Mission Ireland

The 'Real' Ballysally Coleraine

Ballysally Presbyterian Church, Coleraine - Revd John Coulter

Prayer and Praise for:

· Pray for John Coulter, Jonny Doey and Julie-Anne Cromie who lead the work of outreach into this estate from Ballysally Presbyterian Church.

Give thanks that the church has an effective outreach programme and witness to the families of this area

PRAYER FOCUS: 25 - 31 January 2012

January 2012 Information in relation to mission and outreach in Ireland for Prayer Focus can be emailed to prayerfocus@presbyterianireland.org WEB ADDRESS: www.missionireland.org PRAYER FOCUS: 25 - 31 January 2012 MODERATOR OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY Pray for: The Moderator as he attends the following: • Friday 27 January Meeting with other Church Leaders • Sunday 29 January 10.30 am Belmont Presbyterian Church 7.00 pm Praise Service at Movilla Presbyterian Church BOARD OF MISSION IN IRELAND HOME & IRISH MISSION Ballina, Killala & Ballymote Presbyterian Churches - Revd Molly Deatherage Pray for: • Pray for the Ballymote congregation who have initiated a cross-community Alpha Course to begin mid-January. This is a new experience for Ballymote town as well as our congregation. • Please pray that many will attend, that relationships among all believers in the town will be strengthened, and that both town and countryside will be buzzing with the Gospel. Ballysally Presbyterian Church, Coleraine - Revd John Coulter Prayer and Praise for: • Pray for John Coulter, Jonny Doey and Julie-Anne Cromie who lead the work of outreach into this estate from Ballysally Presbyterian Church. • Give thanks that the church has an effective outreach programme and witness to the families of this area. Dun Laoghaire Presbyterian Church - Richie Cronin, Community Evangelist Pray for: • Pray for a Bible Study on Thursdays. We have a mixture of people from the church who have not been to a Bible study before, and some people from the Alpha and Christianity Explored Courses of last year. • Please pray for a deepened faith for all who come. • We are thinking about organising another Alpha Course this February. We need another venue (maybe the pub again?), advertising and volunteers. Please pray about these issues. • I am going out door-to-door. Pray for courage, conversations and conversions. South Belfast Migrant Outreach – Keith Preston and Michael Sentance Pray for: • Pray for the provision of new premises as the work needs to be moved in the near future from the Ulsterville Church building. • Keith and Michael who have daily contact with people from different parts of the world and from the locality. • Pray for the vital work of mission in this area of the city. Mountpottinger and Mersey Street Presbyterian Churches – John McCandless, Community Evangelist Pray for: • Pray for ‘Time for lunch’ held in Mersey Street each Thursday and the Men’s Drop-in and lunch held in Mountpottinger each Friday. Nightlight Pray for: • Pray for the street outreach in the Golden Mile and Odyssey Arena area of Belfast. • Pray for John Luke, Linzie Cobain, Brian Simons and the volunteers who are involved in this work. Christianity Explored Praise and Prayer for: • Give thanks for the 27 people who attended Christianity Explored in Rathfriland. • Do pray for lives to be changed, faith to be deepened and Christ to be glorified. Training of Evangelists Course Praise and Prayer for: • Give thanks for the faithful attendance of all who have signed up for the evangelist course, and a real sense of friendship and belonging by all participants. • Pray for David Thompson and the Acorn Listening Skills who will be leading the course on Monday 30 January.

PRAYER FOCUS: 18 - 24 January 2012

Information in relation to mission and outreach in Ireland for Prayer Focus can be emailed to prayerfocus@presbyterianireland.org
WEB ADDRESS: www.missionireland.org

MODERATOR OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Pray for:
The Moderator as he attends the following:
• Wednesday 18 January Lunch with Provost at Magee Campus,
University of Ulster

• Friday 20 January 9.30pm Nightlight Tour with John Luke

• Sunday 22 January 10.00am Moy Presbyterian Church

11.30am Dungannon Presbyterian Church

 

BOARD OF MISSION IN IRELAND

Maynooth Community Church – Revd Keith McCrory & Kevin Hargaden

Prayer and Praise for:

• Please pray for the latest round of our evangelism course, “Exploring Christianity” – that people would come and encounter the grace of the Gospel.
• Thank God for how MCC as a community were blessed by their participation for the third year in a row with Advent Conspiracy (www.adventconspiracy.org) and how it is becoming a fast and firm tradition for how we distinctively celebrate Christmas as Christians.
• Please pray that the invitations for the first night of our Exploring Christianity course are met with favourable responses from friends, family members, co-workers and neightbours.

Evangelist Course

Praise and Prayer for:
• Give thanks for the first week of the BMI Evangelist Course in Union College. Twenty-four people have enrolled for the 10-week course held in Union College, Belfast.
• Pray for Monday 23 January, when the subject will be ‘Irish Contexts and making connections. The speakers will be David Thompson, Glen Jordan, John Duffy and David Hyndman.

Deaconesses

Amanda Cooper – New Row, Coleraine
Pray for:
• Please pray that the Lord will bring people to our DivorceCare support group that started on Monday 16 January, and will end in March.
• Pray that participants and volunteers will find healing and freedom from the pain of separation and divorce.
• Pray that hearts will be open to the Gospel.
• Please pray that many will grow deeper in their relationship with Jesus throughout the sessions.
• Pray that the Lord will guide and give discernment to Amanda and her leadership team.
• Pray that the Lord will place a hedge of protection around all involved from satanic attack and oppression.

PCI Youth and Children
Pray for:
• VIP members as they return to their placements after the Christmas period and start back in to their programmes.

Newcastle Presbyterian Church
Pray for:

• Pray for an Alpha Course hosted by Newcastle Presbyterian Church in a local café, which started on 17 January and will run for 12 weeks. This is the fourth year that the church has hosted this event.
• Please pray for prepared hearts and open minds, for transformed lives and new beginnings.
• Pray for the leaders and helpers as they bring the message of the gospel through open and clear discussion each week.

 

 

 

The new Explore App

The new Explore App is free to download.

 

What is it?
An App for mobile devices that means you can read Explore bible notes on your phone or tablet computer.

Who can use it?
Anyone with an iPhone (3G, 3GS or 4), iPad, iPod Touch, Android phone or Android tablet. You can download it in pretty much any country in the world - you don't have to be in the UK or US.

How does it work?
It comes with Time with God pre-installed, so as soon as you download it, you can start using it to read the Bible. All relevant Bible text is included within the App (including cross-references) and once you've downloaded it, you don't need to be connected to the Internet to use it. So you can use it on the Tube, on a flight etc. You can download additional notes from within the App which are the same as the paper edition, although they come in one month chunks, not three months.

How much is it?
It is free to download, complete with Time with God. Additional months of notes cost £1.49 in the UK (in the US it's $1.99). These can be downloaded from the Download section of the App.

How do you get it?
If you have an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, visit the Apple App store and search for "Explore Bible Devotional". (http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/explore-bible-devotional/id482034447?mt=8)
If you have an Android device, visit the Android Market and search for "Explore Bible Devotional". (https://market.android.com/details?id=com.thegoodbook.explore&feature=searc)
It is not possible to download this App from The Good Book Company website.

Church Resources 2012

 

16 + 17 February 2012
Ramada Hotel, Shaw’s Bridge, Belfast

Church Resources 2012 is a stimulating, information-packed, 2-day event for everyone who is actively involved in the life and witness of local churches across Ireland.

The event provides encouragement and practical help through an extensive seminar programme and presents a wide range of relevant resources through the 80 stands which make up the exhibition hall. Full details can be found on the event website: www.churchresourcesonline.com

Seminars and Resources

Seminars and Exhibitors’ Presentations will be delivered under the topics: Leadership, Local Community, Mission, Pastoral Care and Youth. Speakers at Church Resources 2012 will ground their presentations by giving practical advice - as much as theological context. Please note that while there is no charge for admission to the event, tickets for seminars must be booked in advance (this can be done online at www.churchresourcesonline.com

Resources on display fall into 2 categories: those which cover the ’nuts and bolts’ requirements of churches e.g. Sound Systems, Lighting, Heating and Furniture; and those which assist with the spiritual/pastoral side of church life e.g. Teaching and Study materials, Outreach resources and Bibles and books.

 

The sparkle of authenticity

It seems to me that one might well single out freshness of
spiritual experience as the first indispensable quality of
the effective preacher. No amount of homiletical technique
can compensate for the absence of a close personal walk
with God. Unless he puts a new song in our mouth, even the
most polished sermons will lack the sparkle of
authenticity

The Daily thought is taken from Authentic Christianity © 1995 John Stott and Timothy Dudley-Smith. Used by permission of Inter-Varsity Press UK, Nottingham. All rights reserved.

PRAYER FOCUS: 11 - 17 January 2012

PRAYER FOCUS: 11 - 17 January 2012

 

Information in relation to mission and outreach in Ireland for Prayer Focus can be emailed to prayerfocus@presbyterianireland.org
WEB ADDRESS: www.missionireland.org

MODERATOR OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Pray for:
The Moderator as he attends the following:
• Sunday 15 January 11.15 am Kinghan Church

BOARD OF MISSION IN IRELAND

HOME & IRISH MISSION

Rathmullan Presbyterian Church – Revd Janice Browne

Praise for:

• Give thanks for a packed church on Christmas morning.
• Give thanks for the Tuesday Morning Prayer Group that has met every Tuesday for almost two years. It has been a great blessing to gather together for prayer and we have witnessed many answers to prayer. Praise God!
• Thank you to everyone who prayed for baby James during his chemotherapy in 2011. James continues to do well and scans have been very positive.

Ballina, Ballymore & Killala Presbyterian Churches – Revd Molly Deatherage
Praise for:
• Give thanks for the huge turnout for the Christmas service in Ballina.

Cork Presbyterian Church – Revd John Faris
Pray for:
• Trinity Presbyterian Church Cork had an encouraging time during its Christmas outreach; to the local asylum seekers hostel, a special candlelight carol service, and in keeping the church open just prior to Christmas. Please pray for seed sown.

David Boyd, Irish Mission Worker – Dublin
Prayer and Praise for:
• A big thank you to all who prayed for our Community carol service because our prayers were answered.
• Give thanks for a good attendance, the most of whom would not have a faith, and for an evangelistic Christmas message which seems to have had an impact judging by the conversations I had with people over lunch.
• Continue to pray for us as we look to build on these contacts and that God will nurture the seed that has been planted.
• Please pray too for our Gospel Community as we look for other ways in which to reach people with the gospel.

Billy Patterson, Irish Mission Worker - Drogheda
Pray for:
• The Hotel Bible Study which recommences on Wednesday 11 January.
• Please pray that new people will attend.
• Pray for those who attend the Bible study and as yet have not become Christians.
• Pray for the on-going door-to-door visitation.

William Workman, Irish Mission Worker – Athy & Naas
Prayer and Praise for:

• Please pray for the “Community Bible Experience” starting on Tuesday 17 January in Athy Presbyterian Church hall. We will be encouraging people to read the New Testament over an eight week period and meeting weekly to discuss what we have been reading.
• Give thanks for gospel calendars which were distributed to homes in Athy along with a church newsletter.
• Pray that the Lord will use these calendars to speak to people about their relationship with the Lord Jesus.

Christianity Explored
Pray for:
• Robin Fairbairn who will be leading Christianity Explored in 2nd & 3rd Rathfriland Presbyterian churches on alternate Wednesdays beginning on 18 January.

Evangelism Course
Praise and Prayer for:
• Give thanks for the 24 people who have enrolled for the Evangelism Course on Monday evenings at Union College.
• Pray for David Thompson, BMI Mission Development Officer and others, who will be leading the sessions each Monday night for the next ten weeks.

BMI Worship Panel
Pray for:

• The BMI Worship Panel meeting on 17 January as they seek to make final preparations for two Psalms Roadshows.

• The Roadshows on 4 February at High Kirk, Ballymena, and on 3 March at Strabane.

• Pray that many people will sign up for the Roadshows. More information at www.missionireland.org

 

 

The prepared heart

There is no greater need for the preacher than that he
should know God.

I care not about his lack of eloquence
and artistry, about his ill-constructed discourse or his
poorly-enunciated message, if only it is evident that God
is a reality to him and that he has learned to abide in
Christ.

The preparation of the heart is of far greater
importance than the preparation of the sermon.

The preacher's words, however clear and forceful, will not ring
true unless he speaks from conviction born of experience.

The Daily thought is taken from Authentic Christianity © 1995 John Stott and Timothy Dudley-Smith. Used by permission of Inter-Varsity Press UK, Nottingham. All rights reserved