Moving interview records church officer's testimony
ADELINE
McKibben (nee Martin) shared her interesting testimony in a moving interview
in Railway Street Presbyterian Church last Sunday evening (22nd November)
with church elder Roger Thompson.
Brought up at Skeogh near Dromore, Adeline attended Skeogh Primary School. When she was nine years old, Adeline moved with her family to Drumlough and joined Drumlough Presbyterian Church during the ministry of the Rev William Copes. She attended the church Sunday School where she came under the influence of Dr Jean Shannon who later became a missionary in India.
Adeline recalled happy times spent at the Saturday morning children's meeting and Sunday evening gospel meetings at Tullynore CWU Hall run by Mr Walter Jess and his wife Margaret.
She transferred to Drumlough Primary School and later progressed to Lisburn Technical College.
Her clerical studies were put to practical use when she commenced full-time office administration work at George Cohen & Co, Sydenham Road, Queen's Island.
Living in the country required rising at about 6am for the journey to east Belfast where she happened to meet another commuter, a young Joe McKibben, and the rest is history.
It is interesting to note that not only did Adeline marry Joe - her sister Frances married Joe's brother David.
During the interview Adeline recalled when she and Joe commenced employment as Church Officers at Railway Street Presbyterian Church in 1969. In addition to her busy role as Church Officer, Adeline has been leader of Beginners' Sunday School since 1991 and teacher at the afternoon Sunday School at the EMB Hall (Hilden). She has also been a Guide leader and more recently a fellowship group facilitator.
Adeline spoke of family life at Railway Street with her three children Stephen, Joanne and Alison and her three grandchildren Peter, Philip and Nicola.
She went on to speak of how she became a Christian and how her deep Christian faith was challenged when her eleven-year-old daughter Alison was tragically killed in a road accident near Newcastle in 1980.
Prior to her untimely death, Alison too had become a Christian and Adeline spoke of the time when she will see Alison again and will also meet face to face with Christ who died for her. Adeline's assurance of everlasting life was summed up in her aptly chosen closing hymn 'Face to face with Christ my Saviour' which includes the wonderful words of comfort:
Face to face shall I behold Him, Kneel before His throne on high. Face to face in all His glory, I shall see Him, by and by!
27/11/2009
