Guest speaker -
the Rev Keith Scott pictured with Ann Armstrong and
Tom Ellison - St Mark�s Mission Panel, following a
special service and lunch in St Mark�s on Sunday 17th
September.
The guest speakers at morning worship in
St. Mark�s Parish Church, Ballymacash on Sunday 17th
September were the Rev Keith Scott and Miss Sheila Jennings. Mr
Scott, who was also guest speaker at the morning Sunday School
prior to the 11.00am service, spoke of his childhood days living
in Downpatrick and his many visits to Tyrella beach explaining
that his nearest beach in Zambia is 1000 miles away. Using a
computer slide presentation he spoke of life in Zambia and how
that some of the children live on the streets and have nobody to
look after them. He also showed pictures of a typical house -
made of mud brick with a tin roof and no electricity - such a
difference from the luxury we take for granted here. Explaining
that the congregation would soon be having lunch in the church
hall, he showed the children a typical lunch in Zambia -
caterpillars.
The Rev Keith Scott, a missionary with
Church Missionary Ireland is a teacher at the Anglican Seminary
of St. John the Evangelist in Kitwe, Zambia. Keith teaches
Systematic Theology, New Testament and Homiletics and his wife
Lynn teaches Homelics, English and Study Skills. Keith also
carries out pastoral work in the township of Chambishi. Just
over a year ago he spent a weekend at St. Mark�s and preached
at two services and also conducted a seminar about his work in
Kitwe. Following his visit, St. Mark�s has made two significant
responses. During Lent, the Sunday School children took part in
the �Broken Butterfly� project which focussed on Northern Zambia
and the children had an opportunity to learn about conditions
in the country and responded financially by giving over �600
towards education, training and evangelism schemes. St. Mark�s
also made a contribution towards the provision of a much-needed
water tower at St. John�s Seminary.
Sheila Jennings, who has been a parishioner
of St. Mark�s for 5 years, spends the winter months in Port
Elizabeth in South Africa. During her travels in South Africa
Sheila made contact on behalf of the Parish with Sinikithemba
project at St. Augustine Church, Grahamstown, which provides
meals and counselling for around 40 people suffering from HIV.
The Rector, the Rev Mluleki Mize, and a group of Mothers� Union
members largely drive the project, which receives gifts in kind
from a number of local shops as ingredients for the meals
provided, but they are always short of funds.
After the morning services, a lunch was
served in the Parochial Hall and proceeds were given to the two
African projects.
