Lynda Wallace, team member for the first time, writes:

On 29^th September 2006 – 1^st October 2006 I had the privilege of being part of a lay witness team at Mossley Church.

This was my first time to be on a team and, indeed, only my second experience of lay witness at all!

When I was asked initially in January of this year, I felt very excited but as the time drew nearer I confess I experienced apprehension and nervousness.  So it was with some fear and trepidation that I went along to the “Get to know you” team meeting in June and the “Meet some of the congregation” meeting mid September.  I was greatly encouraged by the warmth and love I experienced from the other team members and the friendliness and ‘air of expectancy’ of the congregation in Mossley.

God is so good – Not only was He with each of us as we set off from our homes but He was also there waiting for us when we arrived on Friday teatime and His presence never left us.   It was a real joy and a great privilege to share God’s love with so many people and to see God moving in their lives at the various meetings, coffee mornings and prayer times.  It was also a great personal blessing for me to share accommodation with my hostess who initially was a stranger but is now a friend and I thank God for this.

I also found the “team times” over the weekend to be a great time of personal strengthening and tremendous encouragement as well as enjoying much laughter, fellowship and learning!

I thank God for all that took place that weekend in the lives of the folks in Mossley and also for the changes that have already taken place in my own life and FOR ALL THAT IS STILL TO COME – PRAISE GOD.

Mossley 2006 Team (left – right)…

 Lynda Wallace, Karen Orr, Melanie McCloskey, Joan Perry, Sam Davison, David Blevins, Graeme McNeill, Caroline Topley, Lorraine Anderson, Allen McCartney.

John & Gwen McKinstry, local coordinators, write:

As we prepared for the Lay Witness weekend some of our Youth leaders made a Prayer Room upstairs in our Church.  It had different stations which people could visit for prayer and meditation.  These stations had various articles and ideas to help focus our prayers on specific areas.  For instance there was a ‘Wailing Wall’ where a person would write on a piece of paper something in their lives that was troubling them or to give thanks for answered prayer.  There was a corner for missionaries with cards made for the purpose of writing letters or even short notes to those across the world to encourage them and let them know we are aware of their great difficulties.  There was a communion table where a person could sit quietly and follow the communion service; this was very meaningful.  We could go on but this is just to give an idea of how the people at Mossley set about preparing their hearts for the weekend.  There were ‘prayer partners’ who specifically prayed for each team member.  In the month leading up to the event we dedicated our midweek meeting to praying for the weekend and asked God to use these team members to bring a word from God for our Church.  We asked God to move powerfully among the people (which of course he did!)

The Lay Witness Team arrived two weeks before the event for a ‘get to know you’ introductory evening.  Everyone involved in the preparation and organisation of the weekend was invited to attend and what a powerful evening it turned out to be.  God showed up!!  It was amazing and everyone went away feeling closer to God with the team members sensing a great freedom in the Spirit with barriers already broken down (that was before the Lay Witness Weekend had begun!)  In fact we thought that everyone was going to stay the night – we were all so reluctant to leave!

The Lay Witness weekend commenced with team members, Church leaders and congregation, meeting together for a meal.  This was a great success, the fellowship was great and we got to know one another.  After the meal we had a time of praise & worship, testimonies and God’s Word.  God’s Spirit moved and afterwards several people were ministered to – God’s was so very real that evening, and we all were aware of the gentleness and peacefulness of His Spirit as He moved among us.

“The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.  Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.  After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.” 

1 Kings 19:11-12

On Saturday morning, bright and early, 21 men had a good old ‘Ulster fry’ and then to ‘wash it down’ we had testimonies from two of the team.  This was followed by coffee mornings in five different homes and from all the reports much was accomplished during this time.

Saturday evening began with another meal together which again, was a great success.  Even better was to come during the service afterwards.  God again poured out His Spirit.  We had a wonderful time of praise and worship and again some team members shared their testimonies, which were very moving and uplifting.  There was a challenge presented to us all as to where we stood in Christ.  At the conclusion many people responded to the appeal for prayer and God’s Spirit was very evidently moving among us all. 

Having witnessed how God was moving over the past two nights everyone was excited and Sunday morning couldn’t come quickly enough.  We weren’t disappointed as God continued to bless His people.  After a time of praise and worship some team members shared what God was doing in their lives. This was followed by God challenging us, through His Word, to serve Him.  There was an appeal made for people to stand if they wished to serve God and 25 people responded.  After the service people were prayed for and ministered to as God continued to bless.

After a meal together and a time of prayer the team said their farewells.

Sunday evening was a time of praise, worship and sharing.  There were many tears as people explained what the weekend had meant to them.  They shared how God had blessed them and changed them.  It was evident that everyone was touched by God and as a fellowship there was a real willingness and desire to do more for Him.

Over the weekend there was at least one person who committed their life to Christ.  People were baptised in the Holy Spirit. Many people received prayer for various needs and 25 people made a public commitment to serve God.  We give thanks to God for doing abundantly more than we could ask or imagine. 

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

Ephesians 3v20-21

We thank God for the Team, who gave up their time away from families and church fellowships, to come to Mossley.  We thank them for their prayers and encouragement and for being so open and real with us.

We may never know everything that was accomplished that weekend but one thing we are sure of - God showed up and He will bring to completion the work that He has begun.

“…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you (us) will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 1:6