Newsletter - April 2008 #42
Dear Friends
A recently released worship song contains the following challenging lines, which I admit to sometimes having to pause over before singing:
“You give and take away
Still my heart will choose to say
‘Blessed be Your Name’ “
Isn’t it so much easier to respond in praise when God moves in the ways we want Him to, and in ways that are in line with our natural inclinations? Yet how many times have we listened to testimonies of spiritual growth and strengthening of relationships from Lay Witnesses who have obeyed when a leap of faith is asked of them?
In this newsletter, the Steering Group are reporting on a number of “Faith Leaps” within the life of our Movement. In order to bring you a full update, you will also hopefully realise why we are slightly later than usual in sending this out too.
First of all – the ‘taking aways’……
After a long and faithful service to the Steering Group of Lay Witness in Ireland, ERROL JOHNSTON has decided it is time to step down from the main leadership team. Errol’s and Elsie’s unwavering passion to share Christ with others has taken them from Newry to Papua New Guinea, from Warrenpoint to Killarney and home again. While all of us will miss him, as one of the original Steering Group who has pioneered Lay Witness in Ireland, we are sure that everyone will join in sending our blessing and love to Errol as he looks forward to yet another chapter and adventure in his faith journey.
A second ‘subtraction’ this year was the Annual Lay Witness Conference. While they continued to be a blessing for those who attended, the Steering Group have been keen to listen to all our members, and especially to keep in step with the new thing God is doing. To this end we are looking at different ways of keeping Lay Witness folk in contact with each other without being too demanding on time. The first of these events is at Edgehill College, Belfast on 17th May. Book in now whether you are a seasoned witness or someone interested in having a weekend at your church!
However, when good things are given to us we certainly find it easier to rejoice, and to that end the Steering Group are delighted to welcome not one but two new people to fill the very large gap left by Errol!! Most of you will already know both SHIRLEY ALEXANDER and DAVID BLEVINS, but for those who don’t, a little pen picture of them both can be found further in the newsletter.
Lastly, our whole purpose in existing as a Movement centres around those congregations who invite us to share our stories of Jesus with them. Testimonies from Lay Witness weekends in Florencecourt, Newtownabbey Mission and Movilla Abbey churches over the last year will no doubt continue to excite, inspire and challenge us all as we read.
We do finally ask that you will regularly and faithfully set aside time to pray for all that the Spirit of God achieves through our Lay Witness Movement. Many new missions are being planned and prayed about as we write. Keep up to date with all that is happening between newsletters by checking our website too!
“Blessed be the Name of the Lord!”
Allen David Heather Norma Shirley Tom
A recently released worship song contains the following challenging lines, which I admit to sometimes having to pause over before singing:
“You give and take away
Still my heart will choose to say
‘Blessed be Your Name’ “
Isn’t it so much easier to respond in praise when God moves in the ways we want Him to, and in ways that are in line with our natural inclinations? Yet how many times have we listened to testimonies of spiritual growth and strengthening of relationships from Lay Witnesses who have obeyed when a leap of faith is asked of them?
In this newsletter, the Steering Group are reporting on a number of “Faith Leaps” within the life of our Movement. In order to bring you a full update, you will also hopefully realise why we are slightly later than usual in sending this out too.
First of all – the ‘taking aways’……
After a long and faithful service to the Steering Group of Lay Witness in Ireland, ERROL JOHNSTON has decided it is time to step down from the main leadership team. Errol’s and Elsie’s unwavering passion to share Christ with others has taken them from Newry to Papua New Guinea, from Warrenpoint to Killarney and home again. While all of us will miss him, as one of the original Steering Group who has pioneered Lay Witness in Ireland, we are sure that everyone will join in sending our blessing and love to Errol as he looks forward to yet another chapter and adventure in his faith journey.
A second ‘subtraction’ this year was the Annual Lay Witness Conference. While they continued to be a blessing for those who attended, the Steering Group have been keen to listen to all our members, and especially to keep in step with the new thing God is doing. To this end we are looking at different ways of keeping Lay Witness folk in contact with each other without being too demanding on time. The first of these events is at Edgehill College, Belfast on 17th May. Book in now whether you are a seasoned witness or someone interested in having a weekend at your church!
However, when good things are given to us we certainly find it easier to rejoice, and to that end the Steering Group are delighted to welcome not one but two new people to fill the very large gap left by Errol!! Most of you will already know both SHIRLEY ALEXANDER and DAVID BLEVINS, but for those who don’t, a little pen picture of them both can be found further in the newsletter.
Lastly, our whole purpose in existing as a Movement centres around those congregations who invite us to share our stories of Jesus with them. Testimonies from Lay Witness weekends in Florencecourt, Newtownabbey Mission and Movilla Abbey churches over the last year will no doubt continue to excite, inspire and challenge us all as we read.
We do finally ask that you will regularly and faithfully set aside time to pray for all that the Spirit of God achieves through our Lay Witness Movement. Many new missions are being planned and prayed about as we write. Keep up to date with all that is happening between newsletters by checking our website too!
“Blessed be the Name of the Lord!”
Allen David Heather Norma Shirley Tom
Website
The Lay Witness Movement website keeps our members and supporters up to date; spreads news of what is happening in Lay Witness to a wider readership and provides an easy means of contacting the Movement for those who are computer literate.
Where is it? It’s at: www.laywitnessireland.org
We would like to have your email address for ease of contact and sending this annual Newsletter. Please email us with your details using the email link at the top of the page.
We are very grateful to webmaster Alan Hutchinson, Glengormley who has set up the site for us. Contact him using the email link at the top of the page.
Our Records
We keep a note of your name, address and telephone number together with the mission teams you have been on, if any. Please notify us if you wish to have any details updated or deleted. If there are others you think would like to receive this Newsletter, please ask them to contact us via the e-mail or Facebook link at the top of the page.
The Lay Witness Movement website keeps our members and supporters up to date; spreads news of what is happening in Lay Witness to a wider readership and provides an easy means of contacting the Movement for those who are computer literate.
Where is it? It’s at: www.laywitnessireland.org
We would like to have your email address for ease of contact and sending this annual Newsletter. Please email us with your details using the email link at the top of the page.
We are very grateful to webmaster Alan Hutchinson, Glengormley who has set up the site for us. Contact him using the email link at the top of the page.
Our Records
We keep a note of your name, address and telephone number together with the mission teams you have been on, if any. Please notify us if you wish to have any details updated or deleted. If there are others you think would like to receive this Newsletter, please ask them to contact us via the e-mail or Facebook link at the top of the page.