Ballinamallard 5-7 November 2004
The leaders of Ballinamallard Methodist Church invited a Lay Witness team to conduct a weekend mission in November 2004.
Tom Wilson led the team.
Tom Wilson led the team.
Weekend Reports and Photos
The Crossroads Weekend took place from 5th-7th November. As our chosen name suggests this was a time for us all to look at where we were with God and where we are going. From the outset the Lord guided both our minister, Rev Philip Agnew, who put in place a strong local committee, and our team leaders Tom and Louise Wilson, who gathered their team – and what a team it was!!!
“To be united in Christ” has taken on another level of understanding for most, if not all, who were in any way part of our weekend. From the moment the team arrived on Friday evening it was like welcoming “old” friends. We shared such a sense of oneness in Christ which was an encouragement to all, even before our Congregational Meal and Meeting had begun! As we gathered together on both Friday and Saturday evenings for a meal and fellowship there was a really relaxed and united atmosphere. We were led in such humble and meaningful worship by our friends Jools Hamilton and Heather Moore. This worship paved the way for God to open our hearts as we heard how He has been at work in the lives of team members. While we were encouraged, we were also hugely challenged and motivated to look at just how much of ourselves we really give to God. We heard how God has been so good and so gracious to many people in very difficult circumstances, many of which mirrored those some of us found ourselves in – how awesome is that! It was very evident that our Lord was using the experiences of team members to minister to us in Ballinamallard. There was also, in the beautiful setting of the Manor House, a Men’s Breakfast where the men met a “Real Footballer” in the form of our friend Terry Moore! All the men who attended felt so encouraged by what Terry shared from his own life and also by the opportunity of just being able to get together. So much so that this is something that will happen again in the not too distant future! Our Youth and Children’s meetings were blessed to have Simon and Carol Grattan, as well as Jenny Munroe and Emma Loane, to encourage, inspire and CONTROL them!!! They gave tirelessly of themselves and identified with our young people. It’s great to see how God cares for each and every one of us and has something to teach us all and indeed how we can learn from each other no matter what our age! |
The Coffee Mornings on Saturday proved to be a real blessing for many. It was a time of helpful fellowship together in smaller groups. The Meditation prepared by the team was an excellent focus and led the way into discussion and prayer. Here we saw how God used the team members and those present at particular houses to reveal Himself and unify us through our shared experiences.
As we in Ballinamallard have a “sister” church in nearby Trillick, it was great to share the Crossroads Weekend together. I know they were blessed, especially on Sunday morning when three team members led their morning worship! In Ballinamallard on Sunday morning our Lord left us in no doubt of His wonderful provision. To experience pain without God, then experience pain with God – what would we choose? We were also spoken to when, without a second thought, Louise’s teenage daughter Jordan prayed with her Mum before Louise shared with us. We can learn a lot from our young people! Many of us here in Ballinamallard heard from God so clearly over the weekend, there was humility throughout. God himself provides the confidence and courage we need when we find ourselves in a situation that causes us concern. What has been shown so clearly is that we need to call upon the Lord in these times and that is the challenge left to us here in Ballinamallard; to call upon the Lord and follow Him through the CROSSROADS! With sincere love and blessings Arlene Culbert and Desmond Emerson Local Co-ordinators. |