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Among the 1,000 people that attended a Church House Rally this week (Tuesday 14-10-97) to hear at first hand what the Presbyterian Church is doing overseas were ten young people from the Indonesian island of Timor.
The five men and five women make up a youth delegation from the Gereja Masehi Imjili Di Timor (Evangelical Christian Church in Timor) and are here at the invitation of the Presbyterian Church to explore worship and witness in a different culture.
Secretary to the Presbyterian Overseas Board, Rev Terry McMullan explained that links between here and Timor began some 30 years ago. 'At that time we received a request from the church in Timor to send specialist help with regard to theological education. The Timorese church was and still is growing quickly and they simply didn't have the resources to cope. Over the last thirty tears we have sent 4 Irish Presbyterians to assist mainly in the area of theological education.'
During that time the style of traditional missionary work has changed and the emphasis is now on partnerships between churches. 'We have partnerships with over 20 churches throughout the world,' explained Mr McMullan, ' and it is very much a two way relationship with a sharing of ideas and personnel from which both partners benefit.'
Presbyterian Moderator Dr Sam Hutchinson welcomed the group to Ireland. 'As a church it's good that we have been able to assist our fellow Christians but we must always remember there are things we can learn too. The church in Timor is three times bigger that our own with around 1 million members and 1000 congregations and is in a growth situation. That experience must have things to teach us in our situation here.'
The team from Timor which includes students, ministers and lecturers have already spent two weeks in Holland and during their week long stay in Ireland have attended a variety of church functions as well as visiting the traditional tourist destinations. They were also officially received at Belfast City Hall by the Lord Mayor.
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