Glenada Weekend
Annual Conference
17th
to 19th March 2006
Glenada
Conference Centre
in
Newcastle
was, for our second year, the comfortable and welcoming setting for the
2006 conference.
It
was a chance to catch up on old friendships, make new ones, enjoy praise
and worship and receive some excellent Bible teaching.
This year our speaker was Nigel Mackey from
Wesley
College
in
Dublin
.
 The
theme “Winners Take it All" under the headings Participation,
Potential, Perseverance, Power and Perfection centred on the life of Paul
and gave us all much room for thought. We
were challenged by Paul’s life given over to God-appointed service
releasing power in partnership with God. We were encouraged to persevere
and pray, seeking gifts and living without being compromised by today’s
values. We keep our focus on God, realise we are precious to Him and
recognise all else is superfluous. It
was clear that although Nigel spoke without a note, he spoke from a deep
understanding of scripture and a strong anointing of the Holy Spirit.
Each session built on the last and led to a time of prayer and
ministry on Sunday morning that was a highlight for many.
We
were also blessed by a variety of praise leaders – Melanie Johnston,
Nigel Woods, Andrew Gibson and Alan Hutchinson.
Each brought their own distinctive worship style, and each led us
close to the heart of God. 
The
conference programme was different this year in that it brought the normal
Saturday evening session forward into the early afternoon.
This enabled day visitors to gain more active time while the
residents were able to relax in the evening and enjoy a bit of craic (and
birthday cake… but that’s another story isn’t it, Allen?).
What
a family the Lay Witness Movement has become!
We had quite a number of first-time conference attendees – both
residential and as day visitors. It
is always a joy to meet up with fellow team members from past missions.
There is a quality and depth of friendship formed on these
occasions that is very special. There
is also the opportunity to meet people who are new to the Movement and
have new stories and experiences to share.
It is a place where lay ministry really does come into its own.
It is common to see people involved in deep conversation and
spontaneous prayer “bearing one another’s burdens”.
Just
for the record, the youngest participant this year was little Lauren
Mackey who was all of nine months!! She
may not have always been too attentive but then she’d heard her Dad
before! Rumour has it
that several ladies have booked in for next year at Glenada already just
so that they can have a cuddle!
More Photos To Follow .....
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