As I reflect back on my visits to serving PCI’s Summer Teams, there is a great quote that comes to mind: “A handful of lion-hearts can wake the whole world up.”
Lion hearts
Many ‘lion-hearts’ were joining teams for the first time, some just 16, some out of their comfort zone. Others were returning team members, taking holidays from work, committing to the same week each year, to enthusiastically serve.
Seeing the teams in action on the ground, one of my immediate impressions was their breadth of church experience – these volunteers come from congregations of all across our denomination bringing different expertise and experience, to impact the whole church.
I enjoyed chatting over lunch, learning a little of God’s work amongst them, leading team devotions, praying with them and enjoying their enthusiasm in service.
Many of the churches where the teams are based are relatively small and would struggle to get the human resources to run a summer outreach themselves, for example in County Cavan. Building on last year’s beginnings, the numbers of children attending increased and whilst the team worked in Bailieborough it impacted many neighbouring congregations.
One of the obvious positives of this scheme, which is organised by the Council for Congregational Life and Witness, is that it is resourcing and encouraging local congregations in their mission. That was very evident in Grange and in Friendship House.
Visiting Friendship House in Belfast’s Sandy Row and chatting with the staff there, demonstrated to me just how the hours spent by the teams on the ground help the local church become visible in the community.
Tea dances to cage football
Connections have been made and relationships have been built up with the children as God’s saving love is shared with them. Genuine Christian care and compassion was demonstrated in the provision of a hot meal for the children after the Bible club.
A priority for St Andrew’s Presbyterian in Bangor has been to reconnect with the local community. The Summer Team followed this remit and engaged with all ages through running different events, from tea dances, to cage football.
In addition, a very practical litter pick up around the area enabled conversations with the local community. This was so appreciated that, some people made the effort to stop and tell the team they were thankful for what they were doing! Their presence was reinforcing the connection between the church and local people.
Having a Summer Team shows a congregation first hand, how to run outreach activities and how it might continue this work themselves. I was encouraged that many of the teams include young people from the church where the team was serving. Castleblayney had the greatest percentage of locals as team members.
That dynamic underscores for me the significance of the mission. The fact that people from the local church serve alongside in various ways says to me, ‘this team is assisting the church I care about, and spreading God’s word to the community I love’.
I think that also helps the other team members to see the value in their efforts during the week. But equally importantly, the work will be carried on after the summer is over, because the local members have been part of the vision.
A passion for the wider church
Seeing the passion these young Presbyterians have for their wider church inspired me to have a greater optimism in the work of the Kingdom of God. There is so much talent amongst our younger members, they have a confidence in sharing the gospel and a strong desire to see the church grow. PCI teams have enabled gifts and ministry potential to develop and I was greatly encouraged to see our young people serving God, loving God and indeed enjoying God.
Having been privileged to observe this summer’s work for God’s Kingdom, I am convinced indeed that ‘a handful of lion-hearts can wake the whole world up!’ So, as ministers and church members, let’s commit to advertising details of our Summer Teams; search out those in your church who could apply, pray for them and with them, commend those who faithfully serve and encourage the more reticent to step out in faith and sign up!
God can and is using our amazing young people for His glory in our land. And finally to our young people, can I can say Thank You. Our mission and vision could not be a reality without your commitment and service.
Dr Henry is minister of Maze Presbyterian Church near Lisburn and one of the youngest moderators in living memory. By convention, PCI’s 19 presbyteries meet separately across Ireland on the first Tuesday in February each year to select the moderator-designate. That took place on 5 February 2019, he was officially elected by the General Assembly as Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland at its opening night on 3 June 2019.
You can also follow his travels during his year in office on Twitter at @pcimoderator and facebook/william.henry.963