Five members of First Ballynahinch Presbyterian Church left Belfast on Wednesday bound for Sri Lanka to help with tsunami relief programmes being run by the YMCA.
Presbyterian Moderator Dr Ken Newell, (back left), his wife Val and Ballynahinch minister Rev Mairisine Stanfield were at Belfast City Airport to give their good wishes to (l-r) Jackie Scott, Brian McKee, David Graham, (front) Nigel McFadzean and Alan Davidson before they boarded their flight to Heathrow en route to Colombo.
The group were responding to a call for help, both financial and practical, from a former youth volunteer in the Ballynahinch church. Cathy Bollaert, now working with YMCA in Sri Lanka, made her request in a live link to the Co Down congregation the Sunday following the disaster.
The group of elders and committee members have taken money with them donated by the congregation to use in relief work and will work alongside local YMCA staff in some of the worst hit areas of Sri Lanka.
As part of their two week visit they will also assess the possibility of First Ballynahinch becoming involved in a longer term partnership with a Sri Lankan congregation.
Issued by Stephen Lynas, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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