| The
Story of Lay Witness so far
The Irish Lay Witness
Movement was launched in the wake of a visit here in 1975 by some
American Methodist lay people who came to share their faith and speak of
the difference Jesus had made in their lives.
It became clear that the simple formula of ordinary Christians
sharing their story with other lay people was one that God
could use in a remarkable way to bring renewal and blessing to
individual Methodist congregations.
In the wake of that initial visit a group of interested people,
ministers and lay, got together and after much prayer, decided to create
our own Irish expression of Lay Witness.
Wilson Doran, then a Belfast bank manager, was the unanimous
choice as leader.
In the early days the
small nucleus of witnesses gained much experience from participating in
weekend missions in England. The
Movement came to the notice of many in 1980 when it helped to supply and
train counsellors for the Alan Walker Crusade in Belfast.
As more and more churches heard about the standard
weekend event offered by Lay Witness the invitations started to
come in. This led to an
urgent need to train more potential witnesses in the art of giving a
testimony, leading a small group and leading a person to faith in
Christ. Osbourne Park
Methodist Church became the home of monthly rallies which fulfilled this
need and promoted a sense of rich fellowship and learning.
As the years have gone by
the Movement has experimented with a number of variations on the
traditional and basic weekend event.
There was the “Abundant Life Weekend” and our own home grown
“Extending the Boundaries” programme which had people testifying to
how being a follower of Jesus had caused them to make changes in various
areas of life such as family, finances, relationships, career or
politics. Somehow though we
have always been drawn back to the basic and simple weekend programme
which we still see as our mandate.
The 1990s saw the training
and fellowship rallies replaced by an annual meeting in Dungannon
Methodist Church to celebrate what God had done during the year.
This was in turn replaced by the annual residential
weekend in Castle Erin, Portrush and later in Glenada, Newcastle. This
event has been a spiritual highlight for many providing an opportunity
for worship, teaching, training and fellowship.
Celebration
Dinners were held in 2005, 2006 and 2008. In 2008, residential
weekends were replaced by special Day Events held in Edgehill College,
Belfast.
In 1997 the Irish Lay
Witness Movement had the
privilege of participating in the first world gathering of Lay Witness
at Lake Junaluska in the USA. and of assisting
in a number of mission events there.
In 2000 an Irish team visited Sri Lanka and introduced the idea
of Lay Witness there. You
can see the current missions here and the list
since 1996 here.
More
than thirty years on, many
of our original witnesses are as enthusiastic as ever.
They feel uniquely privileged to have been part of such a special
move of God’s Spirit but they keep on seeking guidance about the
future. It is clear
as invitations from churches continue to line up that the ministry of
the Lay Witness Movement is still needed and wanted.
It is clear too that we still have lay people with remarkable
stories to tell of the saving and life changing power of Jesus Christ.
Moreover in all our congregations there are people who will not
be reached by sermons but who can be touched in the depths of their
being by hearing a personal story told in sincerity and honesty.
We thank God for His
faithfulness and the blessings which none of us deserved but that He in
His grace delighted to give.
"Tis
Jesus the First and the Last
Whose
Spirit shall guide us safe home
We’ll
praise Him for all that is past
And
trust Him for all that’s to come.”
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