From the time 4 weeks previously when we had first met as a complete team, we had a sense that God had specially put together the group that was just right for the mission. There was then an immediate bonding in love and a unity of purpose for the task we had been given.

We received the warmest of welcomes from a church well prepared in all practical ways for a very full weekend programme. It seemed as the weekend progressed that we just went from meal to meal and they were all superb!

The theme chosen was "KAIROS - God's time for you". In this was the thought that this was a whole weekend encounter with God, a portion of time set aside to meet with Him, a decisive epoch awaited for, a landmark time to give thanks for the past and look to the challenge of the future. Time and time again we were led to keep the weekend simple - just focusing on God and pointing to Him with honest and open hearts. We were to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit and not on our wisdom.

It was a full programme. As well as the meals and rallies on Friday and Saturday, and Sunday morning worship, there was a men's breakfast, ladies' prayer meeting, 7 coffee mornings, a lunch for young adults/marrieds/parents, and a coke & pizza tea for 10-16 year olds. In all of these there were powerful testimonies from the team - testimonies of the love and power of a mighty God guiding lives, strengthening in times of trouble and uncertainty, going before and working miracles, answering prayer, meeting deep needs, and stepping into lives at just the right time. The sharing was never easy. It was personal and at times very moving. Some testimonies were very specific and yet so exactly matched the circumstances of someone present that it was just awesome.

On Friday evening we took a survey of the congregation's hopes for the weekend. 2 out of 3 people present wanted to find out more about spiritual growth in their lives. There was a strong desire for the church members to grow closer to Christ and each other, and for the church to experience a spiritual renewal. People wanted to experience the power of the Holy Spirit personally.

By Sunday morning we knew that God was doing all these things and more. People had begun to give up their earthly ambitions in order to seek Christ above all. They were fully surrendering their lives and possessions to him. Deep needs were being met.

Sunday morning worship just flowed as we sought to please and glorify God in our praise. At times it seemed as though the sanctuary was filled with angels. It was as if time was standing still. There was no rush, no impatience at the length of the service. There was just a unity of spirit and of desire to meet with and exalt a mighty God. All were blessed in some way as God's Spirit moved among us. As the service concluded, some came forward in dedication and for prayer.

After lunch the team met with the minister and two leaders. We gave God thanks and all glory for what He had done, and prayed that as the team left, the minister and leaders would be strengthened for the task that lay ahead. We left completely overwhelmed by the power and love of God in action, and totally humbled as a result.

Rev Ken Todd completes the picture of the weekend………

Sunday evening was a remarkable surprise. After good praise, and mixed testimonies, it seemed right to make a spontaneous appeal during the closing hymn when approximately 20 people came quietly forward, at times in a queue, to receive the Holy Spirit in their lives. God was felt to be very near.

Many of us are now following hard after God. Our leaders will be engaged in humble but earnest listening to hear "what the Spirit is saying to the church."

Hamilton Road Team

Front L-R Heather Clements, Sheila Mulligan, Faith Balmer, Cathy Joubert, Edda Gombedza, Betty English, Norma Reid, Eleanor Hayden

Rear L-R Steven Foster, Harry Burrows, Alan Hutchinson, Nigel Woods, Lester Black, David English, Allen McCartney, Gareth Hayden

Added 11/4/04

Kairos, God’s Time For You. March 2004

It was with grateful thanks and a sense of expectancy that we said farewell to the Lay Witness team on Sunday afternoon of 14th March at Wesley Centenary Methodist Church, Hamilton Road Bangor, having experienced an encounter with God as individuals and as a church family. We had enjoyed a week-end of fellowship, sharing meals together, reaching out to one another and growing into Christ. During the week-end members of our congregation had responded to invitations to receive prayer and to make a commitment to God at the Saturday evening and Sunday morning services and we experienced moments of praise when hearts and souls were lifted to God with the congregation singing in unity and in the power of the Spirit.

On Sunday evening we had a greater attendance than usual at our evening service and the Holy Spirit continued to move through our congregation. People shared their experiences and reflections of the week-end and those who had unfinished business with God took up the invitation to come forward to receive the Holy Spirit through the laying-on of hands. The sense of God’s presence moved us all.

Having received many blessings during the week-end the challenge now awaits - how to support our members both individually and as a church community in spiritual growth? At the March meeting of the Church Council we reflected on what God is saying to us after Kairos and the following themes emerged:

Many members of our congregation have a strong desire to know more of the power of God’s Spirit;

We need to be more persistent in encouraging others to take an active part in the life, worship, and witness of our church family;

Friendships and our sense of community is enhanced through having meals together and other special events;

We should promote participation in house groups;

Our congregation is very willing to help when asked to assist; and

We must move forward together in a new spirit of prayer.

We have planned a number of follow-up events which will take place over the next few months. We are about to embark on an Alpha course after Easter and we hope to go to Bangor cinema to see the film "The Passion of the Christ" and follow-up with a discussion during a subsequent evening service. We will be encouraging as many people as possible to join our mid-week Bible Study group, to set up more house groups and use their talents for God’s work in our church. We have another Men’s Breakfast planned for the 24th April and we intend to run a short series of seminars in mid September on "Parenting in a Christian Context". We enjoyed our meals together over the week-end so much that we propose having a couple of congregational lunches during the year after Sunday morning worship.

Kairos, God’s time for you, was only the beginning. We must continue to reach out to people and build up believers.

Sincere thanks to all the members of the Lay Witness team and especially to Allen McCartney for his dedication.

Bronwen Curry

Society Steward