Strive to Rest

This past week the whole team had worked hard all week in ministry to children, teens, and adults, and a time of rest was needed. In Atticall on Friday, the teens doused each other with water while the Treasure Hunters continued to play with and teach the children. 

In the evening Peter spoke on God as a listener, and Phil told a story with a gospel-centric message, clearly stating that the rescue that God offers is predicated on a choice we must make. Good conversation was had by all, and it continues to amaze us how God has given an open door into the community. 

Over the weekend the Lord gave some temporary rest, as we gathered at the Chestnutt's for a grill out and a time of prayer. Afterwards many went to Newcastle, while others stayed back with their host homes. On Saturday night, I (Daniel) went out with Edward and Jean Forshythe and Jim and Sandra Chestnutt to the beach, where some of the best fireworks I've ever seen (I kid you not!) were shot off. America could learn a lot from Northern Ireland about fireworks. 

On Sunday, Daniel was interviewed in the morning at Mourne Presbyterian, and Alli was interviewed in the evening while Daniel preached at Kilkeel Presbyterian on 2 Corinthians 3:17-4:7. We genuinely feel that the churches here have received us in a manner worthy of the gospel... and we trust that when we head out on Saturday it will also be in the same manner (3 John 5-8).

While the Kittys Road team attempted to set the Irish countryside on fire (see Maddy's post below), the Atticall team had a more controlled fire where we gathered for smores. Matt broke out the guitar and he and Rachel sang as we gathered around.

Tonight Atticall has its talent show (or "variety show")... where the Northern Irish and the Americans are performing various musical pieces and skits. Please pray 

• that we would continue to strive to enter into the rest that only Jesus provides. 
• that we would persevere in the ministry that God has given us. It is very fun being out, but also solemn, because we know that we will give an account for this ministry when we stand before him on the last day.
• that we would live consciously of eternity, both of the souls we're praying will join us, and our own souls, that we not be deceived by the enemy in the midst of ministry. 
• that we would be sensitive to the Spirit in all we do, seeking to obey God with our minds, hearts, and hands. Hebrews 4:11-13 is a gracious (but solemn) reminder. 

Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. 

we expected the fire brigade

To begin at the end for a moment, this evening the two teams had bonfires at our respective outreach sites. I have to say, I think the Atticall fire couldn't hold a candle to the couch-devouring inferno at Kitty's Road (pictured above). Roasting marshmallows to eat atop our chocolate digestives was quite the task.

In the morning, we Americans accompanied our host families to their churches and spent the afternoon in various ways (I for one begged off climbing another mountain today and instead took a nap). In the evening, the team met up to attend Mourne Presbyterian's evening service. Mourne is the second largest Presbyterian church in Northern Ireland and bears a definite weight of tradition and formality. Some of the team who attend Mourne were joking that "Mourne clapped while we were singing this morning! ...for about five seconds!" We were led in worship by a choir and organ, and we sang along from our hymnbooks. It was a powerful time--our God is ancient and magnificent, and the power and richness of the music was a beautiful picture of that. Allison and Ryan, accompanied by Matt on the guitar, sang Patrick and Molly Lockwood's "These are Written", a gorgeous, Jesus-filled piece, for the congregation, and then some of our number sang a song as well. Allison was interviewed by Reverend William as well, and shared with the congregation about the outreach we've been doing.

Reverned William continued the church's series in the book of Matthew with a message on the parable of the wise man who built his house upon a rock. Jesus Christ, with his authoritative message, must be the cornerstone of the lives we're all building moment by moment. The value of our digging down to build on the rock is not always readily apparent, especially compared to that guy over there who didn't bother to dig and is already on to the second story, but when the storm comes, only the ground that's truly solid will hold us up. It's a foolish man who counts God out of his thinking.

To return to the evening: praise God that Matthew was able to share the message he had prepared for Friday night with the group tonight, and had an attentive audience as he stood by the flaming wreck of the sofa and talked about God the Potter who is molding our lives. We are made to be molded, Matthew pointed out, and if it's not God molding us it will be the world.

Pray for us as we move into the final stage of our ministry here, with only two days left at Kitty's Road and Atticall. I'd appreciate it if you'd lift me (Madeline) up specifically as I'm slated to share a testimony with Kitty's Road tomorrow; I'm tempted to be a little terrified about that. Pray for all of us, that we would really make the most of these few days we have left with our new friends, and most of all that God would do his will and bring people to himself. He desires all men to be saved, says that we have not because we ask not, and promises that whatever we ask in his name he'll do. So let's plead with him for salvation to break in on these communities. I believe he's going to do it. I don't know when; as Allison and Reverend Stephen were discussing around the bonfire today, this is a marathon, not a sprint. We don't know when this will pay off, but what we do know is that God is with us, and his word doesn't return to him void.

Grace and peace.

an unexpected trip to the beach

Friday morning and afternoon were good at Kitty's Road, as we continued with Treasure Hunters with the kids, football with the teens, and coffee morning with the adults. The afternoon was filled with a ladies' day and a men's day, where some of our girls did hair and nails and Allison washed feet and painted toenails. Dave and Matthew led some sporting activities with the men, including some golf and wrestling.

The evening threw us for a bit of a loop. We had known beforehand that many of the adults in the Kitty's Road community were planning to go out drinking this Friday evening, but what we had not expected was that they were planning to have drinks at the Community Center beforehand as well. Our leaders were not comfortable with our being present under these conditions, and so we called off our evening session and instead spent some heavy-hearted time in prayer for our dear friends at Kitty's Road, cleaned up the church hall, and then headed to the beach and for ice cream.

It can be discouraging, especially for team members who have come back to Kitty's Road year after year, to see people we've been ministering the gospel to choose to seek fulfillment in alcohol rather than Jesus and continue to resist the gospel. As Allison put it, one begins to fear, because they are no longer ignorant; they've heard the good news, but are choosing not to walk in it. We remain hopeful, however, because God is on our side. We know he is at work here. "Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart." 2 Corinthians 4:1 Thank you for your prayers.

The team is enjoying a day off this Saturday. Most of us were able to sleep in, and then we met up at the Chestnutt's house for a barbecue. Some of our number are now hanging out in Newcastle, which is a touristy, beachy town, but Kristy and I are off now to hike a mountain with our host home. More later!

Trusting in the Name

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, 

but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. 

Throughout Monday and Tuesday, the Atticall team met a few kids and teens at the community hall. On Tuesday there were the same number of kids as Monday (4) and one less teen (4). So, on Wednesday, we weren't quite sure what to expect. The Lord knows our struggles, and gives us grace to endure. And he also gives grace when

One car after another started coming into the community center parking lot, and before long there were 26 kids and 10 teens. More than a dozen adults came to the tea (after having none on Monday and four on Tuesday). The teens took a walk up a local mountain (we were told it's called a hill around here, but it felt like a mountain), and took in the sweeping vista around Kilkeel.

In the evening Stephen spoke the Word from Isaiah 64:8, on God as a potter. Kristy shared her life story how God had molded her, and Matt and a few others sang "Jesus Paid it All" for the teens. Good conversations were had; pray that more opportunities would happen today and that the Lord would work in both our hearts and the hearts of the teens (and everyone else!) at Atticall. We don't trust in big numbers or anything that aligns with the world's wisdom... instead, pray that we would trust in our God to do mighty things here in our hearts. 

The Kittys Road folks went up to Newcastle yesterday, a town about 25 minutes up the coast. There some went bouldering (or wet bouldering) up the river, and others blasted and were blasted in laser tag. As the team returned, they prepped for and then served Kittys Road a potluck dinner. Katie Park and Caroline Graham had key parts in that. 

After dinner, Gordon McCullough spoke a straightforward word about the mission of the community outreach team: to exalt Jesus in Kittys Road that they might believe and become followers of Jesus. Pray that this bold Word would be used to destroy strongholds of unbelief in people's lives, and that good followup would take place as the week ends. 

So, new challenges arise as the ministries encounter increased numbers and Jesus' servants are bold. New opportunities for belief and unbelief in both communities. Pray that we would treasure Jesus above all else as we call others to do the same.

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. 

A "Fun Day" at Kitty's Road

I think the adjective "fun" is less often used over here, hence the significance of the phrase "Fun Day". As contrasted with any old day which we Americans would be ready to describe noncommittally as "fun", a Kilkeel Fun Day involved, in this instance, a small mobile petting zoo, several inflatable attractions (including a large fake bull to try to stay mounted upon (think: rodeo), and loud music. Many folks turned out for the day, including many not from the Kitty's Road community. Our team members mingled for about two and half hours of the fun during the afternoon, throwing ourselves into the activities and making new connections with our Kitty's Road friends.

Before this extravagant enterprise, the usual crew (our international team and the actual members of the Kitty's Road community) made use of the then quiet plot of land for our coffee morning conversations, children's "Treasure Hunters" lessons and crafts, and games of soccer and Frisbee with the older kids and teenagers. This evening we gathered again for our evening session of praise, testimonies, teaching, and discussion. Ryan gave an excellent, easy-to-grasp yet thought-provoking message on the truth that God is our rock, asking us to consider what "rocks" we rely on, and how God fits into the equation. As my group discussed, turns out God is all over the equation; in fact he is the source of and the one in control of all the other elements in the equation.

Team members report good conversations all around.

Thank you for your prayers. Please ask God to stir individuals in the community--women, men, their little children, young people--by his Spirit. I'm praying for a true pouring out of the Holy Spirit on individual hearts, because the gospel is being proclaimed--these men, women, and children are hearing the truth that can save them, and it takes then the breath of God to set them aflame with spiritual life. Please join me in asking our Father for this. He delights to give his Spirit to those who ask. I'm beginning to envision the difficulty of leaving in such a short time, because these faces and names have grown really dear to me even just in the past three days. I want so sharply for them to know the Jesus I know. God is answering our pleas for love for those we're ministering to; he can answer our prayers for spiritual awakening, for new birth. Intercede with me for them.

We the ministers need the Holy Spirit as well. Pray especially for opportunities to have gospel-pointed conversations--or whatever conversations these people's hearts need at this point in the story God is leading them through--and that we would recognize and boldly take these opportunities and that by his Spirit God would speak to hearts. We have seen God answer prayers, and I believe he's going to do this.

Please also ask for sanity, as the American team at least is growing a little loopy with lack of sleep.

Rejoicing that God is working in us a tested genuineness of faith, more precious that gold that perishes though it is tested with fire, which will result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1) God's work is pretty much always like an iceberg, I think. We only see the tip, but there's eternal work going on beneath these daily things, as we live by faith and not sight.

A Murder Mystery

On Tuesday, the Atticall teens went with us up the coast to Downpatrick, where St. Patrick is buried. There, they had to solve a murder mystery as two of our number mysteriously collapsed. It was all great fun... the Irish leaders Zak and Peter, together with James, Mark, and Jeffrey, did a great job setting up the mystery and making it fun for everyone.

After the murder mystery was solved (and Kristy discovered as the culprit), Zak spoke on the greatest murder mystery the world has seen... an empty tomb. And in fact, that murder mystery gets solved when we see that it was God's rescue plan to save a sinful world. 

From the castle, we headed to McDonald's (where the meat is superior to the U.S. and they have curry sauce!), and then on to a movie. It was a sweet time. Pray for us that:

- The day together would be used by God to knit hearts together. 

- That the Word put forth in the evenings would accomplish all God's purposes... we pray to soften hearts of these teens that they might see Jesus as he is: infinitely worthy of committing their lives to him.

- For Daniel as he speaks tonight on "God is Like a Rock"; Ryan is doing the same talk in Kittys Road.

- For the team, as Wednesday is normally the "brick wall" moment when the team is exhausted. Pray that we'd be given strength to persevere, especially in faith towards God and his promises. Pray we would cling to 2 Corinthians 9:8:

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.