Wider World Spring 2023

WIDER WORLD

Spring: March - May 2023

Wrapped in God’s love

Eleanor Drysdale

Deeper

Together

in

Bible Study in 1 Samuel

Elmwood Presbyterian

Friendship Group Focus Killing Comparison

Inspirations 2023/24

Women’s Ministry Resource

The new 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.

For more information, email pw@presbyterianireland.org or call +44 (0)28 9041 7257

Rebecca McConnell Editor

WELCOME TO OUR SPRING EDITION

Wow! Thank you to everyone who took up the Proverbs reading challenge in January. We were overwhelmed with the response online and we couldn’t let this issue pass without reflecting on it and your enthusiastic participation. Catherine Kirk encapsulated the sentiment of the challenge by commenting on Facebook, “It’s an extra incentive to take part knowing so many other ‘sisters’ are involved.”

As May approaches, we look forward to gathering together in Assembly Buildings as sisters on the first Thursday of the month. We welcome Rev Ali Calvin as our main speaker who will focus on the new theme for 2023/24, Being Transformed. You can find out more about her faith journey in our Q&A on pages 6 and 7.

We have lots for you to read in this edition before May though. If you haven’t heard of Sabina Wurmbrand before, then you should enjoy the article by Release International’s Stephen McIlroy who introduces a new DVD resource that PW Groups might find useful based on her life.

The Romanian Jew, turned Christian, was a courageous woman, arrested by the Nazis but used by God to bring others to him. The film ends with a familiar voice, two familiar faces, and one amazing tourist spot in Northern Ireland - the Gettys performing It is well at Mussenden Temple on the North Coast. You can read more about the Gettys new album and summer concert in Belfast on pages 8 and 9.

Eleanor Drysdale gives us an update on her work as a Deaconess in Wellington Presbyterian Church in Ballymena. Make sure to read about a beautiful moment of prayer that happened during their Girls’ Brigade enrolment service involving generations of women.

One woman who has inspired generations of people in a country far from her birth is Claire Trueman. She has written her story as a PCI missionary, sharing Jesus in Jamaica, in a new book published before Christmas.

Thank you to all the PW Groups that provided news items - we have a bumper edition of our Grateful Heart section, showing the kindness of members in thinking of others and providing for their needs and also celebrating faithful members of Presbyterian Women.

As we approach the end of our Deeper Together theme, our Reflection page focuses on the words of a Celtic blessing - we pray they give us peace, assurance and contentment this springtime.

CONTENTS

Freelance Editor: Rebecca McConnell

Contact: Presbyterian Women, Congregational Life & Witness Department, Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Assembly Buildings, 2-10 Fisherwick Place, Belfast, BT1 6DW.

Email: pw@presbyterianireland.org

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Wider World is the magazine of PW. Published quarterly: March, June, September and December. Annual subscription: £7/€8 or £1.75/€2 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.

Wrapped

IN GOD’S LOVE

Eleanor Drysdale, Deaconess serving in Wellington Presbyterian Church in Ballymena, shares with us the importance of reflecting and looking backwards in order to go forwards in our ministry and into God’s calling on our lives.

ecember past, I received the best Christmas present ever - a blanket! I know that might sound a bit daft, however it wasn’t the blanket itself but rather the design that made it so special. It was decorated with photographs of four generations of my family! From black and white photos of my grandparents to colour photos of my great nephews and niece. On Christmas day there was much conversation over when and where photographs were taken and stories of the people in them came to mind. As I sat in my chair in the kitchen the next day, I was not wrapped in a blanket but rather wrapped in family. Part of those memories allow me to look back over my life but also to look forward to what lies ahead.

At the end of December, I received a devotional into my inbox with the following verse on it: ‘Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.’ (Isaiah 43:18-19). It encouraged me to review the year 2022 and then to look ahead to 2023. So here’s a quick summary…

The year 2022 began with the death of my mum and another round of Covid-19 restrictions. I had taken on the leadership of the Girls’ Brigade until we got a new Captain and was working on restructuring our Presbyterian Women Group. That’s as far as I got in the review, because the words ‘See, I am doing a new thing’ jumped out at me. God was doing something new in me, in my work and in my church. Until I took time to stop and review, I could have missed how incredible our God is, whether in the sorrow or the joy.

Mum’s death brought major changes to my life. I lost all sense of routine and, having been a carer for the past 20 years,

I found it hard to know what to do with myself each day. The only person I had to look after now was me! The blanket has photos of mum as a wife on her wedding day, as a mum with my brothers and me, and as a grandmother with her first grandchildren. The verse reminded me again that God was doing a new thing and I was entering a new season.

Coming out of the pandemic, the numbers of those attending Girls’ Brigade were down slightly but most of the leaders and helpers had returned. We were without a Captain and I felt that I could help by simply watching over them during this time. The leaders and helpers we have are women who love the Lord and love the girls. I don’t know a lot about the workings of Girls’ Brigade itself, but I do know it is a fantastic opportunity to draw alongside girls aged 3-18 years.

It was at this same time that we found ourselves without a leader for our Presbyterian Women and we felt that God was asking us to take this time to look at our ministry to women overall. We set aside three nights to bring women from the Church together, to talk about ministry to women and pray together. At the end of that time, we asked if any of the women felt led by God to become part of a new team. Within a few weeks we had a team of eight women, changed the name of our group to Women@Wellington, planned to meet once a month and decided that each meeting would give the women a chance to talk about what they had heard and to share together.

We had Valerie Murphy speak at our first meeting - a breakfast in September reflecting on ‘Deeper Together’ to set the foundation for what we were doing.

I still had in my head the beginning of that verse ‘See, I am doing a new thing’ and with the two groups I was ministering in, this really came together at the GB Enrolment service in October. The company section fills the central area of our Church and during part of the talk to the girls we got the officers and helpers to stand in the aisles down both sides of the girls along with the team from Women@ Wellington, with a reminder that these women would walk with them over the years to help them Seek, Serve and Follow Christ, the GB motto. Then we had former Captains stand behind them - a reminder that there were women praying for them who would have their back. Then at the front we had four different women aged from 20-80 who have been walking with Jesus. This was a reminder that we had women who wanted to show them how to follow Jesus throughout their days.

The month of December we gave over to Mission, encouraging the women to be involved in different mission initiative within the church. They signed up to write Christmas cards to our global mission workers both PCI and our own church, deliver hampers, serve meals, bake desserts and serve tea and coffee throughout the month.

Looking back at what I saw God do throughout 2022 was just like the Christmas blanket. It was all different pictures but when pulled together, it was 12 months of tears, laughter, pain and excitement, but throughout it all I had been wrapped in the incredible love of God, who had walked with me. He has shown me new things about myself, about my work and about church and so now in 2023 I continue to build on that, knowing that he goes before me in all things, he will never leave me nor forsake me and that he knows the plans he has for me.

... it was 12 months of tears, laughter, pain and excitement, but throughout it all I had been wrapped in the incredible love of God.

Being transformed

MEET ALI

Ahead of Presbyterian Women’s Conference on 4th May 2023, keynote speaker Ali Calvin shares her story.

So Ali, tell us a little about you and your faith journey?

I am from Co. Armagh and came to know the Lord as my Saviour when I was five years old. I remember it well, as that encounter with Jesus defined the rest of my life. I simply prayed with my Mum and asked Jesus into my heart. Jesus became so real to me and the rest of my life has been a journey of growing in discipleship, love, obedience and faith. Yes, I have had times of rebellion and doubt along the way, but God never took his hand off me.

What led you to go into full time ministry?

I loved to go to children’s meetings and summer camps. I was at a Faith Mission summer camp in Scotland when I was 13, and that’s when I believe God called me into full time Christian service. It was through two short songs:

Untold millions, are still untold, Untold millions are outside the fold. Who will tell them of Jesus’ love and the heavenly mansions awaiting above?

The next chorus challenged me to respond in the words “All that I have, all that I have, I will give Jesus all that I have.”

I went on to university to study Applied Languages. While there, Love Europe visited the CU, and again, through a song, God renewed the call with this chorus:

We are called to take His light To a world where wrong seems right What could be too great a cost For sharing life with one who’s lost?

I taught French and German for two years in Markethill High School and enjoyed it, but the call never left me. In 1997, I headed off to Montelimar in France to work with Youth for Christ. I spent one year there and two years in Privas working with young people in L’Eglise Reformee before realising that I really wasn’t spiritually equipped for the battle. Through very God-ordained circumstances, I left France to go to Kingdom Faith Bible College in Horsham, England.

This again was a life transforming time as I grew into understanding Scripture in much more depth and learned much more about what it means to live and pray in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Since the age of 21, I had suffered with an illness which I was determined to overcome. With God’s help, it didn’t keep me down, but it was progressively getting worse. I was trusting God and praying for healing, but in 2004 I ended up in the Royal Victoria Hospital for a prolonged period of time. I was due to go on a trip to Uganda, and so I asked the consultant, “Will I be fit to travel to Africa by the end of the month?” His reply was another life defining moment for me - he smiled and said, “Do you not think God might have work for you to do here in Ireland?” He left the room, but God didn’t.

As I lay in that hospital bed, those words would not leave my head or heart, and so began God’s call back home. It’s a long story, but the girl who had been out of the Church of Ireland for 10 years and didn’t even believe women should be ordained, found herself pushing the door of the pathway to ordained ministry in the Church of Ireland. It’s too long to tell you it all, but I can assure you I tried to kick against the goad, but at every step God clearly confirmed his calling and opened doors that really shouldn’t have opened so quickly.

I started training in Dublin in September 2006 and was ordained in 2009. The first parish I went to work in was in Killeshandra, Co.Cavan. I spent almost 11 years there and praise God for the wonderful people and the special times we had together in the Lord. It was a delight to see people encounter Jesus and watch as he transformed their hearts and minds, leading them into deeper relationship and freedom. In 2020, leaving Killeshandra to come to Kilkeel was one of the hardest moves of my life, but God has a way of making his call clear and my only choice is obedience and to trust he knows best.

I arrived in Kilkeel and had a few fantastic weeks exploring the new parish and then … Covid-19 lockdown! I’m well settled now and love watching how God is challenging and moving among us here in this place. It’s always an adventure following Jesus!

My passion in ministry is seeing people walk in the fullness of Spiritual Blessing God has for them as I encourage them to bring others to Jesus. I love to read and teach God’s Word, making room for his Holy Spirit to minister in a way that

brings freedom, transformation, joy and challenge. For me it’s always The Word and The Spirit. It’s such a privilege to serve our amazing God.

The new theme is - Being transformed - can you share a time when you were transformed, either in attitude or in a circumstance?

I think God is continually transforming us from one degree of glory to another, constantly renewing our minds and giving us new encounters with himself. The main moment of transformation was obviously the night I asked Jesus into my heart, but there have been many others along the way.

Perhaps the most life-changing was when I was challenged about allowing the Holy Spirit to fill me and flow through me. I was desperate for more of God’s presence and power in my life. I knew I had received the Holy Spirit when I was born again, but I didn’t realise there was more! Growing into a deeper relationship with Jesus through the Holy Spirit changed my whole walk with God. The Bible became much more alive, God began to reveal himself and his heart through it, and I began to learn how to hear God and grow in intimacy with him.

What are your hopes for Presbyterian Women’s Conference in May?

My deepest prayer is that we will know God’s presence with us. When we unpack his Word with hearts open to his Spirit there is no limit to what he can do. I pray that he will break chains that bind, open prison doors, set captives free, heal broken hearts and call us deeper into his heart and purpose. We’re daughters of the King! I’m looking forward to entering his courts with you.

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

Please pray for time to really hear God. I minister in a busy Parish and it can be hard to guard my own walk with Jesus.

Please pray against distractions which are often the enemy’s tool.

Please pray for wisdom and sharpness as I listen for what God would have us think about together.

Please pray that we will all encounter God as we worship him together.

Love letter TO NORTHERN IRELAND

As ambassadors of hymn-writing, Keith and Kristyn Getty have performed for presidents, prime ministers, and host sell-out concerts each year at Kennedy Centre and Carnegie Hall, as well as their own “Sing” Conference & Festival which welcomes over 15,000 people to Nashville each year.

The Northern Irish hymn-writing duo will return to Belfast in June to perform at the SSE Arena following their first GRAMMY nomination for their album Confessio – Irish American Roots, which the couple call their “love letter to Northern Ireland”.

The Gettys travelled to the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles for the 65th GRAMMY Awards in February, having been nominated in the Best Roots Gospel Album category alongside world renowned artists such as Willie Nelson, the Gaither Vocal Band and Karen Peck & New River.

Perhaps most well-known for their song In Christ Alone, which Keith wrote on the back of an electricity bill in a converted pigsty at his house in Country Antrim, Keith and Kristyn Getty have written and recorded some of the most popular modern hymns sang in our churches today.

Confessio, the album which has gained the Gettys their GRAMMY nomination, showcases 15 modern and timeless hymns including renditions of Be Thou My Vision, Amazing Grace and It is Well With My Soul, as well as their own In Christ Alone and Immigrant’s Song

It highlights traditional Irish melodies and instrumentation and features performances from an array of guests including multiple GRAMMY-award winning artists Alison Krauss, Ricky Skaggs and Kirk Whalum, as well as their daughters making an appearance.

“For seventeen centuries here, people have passed their faith and their music on, and we are just another little link in that chain. When we were home during the pandemic, we decided to write what we called our love letter to Northern Ireland.

“It is an album which looks at the history of music and faith, but in one sense it also tells our story as well. It begins with the Confessio which was St Patrick’s first hymn, and then it finishes with Kristyn and Alison Kraus singing In Christ Alone. Ricky Skaggs came and recorded a number of songs, illustrating the Irish American experience, with the album finishing with more of the American-style hymns.

“There is a lot of inspiration in the album from our background, from Kristyn’s favourite hymn which she used to sing in the church her dad planted, to music inspired by the tradition of textile and weaving which was my family’s tradition”.

Their own rendition of Amazing Grace was recorded in Harry’s Shack on Portstewart Strand during the pandemic, and It is Well With My Soul was recorded at Downhill Beach and Mussenden Temple. A further three songs were recorded in Keith and Kristyn’s carport at their home outside Ballybogey.

“Our desire for this album was to shine a light on the hope of the Gospel, the Christian heritage of the West, the importance of hymn singing, and ultimately the beauty of Christ”.

The couple’s GRAMMY nomination came ahead of the Sing! World Tour which will kickstart at Belfast’s SSE Arena on Saturday 17 June 2023 before shows in the Star Theatre, Singapore and the Sydney Opera House, Australia.

The Belfast concert will feature an array of guest artists and the Getty’s band of internationally renowned musicians, all accompanied by the New Irish Arts Orchestra and a mass choir.

“It is always a tremendous honour to play in front of any audience, but there is something incredibly special about performing in front of a home crowd, especially following our GRAMMY nomination for an album dedicated to our home.

“Northern Ireland has a special place in our hearts; it is where Kristyn and I met and where we return to with our four children each year. We always tell our audiences around the globe that Northern Ireland is the best place in the world, so it is incredibly special to stage the first leg of the Sing! World Tour at the SSE Arena. We hope the concert will be a memorable evening where people can come together to sing their faith.

“It is has been an incredible journey since I began my work in church music back at Elmwood Presbyterian Church all those years ago, and we are so thankful to God for the blessing that it is to write and sing hymns for people and churches across the globe”.

Keith and Kristyn now divide their time between Nashville and Northern Ireland, returning to the North Coast in the summer months with their children.

Agriefsilent

Further to CARE NI being the focus of the 2020 - 2022 PW Special Home Project, Jenny Baines gives a deep and honest insight into her pregnancy loss experience along with an invite to their spring retreat in April 2023.

In many of our churches today, and in society as a whole, there is a silence surrounding the painful experience of pregnancy loss. This is true for those who have known the pain of miscarriage, still birth, or early infant death; and for many women and partners, this is also true for the loss of babies who have died through termination of pregnancy.

If I may, I would like to share a little of my story.

Just over 35 years ago, my husband and I attended our local antenatal clinic for a routine appointment. I was 37 weeks pregnant, and a scan had been requested as there was some uncertainty about the baby’s position. The midwife, blissfully unaware that everyone believed that there was just one baby, declared enthusiastically: ‘Well, here’s baby number one, and here’s baby number two!’

Continues...

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Thankfully, I was lying down at the time! With just three weeks to go, this came as a huge shock, and not least because my husband had been a widower with five young children. With the birth of our twins, there were some interesting days ahead.

On reflection, however, this wasn’t the biggest pregnancy related shock I’d experienced. Just two years previously, I’d suffered a miscarriage, and the following year, I went on to miscarry two more babies - all traumatic and painful events.

I read a while ago: ‘Miscarriage is not ok, and losing your baby at any age is a tragedy that no parent should ever experience. But this is happening all of the time and, as long as we live in an imperfect world, we will find ourselves crashing into these moments. The commonality of a situation, though, doesn’t take away from the individuality of it.’

‘Crashing into these moments’ certainly described my experience with each individual loss. Physically, the whole process was simply horrible, and the emotions which accompanied it were deeply painful: anger, guilt and shame, grief and huge sadness. Eventually, I came to a place of acceptance, and I was able to grieve and release my babies and my sadness into God’s hands, knowing that they were in his presence. But this grief will always be part of my story.

At that time, there was very little in the way of baby loss counselling or support, and for many there followed a time of silent and lonely grief. For me, this was the start of my journey of walking alongside men and women who have experienced baby loss and, in more recent years, of seeking to engage with churches on these issues.

I now have the privilege of leading OPEN (weareopen.org.uk) an initiative of CARE (care.org.uk) which offers a pastoral response to crisis pregnancy and baby loss.

We hold pastoral training events and we have been delighted to work in partnership with Presbyterian Women in offering ‘Loved’ Miscarriage Healing Retreat Days in Northern Ireland. These are days where those who come are able to reflect, and find peace and understanding; to share with those who have also known this pain, and to acknowledge together that we and our babies are loved.

Over the past 30 years, I have also been privileged to walk alongside those who may be struggling following an abortion. In England, at the time of my miscarriages, it was common practice for women who, for whatever reasons, had made the decision to end their pregnancies, to be placed on wards with those going through miscarriage. As you can imagine, this was very difficult for everyone, and I vividly remember at the time of my second miscarriage, a young girl coming on to the ward, on the face of it seemingly unconcerned about all this.

In the midst of my deep grief, I felt a huge compassion for her, and wondered what was happening in her life to bring her to this decision. As she left the ward, I prayed that God would bring across her path those who could offer compassion and support and that one day, through this, good would come. Believe me, I am no saint, and I know that only the Holy Spirit could have put this on my heart at that time, and through it bring me into this whole area of ministry.

I rarely speak in any church about the ministry of OPEN without at least one person, and sometimes more, sharing with me the pain of an abortion experience, often having told no-one else. Sadly, they feel that church is the last place they can share this in the hope of finding peace and healing, often fearing judgement and lack of compassion. I believe it should be the first place! And so, as with the subject of miscarriage, we offer pastoral training which enables us to create environments in our churches and circles of friends, where we can speak of this sensitive subject with grace and truth.

As a practical response to this, we have developed OPEN post-abortion healing retreat weekends, where we gently work through a post-abortion healing programme in a small group setting. Those who find the huge courage to come, are always rewarded by finding a measure of peace, forgiveness and healing, enabling them to embrace what has happened, and to move forward with hope and trust for the future.

I am so excited that we will soon be holding our first OPEN weekend in Northern Ireland, in the beautiful surroundings of Enniskillen, from Friday 21 to Sunday 23 April. The weekend will be delivered from a Christian faith basis, but all are welcome.

For more information, please see weareopen.org.uk or email me on open@care.org.uk

Eventually, I came to a place of acceptance, and I was able to grieve and release my babies and my sadness into God’s hands, knowing that they were in his presence. But this grief will always be part of my story.

There are also Pregnancy Choices Centres, recently opened in NI, that offer crisis pregnancy and post-abortion support (pregnancychoicescentre.org).

Several years ago, while spending some time working in a church in the United States, I visited a lady who, with great courage and many tears, had attended our port-abortion healing group. At the side of the road leading into her small town was a huge banner which read: ‘Abortion stops a beating heart.’ I asked her how she had felt, with her secret guilt and grief of over thirty years, driving past that banner each day. She replied that she had learned to harden her heart to it as she knew only too well the deep pain of having made that decision which ended her baby’s life. She later reflected more on this and said: “Jenny, it is true that abortion stops a beating heart. But here is one step further: who will care for the hearts that remain beating but broken?”

As Christ followers, that is us! Let’s respond to this silent grief within our churches, bringing hope and healing, knowing that as it says in Psalm 34:18: ‘The Lord is close to the broken hearted.’

Jenny has been involved in women’s ministry and in offering unintended pregnancy, post-abortion and miscarriage counselling for over 25 years. She has delivered training in the UK and other parts of Europe and USA. Based in Lincolnshire, she now works as a consultant for OPEN, an initiative of CARE.

You can find out more information as well as resources and support at www.weareopen.org.uk

Believe me, I am no saint, and I know that only the Holy Spirit could have put this on my heart at that time, and through it bring me into this whole area of ministry.

Sabina

PERSECUTION FOR CHRIST AND THE GOSPEL

Stephen Mcilroy of Release International shares about their work with the persecuted church and introduces a new video resource available to Presbyterian Women groups.

In Nigeria, a Christian woman hears that her pastor husband has been gunned down by extremists for preaching the gospel in his village. In Pakistan, a woman is left destitute after her husband, a Christian, is imprisoned on allegations of blasphemy.

Around our world today, Christian men and women face the reality of persecution for their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and for their gospel witness.

Many women suffer directly – many more suffer from seeing husbands imprisoned, or even martyred.

Sabina Wurmbrand was a Christian, from a Jewish background, who experienced much personal suffering for her faith in Christ. Her husband Richard, a pastor, was arrested in the then Communist Romania in the late 1940s. He would eventually serve a

total of 14 years in prison, frequently being tortured, for his faith. Richard’s story is famously documented in the book he would later write, Tortured for Christ.

Sabina was herself arrested and would spend three years in slave labour camps and prisons. At one point, Romanian secret police told her that her husband had died in prison.

That was not true and when Richard was released from prison in the mid-1960s the couple were effectively ransomed out of the country by a group of Christians from Norway, who paid the Romanian government $10,000 for their freedom. The Wurmbrands travelled extensively, telling the story of their suffering and the suffering of other Christians, despite receiving warnings not to from the Communist regime in Romania.

Their incredible witness and faithfulness to Christ inspired the founding of what is now Release International, a UK ministry serving persecuted Christians around the world.

Initially set up in 1968 as Christian Witness to the Communist World, Release International is today active in around 30 countries, working through trusted Christian partners on the ground to provide practical as well as spiritual support to those who continue to suffer the world’s hatred of Christ, in a variety of contexts. Release International supports the families of Christian martyrs, prisoners of faith and their families, Christians suffering oppression and violence, and Christians forced to flee.

In some cases today the persecuting force will still be Communism. In other places it may be Islamist extremism, or Hindu or Buddhist nationalism. The contexts vary and so the needs vary. Sometimes immediate, life-preserving practical support is needed where people have been forced to flee, leaving everything behind, or where Christian communities have seen property destroyed.

For a limited time if you sign up for Release International’s information through direct contact with Stephen, you will be offered a free copy of the Sabina DVD! The running time is approximately 115 minutes.

For more information, contact Stephen on 07933 313169 or email

smcilroy@releaseinternational.org

In other situations there may be a need for Bibles and other Christian resources, or training for Christian leadership, where Christian freedoms are severely restricted.

Here in the UK, Release International seeks to raise the voice of persecuted Christians; to call individual Christians and churches to express, in practical ways, real fellowship with those who suffer for their faith; to give persecuted Christians the ‘tools’ they need to live faithfully for Jesus Christ; to learn lessons of Christian discipleship with them in their sufferings; and to maintain proper Christian stewardship to honour them.

Sabina Wurmbrand would later tell her own story in the book The Pastor’s Wife Now her story has been made available to a fresh generation in the dramatic film, Sabina, which is available on DVD. The film opens with Sabina Wurmbrand risking her life to show Christ’s love to a trio of Nazi soldiers. Why? Why would a Jewish Christian risk her life to help wartime enemies - members of the army that had killed her entire family? Forgiveness, and the willingness of the Christian to forgive, by the grace of God, is a powerful theme in the film.

Release International produces a free quarterly magazine, Voice, which aims to keep Christians in the UK informed of persecution around the world, as well as resourcing you and your church to pray regularly, and specifically, for those who suffer for Christ and the gospel. You can sign up for the magazine and purchase a copy of the Sabina DVD by going to the Release International

website releaseinternational.org

Should you wish to do so, the website also provides ways for you to support the work of loving and serving persecuted Christians around the world.

Release International has an office and staff in Northern Ireland and can provide a speaker for your Presbyterian Women’s group, who will share about persecution in our world today and how Scripture encourages us to respond to the persecution of Christians. You may like to consider showing the Sabina DVD as a film night event at your group meeting.

International supports the families of Christian martyrs, prisoners of faith and their families, Christians suffering oppression and violence, and Christians forced to flee.

PUBLISHED

The life, work and ministry of Claire Trueman, one of PCI’s overseas mission workers, has been celebrated with the launch of her memoir ‘Wonderful Years’ published by the Presbyterian Historical Society of Ireland (PHSI) and PCI’s Council for Global Mission.

One of around 35 men and women who went to Jamaica from PCI between 1858 and 1988, Claire arrived three months after the island’s independence from Britain 60 years ago. Born in Rostrevor, County Down, in 1938, it was while she was training to be a teacher at Stranmillis College in Belfast that she believed that God – in her own words – “was calling me to climb farther.” As she recounts in her memoir, ‘I wrestled with this call throughout College and while in my first teaching job I finally disposed of all twenty plus excuses and…surrendered to my call. From that moment on I had peace in my soul. The next question was, “Where does God want me to go?”

Claire soon had a response when she received a call from the Presbyterian Women’s Association (PWA) Mission Secretary asking if she would consider teaching in Jamaica. “That for me was my answer..,” she writes, “…so I said ‘I will go’” beginning her journey to the Caribbean island on her 23rd birthday. After a three week voyage across the Atlantic, on 17 November 1962 the Italian liner the SS Ascania dropped anchor in Kingston Harbour. “From the moment that I set foot on Jamaican soil I knew I was home…” she writes.

Initially Claire taught in a preparatory school in the capital Kingston, a school that was run in those days by the Presbyterian Church in Jamaica, the precursor of today’s United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands (United Church). It was just the start of a journey of service to children, young people and adults, in various capacities, that spanned 36 years.

Claire’s story is told in the book through a collection of letters, diary entries,

articles, reports, general reflections and poetry, which have been edited by former PCI Moderator Very Rev Dr John Dunlop, who served on the island from 1968 to 1978. Claire’s ministry came to a formal end with her retirement in 1998. Her love for the island and its people, however, didn’t stop there as she chose to make Jamaica her permanent home. Now aged 84, she lives in Mandeville, 60 miles to the west of Kingston.

The book launch took place at Assembly Buildings in Belfast in December 2022 when guests heard a message from Claire via videolink, who expressed her appreciation to all who had helped to get the book to this stage, including its editor, Dr Dunlop and Rev Dr Liz Hughes, who also served with her minister husband Brian, working with the United Church on the island. They attended the launch along with others who had served in Jamaica and the Moderator, Dr John Kirkpatrick.

United Church’s General Secretary Rev Norbert Stephens, who joined the book launch via Zoom, reflects on Claire’s ministry in Jamaica:

Sixty years ago, a young woman with a passion, a vision and a determination to serve, left all that she knew behind and crossed the Atlantic Ocean to offer service to her Lord in a strange land.

Claire Winnifred Anne Trueman decided to live out her call to a ministry that defied borders and geographical boundaries in the small island developing state of Jamaica which was a far cry from her native land, Northern Ireland.

Her love and dedication to children and young people became evident through the honing of the lives of her students during the first three years of her sojourn in Jamaica as a teacher.

This was just the beginning of a journey of service to children and young people that has been characterised by high standards in every endeavour undertaken by this faithful servant of God.

Claire then went on to serve as Director of Children’s Work within the church for over ten years, championing the cause of children and was one of the staunchest defenders of their interest on matters of policy.

As she pursued her calling, Claire, set the bar very high in one particular area of service that is emulated by many, possibly equalled by some and not likely surpassed by any. She was a well-respected figure in the Camp Ministry who held fast to the notion that preparation for leadership was imperative for success and ensured that every camp leader was adequately equipped for the role. Her knowledge and expertise in Children’s Camp Ministry led to her being called upon in later years to serve as a consultant on the Camp Management Committee.

Her ministry to children and teaching experience provided an excellent backdrop for her role in the development of church school material that was indigenous to the United Church for Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and children’s nurture groups.

As Personal Development Centre Coordinator for over ten years, her reputation for excellence again shone forth. Her ministry included work with youth, young adults and the brigades. Indeed, her much-storied involvement with the Girls’ Brigade dates back to the days of the Girls Guildry.

Her ministry however was not limited to children. This multifaceted Christian

soldier’s ministry was all-encompassing and has spanned every auxiliary of the church. Her record of service transcends age group and gender and focused on the holistic development of all. In 1986, the very meticulous Claire, an integral figure in the lay training initiative of the church, was asked to introduce the Lay Training Programme for Adults, for which she herself participated in the conducting of training sessions.

Claire landed in Jamaica armed with a plan and a pen and oh what comprehensive documentation that pen has mastered. The art of record-keeping seems to have been created by the superbly organised woman of God who has diligently journaled her way through the hallowed halls and into the annals of the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. We are proud of her compilation, Wonderful Years as her legacy to the United Church and the world, which chronicles her amazing journey of faith, hope and love.

By God’s grace, her path is one that was not confined to a church building but she has taken the love of Christ and the heart for mission across Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. As a stalwart and a trailblazer in the service of God she has positively influenced the lives of many persons.

The Synod of the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands honours and salutes Claire Trueman for her wonderful years of service and dedication. Truly, an amazing journey!

You can order copies of Wonderful Years, priced £5, from the PHSI website or call into the Society’s offices at Assembly Buildings, Fisherwick Place, Belfast, BT1 6DW or alternatively telephone +44 (0)28 9041 7299

Deep peace of the running wave to you

Deep peace of the flowing air to you

Deep peace of the quiet earth to you

Deep peace of the shining stars to you

Deep peace of the Son of peace to you

And the blessing of God Almighty

The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit

Be with you and remain with you always

DEEPER TOGETHER IN

This Bible study was included in the Inspirations book for Deeper Together and we share it with Wider World readers who might not have studied it in groups yet.

Chat: What are the qualities you look for in a friend? What can cause problems within friendships?

A friendship which Scripture gives us lots of details about is not actually between two women, but between two men, Jonathan and David. Let’s trace their friendship and discover some truths that will help us to be better friends to one another.

Read the following verses which introduce David and the context in which he found himself:

1 Samuel 13:13-14

1 Samuel 16:1, 6-7 & 10-13

1. Why had God rejected Saul as King of Israel?

2. What characteristic was God looking for in the next King of Israel? 1 Samuel 13:14 & 1 Samuel 16:7

3. What can we learn from these verses about judging people from outward appearance? What qualities should we look for?

1 Samuel 23:15-18

7. How do you think David was feeling at this time? (v15)

8. What did Jonathan do? (v16 – note especially in whom Jonathan helped David to find strength)

David is going from one place to the other in the Wilderness of Ziph, trying to stay out of King Saul’s way. Saul wants to kill David because he thinks he’s a dangerous rival for the throne. Jonathan, Saul’s son, is concerned about David, hears where he is hiding, and goes down to encourage him.

The prophet Samuel told Saul that God had rejected him as King because of his disobedience and had chosen a man after his own heart to be his successor. So, the throne would not be handed down to Saul’s son, Jonathan.

4. How do you think this might have made Jonathan feel?

1 Samuel 18:1-4

A covenant is a binding agreement, in this case an agreement of friendship, to care for and protect one another. In verse 4, we read that Jonathan gave David his clothes and military garb. The significance of this gift was that Jonathan recognised that David would one day be King. Given the depth of their friendship it’s not hard to imagine that David had told Jonathan how the prophet Samuel had anointed him as a boy to be King over Israel. Now Jonathan was, in effect, stepping aside. There was no jealousy in his heart, no attempt at keeping his distance, no desire to protect his privileged position. Jonathan submitted to God’s will and sacrificed his own right to the throne.

David was a man after God’s own heart; he was a great warrior who was loved by the people (1 Samuel 18:5-7), but even he needed encouragement. We should never think that anyone is so strong that they don’t need to be strengthened in God. Nor should we think that someone is so far above us that we can’t be God’s instrument to strengthen them.

The way Jonathan strengthened David in God was to remind him of the promise that God had made (1 Samuel 16:12). Saul could not succeed against David because God was for him. So, Jonathan strengthened David by reminding him of his destiny in the purposes of God (1 Samuel 23:17).

9. The friendship between Jonathan and David was God-centred. What would it mean for us to have God-centred friendships?

10. How can we strengthen someone’s hand in God?

We help each other most when we encourage each other to depend on God. When we remind each other of God’s promises, it strengthens faith that may have wavered.

Praise God for his faithfulness. Confess the ways in which you have failed to point others to God in a time of need.

5. From these verses, what sort of relationship did David and Jonathan have? What’s striking about this?

6. What can we learn from Jonathan’s example here?

Give thanks for those who have been an encouragement to you and ask God to help you be intentional about strengthening others in him.

Thank you

FOR TAKING UP THE PROVERBS READING CHALLENGE

When we published the Proverbs Reading challenge in the December edition of Wider World, we didn’t expect the reaction would be what it was - it was phenomenal, writes the editor.

As weekly Facebook posts in January spurred people on, one comment from Catherine Kirk stood out for me - “It was an extra incentive to take part knowing so many other ‘sisters’ are involved.”

Something in the challenge bizarrely reminded me of those pandemic lockdown days. Remember that tough start to 2021? As in lockdown, we weren’t all gathered together in one building for this challenge, yet we worked through the book in its entirety together. And, through Facebook, we were able to encourage each other along the way and share what we were doing online to show others our faith.

Some of you may have read the chapter daily as part of your morning routine, while others perhaps waited until the house was quieter in the evening when little ones were in bed sleeping.

Isn’t that the wonderful thing about Scripture that it unites us together as we learn more of God and his ways?

As someone who attends a church that is currently in a vacancy, I enjoyed going through a book of the Bible in one month from a consistency point of view. I was amazed at the streams of advice and instruction, nuggets of godly wisdom shared and reiterated.

So many verses about the heart, the tongue, how to be wise in the eyes of God.

We want to especially thank Alison Soye, the artist, originally from Lurgan now living in London, who provided the beautiful illustrations for the spread. We hope they inspired you to stay cosy and warm in January as you took up the reading challenge.

So, a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to each and every one of you who took up the challenge. We pray that God will continue to work through the verses you read and give you wisdom for the rest of 2023.

REFLECTION

Pauline Kennedy, Women’s Ministry and PW Development Officer:

The more we read Proverbs, the more it shows us how godly wisdom makes a real difference in our daily experiences of life. God calls each one of us to live our lives in relationship with him and to know his wisdom and guidance in every stage of our journey.

Esther Parker, Presbyterian Women’s President:

It is small wonder that the tongue and the mouth feature frequently in the book of Proverbs as we learn how wisdom is lived out in family and community life. We can use our tongue for good or evil, but even right things can be said in the wrong way. May we not be “babbling fools” (10:8,10) but wise women who both speak and heed good advice.

Ellen Hillen, Presbyterian Women’s Home Vice President:

For me, the overriding message of chapters 17 to 23 is that when we submit to the will of God in our lives, and seek his guidance, we will see his will displayed in our lives.

God’s plan for us is to create harmony wherever he places us. He wants us to be a true friend in all of our relationships and to care for those he places in our lives.

Ann Wilson, Presbyterian Women’s Overseas Vice President:

Being humble is an important part of our journey to gaining wisdom. The world tends to associate humility with quietness, weakness, submission, and feelings of inadequacy but that is not the picture which is painted in the Bible. Being humble is about how we treat others and also how we view ourselves. Pride is the opposite of humility and these ideas are often put together in Proverbs.

Thank you to everyone who shared the Presbyterian Women’s Facebook posts! Here are some comments you left on the page:

Catherine Kirk

It’s an extra incentive to take part knowing so many other ‘sisters’ are involved. I marked the verses which needed further thought and went back to them at a later date. A most enjoyable daily reading idea. Thank you.

May Davies

What a challenge the book of Proverbs has been. It is a book that shows us what wisdom looks like and teaches us to follow its biblical instruction as we live out our lives for Jesus Christ. It certainly challenged me and reminded me that Jesus Christ is the true wisdom. May we seek his wisdom in all that we do and diligently serve him as faithful disciples. As I reflected on the book of Proverbs, the words of this lovely hymn came to my mind:

I feel the touch of hands so kind and tender. They are leading me in paths that I must trod. I have no fear when Jesus walks beside me. For I’m sheltered in the arms of God. Words of assurance for the remainder of 2023

Noelle Martin

It has been a great book to read through in the slow month of January - I always learn from the book of Proverbs and strive daily for the God-given wisdom in its chapters.

Liz Hamilton

Some of us in Second Comber Presbyterian used ‘The Bible Story’ short videos on Proverbs during the challenge. They were great to use alongside the daily chapters. Why not look them up on YouTube!

Geraldine Casey

A great way to start the new year. I have enjoyed the January reading Challenge very much. I hope you will do another one soon.

Isobel Galway

When I met another Wider World reader, she told me she also had taken up the challenge and felt very blessed by it, enjoying the discipline of setting aside part of our days to read God’s Word. I found the challenge very rewarding. We can all learn so much from the wise counsel given. In our church, Hamilton Road Presbyterian in Bangor, we have undertaken to read through a book of the Bible each month. It will take three years! On the last Sunday of each month, before we move onto the next book, we meet after the evening service to discuss how we got on.

Killing

COMPARISON

There is a great line in the 1990 pop song Sit down by the band James and it goes like this - “If I hadn’t seen such riches, I could live with being poor.”

It’s an amazing truth because we can’t want what we don’t see. There is also embedded in those lyrics a sense that we can be content and grateful with what we have, when we don’t see ALL the options we could have.

In the world of social media, with lives shared, tweeted, and photographed for all to see, the glimpses we would never have got to see before become the norm. The behind-the-scenes we see of people’s lives - the rich and famous, and our friends and families - are in public view and, on top of that, we can react with a thumbs up, like, love or even a comment. These reactions add a further level of comparison when we keep a tally of which are our most popular posts and can have us checking our phones constantly. Companies can bombard us with new products that will make us look younger, lead more fulfilled lives, or so their promoted and sponsored ads would have us believe.

Social media has and continues to shape our lives and, if we’re honest, our thinking. As someone who works as a social media consultant needing to be

on various platforms for clients every day, if I am being totally honest, I find it a struggle. As I am creating content such as reels or checking on the impact of a post or a tweet, invariably, I am scrolling through the news feed and seeing other people’s stories and their filtered photographs. The detail of which, and the constant notifications, leads to what Nona Jones, author of Killing Comparison, refers to as “toxic comparison”.

If this new way of thinking is a struggle for me as an adult adjusting to the continuously changing platforms, I can only imagine the extra peer pressure it must create for teenage girls, especially when it comes to body confidence.

We all have those friends, maybe even close family, who share everything from albums of photos from their holidays to platefuls of food. We see the outfits, notice the handbags, compare our bodies and perhaps wonder, how do they do it all?

With the pandemic forcing many congregations to stream services online, perhaps we have begun to compare our churches when we get an insight into what goes on in other places of worship.

Often, the tougher aspects of life can’t be shown in a photograph. When Facebook asks the question, “what’s on your mind?”,

I’m sure many of us type in things that aren’t always how we feel and we don’t publish our true state of mind. How can you post about grieving, job losses, strained relationships, health issues, financial worries, things we don’t speak out about as we are processing and living through them?

Sometimes after a quick scroll through, we pick up on what others have, where they are, who they are with, and jealousy can creep in. Despite what we have, where we are and who we are with, we can get a sinking feeling that we are just not good enough as we are. That we need more, that we need to be more successful/thinner/richer (fill in the appropriate blank you are left feeling here _________).

The book of Proverbs, that many of us studied together in January, contains what are essentially condensed parables, stories that, with little words, we find out exactly what the moral of the story is!

The primary meaning of the Hebrew word “proverb” is “mashal,” which means “comparison.” The book of Proverbs is a collection of thought-provoking pronouncements, principles and teachings. A library of instruction on how to live a godly life if you like to think of it like that.

The editor, Rebecca McConnell, opens up about the effects social media can have on our lives and introduces a new book that readers might find useful to navigate the platforms with a godly perspective.

These types of comparisons we read of in Proverbs are good because they help us to centre on God’s wise way for living which is very different from the world’s ways. Proverbs reflect on being:

rich/poor, wise/foolish, diligent/lazy, righteous/wicked, noble wife/disgraceful wife, somebody/nobody, life/death.

“Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.”

Proverbs 11:4

“Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.” Proverbs 11:22

“He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.”

Proverbs 13:20

If you are feeling the strain of this part of our modern life, then I can recommend, as well as the Proverbs reading challenge (if you haven’t already done it in January) to re-centre your thinking, Nona Jones’ book, Killing Comparison.

The aim of her book is to provide a better understanding of, and the ability to, overcome the pressure of “toxic comparison”. Nona acknowledges that, even in Christian circles, this comparison exists. She is honest in some of the experiences she has, sharing the pain and rejection she felt at not being asked to speak at a Christian conference her contemporaries were invited to speak at, that she found out about on social media.

She looks beyond the tweets and examines the story of David, Saul and Jonathan in the Old Testament as to what our attitude should be and how to approach this sense of unworthiness in the correct frame of mind:

“Comparison is what separated Jonathan from Saul. Jonathan ran headfirst into whatever battle God called him to fight, whether or not others approved. Saul waited on people’s approval before obeying God and sometimes even disobeyed God when obeying would have cost him other’s approval. Comparison causes us to miss our mission.”

Nona knows a thing or two about social media working as the Head of Global Faith Partnerships at Meta, the company formerly known as Facebook. She has preached around the world while serving alongside her husband in leading the Open Door Church community in Gainesville, Florida.

By reading the book, and by self-exploration, you can better identify the root cause leading you to compare your life with those of others. Nona also forces us to ask ourselves why it matters when posts annoy us, and reminds us to check whose approval we are seeking in life.

There are healthy ways of using social media as Nona explains as she shifts our thinking more to us controlling social media instead of letting it control us.

She writes about the importance of using boundaries and how we can establish coping mechanisms to help us feel better about ourselves when we use the platforms. Perhaps we need a digital detox day once every so often. Maybe at dinner we need a phone amnesty where no one at the table uses their phones to allow for conversation and important chats to support our mental health.

We can choose to unfollow (not necessarily unfriend) those people whose feeds perhaps frustrate us a bit. Nona helps us to even come to the point of being able to celebrate other people’s success without feeling underwhelmed with our own careers/families/houses.

Each chapter finishes with a recall, receive, recite and reflect section which is helpful in summarising the key points and therefore makes it an accompaniment to our ongoing use of social media.

I’ll finish by quoting Nona’s last piece of advice in the book: “You were born an original and God doesn’t intend for you to die a duplicate. The world needs everything you have to offer - without comparison.”

Despite what we have, where we are and who we are with, we can get a sinking feeling that we are just not good enough as we are.

IN PURSUIT OF A BETTER education

The country of Nepal sits in the Himalayas, bordering China to the north and India to the south. It is a country with many ethnicities, languages and religions. Although there is a general tolerance of all religions in the majority Hindu country, it is illegal to convert anyone to another religion. There are reports claiming that the country’s laws are abused to the detriment of people of certain religions and while Nepal has slipped out of Open Doors’ Top 50 World Watch List, persecution can be seen at all levels of society.

1.4% of the population of Nepal is reported to be Christian, and often, the opportunities for these Christians are limited. For several years, PCI has supported the Nepali organisation, Minority Focus, in their work to give opportunities to Christians in society.

Dr Narayan Maharjan, Managing Director of Minority Focus, visited Northern Ireland at the end of 2022, along with his wife, Maya, and the organisation’s Programme and Finance Manager, Sony Shah Hamal.

As well as visiting the Giant’s Causeway and the Titanic Museum, they spent time with members of the Council for Global Mission, sharing about the situation in Nepal and the work of Minority Focus.

For the past few years, PCI has given an annual grant to Minority Focus that allows them to provide funding for students to pursue higher education. There are currently 18 students studying with the aid of a PCI grant. These students are usually from underprivileged backgrounds and have limited funding sources. They study subjects from Agriculture, Pharmacy and Nursing to Engineering and Business, equipping them to join Nepal’s workforce, where they will usually be an isolated or minority Christian voice.

The opportunities provided by these scholarships benefit society and advance God’s Kingdom, as well as being life-changing for the student. Rabin grew up in a rural village near the Indian border and moved to Kathmandu to find a job. He had dreams of being a filmmaker but his family couldn’t pay for higher studies.

When he found a job, it was sometimes a struggle to pay for food and rent, let alone further education. He also had to look after his parents, whose health was failing. Rabin said, “I was compelled to stop dreaming for my higher studies”. He heard about Minority Focus and applied for a scholarship. When it was granted, he was able to apply to a film college and completed a Bachelors degree in Film Studies.

His work as a filmmaker allows him to support himself and his mother. He has recently been able to use his skills and education to contribute to media productions in the local church and his plans are to establish a film production house to use media to spread the gospel. The work of Minority Focus goes beyond just financial support. They also provide career counselling and career support, emergency relief (e.g. distributing health equipment during the Covid-19 pandemic), pastoral care and educational support for schoolchildren. The work continues to expand and they would ask for your prayers for the staff, the programmes and the students.

PCI’s Mission Support Officer Pip Florit gives an update on a PCI partnership with Minority Focus in Nepal.

New Beginnings

The month of September 2022 ushered in a season of new beginnings in Elmwood Presbyterian Church in north Lisburn. Elmwood celebrated its forty-sixth anniversary, so we were at the beginning of our forty-seventh year. After two and a half years of Covid-19 lockdown, the leaders and members of the church organisations were eager to meet together again face-to-face.

At our first PW meeting of the season, we acknowledged the changes which had occurred since we last met together. We had just recently mourned the passing of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II and now have a new monarch, King Charles III.

We had said goodbye to our Deaconess, Margaret Robertson, who retired at the beginning of 2022 and welcomed our new Deaconess, Roberta Irvine, who joined us in July.

Elmwood PW started in 1976, the year the church opened, and many of the founder members still regularly attend our meetings. Like many other Presbyterian Women Groups in PCI, we have sought to attract more younger members to our meetings but with varying degrees of success. For some time we had discussed re-branding our group and so, after much prayer and careful consideration, it was decided that we would have a new name.

We didn’t have to go very far to look for one. In fact, it was right there on the back page of the 2022 Spring edition of Wider World. The theme for the Presbyterian Women’s Annual Conference for 2022 as you will know was ‘Deeper Together’. Phrases like ‘working together’, ‘leading together’ ‘and ‘stronger together’, all seemed to confirm our choice. So in September 2022 as ‘Women Together’ we have begun a new and exciting chapter in women’s ministry in Elmwood. This initiative has been an answer to prayer as to how we can facilitate an intergenerational fellowship where women of all ages can grow together in Christ and learn from each other’s experiences.

Of course, our roots will always be in Presbyterian Women. We will continue to support both the Home and Overseas

Ann Noble from Elmwood Presbyterian Church in Lisburn shares with us about their women’s group, which recently rebranded to Women Together.

Missions of PCI and also the training of our Deaconesses. It is our prayer that women’s ministry in Elmwood will expand into other areas of church life.

Also at our first meeting, Roberta introduced herself and then challenged us to think how our new name would encourage a spirit of ‘togetherness’ among our members. We viewed a recording of Amy Summerfield’s morning session at the Presbyterian Women’s Annual Conference and in groups we discussed how we could develop spiritual friendships with other women. Bearing in mind that Amy had pointed out how we must GROW before we GO, we looked at how we could form better spiritual habits to develop our personal RELATIONSHIP with God and WORSHIP him on a daily basis. Only in this way can we form meaningful relationships with others.

In our October meeting, we welcomed back one of our former members, Christelle Andrich, who, along with her family, had worshipped in Elmwood while her husband Gunther was our Assistant Minister. Christelle now lives in Irvinestown, County Fermanagh, and works for Hospitals Christian Fellowship, Ireland. She travels to hospitals all over Ireland spreading the Good News of the Gospel to staff and patients in what are very challenging times and circumstances.

Also in October, we held our Women Together retreat, the first since the Covid-19 lockdown. The venue for this was Newcastle Presbyterian Church and our speaker was Valerie Murphy from Precept Ministries. Praise was led by Naomi Donnell. The theme for the day was Women Together and Valerie chose to develop this from two perspectives, Women together with Jesus, and Women together with each other.

Each session provided us with teaching and reflection time. The theme echoed the lessons from the PW Annual Conference - in order to Go Deeper with others, we must first Go Deeper with God. She likened us to an orchestra, all playing different parts of one piece of music. That’s what God wants us to be like - each woman with her own different gifts, but using these gifts to interconnect with and serve each other, conducted and enabled by the power of the Holy Spirit. During lunch break many ladies enjoyed a bracing walk along the promenade on what was a dry but very windy Saturday in the shadow of the Mourne Mountains. Our day concluded with many of the group enjoying a meal together in the restaurant, Villa Vinci.

Our speaker in November was also one of our own members, Lorraine Bell, who works as a Paediatric Nutritionist in one of our local hospitals. We had fun learning about Healthy Eating for all ages while taking part in ‘Who wants to be a Millionaire’ with a nutritional theme. We are delighted that Lorraine, and Julie Murdock, another of our members have recently been ordained and installed as elders in our congregation.

On our Christmas evening, praise was led by our church praise band and the Love2Sing group. We enjoyed singing many traditional and modern carols and the group performed two new songs which they had prepared for the Christmas services. After our time of praise, we had an opportunity to make floral door arrangements, ably supported by Roberta, our deaconess. This very enjoyable evening ended with a tasty Christmas supper.

In January, Lorna Moore from IFES, the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students was our guest speaker. IFES national movements are seeking to equip students and graduates to engage in important conversations for young people with cultural sensitivity and a biblical worldview.

In February, Billy and Abee Kwan introduced us to some of the Newcomers from Hong Kong who have made their homes in the Lisburn area. Billy is Outreach Coordinator (Mission PERM), for Hong Kong families who have come to live in Northern Ireland. We have already had the pleasure of meeting some of these people in Elmwood where they have attended the Church Welcome Programme providing cultural and language support.

One initiative that worked well last year and which we hope to continue this summer is our evening walks in Wallace Park during the summer months. After two laps of the park we enjoyed a regular break for tea, coffee and a chat in a local coffee shop, which boosted its clientele by up to twenty-five people on some evenings. This allowed women of all ages and abilities to meet for exercise, friendship and fellowship and we enjoyed the opportunities to get to know each other across the generations. These friendships were also invaluable in encouraging some younger women to attend our regular monthly meetings. We plan to continue these walks again after Easter and hold them on a weekly rather than a fortnightly basis.

As we travel together on this journey we continue to seek God’s guidance and blessing to identify and plan innovative and inclusive ways to further develop women’s ministry in Elmwood in the years ahead. To God be the Glory.

So in September 2022 as ‘Women

Together’ we have begun a new and exciting chapter in women’s ministry in Elmwood.

Grateful heart

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Drumlee

Drumlee Presbyterian Women and friends took on the project of knitting hats in various shades of green to create their very own Christmas tree of hats. This was displayed in their church over the Christmas season and then the hats were donated to those in need via the International Meeting Point in Belfast.

Downshire Road

Downshire Road, Newry Presbyterian Women celebrated the 90th birthday of a faithful member Sylvia Lawson. Picture left to right are June Magowan, Suzanne Moffett, Rene Faloon, Sylvia Lawson, Gwen McCague, Fiona Irwin, Hilary Cunningham and Georgina Cartmill. Sylvia has been a faithful secretary for the Wider World in our congregation for many years.

Editor’s note - we add our thanks and congratulations to Sylvia for her work with Wider World over the years!

Newcastle

Newcastle Presbyterian Women recently packed 82 boxes for Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child. These were collected by Elaine and Gordon Elliott.

Photographs show PW members Carol Yam, Ann Maudsley and Wilma Annett, along with Elaine and Gordon.

Castlewellan Presbyterian Women celebrated their 81st anniversary dinner on 24th October 2022 in the church hall. Due to Covid-19, it was postponed in 2021. The ladies enjoyed a lovely meal provided by the Mulberry Tree restaurant and archive photographs of previous PW meetings were on display. The cake was baked and decorated by Karen Blakely.

Castlewellan

First Magherafelt

Ladies @ First Magherafelt celebrated 80 years of Women’s Ministry in the church with an afternoon tea in Killymoon Castle, Cookstown in autumn 2022. The speaker for the afternoon was Eileen Black (former deaconess) who spoke on the theme Deeper Together - across the generations. To mark the occasion, Annie Hood made a beautiful wall hanging (pictured) which was unveiled by Anne Crossett (secretary) and Mandy Gourley (leader). The anniversary cake was made and decorated by two of the members, Rona McRobert and June Lacey and cut by Lorna Curry and Sadie Todd.

Also pictured with the cake are committee members - June Lacey, Hazel Thomson, Phyllis McCullough, Judith Evans, Anne Crossett, Maureen Stevenson, Heather Shiels and Mandy Gourley and also Lorna Curry, Sadie Todd and Rona McRobert. Missing from the photo is Annie Hood.

Pomeroy

Pomeroy Presbyterian Women had a visit before Christmas from Georgina Stewart from Tobermore. Georgina told us about her faith journey and under the guidance of Georgina, her daughter Mary Beth and her friend Sharon, all our members made a beautiful picture to take home.

Killymurris

At Killymurris Presbyterian Women’s December meeting, we presented our leader Olive Hamilton with a gift when she retired after 11 years of service. Our minister Rev Roland Watt presented the gift.

We also enjoyed a Christmas lunch together after which representatives from Radio Cracker updated us on their work. Also pictured is our PW Committee who will be sharing the leadership duties among themselves.

Have you a good-news story to tell us about your PW Group or women’s ministry project? Is there something you are grateful for that you would like to express to our readers? Please email up to 150 words and attach to the email any relevant photographs to pw@presbyterianireland.org

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

- Large areas of Northern Kenya remain in acute drought. Small sun-showers tease, but we only smell rather than see evidence of the drops of rain. The size of cattle herds - a symbol of wealth - has been allowed to increase unchecked during several years of good rainfall and grass growth, and the resulting overgrazing and lack of long-term planning is now brutally obvious everywhere. This subject is approached, challenged and often agreed upon at monthly seminars, but cultural identity and traditional thinking run destructively deep. Pray that the present drought may cause many to rethink their traditional view of cattle quantity over cattle quality.

- Give thanks for all the young people who gave ownership of their lives to Jesus during the youth camps held in December. It was uplifting to witness the fun, fellowship and interaction after a very long Covid-19 interval.

- We continue to maintain and upgrade vehicles and buildings. A container has been converted into a garage tools’ store. The store man is diligent in his responsibility and the system seems to be working well. Pray that we would make efficient use of our time as we journey between various locations.

- In March, Bilbao International Church will have a special St Patrick’s Day event, as a way to seek to reach out and share the gospel. Pray for the preparation of this event and for the church members as they invite friends and family to come along.

- Pray that more people would be committed to coming along to the prayer meeting each week and seeing the importance of praying together for the church and for the city of Bilbao.

- In our Sunday services, we have been looking at what it means to be a Christian in the workplace and how to live with integrity and faithfulness to God when it comes to honesty, moral standards, etc. Pray that God will work by his Spirit in people’s lives so that they may stand firm for the truth and be a witness in their workplace, by how they work diligently, speak graciously and radiate Christ in their daily tasks and interactions.

- The GBU publishing branch, Andamio, has various resources related to the theme of “Faith and the workplace”. Pray that these books would be widely read and would encourage and challenge Christians to be a shining light for Christ in their work.

- Pray for the young people who attend the youth group in Sarriko church and for the leaders of the group. Christians are very much in the minority in schools. Pray for these young people that God would give them the courage and passion to take a stand for him in their class. Pray that God would help them to stand firm in their faith in the midst of their peers.

Stephen and Angelina Cowan Tuum, Kenya Church-based community development and outreach

Derek & Jane French Bilbao, Spain Student ministry

Overseas News

Personnel News

Diane Cusick, PCI global mission worker in Zambia, continues on her journey of recovery following serious illness. She greatly appreciates the prayerful support of so many, especially when it comes to the resumption of her work.

Stephen and Angelina Cowan, PCI global mission workers in Kenya, returned to their work based in Tuum, Northern Kenya, at the end of 2022 following a period of home assignment.

Naomi Leremore, PCI global mission worker in Kenya, will be on home assignment for three weeks during March 2023.

Chris and Rachel Humphries, PCI global mission workers in Portugal, have now concluded their final home assignment and completed their time of overseas service with the Council at the end of January. Remember the Humphries family as they adjust to life, work and witness in Northern Ireland.

Peter and Jayne Fleming, PCI global mission workers in Nepal, have now concluded their final home assignment and completed their overseas service at the end of February. Please pray for Peter and Jayne as they explore and settle into new spheres of service.

Global Mission Workers

Naomi Keefe Da Caixa Postal 73

Codigo da agencia 32300018 AC Central Recife Avenida Guararapes 250 CEP 50010970 Brazil

Stephen & Angelina Cowan PCEA Tuum PO Box 13

Baragoi via Maralal 20601

Kenya

Naomi & Thomas Leremore PO Box 23450-00100

Nairobi (GPO)

Kenya

Gary & Mary Reid PO Box 846-20500

Narok

Kenya

Overseas Visits

Rev Uel Marrs (Global Mission Secretary) visited Nairobi, Kenya, from 31 January to 6 February 2023, attending the Presbyterian Church of East Africa’s Kenya Mission Conference taking place in Nairobi with the theme, ‘Mutually Encouraged’. He also had the opportunity to meet with PCEA leaders and PCI global mission workers.

Rev Uel Marrs and Rev Dario Leal represented PCI on a visit to Porto, Portugal from 17 – 20 February 2023, attending a special service formally constituting the Communidade Pedras Vivas as a congregation of the Christian Presbyterian Church of Portugal. During the visit they were able to spend time with James and Heather Cochrane, PCI global mission workers, and to meet with representatives of the Christian Presbyterian Church of Portugal.

It is planned that PCI will be represented at the following events being held by overseas partners in May 2023: The United Mission to Nepal (UMN) Board Meeting and General Assembly taking place in Kathmandu from 8 – 12 May; PCI The National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon (NESSL) International Partners Consultation taking place in Beirut, Lebanon from 15 -17 May.

Volker & JinHyeog Glissmann PO Box 30048 Chichiri Blantyre 3 Malawi

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

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

Steve and Rosie Kennedy Str. Sanatoriului 29 Cluj-Napoca 400000 Jud Cluj Romania

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

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

ENGLAND

Diane Cusick c/o Assembly Buildings

Being TRANSFORMED

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