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Wednesday, July 17, 2013

God's Varied Grace

Something amazing is taking place here in Northern Ireland - God is pouring out his grace in such a way on the two teams that they are able to mutually encourage each other. In Atticall the work is smaller - a few have come out thus far, and the schedule. This brings its own discouragements. In the meantime, the work at Kittys Road has been large and many have come. But there are unique challenges that come from being in the community for a while (6 years), and discouragement can set in there as well.

The two communities have much to point out to each concerning God's varied grace... one place where God is working is teaching us to build each other up in love (Ephesians 4:16)

And his grace has been evident in other ways. The number of those coming out to Atticall have been growing steadily since Monday (even though the numbers have been comparably low), and Kittys Road has hit a stride in terms of relating to the people and spreading the good news.

In Atticall yesterday we saw twice the number of children in the morning (8 or so came), and 4 ladies came to the tea after several days of no one coming. Just a few teens arrived in the morning, so we trekked up to town and met several others who were milling about. Most of us were so exhausted from the previous day's events in Dundrum and Downpatrick that we just rested and talked.

While most of the team returned to the Church of Ireland Hall after the morning/afternoon program, Phil went up with one of the moms who came to the morning tea and spent the afternoon helping her husband dig post holes for a fence. Phil came out of the brushwork during the evening.

At night more teens came out then had any previous evening. After some silly games (including some involving toilet paper!) Daniel spoke briefly on Matthew 7:24-27, and Matt shared his testimony as a living illustration of what happens when a life is no longer built on sand, but instead on Jesus and his Word. Many men came out in the evening due to another event happening at the hall, and there were many men from the two Presbyterian churches (and Phil!) there to meet and greet them.

God is truly faithful, and his Word does not return void. We pray he uses his Word to soften, mend, and capture the hearts of many in this land. Today in Atticall the Treasure Hunters will meet in the morning with the kids while the teens go on a hike up a mountain for lunch. In the evening Stephen Johnston, the minister at Kilkeel Presbyterian, will be speaking on how God is like a potter. Pray for all these things, and for protection... physical and spiritual. 

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