Newtownabbey Methodist Mission 9-11th March 2018
The leaders of Newtownabbey Methodist Mission invited a Lay Witness team to conduct a weekend mission in March.
Phil Clarke and Carole Lambe led the team.
Phil Clarke and Carole Lambe led the team.
Meet The Team Members
Click each photograph to learn more!!
Weekend Reports and Photos
Lay Witness Team In Newtownabbey Methodist Mission in March 2018
Andrew Irvine, Team Member...
I always find it a challenge to step out on Mission. The doubts start, a series of ‘what ifs’. Perhaps it’s the enemy trying to stop or hinder God’s work to build His kingdom. However, over the years I have also learned that when step outside our ‘comfort zone’ and minister to others, God deeply blesses us. In fact, it seems those offering the Ministry are often blessed more than those we seek to bless. The Lay Witness Weekend at Newtownabbey Mission proved these experiences for me again, particularly the blessings. I can testify that the Holy Spirit was a constant member and leader in our team. God’s presence was almost tangible. One team member, Orla, described the time as a ‘thin place’, when the divide between heaven and earth was almost non-existent. That is exactly what it was like. By the end of the weekend, I could see how God had led particular people with particular experience to be on the team, because they were just the team members needed to minister to particular people who attended the services, the Men’s Breakfast, or one of the coffee mornings. God deeply blessed those ministering and those receiving ministry. If you have any opportunity to come into contact with a Lay Witness Team, I beg you, don’t miss the God given opportunity. William Stephens, Local CoOrdinator, writes Ephesians 4:15-16 teaches us that "speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love." We need each other. We're joined together as the body of Christ made to function as one. These were the words God placed on our hearts as we prepared for our Lay Witness Weekend 9-11 March. togetherness of seeking, loving and living for God was established. We were boldly asking for a togetherness of seeking, loving and living for God. This togetherness is only possible if we ask God to take control and lead us in the direction we need to go. For us as people, a church, the body of Christ to open and willing to respond. A wonderful symbol of togetherness is the interlocking or joining of hands. Our church was looking forward to the weekend and all the practical arrangements including finding hosts for the Lay witness team, prayer partners and coffee morning hosts began to fall into place. We were also looking for willing volunteers from outside our church to organise the catering and help with our kids to give our leaders a break for the weekend. What a weekend!!!! How blessed we were by the team. What an amazing time we had in Gods presence. Our Lay Witness team really spoke to our hearts in their stories and worship. From the outset, we experienced a warmth and an excitement coming from God’s chosen witnesses. They came with their personal stories, honest and sincere, holding nothing back. Before long they were our friends, sharing the painful with the good, but above all, testifying to the amazing love, power and grace of God. God doesn’t spare us trials and pain, but we heard first hand from those lovely Spirit-filled messengers, that our God, who loves us beyond reason, works in the storms and brings peace and joy through His close presence. As the team led worship, both Friday, Saturday and on Sunday morning, we were lifted up so beautifully in praise. Everyone there clearly wanted to come and we experienced a great time of fellowship. God’s Spirit was truly at work from the time we started on Friday night and right throughout the weekend. Thanks so much to Glengormley Methodist catering team, who provided excellent meals, served them and cleared away. The Men’s breakfast was well supported, as were the three coffee mornings held in our community. These proved important opportunities for meaningful chats, tears and prayer. . The church on Sunday witnessed, once again, powerful testimonies and God worked in hearts and minds. Many people came forward for prayer ministry, anointing and God clearly touched lives. We saw a release of the Holy Spirit among us in prayer and worship throughout the weekend. On Sunday evening, we had an opportunity to come together and thank God for the weekend. We came together to reflect, pray and worship - it was such a special time for us with God right in the centre. I know we will all continue to pray for togetherness for our church and I’m so excited for what’s to come! The team had left, but clearly our experiences were of the Holy Spirit. Many people openly shared these and were already testifying for the first time. This is a wonderful beginning and has shown us what “church” should be like. As long as we remain dedicated to prayer, to seeking God’s will in all things and to faithful service, we can expect to see much more accomplished in the power of the Holy Spirit. We have been so blessed this whole weekend and pray that God will bless the members of Team also. Heather McDade, Team Member, writes..... Last Autumn I was invited to take part in the Lay Witness Weekend in Rathcoole Methodist Church, which was due to take place in March 2018.I was keen to do it, but as a first timer was apprehensive about what would be expected of me. Also, as I was awaiting the start of chemotherapy for recurrent cancer and couldn’t predict how I would be feeling in six months time. However, I believed that if the Lord wanted me there, He would make it possible. Thankfully, the cancer remained stable and the treatment was postponed. I was very glad to be able to take part. During our team preparations, we wrote down what we hoped the Lord would do in the church, and in ourselves during the weekend. Looking back at what I wrote, I am so blessed to see how God exceeded my expectations! Although it is for the members of the church to say what the Lord did for them, it was clear to see that He ministered to many, and the level of faith, joy and togetherness increased as the weekend unfolded. The presence of God was tangible during the worship times, and this will be one of my abiding memories. What did I learn through the experience? I learned that personal testimony is powerful, and if we know the Lord, we all have a story to tell others. I learned that it’s okay to be nervous- we all were! But with the love, prayers and encouragement of the team, it was possible to overcome the fear of speaking in public. It is also okay to be emotional. Often we were recounting the Lord’s goodness in times of trial and “choked up” at some point in our story. However as a team we also had much fun and laughter during the weekend! Most importantly, I learned that my part is simply to tell what Jesus has done for me. Everything else is the Holy Spirit’s responsibility, as only He can speak into peoples’ hearts. What a liberating lesson to learn! |
Rev Billy Davison, Mission Superintendent.
The wind of the Spirit blows through a Mission. After the long, dark dreary days of winter a breath of new life , hope and joy came to the Mission through the visit of a Lay Witness Team. The church had finalised their preparations, but no one was ready for what God was about to do during this special time, as He shone His light into our lives and refreshed us as a worshipping community. We were ministered to, and we were empowered to minister to each other. Right from the outset the atmosphere was good, and the Lord was present. The weekend began by an informal meal as everyone relaxed and chatted together over some tasty food. Having fellowship over an enjoyable meal is such a good way to deepen relationships, and also to get to know what's happening in the lives of those around us. The scene was set as we moved into the church to begin the first of several periods of ministry through worship, prayer and sharing. These times of worship were a bit like what the early church in Antioch discovered, they were occasions when God prepared hearts and gave direction as the Holy Spirit moved among us. We were learning, almost naturally, how to leave ourselves open to the presence and power of the Holy Spirit who always points us to Jesus and glorifies Him. In addition, each team member shared honestly over the weekend from their own struggles, illnesses , disappointment and the brokenness some had been through. Everyone listened attentively each evening, culminating with further sharing on Sunday morning and an invitation for anyone who would like to go forward to the front for prayer. As team members ministered at the front, the response was amazing as God worked deeply in many lives. This was the right time for us to have this wonderful mission and the Lord answered the prayers of His people. The Saturday morning men's breakfast and the coffee mornings in various homes all contributed to a time of breakthrough and blessing. For some in the Lay Witness Team this was their first time to go out into another church and share their own story of faith. God seemed to just jell them together, and their encouragement to us as a church was immense. They all pointed to Jesus, speaking out of hearts that had been drawn to Him by the Holy Spirit. The Newtownabbey mission in Rathcoole has benefited spiritually from the whole experience and would highly commend such an event to other churches. We are full of praise for all the Lord has done for us during this Lay Witness event. Hazel Edwards, Newtownabbey Mission. I knew very little about the planned Lay Witness Weekend apart from the date and that I’d been asked to host a coffee morning. I kept the little prayer card pinned on my fridge and each morning I prayed for the team and for God to move amongst us. As the weekend approached I began to regret having agreed to host said coffee morning! A Saturday morning … the one morning in the week that I had time to have a leisurely breakfast in my pyjamas. I kept a close eye on the noticeboard in the church foyer. Perhaps my home wouldn’t be needed. No such luck! Friday evening came. Just as well I’d said we were going to attend the meal because after a busy week at work it would have been easy to have stayed at home. We shared a lovely meal followed by a time of fellowship. We were introduced to the team. My first thoughts … they were all so ordinary … just like me! Listening to the team members share their stories had me captivated. I began to look forward to Saturday! Saturday morning, the coffee morning. Would anyone turn up? Would I have enough food? I needn’t have worried. People did turn up, and we did indeed have enough food! After the socialising we ‘got down to business’. We listened, we read and we shared. It had been quite a while since I’d had the opportunity to share in such an intimate way. I’ve been on a bit of a roller coaster for the past two years since my husband, Alastair, suffered a massive brain haemorrhage. I’d lost my identity and gone from being ‘independent’ me to ‘carer’. The discussion topic … had it been chosen just for me??? Coincidence…I don’t think so! Saturday evening’s meal, fellowship and subsequent sharing of stories was just as powerful as the night before. And I was so touched when Nigel chose ‘Because He lives I can face tomorrow’ - so touched that I couldn’t manage to sing the words! The sharing of the stories continued on Sunday morning. What a blessing to see so many go down to the front for prayer. I could have sat and listened to the stories longer. But all too soon the team were leaving. As a congregation we’d planned to meet together on the Sunday evening. I really could have stayed at home. I was tired and had an awful headache. But I pushed myself to head down to church for the evening. I’d joked with Alastair that the devil was trying to keep us away. What a wonderful opportunity to hear how God had touched so many lives over the weekend. What have I taken away from the weekend? Each team member had a very different story to share. Each team member had been met at their point of need and carried through many situations and experiences. Each team member was just an ordinary person like me. What God has done for them, he can and will do for me. |