Lissara Presbyterian Church

Great is Your faithfulness, O God my Father

American Team from Gardner-Webb University visiting Lissara in Summer 2010

Click here to visit the Gardner-Webb University web site

Click here to visit the Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church web site

Click here to visit Hannah Mayfield's journal of the visit

Click here to view the videos of the Final Night skits

Members of the American Team after Morning Worship

The Weeks Diary

Wednesday 19 May 2010

Gardner-Webb team arrived from America to stay in Murlough House, led by Teresa Davis from Gardner-Webb University and she is supported by her husband Eric Davis who is the Senior Pastor from Plesant Ridge Baptist Church

Thursday 20 May 2010

Members from Lissara met with the whole team at Murlough House for a short period of fellowship and a planning session

Friday 21 May 2010

The team arrived in Crossgar about 8.45 a.m. and led the assembly in Glasswater and Derryboy Primarys and later spoke to all the classes in Cedar Primary to invite everyone to the after-school events in the next week.

At 7.00 p.m. and members of Lissara Congregation visited every home in Crossgar and Kilmore to issue invitations to the all children and young people

Saturday 22 May 2010

The team visited the North Coast and had chips!

One special event of the day saw Tyler Davis and Stephanie Gibbs' engagement at Dunluce Castle.

Sunday 23 May 2010

The team joined Lissara Congregation for Morning Worship, enjoyed Sunday lunch with various members of the congregation, visited Downpatrick Cathedral, had a picnic tea in the hall and lead the evening service

Monday 24 May 2010

What a day! There was the last few minutes wait as the clock rolled round to 3.00 p.m. when all the months of prayer and preparation was finished, all the briefings completed, team members in place and the silent anticipation – wondering who (if anyone) will come.

However, there can be little doubt about the blessing God heaped on this mission yesterday; the doors opened and they came and came and came. There were over 70 children arrived and they all seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves.

The afternoon started with some games and refreshments and then broke down into three groups with one on crafts, one on games and one on Bible stories.

The session finished at 5.00 p.m. and the team and local church members enjoyed a great fellowship tea.

The evening started again about 7.00 p.m. with one group meeting in the hall and just chatting and another on the green at Lisara Close kicking a ball (I think they called it ~~football~~ – sorry soccer).

The evening finished with an epilogue and a compelling personal testimony of an intimate, caring and intervening God who makes a difference in our lives if only given the space and opportunity to do so.

Please remember to pray for this mission; that God would continue to reveal Himself to us as a congregation as part of His worldwide church, to the team from Gardner-Webb University as His active servants and to the young people hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ each day.

Please also pray that as these seeds are planted, God would nurture them and that we would see lives transformed through a personal encounter with the living God and we would see those who already know and love the Lord grow in their relationship with Him, or maybe even renewing a first love that has grown a little cold.

Tuesday 25 May 2010

Another great day of fun and fellowship! It was wonderful seeing the enthusiasm of the children running to get started, meet their friends and the team again. Even with quite a few of the children identified as being busy on other activities today the numbers remained amazing, with the new additions keeping them about the same level as yesterday. (Looking forward to tomorrow!!!)

Today the children were divided into four groups; this worked even better than Monday and with the great weather one group at a time got outside to play games and even better – play with water!

The evening was another success and some of the older Primary School children who had missed the afternoon coming along and enjoying football in the park and just “hanging” in the hall.

The epilogue finished the evening with a challenging testimony from one of the team to the saving and keeping power of Jesus Christ.

Please continue to pray for this mission; for the team as they put so much time, effort an enthusiasm into reaching and touching the lives of these young people in Crossgar, for the team individually that they would know Gods blessing in their lives and that through this time that their relationship with the Lord would be strengthened and developed and that we, as a congregation, would be enabled to use this time as a springboard for further work and mission.

Wednesday 26 May 2010

I think it would be safe to describe Wednesday as another very successful day with about 80 children at the afternoon Bible club, about 50 children and young people playing games and just “hanging” in the evening and another 30 ladies meeting with Teresa in the church.

However, it would be remiss in the extreme to fail to mention some of the too-often unsung heroes who work quietly in the background but without whom every major effort would grind to a halt; and on this occasion I am referring to the catering team

Each day a team assembles and prepares juice and biscuits for the children coming straight from school (and there are a lot of them). As soon as they are satisfied, the ovens go on, the kettles start boiling, microwaves start pinging and all sorts of pots, pans and trays start rattling. Within 15 minutes of the children leaving at the end of the session the tables have appeared, have been set and everyone is well fed. So a very big thank-you to each of the different catering teams working every day.

Yesterday evening also saw many of the ladies of the congregation meeting with Teresa for a time of worship and praise together and all enjoyed an evening of fellowship.

At this point in the week it would also appear reasonable to start giving God thanks for His blessings for the week to date as well as praying for future assistance; we should be giving thanks for the daily growing numbers of children and young people attending each day, the fellowship enjoyed within the whole team, the catering team from the church, the evening epilogues, the glorious weather and the various meaningful and spiritual conversations that are occurring daily.

Please continue to pray that God would nurture these relationships and that through them we would see lives transformed through a personal encounter with the living God. Please pray for the team, that God would give them daily health and strength through these demanding activities. Please also pray for Lissara as a church that we would be guided and strengthened to continue and develop the mission work of this week.

Thursday 27 May 2010

One mark of a good team is the ability to adapt to reflect changing circumstances and this was certainly a mark of Thursday. The changeable weather moved the games back indoors and, as can be seen from the photographs, the team enjoyed themselves as much as the children.

It has been thrilling to listen to the team teaching the children in the Bible study and even more thrilling to hear them answer both with their own existing knowledge and from what they have been learning through the week. The joy and excitement on the children’s faces as they run to start each day demonstrates the success the team are having in making a real connection with them.

The weather remained changeable during the day and the decision was made to bring the games into the hall and several groups were dispatched into the village to ensure no one was left at the green.

Once again the “craic” was mighty and the evening was rounded off with another powerful epilogue

As we get to know the team members individually there are many of them with powerful stories to tell and some have progressed in their faith through considerable difficulties.

Today, could we each take some time to pray for any of the individual team members with whom we have had personal contact; pray that they would have been as blessed by their time here as we have been, that they would continue to grow and develop in their Christian Walk and in their personal lives and to pray that God would continue to use them in their work for Him.

The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
Amen

Friday 28 May 2010

Well, ‘all good things must come to an end!’

This proverb dates back to about 1374 (Chaucer) and was first attested to in the United States around 1680. The word ‘good’ was added much later. ‘Everything has an end’ and ‘Everything comes to an end’ are variants of the proverb.’

However, does every thing have to come to an end? I suppose the first question that needs to be asked is what are the “things” that might come to an end? Some of these could be; the joy of a church filled with children or the fellowship we (in Crossgar) enjoyed with our brothers and sisters from America.

Do they really have to come to an end; as a church we appear to have a choice? Do we always do as we have always done, only to get what we have always got – and continue to watch a slow lingering decline; or do we take the risk to change and allow the ‘thing’ that ends to be fear of stepping out of the safety of our buildings and moving back into the community with the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The term “Christian” is grossly overused and claimed by many who have little understanding of being a disciple (or follower) of Jesus Christ. If we use “Christian” in its full and true sense this means obedience as well as worship. If we, as Christians, really valued the unspeakable privilege of being called “the children of God” we would weep over the countless multitudes that have never experienced the Grace of God and we could not be silenced.

It cannot be denied that this wonderful week of afternoon Bible Club and evening Youth Ministry has come to an end and there will be those of us who will never in our lifetime speak again, but we need to remember that, as Christians, we believe that this life is only the prologue of a never ending book and there will be a point in the future where we will meet again. However, our focus might be a little different then, as we look on the hands, feet and face of the one who bought us from death to life and throughout all of eternity worship The Christ who is our saviour and redeemer.

May the Lord continue to bless you all, both in Crossgar and in North Carolina.

Saturday 29 May 2010

Back on the road again, leaving Murlough House at 8.30 a.m. and Dublin at 2.00 p.m.

Sunday 30 May 2010

Please listen to our Sunday Morning worship by clicking here and in particular listen to Rev Abraham's report on the week’s activities by clicking here

Meeting the congregation
The Gardner-Webb team meeting the members of Lissara Congregation after Morning Worship

Stephanie Gibbs and Tyler Davis, the newly engaged couple

Games in the sun in the church grounds

Football in the park at Lislea Drive

Just hanging in the hall
Just "hanging" in the hall

Part of the catering team
Wednesdays catering team - Part of the larger group that is keeping everyone WELL fed!

Wednesday's ladies night with Teresa

Whos having themost fun
Who's having the most fun!

Jump

For further photographs of the 2010 American Team please
visit our copy protected pages at SmugMug by clicking here

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Updated: - Sunday 30 May 2010

Office Address:

The Manse, 17 Downpatrick Road

Crossgar, DOWNPATRICK

Co. Down

BT30 9EQ

Wednesday 19 May 2010	Gardner-Webb team arrived from America to stay in Murlough House, led by Teresa Davis from Gardner-Webb University and she is supported by her husband Eric Davis who is the Senior Pastor from Plesant Ridge Baptist Church
Thursday 20 May 2010	Members from Lissara met with the whole team at Murlough House for a short period of fellowship and a planning session
Friday 21 May 2010	The team arrived in Crossgar about 8.45 a.m. and led the assembly in Glasswater and Derryboy Primarys and later spoke to all the classes in Cedar Primary to invite everyone to the after-school events in the next week. At 7.00 p.m. and members of Lissara Congregation visited every home in Crossgar and Kilmore to issue invitations to the all children and young people
Saturday 22 May 2010	The team visited the North Coast and had chips! One special event of the day saw Tyler Davis and Stephanie Gibbs' engagement at Dunluce Castle.
Sunday 23 May 2010	The team joined Lissara Congregation for Morning Worship, enjoyed Sunday lunch with various members of the congregation, visited Downpatrick Cathedral, had a picnic tea in the hall and lead the evening service
Monday 24 May 2010	What a day! There was the last few minutes wait as the clock rolled round to 3.00 p.m. when all the months of prayer and preparation was finished, all the briefings completed, team members in place and the silent anticipation – wondering who (if anyone) will come. However, there can be little doubt about the blessing God heaped on this mission yesterday; the doors opened and they came and came and came. There were over 70 children arrived and they all seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves. The afternoon started with some games and refreshments and then broke down into three groups with one on crafts, one on games and one on Bible stories. The session finished at 5.00 p.m. and the team and local church members enjoyed a great fellowship tea. The evening started again about 7.00 p.m. with one group meeting in the hall and just chatting and another on the green at Lisara Close kicking a ball (I think they called it ~~football~~ – sorry soccer). The evening finished with an epilogue and a compelling personal testimony of an intimate, caring and intervening God who makes a difference in our lives if only given the space and opportunity to do so. Please remember to pray for this mission; that God would continue to reveal Himself to us as a congregation as part of His worldwide church, to the team from Gardner-Webb University as His active servants and to the young people hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ each day. Please also pray that as these seeds are planted, God would nurture them and that we would see lives transformed through a personal encounter with the living God and we would see those who already know and love the Lord grow in their relationship with Him, or maybe even renewing a first love that has grown a little cold.
Tuesday 25 May 2010	Another great day of fun and fellowship! It was wonderful seeing the enthusiasm of the children running to get started, meet their friends and the team again. Even with quite a few of the children identified as being busy on other activities today the numbers remained amazing, with the new additions keeping them about the same level as yesterday. (Looking forward to tomorrow!!!) Today the children were divided into four groups; this worked even better than Monday and with the great weather one group at a time got outside to play games and even better – play with water! The evening was another success and some of the older Primary School children who had missed the afternoon coming along and enjoying football in the park and just “hanging” in the hall. The epilogue finished the evening with a challenging testimony from one of the team to the saving and keeping power of Jesus Christ. Please continue to pray for this mission; for the team as they put so much time, effort an enthusiasm into reaching and touching the lives of these young people in Crossgar, for the team individually that they would know Gods blessing in their lives and that through this time that their relationship with the Lord would be strengthened and developed and that we, as a congregation, would be enabled to use this time as a springboard for further work and mission.
Wednesday 26 May 2010	I think it would be safe to describe Wednesday as another very successful day with about 80 children at the afternoon Bible club, about 50 children and young people playing games and just “hanging” in the evening and another 30 ladies meeting with Teresa in the church. However, it would be remiss in the extreme to fail to mention some of the too-often unsung heroes who work quietly in the background but without whom every major effort would grind to a halt; and on this occasion I am referring to the catering team Each day a team assembles and prepares juice and biscuits for the children coming straight from school (and there are a lot of them). As soon as they are satisfied, the ovens go on, the kettles start boiling, microwaves start pinging and all sorts of pots, pans and trays start rattling. Within 15 minutes of the children leaving at the end of the session the tables have appeared, have been set and everyone is well fed. So a very big thank-you to each of the different catering teams working every day. Yesterday evening also saw many of the ladies of the congregation meeting with Teresa for a time of worship and praise together and all enjoyed an evening of fellowship. At this point in the week it would also appear reasonable to start giving God thanks for His blessings for the week to date as well as praying for future assistance; we should be giving thanks for the daily growing numbers of children and young people attending each day, the fellowship enjoyed within the whole team, the catering team from the church, the evening epilogues, the glorious weather and the various meaningful and spiritual conversations that are occurring daily. Please continue to pray that God would nurture these relationships and that through them we would see lives transformed through a personal encounter with the living God. Please pray for the team, that God would give them daily health and strength through these demanding activities. Please also pray for Lissara as a church that we would be guided and strengthened to continue and develop the mission work of this week.
Thursday 27 May 2010	One mark of a good team is the ability to adapt to reflect changing circumstances and this was certainly a mark of Thursday. The changeable weather moved the games back indoors and, as can be seen from the photographs, the team enjoyed themselves as much as the children. It has been thrilling to listen to the team teaching the children in the Bible study and even more thrilling to hear them answer both with their own existing knowledge and from what they have been learning through the week. The joy and excitement on the children’s faces as they run to start each day demonstrates the success the team are having in making a real connection with them. The weather remained changeable during the day and the decision was made to bring the games into the hall and several groups were dispatched into the village to ensure no one was left at the green. Once again the “craic” was mighty and the evening was rounded off with another powerful epilogue As we get to know the team members individually there are many of them with powerful stories to tell and some have progressed in their faith through considerable difficulties. Today, could we each take some time to pray for any of the individual team members with whom we have had personal contact; pray that they would have been as blessed by their time here as we have been, that they would continue to grow and develop in their Christian Walk and in their personal lives and to pray that God would continue to use them in their work for Him. The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace. Amen
Friday 28 May 2010	Well, ‘all good things must come to an end!’ This proverb dates back to about 1374 (Chaucer) and was first attested to in the United States around 1680. The word ‘good’ was added much later. ‘Everything has an end’ and ‘Everything comes to an end’ are variants of the proverb.’ However, does every thing have to come to an end? I suppose the first question that needs to be asked is what are the “things” that might come to an end? Some of these could be; the joy of a church filled with children or the fellowship we (in Crossgar) enjoyed with our brothers and sisters from America. Do they really have to come to an end; as a church we appear to have a choice? Do we always do as we have always done, only to get what we have always got – and continue to watch a slow lingering decline; or do we take the risk to change and allow the ‘thing’ that ends to be fear of stepping out of the safety of our buildings and moving back into the community with the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The term “Christian” is grossly overused and claimed by many who have little understanding of being a disciple (or follower) of Jesus Christ. If we use “Christian” in its full and true sense this means obedience as well as worship. If we, as Christians, really valued the unspeakable privilege of being called “the children of God” we would weep over the countless multitudes that have never experienced the Grace of God and we could not be silenced. It cannot be denied that this wonderful week of afternoon Bible Club and evening Youth Ministry has come to an end and there will be those of us who will never in our lifetime speak again, but we need to remember that, as Christians, we believe that this life is only the prologue of a never ending book and there will be a point in the future where we will meet again. However, our focus might be a little different then, as we look on the hands, feet and face of the one who bought us from death to life and throughout all of eternity worship The Christ who is our saviour and redeemer. May the Lord continue to bless you all, both in Crossgar and in North Carolina.
Saturday 29 May 2010	Back on the road again, leaving Murlough House at 8.30 a.m. and Dublin at 2.00 p.m.
Sunday 30 May 2010	Please listen to our Sunday Morning worship by clicking here and in particular listen to Rev Abraham's report on the week’s activities by clicking here