Presbyterian Moderator Dr Ken Newell is to spend the next two weeks in Eastern Australia undertaking a series of speaking and preaching engagements at the request of a former minister from Northern Ireland.
The invitation came from Magherafelt born Rev David Campbell who served as minister of the Strean congregation in Newtownards and was Director of the Bible Society before accepting a call to St Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Newcastle, situated between Sydney and Brisbane on the eastern coast of Australia.
"David and I knew one another well during his time of ministry here not least because of our shared interest in football where David was chaplain to Ards Football Club," said Dr Newell.
The invitation has the backing of all the Churches in the Newcastle area and the Moderator has been asked to address some of the issues relating to the practical side of Christian belief and how that works out in day to day living.
"What has amazed me is that the issues I've been asked to speak about are much the same ones as we face here, reconciliation, racism and how Christians can make an impact on their local communities. I'll be developing my theme of 'Live A Life of Love' and will be interested to see what I can learn from the Australian way of doing things that could help us in our work and witness in Ireland."
The Moderator will be accompanied on the visit by his wife Val, and in between the hectic round of speaking engagements at churches, business groups and universities, there will be the opportunity to renew an old friendship.
Graham and Joy Brookes served as missionaries on the Indonesian island of Timor at the same time as the Newells in the early seventies. "We haven't seen them since," explained the Moderator, "but we've been invited to where Graham now ministers at Lakemba Uniting Church in Sydney and both Val and I are looking forward to renewing our friendship and talking over old times in Timor."
Issued by Stephen Lynas, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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