Alan Watters from Hamilton Road, writes...

Kairos II was the title of the Lay Witness Weekend in Wesley Centenary Methodist Church, Hamilton Road, Bangor.

On Friday evening we had an excellent meal provided by the ladies of the catering group. The joint leaders of the LWW, Heather Boland and Ken McFaul, invited the team members, who had come from as far away as Dublin, to introduce themselves. Following some rousing praise, several of the witnesses shared their stories.  

HAMILTON ROAD TEAM

John heard God speaking to him at a LWW when he was only ten. Annika, who came to us from Sweden, via Glastry, told of being a very ordinary mum who found God late in life, and showed the joy of being a Christian as she spoke. Sammy, who had been involved in the church all his life, but at one stage fell away, was drawn back through the influence of his minister. Heather summed up the evening by saying that we could all achieve our heart’s desire if it was in the will of God  - for He has a plan for each of us.

Saturday started off early with a Men’s breakfast at 8.30 in Queen’s Parade Church. Again, two of the team shared their experiences of how God was working in their lives even in the darkest of circumstances. By 10.15am there were Coffee Mornings in the homes of several church members. There, team members introduced a short meditation entitled ‘Laying your burden down’. This stimulated meaningful discussion and people felt enabled to share.

We enjoyed conversation across the meal tables again on Saturday evening while the young ones ate Pizza in the coffee bar. Together, we had an uplifting time of praise and then five people told us of their very different experiences of how God was working in and through their lives. Karen’s song encouraged us to look for the Father’s heart of love even when we could not see His hand in our lives.

Heather brought the evening to an end by referring to the parable of the prodigal son, asking if we were living in ‘rebellion’ as the younger son leaving home; in ‘religion’, which conformed but sought to earn acceptance like the older brother; or in ‘relationship’, a right relationship with God, as the younger son asking for forgiveness from a loving father. We went to our homes challenged and encouraged by the various testimonies we had heard.

At the Sunday morning service there was again marvellous praise and testimony from team members. Karen sang ‘Broken and spilled out’ reminding us of Christ’s sacrificial love. In a stirring address from Ken, we were reminded that when the word of God came to Jonah a second time, he responded. This was our Kairos II and a second chance for people to get right with God. The stark choice was presented to us in the story of the rich man and Lazarus. Several people went up to the communion rail when the appeal was made.

We shared lunch together and all too soon the team members left to return to their homes.

The final event of the weekend was the Sunday evening service when we reflected on the many blessings of this God event. People shared how God had touched them through the stories of the witnesses. Many tears flowed, especially when Simone sang the powerful and emotionally-charged  ‘Power of the Cross’, which was illustrated with equally powerful images on the screen. Again an altar call drew many people to the communion rail in thanksgiving.

This service was a fitting climax to the weekend when God’s spirit moved among the people of Wesley Centenary. We continue to pray for those folk who are near to the Kingdom and for the many more who, yet again, missed the opportunity of God’s time for them.