|
|
|
A Presbyterian congregation is radically reversing the churches' traditional understanding of mission by inviting a team of Africans to engage in a building project in County Antrim.
Ballycarry Presbyterian Church near Larne have invited a group of 13 young Presbyterians from Blantyre Synod in Malawi for a week of fellowship, sight seeing and a little hard work creating a walled flower bed in the village. The three week visit, which runs until August 17th has been entirely funded by local sources.
The Malawians arrive this Sunday (29th July) and immediately head off for a weeks orientation at Ski Supreme, Coleraine. Their first major challenge will be on Saturday 4th August as they return to Ballycarry for a soccer match against a local Presbyterian select. This will be a re-match following a visit to Africa last year, which saw the Ulster side loose 2-1 to the Malawians, watched by a crowd of several hundred villagers. A large picnic follows church on Sunday, as the guests get to know members of the community at Carnfunnock Park, Larne.
The second week of the Malawian visit will see the construction of a dry stone wall feature in Ballycarry village. The work, which also involves planting new beds, is to be directed by the DOE along with Larne Borough Council parks division. Commenting on the visit Ballycarry minister Rev Gabrielle Farquar said: "People understand mission to mean westerners traveling to Africa - something we did as a church last summer. This year however, we decided that we should pay for Malawians to come here and make a positive impact on us. In this way, we believe that we will be receiving in fellowship from them. The building of the wall is only a physical sign of the much deeper impact our visitors will have on the whole community here in Ballycarry and the broader area."
The visit has been coordinated by other churches in Ballycarry and has been recognized as an approved scheme by the Commonwealth Youth Project.
Issued by Martin McNeely, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
PCI Home . . . Press Office . . . News Archive