Dear Friends

     As 2004 draws to a close and the New Year starts to unfold we want to wish all our friends and supporters the richest blessing of God in 2005.  It would be hard to put into words how much we appreciate all of you who share in the work of Lay Witness not only through active participation in weekends, but also in words and messages of encouragement and especially through prayer.  John Wesley’s much quoted statement that “God does nothing in the world except by prayer” should serve as a spur to each of us to make greater use of the wonderful privilege that is ours to cooperate with God in the outworking of his purposes.

The past year in Lay Witness has seen much blessing.  We have been involved in missions in Hamilton Road, Bangor, Limavady, Bessbrook, Ballinamallard and Glengormley and the reports that follow will give you a taste of what God was pleased to do in response to the prayers of many.  You will also find details of our forthcoming residential weekend, which this year features Mike Williams as speaker and moves to Glenada in Newcastle in a bid to be more accessible to our friends in the Republic.  Do please plan to join us for what we believe will be a very special time.

Of course, as we look forward to 2005 and to plans for missions in Thomas Street, Portadown, Carrickfergus, Greencastle and Woodvale we are painfully conscious that our dear friend and leader, Wilson Doran, is no longer with us.  No words can adequately convey what Wilson meant to all of us in Lay Witness.  We can only give thanks that his life touched ours and that so much of his service for the Kingdom was worked out in our Movement.   We honour his memory and pledge ourselves afresh to follow his example.

Most of you will recall that Wilson was part of a team of eight lay witnesses that visited Sri Lanka in 2000.  The news of recent days has filled us all with horror.  Our hearts go out in solidarity and loving concern to the people of that wonderful land.  Perhaps your giving to Sri Lanka through MMS might be part of your own personal tribute to Wilson’s memory.  He’d have liked that!

Wishing you God’s richest blessings in 2005,

 

 Allen                          Errol              

Heather                         Norma

Tom

Website

The Lay Witness Movement website keeps our members and supporters up to date; spreads news of what is happening in Lay Witness to a wider readership and provides an easy means of contacting the Movement for those who are computer literate. 

            You’ll find it at:            www.laywitnessireland.org

We would like to have your email address for ease of contact and sending this annual Newsletter.  Please email us with your details at : contact.us@laywitnessireland.org

We are very grateful to webmaster Alan Hutchinson, Glengormley who has set up the site for us.  Contact him at:     webmaster@laywitnessireland.org

Our Records

We keep a note of your name, address, email address and telephone number together with the mission teams you have been on, if any.  Please notify us if you wish to have any details updated or deleted.  If there are others you think would like to receive this Newsletter, please ask them to contact us c/o:

contact.us AT laywitnessireland.org