|
The Challenge Ethiopia Team 2006
pictured at a Commissioning Service in
Ballinderry Parish Church last Sunday
(25th June). L to R: (front
row) Rev Canon Ernest Harris, Melinda
Steele, Sandra Livingstone, Susanna
Tuft, Heather Tuft, Ray Harris and
Valerie Ellis � Team Leader (Crosslinks).
(back row) Jenna Boyd, Mona Thomas, Paul
Hendron, Michael Hendron and Jill
Hendron. Missing from the photo: Rae
Gamble and Kenny Clements |
|
A special service was held in Ballinderry
Parish Church on Sunday last 25th June 2006. The
Church family of friends had gathered to ask for God�s special
blessing on the 14 people going to work with their Crosslinks
mission partner Karen Salmon in Ethiopia. The team will be away
for 3 weeks from Sunday 6th - Saturday 26th
August and will be based in Mekelle. They will be working under
the leadership of Karen Salmon and will be involved taking
Holiday Bible Clubs in the Operation Rescue Centre or orphanage,
hospital visitation and any other practical work required.
Operation Rescue works with destitute
children living in foster care or with a parent dying of H.I.V.
As English is not widely used, the team will have to work
through interpreters and will need to make use of visual
materials as much as possible. They will be taking some
materials in the local language Amharic, obtained from the Every
Home Crusade in Belfast.
The team will have been greatly encouraged
and humbled by the way in which the Ballinderry Church family
together and many friends farther afield have supported and
encouraged them. They have been amazed to see their financial
needs met and would ask for the continued prayer for the team
and the families they will leave behind in August. Each one of
them is excited about the venture but also scared as they face
so many unknowns. But, to quote one parishioner, the God who
called each one to go is �large and in charge!� and we know that
he will enable each one to share the love of Jesus. The hymns
sung at the service said it all �
�Father I place into your hands,
the things that I can�t do�
and
�How deep the Father�s love for us,
how vast beyond all measure,
that he should give his only Son,
to make a wretch his treasure.�
A spokesperson for the team said, �We go in
Jesus name because He has given us life�.