Martyn Cowan was licensed as a Probationer
for the Ministry by a commission of the Dromore Presbytery at a
Service of Licensing in Railway Street Presbyterian Church last
Sunday evening (21st May). The Moderator, the Rev
Keith Duddy gave the call to worship and led the prayers; the
Rev Andrew Thompson read the Scripture lesson and gave the
sermon; the Moderator and the Clerk, the Rev John Davey,
conducted the Act of Licensing. In his charge to the new
licentiate which was based on a passage from 2 Timothy 1, the
Rev Bob Lockhart pointed out that the message of the gospel is
entrusted to those whom Christ calls. He encouraged the
licentiate to preach it so that some may come to faith, teach it
so that they may grow in faith and be led into useful service. The church choir and
musicians led the praise and the guest organist was Edward Craig
from First Saintfield Presbyterian Church. After the service,
the ladies of the congregation served supper in the church hall.
Martyn, who was assigned student assistant
in First Saintfield Presbyterian Church in June 2005, is the son
of Dr Bertha Cowan and the late George Cowan, Forthill. He was
a member of Railway Street Presbyterian Church since his youth
and after leaving Friends� School in 1993 he studied Philosophy
at Queen�s University, Belfast. Subsequently, he served with
the Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship (UCCF) before
moving to London in order to pursue training for the Christian
ministry with the Proclamation Trust. After four years of study
at Oak Hill Theological College London, he has just completed
his formal training for the Presbyterian ministry at Union
Theological College in Belfast. A gifted speaker, Martyn has
taken Sunday services at Railway Street on a number of
occasions. Martyn and Kathy were married in Ballykelly
Presbyterian Church on 20th July 2001. They now live
in Belfast and are always most welcome visitors to Railway
Street Presbyterian Church.
Martyn Cowan
pictured with his wife Kathy, sister Rosie (left)
and mother Bertha (right) at a Service of Licensing
in Railway Street Presbyterian Church last Sunday
evening.
Martyn Cowan pictured with a
commission of the Dromore Presbytery at a Service of
Licensing in Railway Street Presbyterian Church last
Sunday evening. L to R: (front) Rev Bob Lockhart,
Rev Andrew Thompson, Rev Keith Duddy - Moderator of
Dromore Presbytery, Martyn Cowan, Rev John Davey -
Clerk of Dromore Presbytery, Very Rev Dr Howard
Cromie and Rev Brian Gibson. (back row)
Representative elders: Hilary Jess - Hillsborough,
Brian Magowan - Elmwood and Harold Gamble - First
Dromore; Gordon Lindsay - Clerk of Session and Ken
Kyle - Railway Street.