Wider World March 2020

WIDER WORLD Spring: March - May 20

INTRODUCING SOPHIE DE WITT 2020 Women’s Conference Guest Speaker

SHARING OUR FAITH

God among the ruins

by Mags Duggan

SIDE BY SIDE

by Hazel McCrea

Tomb prayers

by Jill Weber

Baking

with Martha Collison

Inspirations 2020/21 Women’s Ministry Resource ‘encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.’

(1 Thessalonians 5:11)

Paul reminded the church at Thessalonica how important it was to ‘encourage one another and build each other up’. This edition of Inspirations is full of ideas to help you plan for your women’s ministry group within your congregation.

Copies of Inspirations cost £8/€9 each Contact pw@presbyterianireland.org for more information

Karen Craig PW President

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!

In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.

1 Peter 1:3-4 Spring is here. The cold, wet and windy days are hopefully behind us. The signs of new life are appearing and filling us with anticipation for the longer, warmer days of summer.

In this edition of the magazine we have stories about Presbyterian Women growing side by side both publicly as groups but also privately through grief and other challenging circumstances we face in life.

Plus we have an update on the home and overseas projects and how they are coming along. I have been able to share in one of the articles a little of the story of Okhaldhunga Community Hospital in Nepal.

A sense of anticipation happens to us at different times in our lives. I was made aware of this on my visit to the Maternal Waiting Home in the hospital. In the home, at the time of the visit, there were twelve mothers-to-be. But for them the anticipation of the birth of their baby was tinged with anxiety.

Many women are aware of the difficulties of having a baby or in giving birth but, for these ladies, the mountainous terrain in which they live creates another challenge. For them the Waiting Home provides them with the security and the provision of expertise which they need during the birth. They can look forward with a greater sense of reassurance to the birth. You will be able to hear the story of two of these ladies as their interviews will be available on the PW website later in the year.

Peter in his letter links for us both the new life and hope which we see in and experience because of the death and resurrection of Jesus. So as we approach Easter once again may we be aware of this new life which the risen Lord offers to us.

CONTENTS 04 06 08 10 14 16 18 21 22 24 26 28 30 32 34

Sharing our faith Introducing Sophie de Witt Walk together A Lifeline for mothers in Nepal Devotional: Together through Encouragement The Tomb and the Bomb Shelter God among the ruins The Nook Group Focus: First Kilrea, Boveedy & Connor PW My Side by Side Journey Christ’s love compels us It’s time to find your voice Proximity: Celebration Cakes, Bakes & Faith Tour Global News

Guest Editor: Rebecca McConnell Contact: Presbyterian Women, Congregational Life & Witness Department, Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Assembly Buildings, 2-10 Fisherwick Place, Belfast, BT1 6DW. Email: widerworld@presbyterianireland.org Web: www.presbyterianireland.org/pw Tel: +44 (0)28 9041 7256 Like us on Facebook: Presbyterian Women Follow us on Instagram: @widerworldmagazine Digital download: issuu.com/presbyterianireland Designed by: Break - madebybreak.com Printed by: Peninsula Print & Design Wider World is the magazine of PW. Published quarterly: March, June, September and December. Annual subscription: £6/€7 or £1.50/€1.75 per issue. Each year, an order form will be sent to Wider World agents. This should be returned, together with payment, to the above address. If required, invoices will be issued upon receipt of the order form. Cheques should be made payable to ‘The Presbyterian Church in Ireland’ marked Wider World on the reverse.

The Editor reserves the right to accept, reject or edit contributions. Opinions expressed in Wider World are not necessarily those of PCI, Presbyterian Women or the Editor.

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Sharing our faith A SUM M A RY F ROM N E I L HA R R I S ON ’ S TA L K G I V E N AT T H E P W F ORUM Neil Harrison is PCI’s Mission Development Officer. He is married to Suzanne, a Behaviour Advisor for the EA. Together they have two primary aged children – Henry and Maisie. Neil is a member of Waringstown Presbyterian and enjoys caravanning and amateur dramatics.

M

r Harrison my name is Frank from Fantastic Insurance. We’re a company that offers the best deals with the most coverage, and if you’re looking for better insurance, we can promise that we’re the best around. Would you be interested in purchasing insurance with us?”

“No thanks Frank”, (if I haven’t already hung up the phone after the first sentence).

Cold calls are a bit of a nuisance and unfortunately their frequency seems to be increasing. Perhaps you’ve had a similar experience where you find yourself ‘politely’ declining a service you have not asked for, from a person you have never seen. Apart from the mild irritation, it doesn’t really bother us to say ‘no’.

Six months ago, I had a cold caller at my door offering me a better deal on my electricity supply. Unlike faceless Frank on the phone, this was a person standing in front of me. His name was Barry and we knew each other from church circles.

I didn’t know him very well but we had several mutual friends and I understood him to be a decent guy.

As you can probably guess, I listened to Barry’s pitch and happily accepted the offer of a better deal.

Two cold calls, both promising to save me money and yet my responses were poles apart.

So, what was different between Frank and Barry?

Perhaps part of the answer is presence. It’s much easier to say no and hang up a phone than it is with someone standing in front of you. However, I have done exactly that for many other sales people on my doorstep. The crucial difference between these scenarios is relationship and trust. I knew Barry, I liked him and I trusted that he was being truthful in what he was offering which made me much more willing to listen and respond positively.

Invitation without relationship is cold, agenda led and easily declined.

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Perhaps that is a perception we need to appreciate much more in our approach to reaching those who don’t know Jesus personally. A relationship provides a much more natural platform to sharing our faith and also a much better starting point to inviting people along to church services or events.

We can learn some great lessons about this from the life of Levi, a tax collector, in Luke 5:27-32. Levi has an encounter with Jesus that transforms his life. He’s so excited to tell others about this that he immediately throws a party. We are told he invited ‘a large crowd of tax collectors and others…’.

Levi begins by inviting the people he knows, beginning with his work colleagues. We can’t know for sure who the ‘others’ were but if we were to place ourselves in Levi’s shoes, having experienced such an exciting and significant change, is it not likely that we would want to celebrate and share that good news with those closest to us? Therefore, might the ‘others’ of the passage be Levi’s family, friends and neighbours? People with whom he already has a relationship.

Similarly, those invited are more likely to attend because of the relationship with their friend Levi. They have heard of his dramatic life change and are likely to be intrigued to hear more. A trusted relationship with a Christian is often the starting point on someone’s journey towards finding Jesus for themselves.

Later in the story, the Pharisees are complaining to Jesus about meeting with this gathering of sinners in Levi’s house to which he responds, ‘It is not the healthy who needs a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’

P W F ORUM

1. Priorities How much of our time is spent with those Jesus calls spiritually sick? This passage challenges us to find a healthy balance of time spent with Christians and time spent with those unreached.

2. Space Perhaps you feel like you do not have the capacity for any new relationships.

This passage challenges us to always make space for the spiritually sick people God places in your path.

3. Initiate Levi took the initiative to share not just the gospel but his life as well by extending an invite to those around him. This passage challenges us to be intentional initiators.

“We have a good news story to share. A life-changing story of Jesus that offers hope, centred on the cross and resurrection.”

Jesus is telling the Pharisees (by his words and actions), that they have got it wrong. They were making every effort to stay away from sinners but Jesus makes it clear that we are to draw close to them with the good news message of the gospel. Jesus wants the Pharisees to behave more like Levi.

On the left are five ways this might challenge and shape our relationships with unreached friends around our lives.

We have a good news story to share. A life-changing story of Jesus that offers hope, centred on the cross and resurrection. Yet the response of many people in our society to our invite is ‘no thanks’ due to mistrust and misunderstanding.

Imagine if we could all build genuine relationships with unreached people over time, such that the good news of the gospel was clear to them through how we share our lives with them and through our words. Imagine the difference that would make to our lives, their lives and the life of our church as we seek to share Jesus with others. Perhaps the mistrust and misunderstanding would be replaced by interest and a willingness to find out more as we walk alongside people on their journey towards Jesus.

4. Hospitality in proximity Like Levi, we need to invite people to come close, through hospitality in proximity.

5. Prayer In living out all of the above, can we regularly pray, ‘Lord, who have you placed around my life that you want me to be intentional in building a relationship with?’

SHARE is a new resource from PCI that seeks to equip ordinary church members to be part of God’s mission in their everyday, as part of the local church. Church members will explore how to build relationships with unreached people, how to cultivate community around church with them and how to invite them to encounter God using their words and through church services or events.

Share is available for FREE as a download from the PCI website at the following link: www.presbyterianireland.org/share

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INTRODUCING

Sophie de Witt Ahead of May’s Presbyterian Women Conference, keynote speaker Sophie de Witt tells us a little about herself, her faith journey and her books.

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G U E S T SP E A K E R Sophie, we are looking forward to you sharing with us in I was increasingly convicted that this competitive May. Can you tell us a little about your journey that has comparison habit didn’t fit with having my identity and taken you from Cornwall to Cape Town? contentment in Christ and so I searched for a book that I grew up in a loving, privileged, nominally Anglican home would help me with this specific problem. After not finding in Cornwall but didn’t come across ‘born again’ Christianity one, I did my own Bible research that led to giving talks at a until I went to university. There I began a two year journey of women’s conference and, ultimately, to the book. debating, research, wrestling and then finally repentance in my third year of studies. My plan was to get involved in Third As you wrote the book, what did you learn about the World urban development but, somewhere along the way, the influence of comparison in your own life?

Lord changed my plans and I ended up in student work at a I learnt that the problem was actually much more serious big church in London. than I had originally thought. It wasn’t just an unhealthy It was there I met South African Chris de Witt, who habit but rather a problem linked to the very heart of sin had moved from being a Chartered Accountant to being through idolatry. Comparing was all about checking my ‘idol a ministry apprentice. In 2003, we married and at the end levels’ against those of others to see if they were high enough of 2004 moved to Cape Town for Chris to study at George to deliver the significance, satisfaction and security I craved.

Whitefield Theological College. We have three children For example, when I compared my productivity levels to Molly (12), Zach (10) and Joseph (8), whom we adopted most of my friends, mine were a good deal lower because when he was 11 months old. Chris of my struggle with fatigue, and this leads a church plant and we started up would result in me feeling inadequate.

“But the very act of a Christian Primary School in a suburb But when I spent time with others one-to-one discipleship, of Cape Town called Pinelands. who appeared less ‘productive’ than me, then I would feel better about myself when I am in the Word with Why do you think one-to-one for a bit and my sense of blessing another lady – learning, ministry is essential to discipling would increase! This is because I have individuals and how did this an idol of productivity, believing it applying, praying, growing influence your decision to write gains approval from God and man and together – itself helps defeat therefore will deliver significance and One-to-One? I was asked by a minister to assist our self-focus and centres us satisfaction. them in putting together a book, So, through analysing my more on Christ.” through interviews and questionnaires, comparison habit I learned that, despite which would ‘demystify’ this often very my faith, I was still being dominated by private ministry to inspire and equip many more churches my self-focus and idolatry. This was a painful diagnosis, but and individuals to experience its blessings for themselves. it was also very liberating to be specifically pointed back to In the end, the minister didn’t have enough time to do any Jesus as the true source of my significance, satisfaction and writing so it ended up being published in my name, which security. Although I am not fully healed of this problem, I was a risk for them and a big surprise on my journey! no longer feel stuck in it, defeated by it, but rather on a road This sort of intentional, regular, focussed discipleship to recovery which will be completed when I meet Christ is so effective in accelerating someone’s growth in Christ, face-to-face. if the Spirit is truly at work in them. There is such freedom for individualised teaching, application and prayer. And How can strong one-to-one discipling relationships help in not only is it incredibly helpful for the younger Christian the battle against destructive comparisons? (or unbeliever), but also for the one leading/facilitating the I think the two are quite linked and that’s why I plan meetings, whereby through the preparation time in prayer to cover both at the conference. In order to have genuine and Bible study, and also the time meeting up together, their love for one another, we need to deal with the toxicity of own walk with the Lord is nourished and nurtured. After all, comparison. But the very act of one-to-one discipleship, Jesus taught us that ‘it is more blessed to give than to receive’ when I am in the Word with another lady – learning, (Acts 20:35). applying, praying, growing together – itself helps defeat our self-focus and centres us more on Christ.

How has your experience of this kind of relationship influenced your faith journey?

What are your hopes for Presbyterian Women’s Conference The book was a subject very close to my heart, not just in May? because it was a ministry that made up the bulk of my day This sort of discipleship has a multiplication effect that job, but because I was ‘sent’ to meet one-to-one with an older God can use powerfully for his purposes and glory, and lady as soon as I was converted and so knew personally the so I have big prayers and humble high hopes for the day! impact it can have on a life.

I am praying that the women present will be built up and encouraged in their faith.

For your second book you shift focus to a different topic – comparison. What drew you to this?

How can we pray for you in the lead up to the conference?

I am middle of three girls for a start! I grew up struggling Please pray that I would work very hard at making sure with comparison in all sorts of areas of my life but a number the talks are faithful to and soaked in God’s Word; that they of years after coming to Christ, I realised that I was still are pitched just right for those listening; and that they are struggling. Moreover, the problem had actually become worse engaging and compelling. Please pray also for good health as I had just added more comparison triggers to my list – like and energy in the run up and during the conference.

Bible knowledge, hospitality and discipleship effectiveness – as well as the old ones like image and circumstances.

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Walk Together Through the Mission Fund, our Special Overseas Project for 2019-20 supported Dar Manhal Al Hayat, a Christian publishing house in Beirut dedicated to helping Arab women find their peace in God amidst everyday life challenges.

Their Publishing Director, Sawsan Tannoury tells us a little more about the translation into Arabic, and publication, of a devotional book to help young Christian girls grow daily in their relationship and walk with God.Â

You can watch and download a video of Sawsan describing the Overseas Special Project from the PCI website via www.presbyterianireland.org/pw

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SP E C IA L OV E R SE AS P ROJ E C T

W

e are very grateful for the support from Presbyterian Women to enable us to publish the Arabic version of A One Year Book of Devotions for Girls. You may wonder how does a book get published, you may have visions of large printing presses, printers ink and typeface set in metal blocks. However, most of the work takes place well before we get to the printing stage. Indeed the very first step is to make sure the book is needed.

For this book, we held many helpful discussions with our sister Children and Youth Ministry and from leaders of children’s ministries at various churches.

A common theme was the need to help girls (we also hope to publish an equivalent book for boys) grow in their faith, draw nearer to Jesus and develop the ‘fruit of the Spirit’ (Galatians 5) – so necessary in such a divided region where intolerance of other views and beliefs is so prevalent.

The actual publication process starts with obtaining the rights for an Arabic translation from the publisher of the English version – in this case Tyndale Kids. Then comes the translation and this is no easy task. We must translate the idioms and meaning into our local context as well as the actual words.

Editing, linguistic revision and proof reading are important tasks, as is laying out the text so that each page looks attractive and is easy to read.

With the Arabic text running from right to left, the look of a page can be very different to the English version. The design of the cover is important too. Sometimes we use the one from the English version but the positioning of the Arabic title ocassionally means we need to look for a new design. Today, of course, we do nearly all this work on a computer – there is little room for pen and pencil let alone printers ink!

After final checks to ensure all of the design elements are correct, we send the files to the printer. This is where we specify the number of colours, the binding and the type of cover. These are decisions that not only affect the look of the book but also its final cost.

For our Arabic version, we are printing each quarter of the year as a separate volume, offered together in an attractive case.

We felt a single volume – larger than the original English version – would be too cumbersome. As an added bonus, we have designed the cover of each book to be suitable for colouring in so every girl can personalise her own copy.

Even though we have published many hundreds of book over the years, there is always some excitement when we receive the books back from the printer and we see the finished version for the first time. There is something special about a new book.

From our warehouse, we distribute the books to our retail outlets in Lebanon and send batches to our distributors in Egypt and Jordan. No matter where we sell the book, we try to ensure that the final retail price is one that is affordable. This is why we are so grateful to Presbyterian Women, and similar partners, who help cover much of the publication costs.

Advertising, especially on our social media channels, plays an important role in promoting the book. We also alert churches and other Christian organisations to ensure the new publication is widely known. We are pleased that we were able to publish this book in time for Christmas, as we believe it will have made an excellent present for parents and grandparents to buy for their daughters and granddaughters. A Christmas launch also meant that girls who received a copy will have been able to start the New Year with an excellent devotional that will help them draw nearer to Jesus as they read and reflect each day on God’s Word.

This, after all, is our aim – to make Jesus known and deepen the faith of all who follow him, whether young or old. The beauty of Walk Together, as we have re-titled the book, is how it relates the daily Biblical passage to everyday events that girls will readily be able to relate to, which in turn will help them understand and put into practise what they have read. We pray that the Lord will richly bless all who seek to know him more through this devotional.

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A LIFELINE FOR

mothers in Nepal PW President Karen Craig reports on her recent overseas trip to Nepal including a visit to The Okhaldhunga Maternal Waiting Home.

T

Traffic in Kathmandu

he day Rob and I arrived in Kathmandu, the sun was shining and the mountains could be seen in the distance.

Little did we realise that they would be hidden by the smog for a lot of the rest of our time in Kathmandu.

As the city sits in a basin surrounded by the mountains, the dust and smog hang over it. As people move around either on foot or on scooters, they quite often wear a mask to protect themselves against the pollution. The city is bustling with activity with stalls selling all kinds of merchandise, and busy traffic of scooters, taxis and rickshaws driving past temples and shrines.

We had the opportunity to stay with Peter and Jayne Fleming in their apartment and so got to know and hear about the work in which they are involved first-hand. Peter is an Integral Development Officer with United Mission to Nepal (UMN) and his work involves going out into the rural areas to help and encourage small clusters of leaders.

Jayne teaches a Grade 1 (P3) class in KISC (Kathmandu International Study Centre). They have been in Nepal for about two years.

Peter and Valerie Lockwood along with their three children, Conor, Joel and Erin also live and work in Kathmandu and have been there for the past seven years.

Peter also works for UMN. Valerie supports him and the family.

As they live quite close to the Flemings they can be of help and support to one another. Life is very different for them in this city. Just getting around is a challenge. There are so many people, cycles, scooters, taxis etc that just getting to and from work takes a long time. Even trying to cross a road you take your life in your hands!

The pavements are so rough and uneven you have to walk along looking at the ground for fear of falling over. Despite all the differences, we felt safe and comfortable in the city and enjoyed the experiences.

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However, in the rural areas of Nepal, the terrain dictates how people live and work.

There is not a straight road, rather numerous hairpin bends - a Grand Prix circuit would have nothing on these roads. Twisting, turning, up and down, rough and smooth.

Our journey from Kathmandu to Okhaldhunga was during the dry season and was not hampered by floods or landslides but still it took nine hours to travel 200km. In Nepal, journeys are not measured in distance but time. The journey gave us a foretaste of what the people who live in the foothills of the Himalayas have to deal with daily.

At the Okhaldhunga Community Hospital, the challenges of the terrain were clearly seen. Just building a hospital on a steep hillside is a major achievement. To be able to provide a 50-bed hospital, outpatients department, TB unit, x-ray department, paediatrics ward and maternity ward is amazing. Many of these facilities we take for granted, but for people living in such remote areas it is life-saving.

One aspect of care for the community which the hospital has developed is a Maternal Waiting Home. It has been running for over 10 years and provides care and support for expectant mothers, especially if they are likely to present with a possible problem before or during the birth.

Many of the mothers live in the foothills and have a difficult journey just to get to the hospital - some told us of having to walk for two hours and then travelling via a jeep or bus. Having experienced the rough roads, the picture of a woman in labour trying to make it to the hospital was a terrifying one. So many of the ladies, if they can, come and stay a few weeks before the birth. There are still up to 50% of births at home but for some of these ladies the maternal home offers a lifeline.

There is help given in anti-natal classes, nutrition, family planning etc. The husband is also encouraged to come, or another family member. They are asked to cook the food and take part in the classes. It Roads to hospital develops a sense of community among the ladies. They have a bed, warm water (from solar panels) and good food. For this they have to pay 1,000 rupees (ÂŁ7).

For some, this is a lot, but they all make an effort to pay. However, this does not cover the cost, so the hospital has to meet the shortfall. The matron, Nirmala, is a real encouragement to the families and looks after the ladies as if they were her own girls. Some of the ladies are having their first baby and are quite young so she is a support for them at this time. Also, some may have experienced difficulties previously and are anxious, so her support is truly valued.

Jayne Fleming

Peter Fleming Maternal waiting home

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G L OBA L M I S SION

Okhaldhunga Maternal Waiting Home

Rural Nepal

Karen with Peter & Valerie Lockwood

Hospital Logo

In supporting this home through the PW Special Overseas Project 2020/21, this valuable work can continue and develop. The home can accommodate up to twenty ladies and family members. The support would allow the fee of 1,000 rupees to continue, help with the upkeep and daily running of the home, allow repainting to be done, help towards the salary of the matron, and generally improve the home.

We had the privilege of hearing from two of the ladies. One had a difficult experience previously, having lost a twin, so she was encouraged to come into the home before her due time. The second lady had been married at the age of 12 and had her first baby at 14. Now having her second at 20, and the possibility of a breech, she too was encouraged to come and stay. For many of the mothers this is a very positive experience and so they go back to their villages and tell others.

It was an honour for Rob and me to share in these experiences with those at Okhaldhunga and our Global Mission Workers in Kathmandu. It was also a great reminder to see the ways in which we share in this partnership so that, in the name of Jesus Christ, God’s love can be shown and expressed both practically and financially.

Nirmala, nursing manager of the home 13

DE VOT IONA L

Together through Encouragement Paul & Barnabas

READ

Acts 9:17-31 Acts 11:20-26

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Catherine Campbell, author of Journey with Me, Broken Works Best and other titles has spent many years involved in Bible ministry to women.

In this devotional, she continues to highlight relationships from the Bible that display the life-changing impact of discipleship side by side, looking at the different personalities of Paul and Barnabas.

I

t’s said in matters of the heart that opposites attract. That could be debated, yet I wonder which of your friends has just sprung to mind! In a similar vein we often observe those in work relationships, or even within church situations, of whom other idioms might be appropriate: “chalk and cheese”, “day and night”! Some personalities are so opposite in character that you wonder how they ever manage to do such a good job together, yet they do. Setting differences aside, each makes up for the other’s failings resulting in a perfect, or near perfect, whole.

Such were Paul and Barnabas.

Paul. Religious zealot. Intolerant. Former persecutor of Christians. Quick to judge. Straight talker. Life was only ever black and white. Showed little compassion or grace (certainly in his early days). Made public the mistakes of others.

(There’s even a book called How to like Paul again!) Yet he was passionate to follow his call to preach the gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15).

Barnabas. Generous. Kind. Trusting. Relational bridge-builder. Patient with the failures of others (Acts 15:37, 38). Willing to take risks with people. Wise mentor.

Specialised in encouragement… that’s how he got his name!

His birth name was Joseph, but the nickname given to him by the apostles stuck: Barnabas – Son of Encouragement (Acts 4:36). Sent by the Holy Spirit to preach the gospel with Paul (Acts 13:2).

Chalk and cheese; day and night, yet together powerfully used by God in the spread of the gospel across many lands.

How could this happen? What made this relationship work?

I believe differences were surmounted not only because they had the same burning desire to deliver the life-changing good news of salvation through Jesus Christ, but undoubtedly because one of this intrepid twosome practiced the powerful gift of encouragement.

1. If someone was to list your characteristics, which would come out on top? Remember, we are all made different for a reason. If Paul hadn’t been who he was, who else could have written a quarter of the New Testament?

2. Ask yourself: Am I a carrot or a stick person? Is there some part of my character that needs the Master’s touch of refinement? Am I prepared to be changed?

3. Is my desire to see others won for the Saviour stronger than my concerns over whom I might have to work with to make that happen?

It was Barnabas who took Paul (then Saul) under his wing when he came to Jerusalem to present himself to the leaders of the early church, and to inform them of his calling to preach the gospel. There wasn’t a Christian in Israel who hadn’t heard of the curse-breathing persecutor, Saul. Yes, they had heard of his encounter with the risen Christ on the Damascus road.

Yes, they had heard of the kindness of Ananias and the healing prayer. They’d even heard how he had preached Christ in the synagogues in Damascus. But that was Damascus. This was Jerusalem. Three years earlier Saul had to leave Damascus in fear of his life (Acts 9:24, 25). Where had he been since then? What if it had all been a ruse? Too many in Jerusalem remembered Stephen’s death, and the young Pharisee who held the coats of murderers on that dreadful day (Acts 7:58). Who would believe Saul now?

Who would be prepared to take a risk on anything he’d say?

Barnabas did – the man the church spoke of as “a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith” (Acts 11:24).

The Son of Encouragement believed the young Saul’s testimony of God’s transforming grace, and, putting his own reputation at risk, “took him (Saul) and brought him to the apostles” (Acts 9:27). You see, Barnabas had a gift of spotting leadership material, and mentored Saul as they preached in Jerusalem’s synagogues. Barnabas’ act of kindness and discernment was only the beginning of an impressive ministry for this unlikely duo.

Later, after Barnabas was sent to Antioch by the apostles to encourage the young, burgeoning church there, he quickly headed off to fetch his friend from Tarsus (Acts 11:25, 26).

The humble Barnabas believed Saul’s ministry was vitally important for the church at Antioch, a ministry that would begin to supercede Barnabas’ own, something he encouraged without personal resentment. That’s the mark of a true encourager… he or she knows when to step back into the shadows.

With their calling confirmed at Antioch, the explosive evangelist, now named Paul, and his encouraging co-worker Barnabas set off on the first missionary journey with their hearts on fire for the gospel. Men and women were about to hear the true message of the Saviour from the mouths of two of God’s choicest servants. Chalk and cheese? Absolutely!

But their relationship had been cemented by encouragement, trust, and commitment to the message they proclaimed.

1. Is there some way in which you could encourage someone today? A gentle word of praise? A cup of coffee and a listening ear?

2. Could you mentor a younger woman from the fellowship?

Or simply offer to pray for some issue they are concerned about?

3. Paul and Barnabas didn’t always agree (Acts 15:39).

Thankfully the impact of their ministry was not damaged.

Let’s do all within our power to live at peace with all men (Romans 12:18).

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P R AY E R

THE TOMB AND THE

Bomb Shelter

Jill Weber works at 24-7 Prayer as Director of Spiritual Formation. She is also the Global Convener of the Order of the Mustard Seed, a lay ecumenical religious order. She is a trained spiritual director and a writer, passionate about helping others be awake and responsive to the presence and the activity of God in their lives.

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6 am. As the outlines of the trees sharpen and take shape under the dawn light, I make my way to the heart of the garden - a first century tomb cut out of the side of a rock face.

It lies empty.

I remember my first visit to the Garden Tomb eight years ago on a tour of Israel. After the hustle and bustle of the Old City of Jerusalem, it was an oasis of calm and peace.

In various nooks and crannies of the lush gardens, groups of pilgrims from all over the world prayed, worshipped and took communion together.

As our group arrived at the climax of the tour, the tomb itself, our guide stood in its doorway with a twinkle in his eye.

‘He’s not here - he’s risen!’ he said.

This morning there is no guide. I’m alone with my thoughts, although behind me I can hear volunteers moving quietly about, sweeping the paths and mopping the benches in preparation for the day. I know from my conversations with them that many pray as they sweep.

Mary Magdalene comes to mind and I imagine her turning away from the empty tomb, distraught, and bumping into the gardener.

“Mary,” he says her name, and in that moment, what she thought was merely a human interaction becomes an encounter with the risen Jesus.

7:15 am. As the team assembles in front of the tomb for morning devotions, I look around the circle. Staff and volunteers are from Ireland, Holland, America, Paraguay, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Australia. The local team includes Messianic Jews and Christian Arabs. Together they are an eclectic bunch.

Before the doors open to the waves of pilgrims (around 400,000 a year), the team’s voices ring across the garden, “I love you Lord, and I lift my voice…”

10 am. As we stand in front of the bomb shelter tucked away in the far reaches of the garden, I’m reminded that prayers for the peace of Jerusalem are still needed. Stephen, Director of the Garden Tomb and our host, opens the door of the shelter and invites us in.

“We’re going to turn this room into a prayer room,” he says. “In October we’re launching nine weeks of prayer - 10 hours a day, 6 days a week. We’ve seen God work in wonderful ways, but we are hungry for more. I want to see Jesus walking the garden every day. And we will know he is walking in the garden when we see salvations, healings and miracles.”

“We’ve seen God work in wonderful ways, but we are hungry for more. I want to see Jesus walking the garden every day.”

We’ve been invited to Jerusalem to help build a House of Prayer, but instead we discover that the Garden Tomb is already a House of Prayer, and has been for 125 years.

It is a House of Prayer for all nations as pilgrims from every corner of the earth seek him in this prayer-soaked oasis and, as they seek him, encounter the risen Jesus.

This article has been republished with permission from 24-7 Prayer’s International website. Find out more about the work of 24-7 Prayer at www.24-7prayer.com

BOOK RELEASE Jill recently wrote her first book, Even the sparrow: A pilgrim’s guide to prayer, trust, and following the Leader published by Muddy Pearl.

What might happen if we live out of loving encounter with God and build in response to what he reveals? How can we make space to hear God and say yes to him? What if being a leader is all about being a follower? Is it really that simple?

These are the questions that have led Jill on the adventure of saying yes to the more of God – the invitation to really live. This honest, warm and compelling book speaks directly to those who long to encounter more of Jesus, to know how to tune into the small movements of the heart, and to have trust in every moment of their lives.

With wisdom and wit Jill explores prayer, discernment, vocation and leadership through her story of building and becoming a House of Prayer, offering encouragement that gives readers the confidence to say yes to what God is already doing.

Jill’s story will build faith in readers and help them to discover the freedom that lies beyond that yes – of giving it all for Jesus.

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“...God had increasingly become the safest and most dependable place for the grief of my heart...�

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B O OK P R E V I E W

God

AMO NG TH E

RU INS

Mags Duggan studies the prophesy found in Habakkuk and explores restoration after grief in her new book God among the ruins.

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uring the agonising months when my 23-year-old niece, Jenny, was dying of a very rare and horrendously aggressive cancer, a friend shared with me a poem by the writer Susan Lenzkes: It’s alright – Questions, pain, and stabbing anger, can be poured out to the Infinite One and he will not be damaged.

Our wounded ragings will be lost in him and we will be found For we beat on his chest from within the circle of his arms.

Her words reflected the truth expressed by David in one of my favourite Psalms; “Trust in him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before him. God is a safe place for us”.

Psalm 62:8.

During the months before Jenny died I had poured out my heart to God, beating on his chest with the fists of my bewilderment and anger and questions and confusion– and discovered that God was more than able to handle all the ways that the jagged brokenness of my pain expressed itself. I grew in confidence that he held my ‘wounded ragings’ as tokens of trust, evidence of the safe place I had come to know him to be for me over many years.

Through the aching trauma of those months, God had increasingly become the safest and most dependable place for the grief of my heart, but it was a slow dawning that brought me to acknowledging that although God is dependable, he is not necessarily predictable. That while God would always remain faithful to his character and to his commitment to fulfilling his purposes for my life, he was not necessarily predictable in the way he would accomplish those things. And as much as I believed and trusted in the goodness of God – and over long years I had come to believe and trust that goodness – now I needed to come to the place where I accepted that there was a mystery to that goodness which defied and challenged my sometimes entrenched views of how God should be God, how God should be good, should do good.

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Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, YET I will rejoice in the Lord!

I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!

The Sovereign Lord is my strength!

He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights. (Habakkuk 3:17-19)

“...the Creator God who not only creates but recreates out of the ruins of our lives something new – not only for his glory, but for our good.”

During those months of Jenny’s treatments and her eventual death, I feel that I developed a real kinship with Job. From the struggle-won wisdom of his own experience, he testified that, “for now we see the edges of his ways and how small a whisper do we hear of him” (Job 26:14 ASV). Job had come to know that what he saw and understood of God and his purposes was just the smallest hint of who God really was. His words resonated deeply with my own understanding of God’s purposes and actions during those months.

I came to realise that, in surrendering to the mystery of God’s goodness, I was able to accept the reality of my pain and confusion over so much unanswered prayer, so much distress. God was so beyond my understanding and my wisdom, his purposes so much deeper than I could ever fathom, that embracing this truth was the only pathway to peace. And peace did come; eventually. Job’s wisdom may have signposted the place of peace, but it was another anguished and broken-hearted man of God who laid the pathway to that peace - and more, to hope – as he worked through his own bewildered distress at God’s dealings in his life.

Waking up early one frosty morning just a year after Jenny died, the words ‘Even though … even here…

Emmanuel,’ pulsed like a heartbeat through my sleepy brain and eventually took me downstairs to a pot of coffee and a cosy blanket, to my journal and to a remembered fragment from the book of Habakkuk, to the words with which he ended his short prophesy...

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His words were impressively rousing at 5.30 am but the real impact came when I turned to the opening statements of this obscure prophet’s book. “How long must I cry to you and you pay no attention … why do you force me to see this…?” (Habakkuk 1:2-3) I flipped to the end again, and there they were - the words ‘Even though … yet ….’ How did he get from the bewildered distress of those opening verses to the buoyant defiant hope of those final words? What were the paths he took, what were the truths he uncovered that made such a radical difference, shaped such a stunning transformation? And could they, would they be enough for my still-grieving heart?

Those early-morning questions launched me into more than a year of studying the book of Habakkuk. Over the months I witnessed how he moved through his anguished and angry words of lament into silence, and into watching and waiting for God to speak truth and wisdom and new perspective into his heart. I listened in awe as I saw him declare the wonder of the character of God; watched with deep respect as he plaited the truths of that character and the unquestionable facts of God’s acts in Israel’s past into a rope of hope which he clung to and walked along until he finally reached the safe haven of the names of God. Habakkuk declared God to be Yahweh, the God who is present in compassionate covenant love for all his children, and for every dimensions of their need. He is Elohim – the Creator God who not only creates but recreates out of the ruins of our lives something new – not only for his glory, but for our good. And finally, Adonai – the wise and kind Sovereign Lord of all that he created.

It’s been eight years since Jenny died, seven years since God nudged me awake that cold November morning, and yet hardly a day goes by when the marker-stones, strewn across the landscape of Habakkuk’s life, haven’t guided me back into the welcoming presence and peace of God. They have been years of transformation – of my understanding of God, of my understanding too of the role that suffering and disappointment and broken dreams play in the purposes of God. I feel that I’m growing up – and growing down! Up into an expansive hopefulness for my life that isn’t dependent on favourable circumstances, and down into a deep-rooted trust in the God who holds my life, who holds all that I am and all that I long to be, in an unchanging, death-defying, grace-defining Love.

Before he died in a Japanese prisoner of war camp, Scottish missionary Eric Liddell wrote these words: Circumstances may appear to wreck our lives and God’s plans, but God is not helpless among the ruins.

I’m trusting daily, however imperfectly, in the truth of these words, and slowly, slowly, these ruins are being rebuilt; they really are.

G RO U P N E WS

Stormont PW On Saturday 30th November 2019, the ladies of Stormont PW hosted an afternoon tea. The main hall, festively decorated, was filled to capacity.

After sandwiches, scones and traybakes had been sampled, everyone was treated to songs, jokes and repartee from Class Act. All funds raised will go towards PW mission funds.

Abbots Cross PC ‘Women Together’ The women’s fellowship group at Abbots Cross PC ‘Women Together’ took a trip to the Excelsior Cinema Club in Comber on Monday 28th October 2019 to watch the comedy Mrs Caldicot’s Cabbage Wars. It was a lovely evening of fellowship - and food!

Waterside PW, Londonderry Members of the group attended a special Christmas evening of readings and music. The event was tinged with sadness as they said goodbye to their Leader of 14 years, Roberta Jones. (Front row, fifth from the left). The Group wish Roberta and her husband, Rev Knox Jones, God’s richest blessing as they minister in Aghadowey and Crossgar churches.

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First Kilrea, Boveedy and Connor PW Groups get

Side by Side

As we encourage women to grow Side by Side, we catch up with some PW Groups who recently met together. Margaret Johnston begins the story from Connor’s perspective:

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ould Connor PW Committee like to come and take one of our PW meetings in First Kilrea next session?”

This was the question that was posed to one of our Connor members during a conversation with the PW Leader of First Kilrea and which culminated in us getting “side by side”, not only with the women of Kilrea, but also of Boveedy who joined them on this occasion.

Unaccustomed as we were to conducting meetings outside of Connor, we felt led to agree to this request and, with a certain amount of fear and trepidation, set the date for 21st November 2019. With none of us feeling particularly gifted at public speaking, we decided that our best option was to choose a programme from the PW Resource Book, Inspirations, which is full of ideas to help women plan and present meetings in various settings.

Tying in with the PW theme of Restore, we chose one entitled “The Restoring Touch of Jesus” which considered three people with whom Jesus came in contact.

The aim of this programme was to consider how lives are changed by a personal encounter with Jesus, with the desired

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outcome being that we would each want our lives to show that we have been touched by Jesus and, as a result, are able to be better witnesses for him - seeing, serving and speaking in ways that glorify him.

As there were ten women on our committee, the programme was divided amongst us, with a game, some poetry and musical items being included to add variety.

And so it was, with much prayer and planning, we set about refining our presentation. We were assured that the women of Kilrea and Boveedy were a nice, friendly bunch and that there was no need for any of the Connor women to be nervous or over-anxious about the event. Easier said than done however!

Having been confronted about the need to get side by side with those around us, we never really expected it to be done in this format but God had different plans and so, feeling very inadequate for the task, yet trusting in the Lord for strength, two car loads set off one Thursday evening last November from Connor to Kilrea.

G RO U P F O C U S

It was an excellent night – all so friendly and good chat and fun.

Connor PW ladies were lovely and friendly and very enthusiastic about their faith. Everybody felt the same.

We came away feeling revitalised.

Margaret McCormick continues the story from First Kilrea/Boveedy’s perspective:

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hat a night! No music, readings or prayers to prepare, the group from Connor were in total control. When our visitors arrived, their quick response was “what a lovely room!” This friendly start continued through the whole evening. The Connor ladies arrived half an hour before the meeting started to set things up but they were so well organised they had a great time ‘side by side’ getting to know others as they arrived creating a great atmosphere of fun, friendship and fellowship.

The Leader introduced the Committee members and each of them spoke about their role in PW and a little about themselves. They were so enthusiastic – their joy and passion for sharing the good news of Jesus was very inspiring and encouraging.

The theme of restoration was introduced with reference to Sixty minute makeover, the TV programme that restores run down rooms and brings a great surprise to the occupants.

The use of PowerPoint slides highlighted the effects of the expert touch when it comes to restoring. This was developed with a short game “The Master’s Touch” in which celebrities famous for having the Master touch had to be linked with their particular area of skill or interest. Mary Berry and baking was easy but there were a few more difficult links.

This section was rounded off with the poem, The touch of the Master’s hand.

We transitioned into a short study of three people Jesus restored with a dialogue between two members, one giving an account of the incident and the other explaining how we could learn and benefit from the situation.

The blind man whose sight was restored – do I look at people with eyes of care and compassion? Peter, whose mother-in-law was restored to serve – am I serving God with a loving, humble and thankful heart? And the deaf and mute man restored to speak – are my words gracious and kind?

In all of this, there were lots of challenges and encouragements focusing on the desire to live our lives in a more Christlike way in all that we say and do.

Amongst our visitors was a great pianist who taught us a beautiful song at the beginning of the meeting Yet not I but through Christ in me, and it was sung by everyone at the close of our time together. Indeed music played an important part in our meeting with songs such as Light of the World and the youngest committee member sang Before you I kneel – the worker’s prayer uniting our hearts in worship.

During supper we had a great time side by side getting to know each other and renewing lots of friendships from the past. Enthusiasm, encouragement and enjoying being together was an inspiration to us all so that we left wanting to be restored by Jesus’ touch, to live for him each day. This was summed up in our closing prayer which ended “May each one of us know personally your restoring touch and be able to present our restored lives to you as a daily offering of worship and service.”

This was a very inspiring and memorable evening and we simply say “Thank you” to the Connor Committee.

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My Side by Side JOURNEY

Hazel McCrea is a member of Donemana Presbyterian Church and works in a local pre-school. She is married to Stuart and they have three children who are all teenagers.

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ver since I can remember, I’ve been surrounded by older Christian role models. Firstly, my mum who I can always rely on to talk with and pray with. Then my two aunts, who throughout my life have prayed, supported and guided me.

They became Christians in their 20’s when I was a small child and I can still remember the excitement and awe they had when they first met Jesus.

As I grew older and became a follower of Jesus myself, their guidance and support strengthened my walk with God. As a teenager they led Bible studies and we prayed together.

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These amazing women continue to pray, guide and support me today. I know I have been blessed by such a strong family support in my journey of faith. These women have walked side by side with me throughout my whole life.

But there also have been many others who have blessed and strengthened my relationship with God at different times over the course of my life. People whom God has placed in my life to bring comfort, healing, love, and compassion.

People who have been God’s hands and feet when I needed it most.

SI DE B Y SI DE

About six years ago I experienced a very difficult time in my life. I had a complete breakdown in my mental health. Depression and anxiety took over my whole life to the extent that every day became a monumental task. Anxiety about everything meant I could no longer work, even things like cooking or making a cup of tea would result in massive panic attacks.

My mum and my aunts were fantastic throughout my whole illness and their love and support was key to my recovery.

However, I was so embarrassed and ashamed by how I was feeling I became petrified of my church family finding out. I thought I would be judged for not having enough faith or not being a good enough Christian. I think really it was my pride in not wanting to appear anything other than strong.

I didn’t want to ask for help or prayer. There was one incident of someone saying “What have you got to be depressed about?

Sure you’re a Christian. Christians don’t get depressed.” I know now just how wrong and harmful that kind of statement is – and actually the overwhelming love I felt from my church family, from men as well as women, was amazing and humbling.

At this time I was introduced through my minister to an older lady from another church, Helen.

The only way I can describe it is that Helen took me under her wing.

We met every week, sometimes in her house, sometimes out for coffee. We talked about how I was feeling, we read the Bible, she prayed with me. I didn’t have to pretend or put on a good face. I could just be honest with her. I would talk with Helen about my struggles, my difficulties but also the good things that were happening. Helen saw me at my lowest points, when all I could do was cry. I didn’t have to hide.

It’s funny that when I was preparing what I would write in this article, my daily devotional said this, “One of the worst consequences of the fall is the elaborate barriers people erect between themselves and others. Facades abound in the church.

Sometimes church is the last place where people feel free to be themselves. They cover up with Sunday smiles and Sunday clothes.”

In fact, it’s when we take off our masks and stop pretending that things are fine when they aren’t, when we are real and honest and admit we need help, God moves in mighty ways.

As our friendship grew, Helen would share parts of her story with me, how she came to know Jesus, some of the struggles she had faced, the joys she had experienced and how God had guided her.

Meeting up with Helen became a real highlight - her love and compassion, her giving of her time to spend with me, her care to see “In fact, it’s when we my relationship with Jesus grow take off our masks and and deepen, all demonstrated to me God’s love in action. stop pretending that She showed me then, and she things are fine when still does, that this is how God intended for his children to walk they aren’t, when we with each other. are real and honest and Helen and her husband admit we need help, God prayed with me many times. They were a big part of my recovery. moves in mighty ways.”

Helen and I continued to meet regularly until we moved to Donemana over three years ago. We still keep in touch and they have often been our first port of call when difficulties have arisen in our lives, because we value their prayer, their support and their love.

I say to my husband a lot that “everyone needs a Helen”. I am always grateful to the person who introduced us and to God for placing her in my life. My prayer to God is that someday I can be a “Helen” to someone in their journey. Maybe you can be one too.

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DE AC ON E S S

Christ s Love COMPELS US

Tracey Nicholl, Deaconess for St. James’s, Ballymoney shares with us what she has learned over the years about the role of women’s ministry in the church, and what it looks like today.

“For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.

And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 As Christians and women of God, we each are called by the Lord Jesus into ministry. What that looks like for each one of us can be very different. Unfortunately, we can believe, wrongly, that once we have come to faith in Jesus and are saved, that that is the pinnacle and we can rest easy, as we know we are going to heaven. We fail to realise that it is just the beginning of an exciting relationship with Jesus.

We know what we are saved from but fail to grasp what we have been saved into. We are saved into a living relationship with Jesus, who has called each one of us to a work for him and in partnership with him. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:8-10).

At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit fell on both men and women and they were given gifts and talents to be used as he sees fit in the body of Christ and to make us able ministers of the gospel, to live lives to the glory of God. And when they prophesied, that means that they were given to edification (teaching), exhortation (preaching) and comfort (from the Holy Spirit to us and from us to others).

There was no ministry in the New Testament that was out of bounds for women. We need to know and be convinced of our intrinsic value to God for he has given each of us gifts and talents. When we are saved, we are fully loved, fully accepted, fully cleansed, fully forgiven and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

No one else can make your contribution to the Kingdom of God. Only you can and what blessing can be missed when we have more fear of man than of God. It is important that we take his call seriously. Before Jesus called me into ministry, I remember listening to a CD while I was driving home from work. The preacher said something I have never forgotten. He said, “Whatever God has for you to do, whatever work he has called you to, you can be certain of two things. Number one, it will not be convenient and number two, it will not be comfortable”. Whatever ministry Jesus calls you to, it will not be convenient for you to do it, nor will it be comfortable. It will be out of your comfort zone.

Traditionally, women in the Presbyterian Church have been comfortable in undertaking catering and coming together for fellowship in PW, both of which are important aspects of ministry. However, we have to recognise that we are not all called to these ministries and we must step out and do whatever Jesus calls us to, irrespective of cost, comfort or convenience. What a tragedy it would be to let fear shape our lives and steal our purpose and the destiny that we were created for.

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I studied Amy Carmichael’s life and discovered that some of the other missionaries disagreed with her ministry and had a, “Get Amy Carmichael out of India” brigade. It is not easy, but the power, the difference and the long-lasting influence one woman can have on our churches and communities and our world can be immense. The work that Amy began, the Dohnavur Fellowship, is still in operation today.

No one else can make your contribution to the Kingdom of God. Only you can, and what blessing can be missed when we have more fear of man than of God. I know, because no one had more fear than me when Jesus called me to Deaconess work, but I have learned that when you step out, Jesus meets you because he does not want you to fail. He loves you and calls you and equips you for a supernatural work that is done in partnership with him.

When I look around and see the women in our churches, I see the power that there is in unity, when we all come together, side by side for the purpose of worshipping and serving Jesus. We are not all called to be missionaries in far off lands.

I asked a woman in church if she would help in a particular aspect of ministry, and she agreed. Unbeknownst to me, she had been asked to help with something else. She told me that, on both occasions before she had been asked, she had prayed to the Lord and said, “Lord, I feel I could do more.”

Then when she was asked by me and someone else to help, she knew that it was the Lord answering her prayer.

Twelve years later, she is still in ministry in her church, making a difference by encouraging and empowering young girls.

Women’s ministry is the same as any ministry. We are called to be whatever Jesus wants us to be and do whatever he wants us to do and go wherever he wants us to go. When we all accept and fulfil our roles in the body of Christ, it is then the body will fit together as the Lord intended and he will be glorified on the earth.

Let me encourage you to step out in whatever capacity Jesus calls you to, for our lives are not our own and it is Christ’s love that compels us.

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your voice IT’S TIME TO FIND

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M Y S TORY

Hannah Arnold is part of Hope Church, Hillsborough, and lives in Banbridge with her husband James. She trained as a primary school teacher and is part of the CARE NI team.

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ave you ever lost your voice? Now, you could be forgiven for thinking I mean losing your voice when you’ve had a sore throat for a while or a pesky winter cold. But really what I’m getting at is have you ever lost your voice when it comes to speaking out, and about, the hard stuff? I have, and I realised I needed to find it again.

I began the summer of 2018 broken-hearted and frustrated. I love this Island and I love our people, North and South. But we have allowed disastrous decisions to be made and the consequences are heart-breaking. For me, the referendum on abortion in the Republic of Ireland was a wake-up call because throughout the campaign for change to their law, the voices that shouted the loudest and seemingly most powerfully were those from the pro-choice camp.

Whatever minority pro-life voice that could be heard above the din was soon drowned out by “my body, my choice” and “it’s a right”. And so, the answer to the question ended up being ‘yes’, ‘yes’ to abortion. Heart breaking.

But I began to think where my voice was in all of this.

How had I stood up and been counted in the battle over the lives of the unborn children of our Island? You see I say ‘my voice’ or ‘your voice’ but the reality is that if you are reading this and you are a Child of God, then it’s his voice that can be heard through our words.

And so, in my life something had to change. I had to start using my God-given and God-anointed voice. You see, the world around us screams loudly, but don’t mistake sheer volume for strength, majority…or truth! It is time we, as God’s representatives on earth, stopped being intimidated into silence. It’s time we realised we can speak, and we must speak; with words that are well seasoned, with truth and love, humility and compassion.

Like me, you may know and truly have the desire to do just that, to speak up for the vulnerable in our society, to see their lives changed for their good and God’s glory. My problem (and maybe yours too) wasn’t that I was numbed to and passive about what was going on in the world around me. I cared passionately but honestly, I didn’t feel confident enough to speak up, I didn’t feel equipped to, I didn’t have the language to.

And so, reeling from the decision taken in the South and with ‘the north is next’ echoing in my ears, I turned up at Wondrous 2018, the annual Elim in Ireland conference.

And that’s where I saw the CARE NI stand and talked to a gentleman called Tim. I had already encountered CARE (Christian Action Research and Education) before in the lead up to the referendum on abortion in the South. And since then I had become more interested in CARE as a charity, as it seemed to be a positive Christian voice when it came to the ‘big issues’; it was supporting and challenging those in power, the ones who make the decisions, whilst equipping believers to use their voice, to speak up and be heard. So naturally, CARE got my attention. And thankfully, I’ve had the opportunity to be involved ever since.

“It is time we, as God’s representatives on earth, stopped being intimidated into silence.”

At CARE NI, we want to be a people who uphold human dignity and support the most vulnerable in society. In our efforts to have a voice for love and truth into society, we see the local church playing a pivotal role. To this end, we endeavour to equip and resource church leaders, and their congregations, to be effective salt and light, whether it be through engagement with their local politicians or through grassroots initiatives to minister to those affected by these issues in their communities.

We are supported by individuals and churches throughout Northern Ireland, and we want to encourage you to be informed and to engage positively in public life with the big issues.

Now what about your voice? It is through the Father God’s heart that we use our voices to speak up! Proverbs 31 verse 8 reads, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Speak up and defend those who have no voice.” King Solomon’s wise words, and that’s exactly what together we need to do.

We in the CARE NI team want to equip you to use your voice well to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, those who are vulnerable in our society today. If you are a church leader then we are available to meet with you, to discuss the big issues and how they are affecting your community, as well as how we might help with equipping the Christian believers in your congregation with the information, language and resources to speak up and speak well.

As I finish, a song called So Will I, by Hillsong United has got my attention from the first time I listened to it: “I can see Your heart Eight billion different ways Every precious one A child You died to save If You gave Your life to love them…so will I” Using our voice can be about endeavouring to make Christian’s viewpoints heard by political leaders, which is hugely important and is a responsibility as Christ’s representatives on earth that we should take seriously. But ultimately, using our voice to speak up is about loving people.

Loving the eight billion, loving every precious one, every unborn baby, every man, every woman, every child Jesus died to save. That’s his heart. So, let’s use our voices to make his known. His voice speaks of justice, of repentance, of forgiveness, of relationship, of healing, of peace, of purpose, of hope. Use your voice to proclaim the same.

If you would like a speaker for your church or a particular ministry within your church, contact Hannah at hannah.arnold@care.org.uk 29

SEASONS OF LIFE

BI BL I CAL R EF L E CT I O NS A ND CH A L L E N G I N G CON TEN T D E S I G NE D TO RE S O U RC E RELATI ON AL DI S CI P L E - M A K I NG .

Proximity_Draft_180x180v3.indd 1

Celebration

ity Proxim ased r u p ch can be ne at .org n o li eland erianir t y b s e r www.p /proximity

08/08/2018 14:14

The PCI Bible study Proximity was featured heavily in Side by Side events. Here is one of the sessions from the book which can be used in small group settings. Each session digs into the Bible and offers practical questions, helping to balance between personal reflection and practical conversation. The aim of the resource is to walk in closer proximity to others as you navigate the seasons of your life as a follower of Jesus.

“Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, ‘The Lord has done great things for them.’”

Psalm 126:2 It may seem strange to think of celebrating as something we have to discipline ourselves to do, but often we don’t have eyes to see what is going well or hearts that are naturally tuned to be thankful.

Celebration is about more than a smiling face or a happy facade. If the joy of the Lord is to be our strength, how can we be better at welcoming and experiencing the joy of being aware of God at work in the seasons of our lives?

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P ROX I M I T Y

Into the theme There are times in our lives when things go well and it feels like God is pouring out his blessing on us. However, for some reason, celebration doesn’t seem to be our default factory setting and often requires real effort. While cynicism can come easily, frustratingly there is nothing automatic about joy. God understands this about his people. That’s why there are so many commands to celebrate in the Bible. The Psalms are packed full of encouragement to sing joyfully at the top of our lungs. God’s daily goodness to us gives us many reasons to be thankful. In response to the incredible news of the gospel, we have much to celebrate.

Particular circumstances in our lives also become occasions for recognising God’s hand upon our situation, remembering to be thankful and responding with joy. But if we are to experience God in the moments that call for celebration, we will have to develop a pace of life that takes time to reflect. Celebration requires eyes looking to see his hand at work and hearts acknowledging that every good gift comes from him.

Into the Bible Take time to read Psalm 126. Let the words sink in.

What captured your attention?

What questions surfaced for you?

Into what circumstances of your life did it seem to speak?

What is God revealing to you?

Psalm 126 expresses the overflow of a heart that knows God at work in life’s circumstances. The psalmist refers to songs of joy, mouths filled with laughter and fortunes that had been restored. It is a triumphant celebration, a cheerful shout and a jubilant song.

To really understand this Psalm requires that we know something of the background to it. The people recognised that God had brought them through hard years, in which they had suffered in exile, to return home again to the Promised Land. It was like God had made their wildest dreams come true. So, they celebrated together and poured out their thanks to him.

We need to capture this attitude in our lives. Where God’s transforming power is at work, let’s celebrate. Where fortunes are restored, let’s sing joyfully. When we experience blessing, let’s share about that cheerfully with one another. From the contrast in the Psalm between times of weeping and songs of joy, we need to learn to trust and anticipate that joy can follow a time of struggle or sorrow in our lives as well.

Celebrating God’s goodness in our lives is contagious too.

As mouths were filled with laughter and tongues proclaimed songs of joy, it was noticed among the nations round about that the Lord was doing great things in the lives of his people.

In the same way, our celebration of God at work among us spills over and draws the curiosity of others to a thankful life and their attention to a great and generous God. How can you adopt a more deliberate approach to celebration in your life?

Into the conversation 1. Share together what struck you about the Bible passage and reflection.

2. The people recognised that God had been at work in their situation. In what everyday event or circumstance from your life recently can you particularly see and celebrate God’s hand at work?

3. Psalm 126 points to a significant moment of transformation in the life of God’s people that they shared together. Where have you been able to see and celebrate a significant change God has brought about in the life of your family, church or area in which you serve?

4. The Psalm celebrates how God brings about a change in fortunes. From sowing in sorrow, the people return with a harvest and songs of joy. Sometimes times of blessing come through hardship. How might you keep trusting and anticipating that God will bring blessing as you wrestle with difficult seasons in life?

5. How does thanking God in times of blessing draw the attention of others in an increasingly thankless world? What might this look like in the various relationships in your life?

As you meet together, take time to catch up with one another, sharing some things that are going on in each other’s lives. Then use some of the following questions to help guide your discussion, taking time to share your reflections on the truth that was revealed to you through the Bible passage and reflection.

Into our lives Respond

How can you become more aware of and thankful for the reasons to celebrate and rejoice in your daily life?

Reach Out Celebration is best shared. With whom might you be more intentional about celebrating God’s goodness?

Pray Share what holds you back from expressing joy more fully.

Take time to thank God for the ways in which he has blessed your life. Pray for opportunities to celebrate more and share the joy of the Lord with others.

Read further Matthew 13:44-46 (memorise v44)

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Cakes Bakes & Faith TOUR

Martha Collison, the youngest ever contestant of The Great British Bake Off and Will Torrent, award-winning chocolatier and patissier recently hosted a number of inspiring evenings of conversation and live baking across the UK including events in Dungannon and Lisburn, in partnership with international relief and development charity Tearfund.

Throughout the Cakes, Bakes & Faith tour the duo talked about their careers, faith and shared baking expertise, as well as taking part in a mystery live baking challenge.

Ambassadors for Tearfund, Will and Martha, also shared stories from trips where they got to see the work Tearfund do first-hand to support communities in the greatest need around the world.

Photo credit: David Cavan/Tearfund NI

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RECIPE Martha visited Lebanon, where she saw how Tearfund’s partners are helping refugee families process the emotional impact of conflict and the trauma they have experienced in a healthy way through creative workshops and training programmes, as with 12-year-old Sara and 10-year-old Zain: “Sara and Zain were two of the bravest children I have met.

War has put them through so much, but they draw strength from the community they live in. They are able to feel joy again, to love themselves and trust those around them. I have met people who have suffered so much trauma and are still suffering so much now but the hope I see Tearfund bringing to communities is phenomenal.”

“As a chocolatier it was a dream come true to visit a cocoa plantation and learn about the process first-hand from the farmers. Cacao is not simple to grow. It needs to be lovingly tended and nurtured. Tearfund’s partners offer technical expertise and support farmers, teaching them what to plant when, how to look after the soil and how to manage their budgets. Farmers are seeing their cacao harvests increase and are now able to support their families, send their children to school and afford healthcare when they need it.”

Tearfund works in over 50 countries around the world to help communities overcome the worst effects of poverty and disasters through a network of local partners and churches.

Last year Will travelled to the Ivory Coast where he got to meet cocoa farmers being trained and supported by Tearfund’s partners in the region:

Hot Cross Bun Cinnamon Rolls

By Martha Collison Preparation time:40 minutes + 2-2.5 hours proving time Cooking time:15 minutes to 20 minutes Total time:2 hours 55 mins–3 hours 30 minutes

s

Make 12

Ingredients 50g butter, cubed 250ml milk 500g plain strong white bread flour 7g sachet easy bake yeast 1 tsp salt 50g caster sugar 150g raisins 50g mixed peel 2 medium eggs

1 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp mixed spice 150g caster sugar 25g butter, softened For the icing 25g unsalted butter, softened 75g cream cheese 150g icing sugar

Method 1. Place the butter and milk into a small saucepan and heat on low until the cubes of butter are completely melted. Set to one side to allow the mixture to cool for a few minutes.

2. Place the flour into a large bowl and add the yeast to one side of the bowl and the salt and sugar to the other. Roughly chop the raisins and mixed peel, then add the dried fruit to the bowl.

3. Beat one of the eggs into the lukewarm milk mixture.

Gradually add this into the dry mixture, stirring all the time, until a sticky dough forms.

4. Turn the dough out onto a lightly oiled surface and knead for about 15 minutes or until it is no longer sticky and it has become a smooth and elastic dough. Use a dough scraper if you wish.

Place the dough into a lightly oiled bowl, cover with clingfilm and leave in a warm place for 1½-2 hours or until doubled in size. While the dough is rising, mix together the cinnamon, mixed spice and caster sugar in a small bowl.

5. When the dough has risen, turn it out onto a lightly oiled surface and fold it in on itself a couple of times to knock out any large air bubbles. Roll the dough out into a large rectangle, about 45x30cm, and spread the soft butter over the top using your hands. Sprinkle the sugar and spice mix over the dough and press it into the butter. Roll up the rectangle, starting at the long side, and then slice into 12 rolls.

6. Arrange the rolls on a large heavy baking tray lined with baking parchment (or 2 lined baking trays), cover with oiled clingfilm and leave to rise for a further 30-40 minutes until noticeably larger. Preheat the oven to 200°C, gas mark 6.

7. Brush the rolls with the remaining egg (beaten) and bake for 15-20 minutes until golden.

8. To make the icing, beat the butter and cream cheese together well, then mix in the icing sugar until smooth and glossy then pipe crosses over the top of the warm buns. Serve immediately.

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G L OBA L

Global Mission Mission Department, Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Assembly Buildings, 2-10 Fisherwick Place, Belfast, BT1 6DW Tel: +44 (0)28 9041 7263 Email: global@presbyterianireland.org Website: www.presbyterianireland.org/mission

Information included in Global Mission News is supplied by the PCI Mission Department. While it is correct at the time of writing, which is normally some weeks before publication, readers should be aware that some details may subsequently change.

Up-to-date news and information are available online at: www.presbyterianireland.org/mission.

Prayer Diary

James and Heather Cochrane

Volker and JinHyeog Glissmann

Location: Porto, Portugal Mission: Church Planting

Location: Blantyre, MALAWI Mission: Theological education

• Pray for Portugal, a nation that is far from God. Pray for barriers to be broken down, for an acceptance of the gospel and for hearts and minds to be transformed.

•

• Pray that, even though the Cochranes do not see many visible results, they would remain focused and excited about what God can do.

• Give thanks for Brazilian Christians who worship with them and will become members of Comunidade Pedras Vivas, that they would catch the vision to reach out to the nation of Portugal.

• Give thanks for the first discipleship micro group and pray for another one to be set up as Heather hopes to bring three or four young women together in the Spring.

• Pray for the process of accepting new members and for membership classes as there are approximately 10 new people who have been worshipping with them for at least six months.

• Pray for James and Heather and their two daughters, Alana, a student at the University of Ulster, Belfast, and Lucy studying in Portugal.

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Pray for wisdom and openness to the Holy Spirit while planning, designing and writing course material for the Malawian context, as well as the ongoing preparations for moving to South Africa.

• Pray for wisdom for Volker as he balances the work in Malawi and South Africa with being available with advice for other TEE programmes in other parts of the world.

• Pray for JinHyeog as she teaches and that she will be able to continue to inspire the children.

• Pray for a work permit for South Africa as they are still waiting to hear from the South African immigration offices.

• Pray for good health and daily protection for the Glissmann family; and that in all they do, say and are, their witness will bring glory to God.

Overseas News Faith and Freedom in the Middle East Thursday 23 April 2020 Assembly Buildings, Belfast PCI is holding a special conference focusing on ‘Faith and Freedom in the Middle East’ on Thursday 23 April 2020 from 9.30am to 2.00pm.

The Middle East, the birth place of Christianity, has undergone much turmoil in recent years. Despite many pressures, including the refugee crisis in the region, many Christians continue to worship God and live out their faith and people are coming to faith in Christ.

Rita El-Mounayer, Chief Executive Officer of SAT-7 will be the keynote speaker at the conference. SAT-7 is a Christian satellite television station run by and for the people of the Middle East and North Africa whose vision is to see a growing Church in the Middle East and North Africa. Rita has worked with SAT-7 since 1995 and became CEO last April. Born in Lebanon, Rita lived through the violence of the Lebanese Civil War as a young girl.

Rita will address topics including people on the move, the role of women and stories of hope in the Middle East.

The conference is open to anyone with a desire to hear more about these issues, and will include table group discussions. Places are limited and advance booking is essential.

For more information or to book places contact the Mission Department by telephone or email: t: +44 (0)28 9032 2284 | e: mission@presbyterianireland.org w: www.presbyterianireland.org/events The closing date for bookings is Wednesday 15 April 2020.

Personnel News James Cochrane is due to be in the UK for a short home assignment in early March and will be speaking in several congregations updating them on the Comunidade Pedras Vivas church plant in Senhora da Hora, Porto, Portugal.

Overseas Visits Rev Uel Marrs (Secretary Council for Global Mission) along with Rev Dario Leal and Rev Robert Bell visited Derek and Jane French and the international church in Bilbao in north west Spain at the end of January.

The Moderator, Rt Rev Dr William Henry and his wife and family visited Kenya in February for two weeks. They visited each of the PCI global mission workers serving in Kenya: Naomi Leremore in Nairobi; Stephen and Angelina Cowan in Tuum; and Gary and Mary Reid in Olkinyiei, as well as meeting leaders of our partner church, the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA).

Global Mission Workers Naomi Keefe Da Caixa Postal 73 Codigo da agencia 32300018 AC Central Recife Avenida Guararapes 250 CEP 50010970 Brazil

Peter & Valerie Lockwood c/o UMN PO Box 126 Kathmandu Nepal

Stephen & Angelina Cowan PCEA Tuum PO Box 13 Baragoi via Maralal 20601 Kenya

Peter & Jayne Fleming c/o UMN PO Box 126 Kathmandu Nepal

BRAZIL

KENYA Naomi & Thomas Leremore PO Box 23450-00100 Nairobi (GPO) Kenya

KENYA Gary & Mary Reid PO Box 846-20500 Narok Kenya

KENYA Volker & JinHyeog Glissmann PO Box 30048 Chichiri Blantyre 3 Malawi

MALAWI

NEPAL

NEPAL James & Heather Cochrane Rua Monte da Mina, 4466 3 Dto. Leça do Balio 4465-693 Matosinhos Portugal

PORTUGAL

Chris & Rachel Humphries Rua da Mainça, 85, 2 Esq. São Mamede Infesta Matosinhos Porto 4465-207 Portugal

PORTUGAL

Csaba & Ilona Veres Str Intre Lacuri 43 Cluj Napoca Jud Cluj

ROMANIA

Derek & Jane French Calle Lekueder 9, 4A 48940 Leioa Spain

SPAIN Diane Cusick The Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) PO Box 320261 Woodlands Lusaka 10101 Zambia

ZAMBIA

Edwin & Anne Kibathi Partner Church Mission Workers 167 Wickhay Basildon Essex SS15 5AQ

ENGLAND

‘encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.’

(1 Thessalonians 5:11)

Presbyterian Women's Annual Conference Thursday 7th May 2020 in Assembly Buildings, Belfast Guest Speaker | Sophie de Witt Annual Meeting | 2 - 3.45pm Evening Celebration | 7.30 - 9.00pm Praise led by Erin McBride and Emma Smyth Guest Speaker Sophie de Witt Sophie de Witt and her husband, Chris, have three children and minister at The Message Church, Cape Town, in South Africa. Sophie is the Author of two books, One to One and Compared to Her. Sophie is passionate about one to one discipleship across the generations and she says, “it has a multiplication effect that God can use powerfully for His purposes and glory. I am praying that the women will be built up and encouraged in their faith and indeed become an army of disciplers... and, that this ministry will have ripple effects for the kingdom in the many communities and even beyond!”

This event is open to all women and is an opportunity to join with women from across Ireland as we come together to worship and celebrate all that God is doing in our lives and through His church. We come expectant to encounter Him afresh and take His blessing back to our local churches and communities.

For more information go to www.presbyterianireland.org/pw or find us on presbyterianwomen