THE WEEKEND

The evening of Friday 28 February arrived and the Lay Witness Team Leader, John Kennedy, and 12 team members were welcomed from Glengormley, Cavehill, Dundonald, Carnalea, Greencastle, Portadown and Dublin. Throughout the weekend, leading up to Sunday morning, the meals, the meetings and the coffee-mornings were attended by about 80 members of the congregation.

It was refreshing, moving and challenging to hear a wide variety of honest experiences and testimonies of the Lord's faithfulness and how He has strengthened and helped through difficult and testing times.

With a variety of ages, backgrounds and life experiences within the team, it was wonderful to see how in a cumulative way the testimonies over the weekend touched a chord and began a movement of the Lord in quite a number of lives. For example, one member of the team told how she had come through a desert experience in her life: something that is not often mentioned and yet I know spoke deeply to some present.

ONE MORE STEP

The theme of the weekend was ‘One More Step’ and at the Sunday morning service opportunity was given for people to come forward and place a smooth stone at the foot of a cross made from driftwood, indicating their commitment to making that one more step.

For some it may mean, in one sense, taking a step backwards and placing a stone of repentance at the foot of the cross, resolving to get right again with the Lord; for some it may mean taking that first step of commitment, acknowledging Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour; for some it may mean a closer and deeper and onward walk with the Lord and to be more fully used in His service. In excess of 20 members of the congregation came forward, ranging from teenagers to those in their retirement years.

SUNDAY EVENING

After Sunday lunch, the Lay Witness Team departed and at the Sunday evening service (there was no sermon!) folk were encouraged to share something of what the weekend had meant to them or of a step they had taken.

GRATITUDE AND PRAYER

Our Holywood Church is grateful to God for the blessing received. Speaking personally, I wish to acknowledge the great help, encouragement and support that the Lay Witness movement was to me, especially in the late 70s and early 80s at a time when I was doubting whether the `institutional' Church could provide the measure of warmth, belonging, worship and witness that I longed for. It is in no small measure due to the prayers and support of several at that time, and seeing for myself how the Lord can work through the lives of ordinary people committed to Him, that deeply challenged me, thawed me out, and enabled me to take a step of personal obedience to God's call upon my life.

I would encourage many more churches to consider prayerfully the possibility of holding a Lay Witness Weekend or a Follow-up weekend.

by Lee Glenny