation, language, race and tongue transcends both? It was interesting to hear the testimonies of worshipping the Lamb. mission workers throughout Europe who face the challenge of church planting among diaspora people. Within Portugal there are more immigrants than ever before with Please pray: over 480,000 immigrants from other European countries including • Give thanks that God’s sovereign hand is over the movement of Romania, Ukraine, France and UK, and from the former African people groups throughout Europe and the world. colonies of Cape Verde, Angola and Mozambique, but the largest • Pray for CPV, as it receives immigrants from Brazil, as well as immigrant group is from Brazil (one in every five immigrants). reaching out to the nation of Portugal. Historically the growth of the evangelical church in Portugal, • Pray that through the small group ministry in CPV, people would which accounts for less than 1% of the population, coincides be challenged about how to live as salt and light in the reality of with waves of immigration. This brings a boost of believers to the Portuguese culture. live in Portugal, but does little to dispel the perception that the Mission Connect | Herald February 2020
FEBRUARY 2020
Please pray for... n URBAN MISSION – The work and witness of Strand congregation in east Belfast, and for the minister, Rev Danny Rankin. Pray especially for the congregation’s small groups.
n NEPAL –The United Mission to Nepal (UMN); seeking to serve the people of Nepal, particularly those living in poverty. Pray for UMN’s work in the areas of education, healthcare, livelihoods, disaster response, integral development and peacebuilding.
n HOME MISSION – Rev Rodney Thompson and Glenelly congregation. Pray for the ongoing ministry of the Word and for the presence of the Holy Spirit.
n DISABILITY SERVICES – Willow Brook sheltered housing in Coleraine, Aaron House residential care home in Dundonald and Lawnfield House residential home in Newcastle provide a range of care and accommodation for people requiring additional needs and special care arrangements. Pray for staff in these units, for patience and flexibility.
n PORTUGAL – Chris and Rachel Humphries who began serving with the church planting team in Senhora da Hora, Porto last March. Pray for them as they continue to learn Portuguese and build relationships with people in the church and the community.
n RUSSIA – Pray for staff and students at the St Petersburg Christian University. Pray too for the new course in Practical Theology which was introduced at the end of January.
n DEACONESS – Tracey Nicholl serving in St James’ Ballymoney. Pray for the congregation’s new project ‘Living Hope Community’. n HOME MISSION – The congregation Tracey Nicholl of Smithborough in Monaghan Presbytery and for Rev Alan McQuade. Pray for the development of the congregation’s youth work.
n HOME MISSION – The life and witness of Carlow and Athy congregations and for the minister, Rev Stephen Rea. Give thanks for a number of immigrants who have joined Carlow congregation.
n ZAMBIA – More than two million people in Zambia are relying on food aid following the two years of poor rainfall and failed harvests. Pray for all those affected and pray too for the work and witness of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian, Zambia Synod at this difficult time.
n CHAPLAINS – Rev Mark Proctor, in his role as chaplain in Tallaght Hospital, Dublin, giving thanks for the frequent opportunities he has to share Christian hope with patients and their families. n HOME MISSION – The congregations of First Bailieborough, Trinity Bailieborough, Corraneary and Ervey. Pray for Rev John O’Donnell as he continues to settle into ministry there.
n MENTAL WELLBEING – The dawning of a new year is not a happy time for everyone. Pray especially for young people who find the demands of modern life so difficult to cope with and for single parents and those on Universal Credit who struggle daily to make ends meet. n COMMUNITY OUTREACH – John McCandless in all his work with Mountpottinger and McQuiston congregations in east Belfast. Give thanks for the encouragements of seeing people reached for Christ. n HOME MISSION – Rev Helen Freeburn and Galway congregation. Pray for a deepening commitment to Christ, to his church and its mission. n NIGHTLIGHT – Linzie Cobain and the work of Nightlight in Belfast. Pray that God would continue to bless conversations staff and volunteers have with people on the streets. n CHAPLAINS – Pray that the Lord would continue to bless John Coulter’s links with the Christian Union at the Ulster University (Coleraine campus), so that he can be a useful resource to the young leaders there.
n PORTUGAL – James and Heather Cochrane as they lead the church plant called Comunidade Pedras Vivas in Senhora da Hora, and seek opportunities to build relationships and share the gospel with local people.
Pray that many of the refugees, asylum seekers and other local people who come to the Meeting Point will come to faith in Christ. n BRAZIL – Naomi Keefe as she continues reaching out to people in the Olinda area in north-east Brazil. Pray especially for the wheelbarrow book outreach in the community and for the contacts being made through it. n HOME MISSION – The congregation of Sandymount and the minister, Dr Katherine Meyer. Pray for their new gathering of parents and older children, coming together to explore faith and belonging as a lifelong adventure. n COMMUNITY OUTREACH – Christine Wilson serving in Lisnabreen, Bangor and for open hearts and minds as she speaks and lives out her faith among local families. n LEADERS IN TRAINING – Leaders from partner churches which PCI supports while they undertake further study aimed at helping their personal development for future ministry and leadership within their church and context. n HOME MISSION – The work and witness of Cahir and Fermoy congregations and for the minister, Rev William Montgomery. Pray for wisdom, creative thinking, and above all a heart of love, so that they genuinely reach out with the good news of the gospel. n DEACONESS – Heather McCracken, serving at the Royal Victoria Hospital and Belfast City Hospital as the assistant to the chaplain. Pray that many will benefit from her visits and pastoral support.
n ADULT SAFEGUARDING – is about adults at risk of harm, abuse or exploitation. As church members we need to be aware of how to prevent harm and what to do if we are concerned about individuals within our congregations. Pray for PCI Head of Safeguarding, Jacqui Montgomery-Devlin, as she supports congregations and the homes and units with James and Heather Cochrane difficult situations.
n SPECIALIST SERVICES COMMITTEE – oversees the work of Thompson House, Carlisle House, Gray’s Court and the Fresh Start programme for volunteering at Hydebank. Remember Rev John Stanbridge, convener, and the committee members as they encourage and advise managers and staff. n INTERNATIONAL MEETING POINT – Henry Coulter as he continues to serve at the International Meeting Point (south Belfast).
n NEPAL – Peter Fleming in his work in integral development with the United Mission to Nepal and Jayne Fleming as she teaches at Kathmandu International Study Centre. n HOME MISSION – Give thanks for those who gather each week from many different backgrounds in Sligo congregation to worship together, where Rev David Clarke is the minister. Pray that God’s Spirit might move powerfully to impart new life.
www.presbyterianireland.org/prayer
TALKING POINTS
Let’s keep talking
Norman Hamilton affirms the need for good friendships and honest conversations to aid our mental health.
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close friend of mine has faced serious mental health are equally well set out in graphic language in the book of issues for much of his adult life. He has been on James – especially chapter three. I am firmly of the view that heavy medications from time to time, as well as the ability to have good conversations with other people is spending some time in hospital receiving significant something that really does need to be learned and to be under medical treatment. Alongside his journey towards mental the guidance of the Holy Spirit. health he has had a remarkable spiritual journey as well, and is The other main lesson my friend has taught me is that mental a robust committed follower of Jesus. It has been, and still is, illness must not be a taboo subject in conversation, not least a huge privilege to have him as a friend, for I have learned a since it affects so many people. Mental Health Ireland state number of things over the years as we have shared some of the clearly: “Mental illness is common. It affects thousands of ups and downs of life’s journey together. It continues to be a people in Ireland, and their friends, families, work colleagues very instructive journey, for what I have learned in our ongoing and society in general.” In Northern Ireland, recent research relationship has wide application with family, colleagues, other shows that around a third of 11 to 16-year-olds have had friends, strangers and people in every walk of life. concerns or worries about their mental health. And lest there be One of the main lessons I have learned any doubt about the scale of the problem …the ability to have is the importance of not only taking the in our churches, I was told recently of a time to build good relationships with each good conversations with Christian youth group where 40% of those other, but the critical need to keep them in involved spoke of having had suicidal good repair, for all of us struggle at various other people is thoughts. points in our lives with what life brings. I am hugely privileged never to have had something that really Proverbs 17 expresses this beautifully: “A to face mental health issues myself. That is does need to be friend loves at all times, and a brother is one of the reasons why my friendship with born for a time of adversity.” We live in a someone who has had to face them has learned… harsh world where a so-called friend can been so important to me, for he has been be ‘unfriended’ at the click of a button on my teacher. And as my understanding has Facebook, and where so many of us have lots of acquaintances grown, so has my awareness of just how many other friends but very few ‘real’ friends who will care for us through thick have struggles too. I am no expert in mental health issues, and thin. Christian people do need to be especially careful to and have no desire to be one. So I have great respect for, and love and care for others over the long haul, especially in times appreciation of, those whose vocation and training enables them of adversity, since we are on the receiving end of such love to offer professional help and support. Yet I have also come to and mercy from Christ himself. Worthwhile friendships do recognise that as an ordinary Christian, I too have a ministry need lots of tender loving care at times, for if friendships are through ongoing friendship and support for people as they face allowed to fracture, there is a huge amount of damage to those many different kinds of mental health issues. And that should immediately involved – and often others as well. be the norm in every congregation too – including yours. Closely allied to the importance of sustained friendship is the need to encourage thoughtful conversation about the effect of mental illness. It is so important to listen carefully, and seek to understand as best we can the needs and struggles involved, as well as the dreams and hopes that often also emerge. Not many of us are good listeners – and that means we are all too ready to interrupt, or switch the conversation to matters with which we are more comfortable. Personally, I try not to have substantial conversations with anyone by text or even phone – and certainly not by email or social media. Talking face to face on complex or sensitive matters is so much better (though I accept that it is not always possible). The making of good conversation, and Rev Dr Norman Hamilton its great value, is well explained in Proverbs 10, and is worth reading, re-reading and learning to put into practice. On the Norman Hamilton is minister emeritus of other hand, the dangers of poor conversation and poor language Ballysillan Presbyterian Church. Herald February 2020
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Right in front
of you
Dr Sharon Hastings discusses her own battles with mental health and asserts that we need to dispel the stigma and help support sufferers who might be right in front of us. “An evil presence hovers over my left shoulder. Bird-like creatures flap their wings in my peripheral vision, their shrill cries mocking me. I shudder slightly and pull my hair around my face. Messages are coming into my brain from an unseen network and I’m frightened that my thoughts are being broadcast too. I look down, trying to focus on the book open in my lap. “Where am I?” …I’m sitting in the pew right in front of you.
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s a Church, we are getting better at having conversations about mental health. This edition of the Herald is an excellent example of the hard work of many groups and individuals who seek to raise awareness of conditions such as depression, anxiety and stress within our denomination.
Are we afraid? But statistics suggest that there will be around five people in a congregation of 200 who suffer from more severe, lifelong
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forms of mental illness – schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or schizoaffective disorder. They are ‘sitting in the pew right in front of you’ and yet their conditions are rarely spoken of. We know much less about them and, if we’re honest, they scare us a little. After all, don’t people with paranoid schizophrenia commit heinous crimes? It’s true: there are rare instances where people with severe mental illness do things which they would be very unlikely to do if they were receiving optimal treatment and care. What is less well known is that these highly vulnerable individuals are much more likely to be victims of crime than to perpetrate it.
…there will be around five people in a congregation of 200 who suffer from more severe, lifelong forms of mental illness…
Stigma or grace? Because of these associations which people have with terms such as ‘schizo’, studies show that at least 87% of the mentally ill feel stigmatised on a regular basis. And stigma happens within the church: I find it much harder to tell someone that I have schizoaffective disorder than that I have a chest infection. What exactly is stigma anyway? A dictionary definition calls it a ‘mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality or person’ – in this case, with severe mental illness. If we as Christians are called to be “stewards of God’s grace” (1 Peter 4:10), then surely we should be ministering that grace to suffering people rather than marking them with disgrace.
“How long must I wrestle…?” It was stigma and misinformation around severe mental illness which prompted me to write my book, Wrestling with My Thoughts, in which I tell my story of living as a Christian with schizoaffective
Those of us who live with severe mental illness…can continue to praise God in our frailty… disorder. The title comes from Psalm 13:2, where King David writes, “How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart?” It comforts me to know that I am not alone in history to wrestle to get my wayward thoughts under control. That girl in the pew in front is me. I am suffering from psychosis, a separation from reality characterised by hallucinations (hearing or seeing things which others do not perceive – remember the evil presence and the jeering birds?) and delusions (having fixed beliefs which others know to be untrue – such as that messages are entering my brain from a network). Psychosis is a key feature of severe mental illness. It is treated with antipsychotic medications which reduce the impact of excess dopamine (a ‘neurotransmitter’ or chemical messenger) in the brain.
Know your diagnoses Schizophrenia is characterised by psychosis and a loss of some cognitive abilities so that sufferers may be unable to care for themselves adequately. Bipolar disorder is diagnosed where someone experiences both ‘manic’ (high) and depressive episodes (bipolar disorder used to be known as manic depression), often with psychotic symptoms occurring in line with the mood swings. Someone like me who has schizoaffective disorder will experience the highs and lows of bipolar disorder but also suffer from psychosis even when their mood is normal.
We really can help… There is no doubt that people with these illnesses are in our churches. So how can we be ministers of grace to them? Here are a few of my suggestions: Get informed. By reading this magazine, you have begun to do this already! Find out more about these illnesses and how they are managed. There are excellent resources online – try the websites of mental health charity, Mind (www.mind.org.uk), or the Royal College of Psychiatry (www.rcpsych.ac.uk) for a start.
Be aware of them. You may already be starting to wonder who in your congregation has such an illness. Is it that lady who dresses a bit unconventionally? Or that quiet young person who seems distracted in youth group? Or someone like me who may seem totally integrated one week but cannot make eye contact the next? Remember that mental illness is a hidden disability. Get to know the people on the fringes of your congregation and you may meet someone with a desperate private struggle. Let them tell their stories. You will only truly begin to understand severe mental illness by hearing what dayto-day life is like for the person who is suffering. It’s okay to ask someone about their ‘voices’ or how their extreme moods affect them. Get alongside them. If you realise that going to church services is hard for someone who is low or feeling paranoid, offer to sit with them at the back. If church is really too much, take them out for a coffee on Sunday afternoon or during the week instead. Volunteer to help. Could you offer a lift to a hospital appointment or support someone with joining a hobby group? Or give some time to a local charity such as MindWise (mindwisenv.org), which runs a volunteering programme within day centres and supported housing complexes? There are lots of ways to show Jesus’ love, and you are likely to find your own life is enriched by budding friendships. Involve them. Perhaps they want to serve coffee: pair up with them. Perhaps they are gifted musically: invite them to a praise group rehearsal. Perhaps they want to stay on the margins but their faith in adversity makes them a witness to others in the community: point that out. Pray for them (and for their carers too). Life with a severe mental illness is often unstable, frightening and exhausting.
Sometimes they can’t pray for themselves. This is a simple way to help them as they journey. Remember that Jesus gravitated to people whose illnesses made them ‘unclean’. Leprosy and persistent menstrual bleeding were two of the most stigmatising conditions of his time, yet he met their victims with love and healing (Matthew 9, Luke 17).
Frail but still praising Psalm 13 ends with these verses: “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.” David hasn’t stopped wrestling, but he is able to recognise God’s presence in the storm. Those of us who live with severe mental illness are unlikely to find healing in the sense of having our symptoms removed completely (though God is powerful and could do this), but with the support of our churches we, like David, can continue to praise God in our frailty, knowing the truth of 2 Corinthians 12:9: “But [ Jesus] said to me, ‘My grace is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” Sharon Hastings is the author of Wrestling with My Thoughts: A doctor with severe mental illness discovers strength published by IVP. She lives in Newcastle, County Down, with her husband and two dogs, and enjoys live music, reading nonfiction, and walking by the sea.
Wrestling with My Thoughts by Sharon Hastings (£9.99) tells the story of Sharon’s journey with severe and enduring mental illness. More details and a review of the book are available on p39.
33
Identity
Jamie Meaklim, founder of the Northern Irish organisation Made for More, highlights that when considering mental health in young people, identity is a key issue.
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t was over two years ago that I sat at my desk as a schoolteacher and felt God clearly give me a word: ‘identity’. It was as if scales had been removed from my eyes and I could now see the pain and turmoil going on in the lives of the young people around me. At the core of each issue was a lack of identity. These young people didn’t know who they were or why they were here. They had no purpose and they were desperately searching for the answers in all the wrong places. For me the answer was clear: ‘You were created to know Jesus’. I had been a teacher for eight years, a job that I enjoyed and found fulfilling. However, something had been stirring inside me for a number of years which I can best describe as a ‘holy discontent’. This feeling inside my soul that God had something different for me, and wanted me to be prepared to go when
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called, changed my attitude towards him and towards my job. Suddenly, I felt an urgency to get more involved in the pastoral side of school and to try to build God’s kingdom right where I was. I started to mentor pupils and ask more questions about their situations. We set up a Scripture Union and a few members of staff met each week to pray for the pupils and the school. While waiting for God’s calling, I found myself changing. I was becoming more aware of the brokenness around me: the drug issues, the alcohol abuse, the serious mental
At the core of each issue was a lack of identity. These young people didn’t know who they were or why they were here.
health struggles, the broken homes and the lost young people. What was the cause? It became clear to me that a lack of identity was the problem. Hope and happiness would never be found in the world around them. They were created to follow and worship a person. They needed Jesus and I needed a way to tell them. This scenario was not unique to my school. In fact, it was a story playing out across Northern Ireland and, as I began to do some research, I discovered that it ran deeper than I ever thought possible: • 1 in 5 young people are currently struggling with a serious mental health issue; • 22% of 13-year-old girls and 9% of 13-year-old boys in the UK self-harm; • 33% of young adults say they feel hopeless; • 12 men every day in the UK die by suicide;
• Over 600 people took their own life in the last two years in Northern Ireland. The statistics go on and on and paint a very painful picture of our society. Add to that a growing drug culture and an increase in alcohol abuse, and it reveals a society that is broken and directly hurting our young people. It was at this point that I felt God prompting me to step out in faith and follow the calling he had placed upon my life. One morning, as I sat in the gym, I felt him telling me to set up an organisation that was built around him, that would focus on identity and try to help educate young people on the serious issues impacting our culture. After a conversation with my wife, we decided that we would move together into whatever path God put before us, trusting him for whatever was ahead. A few months later I would leave my job and ‘Made for More’ was born. Made for More is a Christian organisation that centres on teaching young people about the identity of God. By revealing who he is, we believe that we can help them understand their own identity and the relationship that God created them to have with him. We also seek to help young people understand the culture around them – how it attempts to shape them and pull them away from their creator. To achieve this, we go into schools and youth clubs directly addressing the very issues we know cause such struggles. Made for More delivers four different workshops which seek to educate young people in some of the biggest issues they face: mental health; self-esteem; drug awareness; and alcohol awareness. Each workshop is built around the Northern Ireland curriculum and is educationfocused, but at the centre of each session is a core message: who you are matters,
We want to remove the stigma…and educate them in the value of talking about their problems…before it’s too late. your life has value and we want you to make better choices. The Made for More team delivers these workshops in a fun and unique way, using games, music and crowd interaction to create an atmosphere that sometimes resembles a rock concert. However, in amongst the fun and games is a very important message that we know the young people need to hear: your life matters! God’s timing is perfect, and as Made for More began its journey into schools across the country, simultaneously the media began to focus on mental health issues. As a result, schools were quick to get on board and book our workshops for their pupils. Our mental health awareness workshop is now our most popular and it has one key aim – to create a generation of young people who are willing to talk about their mental health. We want to remove the stigma around this issue and educate them in the value of talking about their problems and seeking help before it’s too late. Following the NHS guidelines (Take 5 initiative), we also encourage young people to try to incorporate five steps into their daily lives, which can have a positive impact on mental health. When we can’t find the words to help, these steps are a great tool to encourage
someone we know may be struggling: Connect with others. Spending time with other people is one of the best things we can do, especially if we are feeling low or struggling. Be active. Exercise is great for us physically and mentally. This can range from high-intensity sport to a walk with the dog, but it is important that we get moving. Learn a new skill. Getting along to a class or focusing on a new fun task helps us to focus on something other than our personal struggles and can be the highlight of our day/week. Give to others. Helping other people in need is a great way to take the focus off your own struggles. Be mindful. This simply means taking time throughout the day to check on your own mental health. Are you feeling stressed or anxious? If so, why? What caused it and how can you relieve that stress? It helps to keep an eye on how we are feeling and take appropriate action before it becomes overwhelming. We have been amazed by all that God has done in the last 18 months through Made for More. We have spoken to over 20,000 people, delivered over 350 talks/workshops in more than 40 schools and 40 churches. Our team has grown from one person to seven and our online videos have been viewed over 65,000 times. We are so grateful to God for his leading and provision and cannot wait to see what he does next. To check out all that the team is up to, please follow us on Instagram or Facebook @madeformoreni. To book the team for your school or church you can contact us on our website www.madeformoreni.co.uk Herald February 2020
35
A complicated
grief
Ruth Sanderson looks at the tragedy and difficult grieving process related to suicide.
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short time ago, a friend’s partner died suddenly. Amidst the shock, we all asked questions: how did it happen? Surely a terribly accident? Underlying medical condition perhaps? Sadly, the answer was suicide. We were stunned; he was 40 years old, a business owner, seemingly happy in his relationship and had never given any hint at the mental darkness he had been fighting. His death was neat, organised and well thought through. Even our friend, who lived with him, was taken by surprise. She was of course devastated but fluctuated between being deeply angry with him for leaving her in such a way, and what she saw as desperately trying to protect his reputation by side-stepping the fact that he had taken his own life. She felt guilt; could she have been more attentive, noticed more in his behaviour in the final weeks? She felt rejection. Wasn’t her love enough for him? I’m sure those questions will continue to haunt her for the rest of her life. However, her scenario is replicated many times over. His death is part of the ever-growing epidemic of suicide. According to figures released by the Samaritans, since 2014, the rate of people taking their own lives has risen by 3.8% in the UK with 2% in England. In the Republic of Ireland, suicide rates have fallen by 13.5% to their lowest point since
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1993. Yet in Northern Ireland, the rate of suicide since 2014 has increased by 18.5%. According to the latest figures from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, 307 people died by suicide in 2018, with 228 being men, and 79 women. Interim figures suggest those numbers will rise when 2019 figures are released. Take a moment to absorb how abnormal NI’s rate is compared to its neighbours. In fact, from 2016 onwards the number of deaths by suicide since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement has outstripped the total number of people killed during the Troubles. Not only are suicide rates much higher in Northern Ireland, but the demographic is different too. In the rest of the UK those most at risk are men aged between 40 and 44; in NI, it’s men between 25 and 29. These are men who have largely grown up with little or no memory of a pre-Good Friday Agreement world. They have though, grown up in the shadow of the Troubles, with its long tail. The University of Ulster has investigated the impact intergenerational trauma has
It was a complicated grief. Guilt, abandonment, anger – it was all mixed in there.
on this generation; conflict, wherever it happens, galvanises people against a common cause. Yet when conflict ends, it leaves a void of purpose, and usually high levels of disproportionate poverty. Suicide though, is of course multifaceted and has many causes. While the Republic of Ireland has had a national strategy to reduce suicide since 2015, medical intervention is still shockingly lacking in Northern Ireland. Department of Health statistics suggest that we have a 25% higher prevalence of mental health problems than England, yet a 20% lower mental health budget per capita. Key strategies and funding streams have been unable to be released because of the lack of ministerial leadership in Stormont over the past three years. Of course, suicide affects all sorts of families and pervades into all kinds of situations. Its pernicious nature can take root anywhere. Christians are not exempt, yet somehow, we still lack some of the vocabulary to deal with it. Our faith is one of hope, and suicide seems to strip all hope away. Bronwen Kearney’s father took his own life several years ago. The family all had personal faith, and his death spun them into unknown territory. “There is no normal for this scenario. Suddenly you’re in a world without a map.”
She says she knew her dad wasn’t in a good place, but he didn’t say very much about it, and it’s only looking back that she can assess the seriousness of his mental health issues – at the time, none of the family realised how bad things were. “It’s hugely traumatic, and your life changes in a moment. Things are very messy in the wake of a suicide – police involvement, statements, post-mortems and what do you tell people? There was a real mix of reactions; I don’t think people really knew what to say so some crossed the street when they saw us or didn’t mention it when talking to us. The truth was, all we needed from people was an acknowledgement of what had happened.” It wasn’t Bronwen’s first experience of bereavement – her mother had died a few years beforehand, but she says the grief was totally different.
In 2018, 307 people died by suicide in NI
Rev Mairisíne Stanfield has had experience at the pastoral end of suicide, and guiding families through that complicated grief. In the early 2000s she was ministering in Ballynahinch and in a short space of time, she conducted funerals for six young men who had taken their own lives. “I felt such anger,” she recalls, “Not at God, but at the fact that these guys felt they had no hope.” The response of the local churches was to try and prevent more suicides happening. Together, they purchased an
The suicides of course took a toll on Mairisíne, who received counselling after that terrible time. “Emotionally it had taken its toll, and if I was telling people from the pulpit that they had to share more and talk more, then I had to practice what I preached. At that stage there was very little help for clergy, we weren’t specifically trained or equipped in how to deal with suicide and its aftermath.” This led Mairisíne and others to establishing ‘Flourish’. This is a partnership between Churches’ Community Work Alliance NI, Lighthouse Ireland and clergy from across the Christian Churches in NI. The overall aim of Flourish is to support churches and clergy in addressing the needs of people affected by suicide. “I think we need to have even more training,” says Mairisíne. “It should be
NI has a 25% higher rate of mental health problems than England
In 2018, 352 people died by suicide in ROI1
old shirt factory in the town and made it into a safe space for young people. There were no visible clergy, but rather about 40 volunteer youth workers, trained in suicide prevention, ran the project, both in the old factory and out on the streets of Ballynahinch. After a while, the number of suicides in young people had dropped to zero. Eventually the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust invested in it and it now has a full-time staff. It made an impact, an example of how the church was able to be in the middle of a social crisis and impact real change. “I believe we are in a spiritual warfare,” she says. “We can’t ignore that element. The devil is the father of lies – he confuses and stops hope. We need to tackle both the social aspects and the spiritual aspects.”
mandatory for all clergy. But we need to open it out wider. We do discipleship courses for everyone in our congregations, so why not this? “We also need to be mindful of the next generation and how the fallout from these suicide rates affects them – they are the legacy.” Bronwen agrees that more is needed. “I think one of the enemy’s tactics is to keep people stuck in a place of grief, and while it is necessary to process, walk through and not rush grieving, God wants us to experience healing and to have hope and life again. Often this means getting help from others, so I would encourage anyone walking this road to reach out for prayer or counselling.”
1
Flourish Flourish is an initiative to support churches in addressing the needs of people affected by suicide. For more information or to avail of Flourish’s resources, training or advice, please go to: wewillflourish.com
Herald February 2020
Samaritans Suicide Report 2019
“Dad’s death felt so surreal, I just couldn’t get my head around it. I was in physical shock. Plus, I had additional phases of grief which I didn’t have after mum’s death – almost trying to piece everything together, trying to find answers, like why he did it. It was a complicated grief. Guilt, abandonment, anger – it was all mixed in there. “Eventually we got enough answers to settle ourselves, and my motto in the very early days was ‘just try to keep on breathing’.” Bronwen says her comfort and strength in the horrendous weeks and months which followed came from God. “God has been so faithful to me – he has done a lot of healing, a lot of inner healing. People talk about getting through grief, but you never properly get ‘through’ it because your life will always be altered. You end up in a different place than you ever thought you would be but God, in his grace, brings good things in that new path. “Early on, I felt that if people didn’t know what happened to dad, then they didn’t know me – now I can see that it is part of my story, but with time and God’s healing, it no longer feels a part of my identity.”
I believe we are in a spiritual warfare…The devil is the father of lies – he confuses and stops hope.
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REVIEWS
Unless otherwise stated all resources are available from your local Faith Mission Bookshop or online www.fmbookshops.com
The Creaking on the Stairs Mez McConnell
Facing Cancer Adrian Adger
PRODUCED BY ROY RAINEY
£10
«««««
Rev Adrian Adger is minister of Clough and Seaforde Presbyterian churches in Co Down. Following a devastating diagnosis of incurable cancer in 2017, his congregations made and released four short videos of Adrian telling his story and sharing his faith. The videos went viral and this CD is the latest in a long line of ways Adrian’s message of hope has been spread. It was an evening in Donegal, when Adrian was invited to speak to the local community, that led to its production. His talk was interspersed with music from fellow ministers (Rev Gary McDowell and Rev Gordy McCracken) and the mix of both resonated strongly with the crowd that attended. The album is mostly original songs, as well as some other well-known ones, which echo Adrian’s story movingly. It also includes sections where Adrian shares something of his life, ministry, witness and journey with cancer. Adrian is very down-toearth and honest in how he expresses this journey and so these sections are powerful and poignant. Additional vocals are supplied by Hannah McPhillimy, Janet Young and Debs McDowell. The standout track is the title one, Facing Cancer, Standing Tall. Written specifically for the album, the words are inspiringly truthful; a music video of this track is soon to be released, which will broaden its reach. All profits go to mission work – if you haven’t already heard Adrian’s story, this is well worth a listen. SH
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Herald February 2020
Broken Pieces and the God Who Mends Them: CHRISTIAN FOCUS PUBLICATIONS Schizophrenia through a £8.99 ««««« mother’s eyes Simonetta Carr This is a shocking book, not in its teaching, but in its content. The author was ‘reared’ in an abusive home – his stepmother was cruel, his father a drunkard and a gambler – and the lad’s suffering was horrendous. The title of the book comes from McConnell hearing the stairs creak and knowing ‘she’ (as he refers to his stepmother throughout the book) was coming to insult or physically abuse him. The abuse was mainly physical and emotional. In the foreword Rosaria Butterfield states, “This is the most disturbing book I have ever read.” Many could say amen to this. It is an honest book. Unpopular aspects of the biblical message are made plain such as depravity of the human heart, the need for justice, repentance, the final judgment and eternal punishment. The author is truthful when he discusses how difficult it is to personally forgive an abuser and how to deal with the abuser wishing to become a member or even attend church. This book is not an easy read, it will upset you. Who should read it? I would go as far to say every reader of the Herald, indeed every PCI member, should read it. Why? Because it opens a door into a world which is light years away from our comfortable middle-class lifestyle. Another reason is there is the full explanation of the gospel interspersed among the graphic biographical details. The book concludes with helpful resources on dealing with both the abused and the abuser. WMcK
P&R PUBLISHING
£12.99
«««««
This book describes the turmoilfilled world of a mother caring for her mentally ill son. The story draws you into the unpredictable twists and turns of caring for someone with schizophrenia. Mental illness is often difficult to understand and this book would be of great value for anyone who seeks to show God’s love to those who suffer and for their loved ones. Insights into theology, medical care, family relationships and the role of the church community keep bubbling up along the way. The theology comes from a reformed evangelical perspective and helpfully places faith in God in the context of a fallen, broken world. The setting is American but the principles of care are common to anywhere, not least in having to navigate and negotiate medical support. Mental illnesses are all different and people experience them in different ways. This is one story of one person’s experience. But for readers whose knowledge is limited, this book sheds light on the mystery of mental illness. For readers who have walked a similar journey, it should bring comfort and ultimately, a deeper trust in God through the pain. The final message of the book is that ‘success’ is not necessarily found in healing. It is found in the persistence of faith in God through the ordeal, both for those who suffer from mental illness and those who care for them. TF
REVIEWERS
WMcK – Rev William McKeown is minister emeritus of Ravenhill Presbyterian TF – Tom Finnegan is PCI’s Training Development Officer
DC – Rev Denis Campbell is minister emeritus of Blackrock – St Andrew’s and Bray Presbyterian churches RF – Renée Finnegan is a member of Sloan Street Presbyterian RMcC – Rebecca McConnell is a member of First Rathfriland SH – Sarah Harding is editor of the Presbyterian Herald
Home is Where – The journeys So Everyone Can Hear? Wrestling With My Thoughts of a missionary child Mark Crosby Dr Sharon Hastings SPCK PUBLISHING IVP Margaret Newbigin Beetham £9.99 ««««« £9.99 ««««« DARTON, LONGMAN, TODD £12.99 ««««« Many of us have benefited from the writings of Lesslie Newbigin – missionary, biblical scholar, theologian and ecumenist. His missionary service in India over 40 years was outstanding and it was appropriate that he should serve two spells as a bishop in the Church of South India. However, on the 50th anniversary of his ordination, Newbigin apologised from the pulpit to his family who, he said, “had borne the burden of his ministry”. This memoir by his daughter makes painfully clear what that burden was. Margaret Beetham describes her earliest memories of a childhood in India. She introduces us to the sights and sounds and smells of Tamil Nadu in the 1940s and 1950s. She and her younger sister felt blessed to grow up in such a colourful place. But then she takes us to boarding school in England with its rules, regulations, restrictions and the constant smell of boiled cabbage. Since her parents served long years in India, she spent holidays with well-meaning but out of touch relatives in England. She felt abandoned; indeed, her sister preferred the word ‘dumped’. She was in a constant state of depression and at times suffered panic attacks. It is remarkable, given her state of distress, that she won a place at Oxford and forged a career as a lecturer. It is even more remarkable that she still holds on to Christian faith and still is part of the church. The outcome for her sister was less happy. This book should be required reading for all who care about missionary work. DC
You might expect a book that has the subtitle, ‘Communicating church in a digital culture’ to be purely a guide about using social media, but not so. Only one chapter is dedicated to it, leaving the rest of the book to remind us of the basics of communicating that we sometimes forget in the bombardment of Facebook scrolling, information overload and online fatigue. ‘Understanding our vision and values’, ‘Prayerful planning’ and ‘Joining our story with God’s’ are all chapter headings that come before social media. The importance of invitation and a call to action to build and equip the church community are all considered in a frank way by the author who is the Director of Communications for Vineyard Churches UK and Ireland. There is also a helpful chapter on flow and momentum, a reminder to not always be just active but to have a purpose in what you are seeking to do as a church. “Activity burns out; momentum builds up”. Towards the back are some practical questions your church can use as they rethink how they communicate to the wider community, recapping the 14 chapters succinctly. Laid out in an attractive format with coloured highlights, this is an easy to read, dip in and out kind of book useful for committee members and those with responsibility for communications in churches. It should give any church a kickstart when it comes to understanding and reaching out to their various audiences, so everyone can hear the good news. RMcC
Whatever your understanding of heroism may be, mine is fully realised in Sharon Hastings’ honesty and transparency in writing this book. Especially when the cultural context of Northern Ireland is one in which this calibre of sharing is rare and, as such, takes immense bravery and courage. This personal story about an ongoing battle against severe mental illness is shared with the added perspective of the sufferer’s medical insight from training as a doctor. Alongside her story, the author helpfully includes practical information on the subject, such as the role of medical health professionals, counselling and medication. Another compelling aspect of this narrative is that the author shares her struggles as a Christian. She openly describes her complex, and committed, pursuit of seeking help that would enable her to balance living with the chaos and calamities of the illness, and a deeply rooted desire to live for God’s glory. There is a challenge for us, as God’s church, in reading this heart-wrenching exposé of the author’s exasperating journey. For we have a responsibility to proactively engage in helping address this prevalent issue, and its impact on people. This book reiterates the call for us, as God’s first responders, to be the light of Christ to those for whom life’s daily existence is being shattered by battles similar to the author’s. It’s in this day-to-day stuff that heroes are truly made of. RF
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LIFE IN PCI Long service marked in First Magherafelt Two stalwarts of First Magherafelt – Bobby McKeown and Harriett McKay – were recognised recently when presentations were made to them by the Co Tyrone congregation. Mr McKeown has been a member of the church’s choir for a remarkable 66 years. Joining at the age of 11, he has been ever present since. Over the years he has also contributed to special services by singing solos at Easter, harvest, Christmas and ‘Friendly Hour’ events. As well as being a member of the choir, Mr McKeown was Sunday school superintendent for many years and continues to be an active member of Session within First Magherafelt. Meanwhile, Mrs McKay has just retired from being a Sunday school teacher after 43 years of teaching. It is estimated that she has taught some 350 children during these years. She continues to be involved with children in her role as League of Church Loyalty secretary. Added to this, Mrs McKay sings in the choir and is an active member of Session.
Deborah Campbell (Sunday superintendent of First Magherafelt) is pictured making a presentation to Harriett McKay, who has retired after 43 years as a Sunday school teacher.
Melanie Boyce (organist in First Magherafelt) made a presentation to R.G. McKeown recently in recognition of his commitment to the choir. Mr McKeown has been a member of the Co Tyrone church’s choir for 66 years.
Many years of church history celebrated in Donegal Four centuries of community life in east Donegal was celebrated recently when Joe McHugh TD (Minister for Education and Skills) officially opened the new Monreagh church hall. He said the new building, used by all faiths in the area, is a testament to “incredible community spirit”. Monreagh Presbyterian is one of the oldest congregations on the island of Ireland, dating from 1644. The present church building dates from 1710, however, the congregation has never had its own hall. This dream has been realised after more than a decade of fundraising by the church committee. Auctions, interest-free loans from the congregation, raffles and grants from the PA Foundation and the Leader Programme via the Inishowen Development Partnership all helped contribute to the new building, which sits on the same extended site as the historic church, a national school, a Victorian manse which now houses the Monreagh Ulster-Scots Heritage and Education Centre and a caretaker’s house. At the opening, Mr McHugh joined 100 families in the congregation, along with many from the local community, Dr William Henry (PCI Moderator), Dr David Latimer (minister), Monsignor Dan Carr from St Baithin’s Catholic congregation, and the church hall project leader and local historian Ian McCracken. Mr McHugh said, “The Presbyterian church has been at the heart of this community across five centuries, from the 17th century through to this 21st century, and the addition of the new church hall to the cluster of wonderful older buildings is the final piece in the jigsaw. “I want to pay tribute to all those involved… not just to the vision of the Ulster-Scots Heritage Centre and the new national school here, but also the vision of adding such a wonderful new hall which now serves people of all faiths in the local community.” Top: Dr David Latimer (minister of Monreagh Presbyterian Church), Joe McHugh TD (Minister for Education and Skills), PCI Moderator Dr William Henry and Rev Colin McKibbin (moderator of Derry and Donegal Presbytery) are pictured with dignitaries and church committee members. Middle left: Dr David Latimer pictured with the McHugh family and John Vance (clerk of session of Monreagh Presbyterian Church). Middle right: John Vance (clerk of session of Monreagh Presbyterian Church) presents flowers to Olwyn Enright. Bottom: Monreagh National School choir performing.
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Herald February 2020
To share good news stories from your congregation please send your photographs and details to herald@presbyterianireland.org
Long service marked in Drumhillery Rev Alan Marsh (minister of Drumhillery) recently presented William Hopps with a Bible on behalf of the Co Armagh congregation to mark 60 years of faithful commitment to the church choir. Also included in the photograph are church organists Audrey Johnston and Emily Bell.
New minister in Mosside and Toberdoney Dr Andre Alves-Areias has been ordained and installed as minister of Mosside and Toberdoney Presbyterian churches. He and his family are pictured with the clerks of session of the two north Antrim churches. Pictured are: Hugh Hill (clerk of session in Toberdoney), Dr AlvesAreias and his family and Mabel Morrison (clerk of session in Mosside Presbyterian Church).
100th birthday in Bushmills Ida Laverty, from Bushmills Presbyterian, celebrated her 100th birthday recently. She is pictured with the Moderator, Dr William Henry, and her minister Dr Nancy Cubitt.
Newcastle BB and GB companies celebrate anniversaries The First Slieve Donard company of the Boys’ Brigade is celebrating its 80th anniversary and the 51st NI company of the Girls’ Brigade is celebrating its 75th anniversary. Both companies are associated with Newcastle Presbyterian Church, and the anniversaries were celebrated at the joint enrolment service held in the Co Down church recently. An anniversary cake was cut by BB ‘old boy’ Bobby Hamilton and GB ‘old girl’ Avril Heenan at the service. Also included in the photograph are GB captain Janelle Kincaid, BB captain Keith Graham, chaplain Rev Andrew Boreland and new recruits Evie Lyons and Caleb White.
Halls dedicated in Fisherwick PCI Moderator, Dr William Henry, visited Fisherwick Presbyterian recently to attend a service of thanksgiving and dedication for the Belfast church’s newly renovated halls complex and welcome centre. Pictured are: Rev Ivan Steen (Windsor), Peter Lunn, Dr Derek McKelvey (minister emeritus of Fisherwick), Dr Henry, Linda Little (clerk of session of Fisherwick), Rev Michael Anderson (minister of Fisherwick) and Rev Ken McBride (minister emeritus of Orangefield).
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LIFE IN PCI
New elders in Connor
Faithful service marked in Downshire Road
Three new elders – Neil McCullough, David Murdoch and Frew Johnston – have been ordained and installed in Connor Presbyterian Church. They are pictured with members of the Presbytery of Ballymena. Pictured in the front row are: Kenneth McDowell, Rev Philip Thompson (Connor minister), Mr McCullough, Mr Murdoch, Mr Johnston, Mervyn Johnston (Connor clerk of session) and Rev William Moody (moderator of presbytery). Back row: Samuel McKee, David Preston, Tom Saunderson, James Mawhinney, Rev Joseph Andrews (clerk of presbytery), Rev Noel Mullholland and Rev Brian Boyd.
Downshire Road Presbyterian Church, Newry presented David Cunningham with an inscribed Bible and gift to celebrate his 50 years of faithful service as superintendent of the Sunday school. Mr Cunningham is pictured with Rev Brian Colvin. Due to the increased use of small digital and phone cameras we are having to reject some of the photos due to their quality or size. Digital images should have a minimum resolution of 2000x1500 pixels (approx 7x5 inches) at 300dpi and be the original, unedited image. Further information can be found in our submission guidelines at www.presbyterianireland.org/herald
Installation in Balteagh and Bovevagh Rev Gareth Aitcheson (centre, front row) has been installed as minister in the congregations of Balteagh and Bovevagh by the Presbytery of Coleraine and Limavady.
Presentation to Dungannon stalwart Harvest Sunday in Dungannon gave the congregation the opportunity to mark the outstanding service given by one of its elders, Vera Cowan, who was presented with gifts in appreciation of her tremendous work over 53 years as an elder, PW member, Sunday school teacher, choir member, leader of Noah’s Ark mums and tots, and Tearfund lunch coordinator. Pictured are: Rev Alan Thompson (minister of the Co Tyrone church), Dr Andrew Rogers (minister emeritus), Mrs Cowan and David Miller (clerk of session).
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New elders in Portglenone Four new elders have been ordained in First Portglenone Presbyterian Church. Thomas McLeister, Billy McCaughern, Adrian Lowry and Kyle Gilmour are pictured in the front row with Rev Albert Baxter (minister of the Co Antrim church) and Rev William Moody (moderator of Ballymena Presbytery).
IN THIS MONTH...
February 1997
Dipping into the archives to take a look back at what was making Presbyterian headlines and news in history.
Children grieve too
Desney Cromey, Inter-church Group on Children’s Grief Any death in the family is a painful experience. For a child the death of a parent is particularly devastating, especially if the death is sudden. Yet, after a death the bulk of attention goes to the adults who are bereaved while children are often left to fend for themselves, hiding feelings of anger, guilt, frustration and worries about the future… Children’s understanding of death depends upon their age, personality and life experience. Until the age of seven or so, they cannot fully grasp that death is permanent and they may believe that the dead person will return. Often too there is a fear that any other separation could be a forerunner of death… Reassurance and patience are needed in answering questions honestly, acknowledging that we don’t know all the answers… Most children over seven years of age understand that death is permanent and happens to everyone…Sometimes children may try to deny that the death has happened. It can help them to see us grieve, to reminisce with us and to look at photographs and mementos that encourage their buried feelings to emerge. They may find it difficult to stop thinking about the death and this can result in lack of concentration at school. Although teenagers grieve more like adults, bereavement in adolescence can be especially painful, partly because of the rapid emotional and physical development which is taking place. Grieving teenagers are more likely to share their feelings and problems with their peers. They may also be more willing to share their grief with a trusted adult…Families do well to go along with this… If you are worried about the care of a bereaved child, there are several people in the local community who might help, such as clergy, general practitioners, health visitors, school nurses, teachers and social workers…
Bicentenary of Second Saintfield The Moderator conducted a special service in Second Saintfield recently to mark the bicentenary of the congregation. During his visit he presented Louise Johnston with a Bible to mark 10 years’ unbroken attendance at Second Saintfield Sunday school. Also in the picture is Rev Desmond McBride, minister of the congregation.
Also from February ’97
Scientists announce the birth of cloned sheep Dolly
Divorce is legalised in the Republic of Ireland
New initiatives for help agencies
‘Where can I go for help?’ A common question that is easily asked but harder to give a good answer to. However, a recent initiative of the Social Services Committee of the Board of Social Witness to produce a leaflet with the names and contact details for a range of helping agencies could make the question easier to respond positively to. In what is believed to be the first documentation of this type, a leaflet entitled ‘Counselling and Caring in the Church’ lists 22 agencies throughout Ireland that can give professional advice and practical help across a wide range of problems… In launching the leaflet, Pamela Lockie, advisor in social services to the Church, said, “The person or family will need pastoral care but they may also need more in-depth help. An experienced pastor with specific gifts can have a very meaningful ministry, but it may be that alongside this ministry a specialised professional counsellor could bring facts, insight and understanding of some of the particular issues, and assist in the healing process of sorting out feelings and emotions…”
Discotheque by U2 tops the charts
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Let us help you plan a VE Day 75th Celebration outreach event! To help the nation celebrate the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe, the early May bank holiday has been moved to coincide with VE Day – or Victory in Europe Day, on 8 May. The Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Scripture Readers Association (SASRA) is preparing a pack of VE Day themed materials to help churches plan and run outreach events. The pack will include: • WW2 recipes • WW2 song book and backing tracks • Decoration and invitations ideas and templates • Topical sermon illustrations • Evangelistic videos
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First and Second Islandmagee Presbyterian Churches seek to appoint a
Music Coordinator If you would like to register interest for your church
Web: www.peace2020.org.uk Email: peace2020@sasra.org.uk Tel: 03000 301 302 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire. “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Ps. 46:9-10)
High Street Presbyterian Church, Holywood is seeking to appoint a
Praise Music Coordinator
The closing date for applications is Friday 28 February 2020
First Ballyeaston Presbyterian Church is seeking to appoint an enthusiastic
(fixed term – 24 months)
YOUTH WORKER
We are a small church family situated strategically in the heart of Holywood town, and we are devoted to Bible teaching, prayer and community engagement.
On a part-time basis (20 hrs/wk) on a 3-year contract
We are looking for an enthusiastic and missional-minded individual to join our church family and help lead and develop the praise life of our congregation. For more information including a job description and application form, please contact: Rev Jimmy Warburton 1 Norwood Lane, Holywood, Co Down, BT18 9EG Email: jameswarburtonpci@gmail.com Closing date for application is Friday 6 March 2020 High Street Presbyterian Church, Holywood is a registered charity – NIC 104337
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We are looking for an enthusastic individual to help lead and develop our corporate praise. Applicants must be sympathetic to the ethos of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland This is a permanent post of 5 to 6 hours per week. Further details, job description and application form available from Rev Peter Bovill, 65 Low Road, Islandmagee, Co Antrim, BT40 3RD islandmageepci@gmail.com / 07795 694499
Herald February 2020
Salary: Presbyterian Church in Ireland Salary Scale Band A (£19,059-£22,671 p.a.) pro rata (salary negotiable depending on experience). This unique opportunity will attract a dynamic, experienced and spiritually mature person who will help the kirk session to implement their ongoing vision and passion for the young people within our congregation. The nature of this post will require evening and weekend work. Further information and a full job description and application form can be obtained from Rev Edwin McDowell Tel: (028) 9332 2578 Email: minister@firstballyeaston.org Website: firstballyeaston.org Closing date for applications is Friday 27 March 2020.
REFLECTIONS
Father and sons Arthur Clarke Study on Luke 15:31-32
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in pursuit of their victory. The additions the Pharisees added to ne of Ernest Hemingway’s short stories concerned the interpretation of the law made life burdensome for ordinary a Spanish family. A father and son quarrelled and folk and missed entirely the goodness of God enshrined in that with each party being unable to get along or work law. They forgot about compassion, mercy and justice (Matthew through their bitterness, the son, Paco, left home 23:23 and Luke 6:2). and fled to Madrid without saying goodbye. The son made no The plight of the elder brother. This father had two sons contact with his family. Paco’s father came to realise that no and both were prodigals, one in the far country and the other family squabble made up for family disharmony and so he set regularly dining at his table. If one indulged in debauchery the off for the capital searching for his son. other was consumed with sins of the spirit. Society and shallow After several months of searching, the father returned home, perceivers would condemn the more public transgressor, but alone. Then the father hit upon a novel idea which he deemed Jesus, who reads the heart, knew the lostness of the stay-atwould be successful. He placed a classified ad in the city’s home boy. His pride, ingratitude and newspaper. It read: “Dear Paco, meet self-righteousness rendered him as guilty me in front of this newspaper’s offices at The elder brother was as his younger sibling. All were in need of noon on Saturday. All is forgiven. Your grace. The elder brother was loveless. He loving father.” At noon on the designated loveless. He seemed to seemed to forget the daily provision his Saturday, scores of young men called forget the daily provision father provided and all his good fortune Paco were standing outside those offices awaiting reconciliation with estranged his father provided…was materially was a gift unearned by him. Also, he didn’t grasp this reality – his parents. a gift unearned by him. constitution and self-discipline, capacities Family tensions are nothing new! his brother lacked, saved him from Finding a way through these tensions calls wreck and ruin morally. It is easy to defend a castle that has for wisdom, reasonableness and grace from all parties. In this instance, the Spanish father handled the issue wisely like the never been besieged. If the younger brother committed sins of father in our Lord’s parable, under consideration. commission, the brother at home indulged in sins of omission The wise father. Michael Frayn, the contemporary novelist, and so both were deficient in moral rectitude. tells that the first phrase he ever uttered was, “Take from around And finally. Jesus did not tell us if the elder son went to the edges.” He imagines that was the line his father quoted the party or that the returned prodigal lived in such a way as the family sat down to plates of hot porridge for breakfast. as to justify his father’s magnanimity. In leaving these points ‘Take from around the edges’ is good advice for those hoping unstated, Jesus throws out a challenge to his hearers and here to mend relationships. Human beings are vulnerable and hasty his readers; which are you – the elder or the younger brother? words cannot be recalled. To jump in where angels fear to tread and use ‘speaking the truth’ as an excuse for such insensitivity A final note… is a sure sign of spiritual immaturity. The father could have Over the last three decades I have been involved with the Herald given the elder brother a lecture about family unity and his as contributor and editor. I have decided now is the time for me to hardness of heart, but rather the father was gracious, reasonable, step aside and make room for others to make their contribution. If appreciative and patient. He didn’t regret the way he treated the anything I have written has edified, encouraged or enriched any prodigal or go back on his compassionate welcome to humour reader, then my prayers have been answered and the discipline of the brother who stayed at home. Goodwill and reasonableness writing has been worthwhile. can conquer all human difficulties. The judgmental Pharisees. These parables were told with the Editor’s comment: Our sincere thanks to Arthur for all his Pharisees in mind and as a corrective to their arrogance. The work on the Herald over the past three decades. We will miss Pharisees corrupted the law, sided with the enemies of Jesus and his articles which are always full of wit, insight and challenge. pushed with others for his crucifixion ( John 18:2). Although I’m sure readers will echo our thanks and best wishes to they began as a noble movement seeking to preserve the best in Arthur for the future. Thanks also to Rev Andrew Conway their culture, they became proud, insensitive, petty and ruthless who will begin a new series in the Herald next month. Herald February 2020
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Herald February 2020
ACROSS 1 Titanic owners (5,4,4) 8 American motor sport (7) 10 A long time (3) 11 Son of David (7) 12 Big cats (6) 13 US state (7) 15 They often bring good news (6) 17 Definitely not the best! (5) 18 Clever sweetie (7) 21 To long for (5) 24 Children’s game (3) 25 Ostracise (6) 26 Found in the North Sea (3) 27 Bean’s was a Mini (8)
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DOWN 1 Does a wolf really do this? (7) 2 Rainbow colour (6) 3 Steep side of a plateau (10) 4 Cornish hilltops (4) 5 This happened to the stone (6,4) 6 Moslem cleric (4) 7 Our God is this (11) 9 Stomach muscles (3) 14 Mediterranean Sea (8) 15 Irish cathedral city (6) 16 Send this if you want a response (3) 19 None for Joseph and co (4) 20 A separate thing (4) 22 Baltic city (4) 23 Head warmer (3) 25 Mr Rolls and friend (inits) (2)
REFLECTIONS
The road sprayer Betsy Cameron
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hen I went to Malawi to teach many years ago, I dampened the dusty roads during the dry season. (Why did I arrived during the long school break so I could think that was even a thing?) When I said no, I wasn’t familiar acclimatise and do a bit of language study before – meaning I had never seen a road sprayer – he shook his head, the term began, but of course, I had no idea just furrowed his brow and looked at me with what was becoming how much I would need to learn in this new and unfamiliar a familiar mix of bewilderment and despair. He then began, in world. It was the end of the dry season, about two months a slow and careful way, to recite the words I have known since ahead of the rains that would transform the parched, dusty earliest childhood, beginning, “Our Father, who art…” Well, I footpaths into rivers of red mud. The wind would kick up little nearly fell out of my chair. That made so much more sense! Yes, swirling whirlwinds of red dirt, and the sun shone day after day indeed, I was familiar with the Lord’s Prayer. in a brilliant azure sky. Now, if the rest of this story is to make Like most of us, though, I can perhaps be a bit too familiar any sense at all, there are several seemingly unrelated things you with it. Sometimes I mumble my way through the words must know. First of all, in the Chitumbuka without actually thinking about what language that I was attempting to learn, I’m praying for, but there is actually so …our calling, as ‘l’ and ‘r’ are more or less interchangeable. to ponder and all of it so important: Christians, is to be…salt much Secondly, I arrived in the middle of a the holiness of God, the daily trust in water crisis. Finally, I don’t understand God’s provision, the circular nature of and light, to be how anything works, and I sometimes forgiveness. What has especially captured committed to kingdom – okay, often – think things that are not my attention lately are the poetic words: entirely sensible. Got it? “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on values of justice, love, Mr Jere, a lively, friendly primary school earth as it is in heaven.” truth and service to teacher in our little village, began my These words fill me with hope and Chitumbuka lessons. Even when he spoke others… challenge in equal measure. I don’t pretend English, it sounded like a foreign language to know, fully, what it means to pray for to my untrained ear, so I spent most of God’s kingdom to come or what God’s each lesson in a great cloud of confusion wondering what in the kingdom is like though I do believe that kingdom values are justice, compassion and peace. I also love the powerful world we were talking about. There was the aforementioned ‘l’ and ‘r’ swap, the absence of mainstay vowel sounds such as the ‘i’ affirmation that God’s will can be done on earth as in heaven, which hands the responsibility for being agents of hope and as in ‘slip’ (pronounced ‘sleep’) as well as the tendency to create change over to us. vowel sounds in between consonant sounds and then to finish Sometimes I talk to Christians who remain unconcerned words off with a vowel flourish. So ‘book’ would become ‘buku’, about the turbulent state of this world. “God is in control”, easy enough, but other simple words like ‘store’ or ‘church’ turned into the not even distantly related ‘seet-oh-lo’ and ‘tcha- they tell me. Well, yes. But. Does it mean that bad things are God’s will? For some Christians, the degradation of the lee-chee.’ You can understand my confusion. environment is of no concern. Political choices don’t matter. I Now to the perplexities of the water crisis. The pump (okay, I’m keeping up) providing water for our school had fallen down was even involved in one particularly distressing conversation with someone who insisted that the Holocaust was God’s will to the bottom of the borehole (the what?) and while we were because it established the state of Israel, which then linked up, waiting for a winch (huh?) to be sent from the district boma (hmm…), a bowser (yeah, completely lost now) was despatched. in his theology, to the second coming of Jesus. I disagree. The gospel is about transforming this world and The bowser, as it turned out, was a water tanker, and we stood our calling, as Christians, is to be engaged in that process, to in patient daily queues at this large, shiny thing of wonder filling up our buckets and basins until the pump was eventually be salt and light, to be committed to kingdom values of justice, love, truth and service to others so that, as one of my faith recovered and fixed. heroes, Dr Martin Luther King, so beautifully put it: “We can So, when Mr Jere asked me one hot, dusty afternoon if I was make of this old world a new one.” familiar with the road sprayer, I naturally pictured a lorry that
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CHURCH RECORD VACANT CONGREGATIONS, MODERATORS AND CLERKS OF KIRK SESSIONS (Information supplied by Clerks of Presbyteries, Conveners of Assembly Commissions and Councils).
1 LEAVE TO CALL GRANTED
SETTLED STATED SUPPLY APPOINTED
BALLYHOBRIDGE, CLONES, NEWBLISS and STONEBRIDGE: (Part Time 50%, Reviewable Tenure – 7 years) REV C.G. ANDERSON: (Ballyhobridge) Mr David Jordan, Drumboghamagh, Newtownbutler, BT92 8LL. (Clones) Mr Tom Elliott, Bellmount, Newtownbutler, BT92 6LT. (Newbliss) Mr Thomas McConkey, Killyfuddy, Newbliss, Co Monaghan. (Stonebridge) Mr Gerald Mackarel, Roughfort, Clones, Co Monaghan.
BALLINDERRY: RT REV DR W.J. HENRY, Minister of Maze
BALLYCARRY: REV H.M. RENDELL: Miss Daphne Bashford, 36 Island Road, Ballycarry, Carrickfergus, BT38 9JE. BALLYCLARE: REV P.A. BOVILL: Mr Niall McConkey, 30 Village Green, Doagh, Ballyclare, BT39 0UD. CAIRNCASTLE: (Reviewable Tenure – 7 years) REV R.I. CARTON: Mr Cowper Lynas, 2 Croft Heights, Ballygally, Larne, BT40 2QS. CARROWDORE & BALLYFRENIS and BALLYBLACK: REV S.A. LITTLE: (Carrowdore & Ballyfrenis) Mr Herbert Robinson, 9 Islandhill Road, Millisle, BT22 2BS. (Ballyblack) Mr Alex Warden, 92 Bowtown Road, Newtownards, BT23 8SL. COAGH, BALLYGONEY and SALTERSLAND: REV T.W.A. GREER: (Coagh) Mrs Amy Allingham, 17 Coagh Road, Cookstown, BT80 8RL. (Ballygoney) Mr Bruce Johnston, 4 Mill Road, Old Coagh Road, Cookstown, BT80 0NE. (Saltersland) Mr Matt Hyndman, 4 Brennan Court, Castledawson Road, Magherafelt, BT45 6AT. COOKSTOWN, FIRST: REV W.A. DICKEY: Mr Gordon Black, 21 The Dales, Cookstown, BT80 8TF. DRUMBANAGHER, FIRST & JERRETTSPASS and KINGSMILLS: REV B.D. COLVIN: (Drumbanager, First & Jerrettspass) Mr George Moffett, 16 Glen Road, Drummiller, Newry, BT34 1SP. (Kingsmills) Mr Raymond McCormick, 119 Kingsmills Road, Bessbrook, Newry, BT35 7BP. GLENGORMLEY: REV T.C. MORRISON: Mr Derek Kyle, Glengormley Presbyterian Church, 267 Antrim Road, Glengormley, BT36 7QN. HOLYWOOD, FIRST: REV N.D. CRAIG: Mr Craig Russell, 7 Bangor Road, Holywood, BT18 0NU. KILFENNAN: REV GRAEME ORR: Mr Will Doran, 2 Moulton Park, Eglinton, BT47 3XP. KILLINCHY: REV N.R.A. COOPER: Mrs Morna McGibbon, 71 Comber Road, Killinchy, BT23 6PF. RAMELTON and KILMACRENNAN: REV C.M. WILSON: (Ramelton) Mr David Armour, Loughnagin, Letterkenny, Co Donegal. (Kilmacrennan) Mr Nathaniel Rogers, Gortnavern, Coolboy, Letterkenny, Co Donegal.
CAHIR: REV WILLIAM MONTGOMERY, Minister of Fermoy KATESBRIDGE: REV N.J. KANE, Minister of Magherally KILREA, SECOND: REV S.A. MORROW, Minister of Moneydig TYRONE’S DITCHES: REV J.K.A. McINTYRE, Minister of Bessbrook
3 DECLARED VACANT ANAHILT AND DRUMLOUGH: REV L.A. PATTERSON: (Anahilt) Mr Laurence Hook, 10 Spirehill Road, Hillsborough, BT26 6LU. (Drumlough) Mr David Gibson, 56 Drumaknockan Road, Hillsborough, BT26 6EU. BALLYCAIRN: REV ROBERT LOVE: Mr Brian Milligan, 19 Glenariff Drive, Dunmurry, BT17 9AZ. BALLYGOMARTIN: REV I.K. McDONALD: Mr Raymond Cummings, 43A Lyndhurst Gardens, Belfast, BT13 3PH. BALLYKELLY: REV J.L. BLAIR: Mrs Doreen Nicholl, Shackleton Lodge, 8 Dukes Lane, Ballykelly, BT49 9JT. BANGOR, HAMILTON ROAD: VERY REV DR R.A. PATTON: Mr Tom Clarke, 85 Churchill Park, Bangor, BT20 5RW. BELVOIR: REV B.J. McCROSKERY: Mr Brian Dunwoody, 19 Drumart Drive, Belfast, BT8 7ET. BURT: REV JAMES LAMONT: Mr James Buchanan, Heathfield, Speenoge, Burt, Co Donegal, F93 W3K6. CARNDONAGH, GREENBANK, MALIN and MOVILLE: REV DR DAVID LATIMER: (Carndonagh) Mr Tom Campbell, Carndonagh, Lifford, Co Donegal. (Malin) Mrs Barbara Smyth, Dunross, Culdaff, Co Donegal. (Moville) Mr Joseph McNeely, Rock House, Lecamey, Lifford, Co Donegal. CLOGHERNEY and SIXMILECROSS: REV R.G. McELNEA: (Clogherney) Miss Ruth Kerr, 2 Georgian Villas, Omagh, BT79 0AT. (Sixmilecross) Mr Alan Gibson, 1 Dreenan Road, Beragh, Omagh, BT79 0SH.
SAINTFIELD, SECOND: REV D.J. HYNDMAN: Mr Stanley McFarland, 29 Forge Hill Court, Saintfield, BT24 7LW.
CRUMLIN ROAD: VERY REV DR T.N. HAMILTON: Mr James Coleman, 2 Abbeydale Parade, Belfast, BT14 7HJ.
TOBERMORE & DRAPERSTOWN: (Part-time 50%, Reviewable Tenure – 5 years) REV DR J.A. CURRY: Mr Gordon Dickson Jnr, 7 Strawmore Road, Draperstown, BT45 7JE.
DRUMACHOSE and DERRAMORE: REV T.A.S. GRAHAM: (Drumachose) Mr Sam McGregor, 15 Meadowvale Park, Limavady, BT49 0NU. (Derramore) Mr Sam Kelly, 220 Windyhill Road, Coleraine, BT51 4JL.
2 LEAVE TO CALL DEFERRED
DUNBOE, FIRST: REV M.E. DONALD: Mr Peter Kirk, 5 Liffock Court, Castlerock, Coleraine, BT51 4DQ.
GORTNESSY: REV J.S. McCREA: Mr Ross Hyndman, 32 Temple Road, Strathfoyle, Londonderry, BT47 6UB. RICHVIEW: REV N.S. HARRISON: Mr Victor Garland, 25 Abingdon Drive, Belfast, BT12 5PX.
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BOVEEDY: REV DR T.J. McCORMICK, Minister of 1st Kilrea
Herald February 2020
FAHAN and WATERSIDE: REV G.A. McCRACKEN: (Fahan) Mr James Lamberton, 1 Deanfield, Limavady Road, Londonderry, BT47 6HY. (Waterside) Mr William McIlwaine, 19 Glenaden Hill, Altnagelvin Park, Londonderry, BT47 2LJ. GILFORD and TULLYLISH: REV T.A. CONWAY: (Gilford) Mr Paul Cochrane, Stramore Road, Gilford, Craigavon. (Tullylish) Mr John McCullagh, 2 Old Bann Road, Gilford, Craigavon, BT63 6DZ.
Editor’s Note: Information for this page is supplied by the General Secretary’s Department. Vacancies for Conveners of Commissions, councils and committees of the General Assembly are online at www.presbyterianireland.org/convenerships INCH: REV JAMES LAMONT: Mr James Buchanan, Heathfield, Speenoge, Burt, Co Donegal, F93 W3K6. KILCOOLEY: REV T.J. McCONAGHIE: Mrs Sylvia Ferguson, 4 Dermott Road, Comber, BT23 5LG. KILKENNY: REV WILLIAM MONTGOMERY: Mr John Ellis, Annamult, Stoneyford, Co Kilkenny. LIMERICK, CHRIST CHURCH: REV W.J. HAYES: Mr Brian Park, 19 Aylesbury, Clonmacken, Ennis Road, Limerick. MAY STREET: REV GRAEME FOWLES: Mr Arthur Acheson, 56 Quarry Road, Belfast, BT4 2NQ. NEW MOSSLEY: REV DR W.J.M. PARKER: Mr Howard Keery, 16 Earlford Heights, Mossley, Newtownabbey, BT36 5WZ. NEWINGTON: REV DR I.D. NEISH: Mr John Lynass, 8 Bushfoot Park, Portballintrae, BT57 8YX. NEWTOWNSTEWART and GORTIN: REV R.B. THOMPSON: (Newtownstewart) Mr James Baxter, 22 Strabane Road, Newtownstewart, Omagh, BT78 4BD. (Gortin) Mr Adrian Adams, 32 Lisnaharney Road, Lislap, Omagh, BT79 7UE. PORTAVOGIE: REV G.J SIMPSON: Mr Trevor Kennedy, 1 Cairndore Road, Newtownards, BT23 8RD. PORTSTEWART: REV R.J. COLLINS: Mr Peter O’Neill, 3 Henry O’Neill Heights, Portstewart, BT55 7UD. RALOO and MAGHERAMORNE: REV DR C.A. GRANT: (Raloo) Mr Geoff McBride, 72 Raloo Road, Larne, BT40 3DU. (Magheramorne) Mr Morris Gardner, 89 Ballypollard Road, Magheramorne, Larne, BT40 3JG. VINECASH: REV DR MICHAEL McCLENAHAN: Mr Thomas Graham, 38 Richmount, Portadown, BT62 4JQ.
TEMPORARY STATED SUPPLY ARRANGEMENT ARMOY and RAMOAN: REV NOEL McCLEAN: (Armoy) Mrs Ann Campbell, 77B Bregagh Road, Armoy, Ballymoney, BT53 8TP. (Ramoan) Mr Robert Getty, 23 Carrowcroey Road, Armoy, Ballymoney, BT53 8UH. BELLVILLE: REV D.S. HENRY: Mr Mervyn King, 29 Ardmore Road, Derryadd, Lurgan, BT66 6QP. DERVOCK: REV R.M. MOODY: Mr John Surgenor, 82 Toberdoney Road, Dervock, Ballymoney, BT53 8DH. DONEGORE, SECOND: REV JONATHAN BOYD: Mr Samuel Gawn, 120 Parkgate Road, Kells, Ballymena, BT42 3PQ. KELLS: (Home Mission) REV ALAN McQUADE: Ms Ruth McCartney, Shancarnan, Moynalty, Kells, Co Meath A82 PF60. RYANS and BROOKVALE: REV F.J. GIBSON: (Ryans) Miss Nora Hamilton, Rathfriland Manor Nursing Home, Rossconor Terrace, Rathfriland, BT34 5DJ. (Brookvale) Mr Norman McCrum, 49 Ballynamagna Road, Rathfriland, Newry, BT34 5PA. WARRENPOINT and ROSTREVOR: REV S.S. JOHNSTON: (Warrenpoint) Mr Denis Brady, 28 Seaview, Warrenpoint, Newry, BT34 3NJ. (Rostrevor) Mr Terry O’Flynn, 15 Aurora Na Mara, Shore Road, Rostrevor, BT34 3UP.
Clerks of presbytery please note: Only material received by the General Secretary’s Department by the first Friday of the month can be included in the Church Record.
THE ELDERSHIP Ordained and Installed: BALLYCAIRN: Pamela McCarroll, Lucy Mulholland BALLYLINNEY: Dorothy Magee, Amanda McGhee, Ashley Wasson, Libby Weatherup, Martin Wilson CONNOR: Frew Johnston, Neil McCullough, David Murdoch DRUMREAGH: David Lennox, Ronnie Marshall RAPHOE & BALLINDRAIT: Margaret McKnight PORTADOWN, FIRST: Brian Dawson, Gareth Greer, Kenneth Mawhinney, Nigel McClelland, Brian McGuire, Mark Neale Died: AHOGHILL, TRINITY: Eddie Neeson BALLYWEANEY: Robert Agnew BANGOR, TRINITY: John Barry Lightbody BELLASIS: William Jameson BUSHVALE: Walter McBride COOKSTOWN, MOLESWORTH: Jim Black DROMORE, FIRST: Cecil Gamble GLASTRY: Leslie Dempster KILFENNAN: May McCloskey MAGHERMASON: Robert Lowry McCRACKEN MEMORIAL: Robert Carson MOUNTOY: Mervyn Porter NEWTOWNARDS, STREAN: Samuel Alexander Steel RASHARKIN: William John Black ROSEYARDS: William Foster STRANORLAR: Billy Whyte
THE MINISTRY Ordained and Installed: Robin Samuel Aicken, as Minister of St Andrews, Belfast on 10 January 2020. Andre Alves-Areias, as Minister of Mosside & Toberdoney on 9 November 2019. William John Cameron Brogan, as Minister of Glenarm & Cairnalbana on 10 January 2020. David Patrick Curran, as Minister of Cavanaleck & Aughentaine on 6 December 2019. Ross Kernohan, as Minister of Carlisle Road & Crossroads on 13 December 2019. Jonathan David McKane, as Minister of 1st Dromore on 29 November 2019. Robert Anthony Orr, as Minister of Seskinore and Edenderry on 29 November 2019. Installed: Knox Anderson Jones, as Minister of Aghadowey & Crossgar on 13 December 2019. Resigned: Knox Anderson Jones, as Minister of Waterside & Fahan on 12 December 2019. Retired: Thomas William David Johnston, as Minister of Hamilton Road, Bangor on 17 November 2019.
CROSSWORD Solution to No 258
ACROSS 1 White Star Line 8 IndyCar 10 Age 11 Absolom 12 Tigers 13 Indiana 15 Angels 17 Worst 18 Smartie 21 Yearn 24 Tig 25 Ignore 26 Rig 27 Motorcar
DOWN 1 Whistle 2 Indigo 3 Escarpment 4 Tors 5 Rolled away 6 Imam 7 Everlasting 9 Abs 14 Adriatic 15 Armagh 16 SAE 19 Room 20 Item 22 Riga 23 Hat 26 RR
Herald February 2020
49
CLASSIFIEDS Accommodation Northern Ireland PORTSTEWART: 3-bedroom house, 2 bathrooms, sleeps 5. 2 private parking spaces. Enfield Street, 2 minute walk from Morelli’s. Non-smoking. Tel: 07876 356794. PORTSTEWART: Tourism NI certified tourist establishment. 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom house (1 bedroom and bathroom downstairs). Off-street parking, private back garden. Walking distance to beach and promenade. Tripadvisor certificate of excellence. Available all year. Contact Neville: 07889 631275. PORTSTEWART: Sea Holly Lodge. Modern luxury bungalow, presented to the highest standard, 3 bedrooms (1 en-suite) in quiet cul-de-sac. Ten minutes’ walk from promenade, garden front and rear, TV/ video, washing machine, dryer, microwave. No smoking, no pets. Available high and low season. Tel: Tommy or Hannah Collins 028 29540645 Mobile: 07989 397942.
Please note: Adverts must be received in writing (email or post) by the first of the month preceding publication to guarantee inclusion. Adverts received after that date will be published if space permits. Advertising rates can be found on the website – www.presbyterianireland.org/herald – or telephone the Herald office on +44 (0)28 9032 2284 for more information. PORTRUSH HOLIDAY LET: Modern three-bedroom house, 1 en-suite, Wi-Fi, easy walk to town/West Strand, can send photos. Tel: 07769 744816.
Republic of Ireland H A V E A H O L I D AY, H E L P A MISSIONARY: Fully equipped seaside cottage in Dunfanaghy, Donegal. Sleeps 5. Phone Alan 00353 851231274 or see www.justcome.biz
To Let Spain HOLIDAY RENTAL: Beautiful 3 terraced, 2-bedroom villa in Torrox Costa, southern Spain. Sleeps 4-6. Fantastic sea views, pool open March-November. Very reasonable rates. All proceeds to help local missionaries and youth work. For brochure email juliechitty@hotmail.co.uk or phone 0034 651653838.
Catering
HOLIDAY LET – PORTRUSH: Threebedroom bungalow, Wi-Fi, off-street parking and large enclosed garden. Convenient to shops, town centre, beach and golf course. Photographs can be forwarded. Tel: 07838 229909.
VISITING THE CAUSEWAY COAST AREA? The ladies of Bushmills PW would be pleased to cater for groups. Telephone Doreen Armstrong 028 20741022 or Margaret Picken 028 20731539.
PORTSTEWART: Modern, spacious, detached 5-bedroom home sleeps 9, 3 bathrooms, 2 reception rooms. Beautifully furnished. Modern amenities. Tel: 07500 907083 or visit www. portstewartholidayhomes.com
MOIRA PRESBYTERIAN WILL cater for groups coming to visit Hillsborough Castle, the Forest Park, Dobbies, Sprucefield, Lisburn etc. Morning coffee, lunch, afternoon tea, high tea. Contact Mrs Aelwyn Simpson 028 92612329.
PORTSTEWART: 4* Tourist Board Approved 3-bedroom terrace house, Enfield Street, Portstewart. Ideally located, 2 minute walking distance to promenade. Tel: 07840 097157.
LECKPATRICK PRESBYTERIAN WILL be pleased to cater for groups visiting the North West or Donegal. For further information contact Ethel Patterson – 07746 776360.
ORGANISING AN OUTING? The ladies of Carrowdore and Ballyfrenis would be delighted to cater for your group. Morning coffee, lunch, high tea or supper. Convenient to Mountstewart, Ards Peninsula and Ards or Bangor shopping centres. For details contact Hester Muckle 028 42788917/Mobile 07713 029096 or Marie Richie 07814 450776. LYLEHILL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (near Templepatrick). Our catering team will be delighted to cater for morning coffee, lunch or high tea. Tel: Kathleen: 028 94432701 or 07842 193774. F I R S T BA L LYM O N E Y PW would welcome parties for morning coffee or high tea during the summer. Please contact Margaret Murdock 028 27663622 or Anne Booth 028 27662757.
CATERING: Heading to or from the North Coast? Ballyclare Presbyterian is in an ideal location for morning coffees, lunch or high tea. For more information contact Margaret on 07521 888365.
Miscellaneous BIBLE BLOG – www.bibletheologyqa. blogspot.co.uk
Ross Morrow A.L.C.M., L.T.C.L.
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07855 450887 Limousin, France
Secluded 4-bedroom cottage available for holiday rental This family home in the beautiful Limousin region of France includes a private heated swimming pool, hot tub, outdoor table tennis, bicycles and games room. Something for all the family! The sleeping accommodation is suitable for nine people + sofa bed. The family bathroom has a WC and large walk-in shower, with an additional shower and WC in the upstairs bedroom. There is a large, fully equipped kitchen, cosy living room with wood burning stove and TV. A large dining/living area opens onto a spacious patio with sun loungers. There is also an outside kitchen/BBQ area with a large table and chairs. The area at the back of the house is completely enclosed and 100% private. This lovely property is 3.5miles from the nearest town and 45mins from Limoges airport.
For more information please contact Raymond on 07974 729883. 50
Herald February 2020
Shotts EU Congregational Church Scotland
We are an independent Church with a Membership of 68 and 25 Adherents and Sunday School children. At present we are seeking a new Minister to lead, empower and shape our Church for the future. They should be dynamic and inspirational and should be able to work flexibly and to develop the role to meet the needs of the Church as a whole. They should be a good team member who is happy to work with the Elders, Managers and Members. They should have good teaching and preaching skills and bring the people to know Jesus and motivate them to worship God and serve him in the Church and community A manse is available with this post. Should you be interested in hearing more about this vacancy please contact:
Mrs Margaret Strachan at ansracht@talktalk.net or telephone on 01501 820535
Your Legacy Of Hope And Care
- a gift in your Will to Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke
A gift in your Will to NICHS could not only help your loved ones, but leave a legacy of hope for generations to come. In Northern Ireland almost half of all adult deaths are caused by chest, heart and stroke illnesses. NICHS are working to change this through funding research and caring for those who are affected by devastating health conditions every day. A gift to us in your Will could be invested in critical local
research that will change the future for families at risk from our biggest killers. The smallest investment can lead to the biggest breakthrough.
For a leaflet or further information on leaving a legacy to NICHS, please call us on: 028 9032 0184, or write to NICHS Gifts in Wills, 21 Dublin Road, Belfast, BT2 7HB
Please visit our website to see how our Medical Research Programme has already supported groundbreaking projects and is committed to many more over the coming years. www.nichs.org.uk
Charity Reg No. NIC103593 NICHS_legacy AD_Pres Herald.indd 1
20/04/2016 21:49
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