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Pictured at
morning worship in Lisburn Reformed Presbyterian
Church last Sunday (19th November) is
L to R: (front) Mrs Sandra McCollum, the Rev
Professor Robert McCollum, the Mayor -
Councillor Trevor Lunn and the Mayoress - Mrs
Laureen Lunn. (back row David Currie and Mervyn
Green.
The Mayor - Councillor Trevor Lunn and the
Mayoress - Mrs Laureen Lunn were the special guests at morning
worship in Lisburn Reformed Presbyterian Church, Ballymacash,
last Sunday (19th November) where they were welcomed
by the minister, the Rev Professor Robert McCollum.
During the service, Mr McCollum told the
true story of Mehdi Dibaj who spent 2 years in solitary
confinement in a 1 metre by 1 metre prison cell for spreading
the Gospel. He spoke of how Mehdi was released as a result of
Government intervention but how sadly he was shot dead a few
months later. He used this story to emphasise the need for the
whole congregation to sign a petition in the vestibule, which
when complete will be sent to the Prime Minister in order to
apply diplomatic pressure on Governments where Christians are
being persecuted.
In his address entitled �The Miracle of the
20 loaves� as recorded in 2 Kings 4: v 42 to 44, Mr McCollum
spoke about a farmer from Baal Shalisha. In days of famine he
brought the first fruits of his harvest to the 100 prophets at
Gilgal where Elisha was staying. Mr McCollum pointed out that
this was a godly man. He was fulfilling his responsibility of
bringing the first fruits of his harvest to God�s representative
Elisha. The gift seemed very inadequate - 100 hungry young
prophets needed to be fed with 20 bap size loaves. However,
like the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 by Jesus with 5
loaves and 2 fish, every prophet in Gilgal was satisfied and
there was food to spare. A wonderful miracle occurred that day
at Gilgal. Mr McCollum reminded the congregation, �God takes
our little contribution, our little talent our little time, our
little witness and, with his blessing, he can use it to
accomplish great things for his glory.� He concluded his sermon
by saying, �We will not be able to give properly unless we have
given ourselves first to God by trusting in his Son, Jesus
Christ�.
In the Reformed Presbyterian Church the
praise consists of Psalms being sung in 4-part harmony. The
RP�s hold firmly to the conviction that since God has given the
church a hymnbook containing 150 Psalms, it ought to be used by
Christians to worship Him.
20/11/2006
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