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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.
Lay Witness Team to Ballinamallard 2004 |
