Eleanor has served in Wellington as a deaconess since October 2001. Her main responsibilities are in the areas of pastoral care, women’s ministry and prayer.

The majority of Eleanor’s week is taken up with pastoral care, meeting with people in their homes or in hospital. Eleanor also leads a women’s Bible study fortnightly on a Thursday morning, as well as helping to lead a life group of women on a Thursday evening. The ministry to women also includes being part of the team leading Wellington Women PW. She is also involved with helping to lead and train the congregation’s prayer ministry team.

Eleanor loves to see people coming to faith and growing in their faith. Part of her week is spent just being in and around the church organisations as they meet, encouraging leaders and those attending, but also using the opportunity to meet with people leaving children into the church. Eleanor comments, “Brilliant conversations can be had with people in corridors or hallways. Spending time with people is the most precious gift that you can give, showing them that they matter to you and they matter to God.”

Eleanor lives in Ballymena along with her dog Oscar. Her home congregation is Stormont Presbyterian Church in Belfast. She was commissioned as a deaconess in 1996 and served in the congregation of First Holywood until moving to Wellington in 2001.

Prayer Points

• Pray for the pastoral work and the team in Wellington, with a large congregation it needs to be well planned each week.
• Pray for wisdom and discernment for Eleanor in the different situations that she facesPray for a good balance between work and family life.
• Pray for Eleanor that she will continue to grow in her love and walk with the Lord and that she will always have a teachable spirit.

Latest Report – June 2022

24/7 prayer

I’m writing this in the days leading up to Easter Sunday, we are having a week of 24/7 prayer and I’m so thankful to God for this time. The tasks ahead seem daunting with most organisations not having met fully for two years, with people no longer wanting to serve in leadership or on committees, it is a massive challenge for all concerned. 

But here’s why this week of prayer has been special – Thomas Torrance, a Scottish Theologian, wrote this – “What are the real master powers behind the world? Here is the astonishing answer: the prayers of the saints and the fire of God.” It would be easy to get downhearted and overwhelmed, but none of this has come as a surprise or a shock to God. Instead he gave a week of prayer to rest before him, listen to him, be refreshed and challenged by him and know that he has a plan even when we don’t. So it’s a time of praying, waiting and then obedience. It’s a time for leaders and helpers of organisations to meet together and pray, and know that God is already raising up other people to serve.  And even if he doesn’t, then we have got to just keep on trusting and listening to what he is saying at this time.  

Part of our week included videos by people in our church talking about prayer. One of those was Tillie and she shared how she planned out her week to pray for her family and friends, local and worldwide issues. It was brilliant and such an encouragement to all who listened to it.  

Tillie lives in the full belief that God answers prayer, not always how she would like but according to his will. I am so fortunate to work in a church which has men and women like Tillie who are constantly lifting us all up in prayer, many of them are the older generation, those in their 80s and 90s who just radiate God when you are in their presence.I want to learn from them and I want them to have opportunities to pass on to the next generation what it means to ‘stand in the gap’ for the Church.

So thank you to those who see prayer as the first thing we need to do and the most important thing that we do, before we do anything.

Please pray:

• Give thanks for those who constantly lift up others in prayer.
• Pray for Eleanor as she serves in Wellington.
• Pray for Wellington congregation as they pray and listen to what God is saying.