FEBRUARY 2018
Amy A life &
legacy of grace
#noquestionof flimits
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WHY DOES A LOVING GOD ALLOW SUFFERING? DOESN’T EVOLUTION DISPROVE GOD? AREN’T ALL RELIGIONS BASICALLY THE SAME? WHY DOES GOD CARE HOW I LIVE?
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Y BI L NCH R U A L E D \\ ACKE P A RING B \ \ In association with:
is an interactive day for 12-18s to ask their big questions about God. DATE & TIME
Saturday 10th March 2018, 10am – 5pm.
“ equips young people with meaningful answers to their questions about the reality of God and the challenges thrown at them by culture.” - AMY ORR-EWING
Doors open at 9.30am. Donuts on arrival! LO C ATION
Methodist College (Whitla Hall), 1 Malone Rd, Belfast BT9 6BY
Gareth Blac
k
BOOK ONLINE £10 www.rebootglobal.org INFO
Invite a friend and bring a packed lunch. Any questions, email: reboot@zachariastrust.org 02890673379
FOLLOW US
Jo Vitale
@REBOOTquestions /Rebootquestions
rebootquestions
Simon Edwards
Tanya Walke
r
The Zacharias Trust is a UK registered charity, which seeks to help the thinker believe and the believer think.
CONTENTS | FEBRUARY 2018
FEATURES 16 Amazing grace
The story of Whitehouse Presbyterian Church
18 Investing for the long haul Arklow’s Irish mission worker
20 A lasting legacy
The 150th anniversary of Amy Carmichael’s birth
32 ‘Happily ever after’ Affirming singleness
34 Social media ministry
Embracing modern tools for reaching out
36 Caring for creation
Interview with John Hanson Investing for the long haul p.18
REGULARS 4 6 8 9 13 14 22 23 31 38 40 45
Letters News In this month… My story Life lessons As I see it Talking points Mission Connect Arthur Clarke Reviews Life in PCI Betsy Cameron
‘Happily ever after’ p.32
CONTRIBUTORS Alf McCreary is an award-winning journalist and author, and religion correspondent for the Belfast Telegraph. An elder emeritus of Whitehouse, he was appointed MBE in 2004 for his services to journalism and charities.
Cover photo: Amy Carmichael sculpture by Ross Wilson. Photo by Mark A. Bell February 2018 No. 808 £1.00 (€1.20) Published by: The Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Assembly Buildings, Belfast BT1 6DW. T: +44 (0)28 9032 2284 E: herald@presbyterianireland.org W: www.presbyterianireland.org
Caring for creation p.36
Olwyn Mark is Head of Research and Strategic Partnerships at Love for Life. She recently moved back to Lurgan after seven years of studying and teaching in London.
Editor: Sarah Harding Subscriptions and Advertising: Elaine Huddleston; Lisa Skinner; Suzanne Hamilton Design and Layout: Edward Connolly Printing: Nicholson and Bass Ltd.
Jonathan Clarke is the pastor of the Welcome Evangelical Church in Belfast. This is the place that Amy Carmichael started as an outreach centre to mill girls back in 1889. Rebecca McConnell manages Purple Rain, a public relations company (www.purple-rain.co.uk). She is also a member of First Rathfriland Presbyterian Church.
The views expressed in the features, news reports, letters and book reviews of this magazine are not necessarily those of the Editor. Editorial comment and signed articles do not necessarily contain the official views of the Church, which can be laid down only by the General Assembly. Acceptance of advertisements does not imply endorsement of the goods or services. The Editor reserves the right to decline any advertisement or letter without assigning any reason. Letters may be edited for publication. No correspondence can be entered into regarding non-publication of advertisements or letters.
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland is a Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC104483); Registered Charity in Republic of Ireland (20015695).
Herald February 2018
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NEWS | PCI
News My Place The Council for Congregational Life and Witness (CCLW) is running a series of evenings to explore ways of including children with special additional needs in worship and children’s ministry. This is an evening to help congregations think about how they can help families dealing with special needs to know that church is a place where they are always welcome and where they can find support. The aim is to ensure children know that they have a place in our church communities, in worship and in children’s ministry. The evenings are a mixture of biblical teaching, insights from
parents and practical suggestions from those working in the field of special education. It is open to ministers, children’s ministry leaders and all members of congregations. Everyone should think of church
as ‘my place’ and feel that they are necessary to the life of the congregation. The next event is on Monday, 5th February 2018, from 7.309pm at Muckamore Presbyterian Church. The evening will be repeated on Wednesday, 2nd May 2018 at Ballygawley Presbyterian Church. These events are free to attend but please register your interest online at www.presbyterianireland.org For further information email: clw@presbyterianireland.org or tel: +44 (0)28 9032 2284.
The Concorde Travel Fund Thinking about serving in short-term mission overseas but concerned about your travel costs? The Concorde Travel Fund aims to help young Irish Presbyterians (18-25 year olds) finance their travel overseas for short-term service so that they might learn from and contribute to the life of the wider church. Full details of the criteria for eligibility and a downloadable application form can be found at www.presbyterianireland.org/ concorde
New global mission workers
Visit to Lebanon
Rev. Peter Fleming and his wife Jayne were commissioned in First Coleraine Presbyterian Church on Sunday, 21st January for missionary service in Nepal. They departed for Kathmandu on 24th January, where after a period of language study and orientation, Peter will serve as Integral Development Advisor to the United Mission to Nepal (UMN), and Jayne will teach at the Kathmandu International Study Centre.
Elma Leeburn (PW president) and Pauline Kennedy (PW Development Officer) accompanied by Rev. Uel Marrs (PCI Global Mission Secretary) visited Lebanon from 12th to 20th January. They visited the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon (NESSL), and learnt more about the women’s work and the emergency relief work that NESSL has been involved in with people affected by the war in Syria. They also visited the Bible Society in Lebanon.
Moderator opens new Garvagh home Presbyterian Moderator Dr. Noble McNeely has officially opened PCI’s newest residential care home, Trinity House in Garvagh. The official opening at the end of last year followed a £1.5 million 17-month redevelopment and refurbishment programme, which also saw 20 residents from PCI’s former care homes – Ard Cluan in Londonderry and York House in Portrush – relocate to Trinity House in October. Dr. McNeely said, “With the founding of First Garvagh in 1658, there has been a strong Presbyterian witness in the town, and together with our congregation in Main Street, Trinity House will also bring a very special social witness to the area, which is also a demonstration of God’s love for people. “As Christians we are called to reflect that love, and it is no coincidence that the name chosen for the new home symbolically reflects this love and the coming together of the three homes into one, while marking it with a
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distinct Christian identity. This love for others is also illuminated in the special signage in the reception area, which proclaims in large letters: ‘People Matter To God’.” Like all PCI homes, Trinity House welcomes residents from all denominations and seeks to provide care in a specifically Christian ethos and environment. The new home has 50 en-suite rooms on one level, which increases the Church’s overall residential care provision for older people in the north-west. It also has 16 rooms available for people living with a dementia and a dementia-friendly sensory garden, the third of PCI’s residential care homes to have one. Minister of First Kilrea and Boveedy and convener of the Council for Social Witness, Dr. Trevor McCormick said that the opening marked a new beginning. “It wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work and dedication of so many people, from architects Knox and Markwell and contractor P.J. McKeague, to all
the dedicated PCI staff involved in getting us to this stage today. “We have also appreciated the extensive support of local people and the many volunteers, including the local Boys’ Brigade, who helped in so many practical ways, especially in the final weeks of preparation, to welcome residents to their new home.”
Dr. McCormick also thanked the celebrated artist and sculptor Ross Wilson, who had been commissioned to create a number of features in the home. These included specially designed window motifs in the chapel and engraved Presbyterian bushes, which appear on two windows.
Find out more on www.presbyterianireland.org
Events
DIARY DATES
Taking Care
February
There are a number of Taking Care refresher training courses taking place during the month of February. This is a follow-on from the Taking Care child protection foundation training. Care trainers will deliver the training, and anyone working with children/young people within the church setting is required to attend. Numbers for refresher training are limited to a maximum of 40 people. If you wish to attend any of these sessions, please contact the church in question directly to ascertain numbers attending and ensure there is space for you to join. As with all Taking Care training events, please ensure you arrive before the start time so that you can sign the attendance register. A full list of dates and venues is available to view online at www.presbyterianireland.org/takingcare For more information speak to your child protection designated person, or contact the Taking Care office at takingcare@presbyterianireland.org or +44 (0)28 9041 7290.
Small and Fruitful
Assembly Buildings, Belfast – Tuesday, 20th Richhill Presbyterian – Thursday, 22nd Kilfennan Presbyterian – Friday, 23rd
Kids’ Big Day Out Kids’ Big Day Out is an event for primary school-aged children and their leaders or parents and will take place on Saturday, 21st April in Wellington Presbyterian Church from 1.45pm until 4pm. Tickets will go on sale online and from the CLW office on 5th February and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis (both children and their leaders need to purchase a ticket). The cost is £4 each (euro equivalent).
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland, in conjunction with the Presbyterian Children’s Society (PCS), has put together a package which extends the possibility of the Family Holiday, enhancing your congregation’s outreach to families who often find themselves on the margins of both church and society. The Family Holiday takes place at Castlewellan Castle between Tuesday, 3rd and Friday, 6th April. For further information about funding contact Paul Gray (Presbyterian Children’s Society) on +44 (0)28 9032 3737. For Family Holiday queries contact Lois or Laura in the CLW office on +44 (0)28 9041 7249. Check out the PCI website for further details about the programme.
Muckamore Presbyterian – Monday, 5th
Taking Care refresher training
Maze Presbyterian – Thursday, 1st First and Second Markethill – Monday, 5th Belmont Presbyterian – Thursday, 8th Crumlin Presbyterian – Monday, 19th
Taking Care foundation training
Small and Fruitful Karl Vaters, who blogs at Pivot on the Christianity Today website, is the guest speaker at three ‘Small and Fruitful’ events planned for this month. Designed for ministers, elders, leaders and members of small churches across PCI, Small and Fruitful takes place at Assembly Buildings on Tuesday, 20th February, Richhill Presbyterian in Co. Armagh on Thursday, 22nd February and Kilfennan Presbyterian on Friday, 23rd February. All take place between 10.30am-1pm. The vast majority of PCI congregations are small churches. Throughout the Bible we see that God loves to work small in unfolding His big vision for the world. To many leaders and members, however, the smallness
My Place
Richhill Presbyterian – Thursday, 1st
PCI Youth Assembly of their congregation has become a source of disillusionment in ministry, doubt in God’s purposes and despair about the possibility of fruitfulness. We need to recapture God’s positive vision for being small and fruitful in the life and witness of our congregations. The events cost £5 per person (Euro equivalent) and can be booked online or by post, by sending a cheque (made payable to Presbyterian Church in Ireland) to the CLW office, Assembly Buildings, 2-10 Fisherwick Place, Belfast, BT1 6DW, indicating your venue choice. Further details at www.presbyterianireland.org
Harold McCauley cookbook The 25th anniversary of PCI’s Harold McCauley House is being marked with the launch of a cookbook. The catering team at the Omagh home has compiled the book, which features 200 pages of recipes. Copies are available at £10 each from the Council for Social Witness office, with proceeds going to Harold McCauley House.
Assembly Buildings, Belfast – Saturday, 10th
March Transform
Crumlin Road Gaol – Friday, 23rd
Taking Care refresher training Ballynure Presbyterian – Thursday, 8th
April Family Holiday
Castlewellan Castle – Tuesday, 3rd to Friday, 6th
Worship in the Discipleshaping Church conference
Assembly Buildings, Belfast – Wednesday, 25th
Simple Worship in the Smaller Church
Union Road Presbyterian, Magherafelt – Thursday, 26th Ballydown Presbyterian, Banbridge – Thursday, 26th
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UNITED APPEAL
Investing for the long haul
Sarah Harding visits the Wednesday kids’ club at Arklow Presbyterian Church, run by Irish mission worker, Philip Whelton, who is supported by United Appeal for Mission.
A
rklow is a small town on the east coast of Co. Wicklow, popular with commuters to Dublin and with a population of 14,000. Philip Whelton has been an Irish mission worker there, connected with Arklow Presbyterian Church, for 22 years. His role is supported by the United Appeal for Mission, which is vital for the continuation of the work. “We couldn’t do what we’re doing without United Appeal,” says Philip. “Like many congregations in the South of Ireland, we’re a small church – with the partnership of PCI we can do lots more for God’s kingdom.” The kids’ club on Wednesday afternoons is a key event in Philip’s week. This popular club gathers around 40 primary school-aged children who enthusiastically come straight from school for the games, crafts, snacks, music and Bible stories. Philip, who is originally from Cork and grew up in Avoca, started the club when he arrived 22 years ago. He credits the continuity of the leaders and volunteers
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as one of the reasons for its longevity, “We will be there whether four or 40 attend. “We want the children to know that Jesus loves them, and that they belong – no matter what their background or circumstances may be like. It’s really about connections. We want to introduce them to Jesus and help them learn how to follow Him, through the lessons and verses taught and just by the way we treat them.” The majority of the children are from the local community, rather than from the congregation. Gaining the trust of the community to send their children along has been a long process, but a fruitful one. When Philip and his wife Susan first arrived in Arklow it was difficult to get to know people. “The credibility wasn’t
We couldn’t do what we’re doing without United Appeal.
there and they were very wary of us. It took about three or four years for people to realise that we were here for the long haul and that’s when they started to trust us.” Although Philip didn’t plan to focus on youth and children’s work, this is where the greatest need proved to be, so it has formed a large part of his ministry. As well as the Wednesday club, he runs a club for teenagers on a Friday and each summer he also leads a packedout holiday Bible club, attracting 220 children and young people. Around 80 leaders are needed to facilitate this club and they come from churches from all over Ireland, including Bangor and Ballymena. Philip says, “For a town the size of Arklow, the holiday Bible club is a major event.” Philip’s work also includes other activities in the church, including the Coffee Dock. This was started as a parents’ and toddlers’ group, but was enjoyed so much by some parents that many continue to come along on their own when the children reach school age.
Philip describes the Coffee Dock as a “great way to build relationships and let people know that Jesus cares about them; it allows us to be the hands and feet of Jesus.” The community Bible study, held on one night during the week, is another way for him to connect with people. “This has proven to be very valuable for both those within and outside the congregation, as we study and pray together and build each other up.” Minister of Arklow, Rev. Nathan Duddy is full of praise for Philip and the work he does for the congregation. “When people talk about Arklow Presbyterian Church, Philip’s name will come up. To have that link in the community that has been built up over 20 years is fantastic for our church. “The role he occupies has so much realised potential – we have so many people coming along to things and many stories of people who have encountered God, but the role also has so much potential for the future. In particular, the next chapter is how we bring together our work in the community and our work with the congregation on a Sunday.”
…when you’re putting in a little envelope…it has a tremendous impact on what we’re doing in this church… Philip admits that he never imagined 22 years ago that he would still be in Arklow, but he says he has never moved on because of his love for the work he does and the people he invests in. “I’m just as passionate about it today as when I started. Every young person is different and each one has a story. When they come along to one of the clubs they are loved and cared about. The children know that we are always there for them. And we want them to know that Jesus loves them no matter where they come from.” Nathan, who has been minister in Arklow for 18 months, says he is
personally very grateful to United Appeal for the work that it allows Philip to do. “After 22 years, I am reaping the rewards of the investment that has already been made, but the work is not done yet. The support is invaluable to us in the future. “I would like to thank those who donate money – when you’re putting in a little envelope, you’re doing something massive – it has a tremendous impact on what we’re doing in this church and also for other churches around Ireland. Let me encourage you to be really generous in that and with your prayer too, because we need wisdom and discernment. We want to see this trickle become a river flowing down here of God’s growth and God’s grace.”
To watch a short film of Philip Whelton and his work in Arklow, please visit www.presbyterianireland.org/ unitedappeal
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