Evangelism Teams: Larne & Limavady 

Each year the College students split up in to teams and partner with a local church to help them for a week with outreach and evangelism. This year our students went to Dublin, Larne and Limavady. Last week we heard from the Dublin team and this week we'll hear from the Larne and Limavady teams.

Larne

 “For we are labourers together with God.” 1 Corinthians 3v9 

Our evangelism team consisted of 8 people: Andrew Gray, Andrew Burke, Nathanael, Paddy, Viktoria, Anna, James and Joshua. We all shared the wonderful privilege of spending our Evangelism Week in Larne Baptist Church from the 20^th-25^th October. 

The pastor, Simon Curry, planned a great week for us, and although it was quite busy, we couldn’t have planned it better ourselves! The thing that struck us was the lovely community of believers at Larne Baptist; their hospitality, care and family spirit were something that we greatly appreciated and will dearly miss. 

Great friendships were formed that week and without a doubt shall continue. Our week contained a variety of ministries. From Monday to Friday, we had the privilege of taking 24 classes and 2 school assemblies in two of the local schools. Each morning, we would teach the boys and girls on the theme of friendship from Mark 2; how Jesus healed the paralysed man and forgave his sin. The attention of the children was excellent and we thank the schools for giving us that wonderful opportunity. We also were invited to take responsibility for two Scripture Unions, one in a primary school and the other in secondary school. 

Pastor Simon Curry also entrusted us with taking meetings in Larne Baptist. Most of us had the opportunity to share, testify or preach in the Sunday service, mid-week or youth and children’s meetings. Aside from the school and church work, whenever time availed us, Simon led us out into the main street in Larne to do some street work and door to door. These times were blessed by the Lord with many great conversations and profitable opportunities. The providence and working of God were very apparent in these conversations. We learned that people are more willing to hear the message of the gospel than we realise, if only we would make it a priority as believers to reach them!  

Some of the team served in the local Christians Against Poverty group who do a great work in serving the local community. Also, some of the team had the privilege to join up with the local ‘Bridge to Men’, to spend time with them and to share their testimony which was a blessing.  The week was marked by a unity amongst us and a singleness of purpose and mind and for that we give God thanks.  

Some points for prayer. 

• For Larne Baptist as they seek to be a pillar of the truth in Larne. 
• Thanksgiving for the many opportunities we received in schools, the streets and the doors. Please pray that everyone reached would come to a saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
• That Evangelism Week would serve as a springboard for us in ministry within our own churches and towns.  

Finally, we would like to send out another word of thanks for all the folks at Larne Baptist for their love, warmth and generosity. It was no easy task to feed the lot of us! Every blessing. Soli deo Gloria! 

 

Limavady

The College Evangelism week is a great opportunity for the students to experience many different outreach opportunities in various church fellowships around Ireland. The team assigned to Limavady Baptist Church arrived to attend the church service on Sunday morning. We were welcomed with a lovely breakfast, before joining the pre-service prayer meeting. Limavady is vacant at present, so the morning service was taken by Pastor Harry Dowds. Nathan led in prayer and David shared with the children the love God has for us taking his text from 1 John Chapter 4. The evening service again was taken by Pastor Dowds, with Graeme opening in prayer and James giving his testimony. James shared with the congregation, and a good number of visitors, the peace and hope he now enjoys in his fellowship with God through salvation in Jesus.

The team joined with the church for their bible study and prayer meeting on Monday evening. Thomas shared a devotion from Isaiah 26:3-4 and Rebecca gave her testimony. We had various opportunities for outreach throughout the week. Helping out with the Amazing Journey was a high point for us all. We visited three primary schools sharing the gospel message with 538 children. James Robinson took the children on the journey through the Old and New Testament showing the children how God rescued His people. On the way the children met Moses (James), Rahab (Rebecca), Esther (Rhiannon), and Thomas (Thomas and Graeme).

The team also got involved with door to door outreach most afternoons which resulted in some good conversations. We were met with an overall feeling of apathy toward the gospel rather than hostility, and we pray that God will awaken the people of Limavady to their need of salvation. Debbie and Graeme took the after schools club on Tuesday afternoon which included singing songs, learning a memory verse, some colouring in, and a few games. Graeme shared with the children the story of Enoch and his walk with God.

The team helped run a Family Mission night on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings. This was a great opportunity to get to know the church family, and to share the gospel with some visitors who dropped in. We pray that those new connections will take root within the church. The week concluded with a Q&A evening where the young people in the church asked the team different questions about their walk with God, and their time as a bible college student.

Our week in Limavady has been very rewarding and we would like to thank Debbie and Harry Faulkner for opening up their home to us all week and for making us feel so welcome. Also to Limavady Baptist church family for providing delicious meals and for making us feel part of the family. We continue to pray for the church in the vacancy and thank God for the heart of outreach the church has for Limavady.