In a powerful display of unity, the four main evangelical groups within the Church of Ireland (COI) came together in April for a day of worship, teaching and prayer.
Ministry collective First Things hosted the gathering, inviting evangelicals from New Wine, Church of Ireland Evangelical Fellowship, Southern Anglican Fellowship of Evangelicals and Evangelical Fellowship of Irish Clergy to St Johns Parish Centre in Moira, Craigavon on 27 April. They were thrilled to see over 350 people from across the groups come along.
Spread the gospel
In between times of worship, those attending enjoyed teaching from 2 Timothy by Archbishop Justin Badi from South Sudan, sessions lead by Canon John McGinley on looking to the future with hope, and a final message by Justin Badi on the missional and evangelical heritage of the Church of Ireland.
He told the story of how a single missionary from near Omagh had brought the gospel to South Sudan in the 1920s, and reminded listeners that the task of spreading the gospel is not without obstacles – but must be done, despite persecution.
‘Stand for the gospel. If it means pain, carry the pain. If it means shame, carry the shame,’ he declared in his closing remarks, ‘Always carry the gospel!’
A particularly poignant moment came following the morning Bible teaching, which finished with an invitation to recommit to decide to follow Jesus, and the whole room stood as one to do this.
This was the second time First Things has run the event; the previous meeting took place in 2012.
