Leslie and Mabel Brush have been working part-time with Tartaraghan Presbyterian Church as community outreach workers since February 2019.

Their role is to help the congregation develop the connections they already have with the community and seek to establish new ones through a mixture of visitation, events and meetings.

Leslie started visiting all the homes initially within a mile radius of the church with a “What’s On” leaflet and gospel booklet; this has now extended to two miles. He started “Men @10.30”, an informal weekly outreach with activities, refreshments and a Bible slot and leads Bible studies with individuals in their homes as opportunities arise. Mabel started a fortnightly Women’s Bible Study which is a great encouragement. She visits those connected with our congregation who’ve just had a baby, providing them with a “baby pack”; this gives her the opportunity to make contact particularly with those who rarely attend church. She also got involved in "TLC" (toddler group) and "Family @ 4" building relationship with families who have young children.

Tartaraghan is a rural area which has seen great change due to nearby ongoing housing developments at the Birches. We want to reach out to people, whether they have lived in the area for many years or are newcomers, to share the greatest news they will ever hear. Our passion is to see people come to know God personally and to follow him by living in obedience to God's Word. We are thankful to be part of a growing church with plans for a new church building being progressed. We want those who attend Tartaraghan to see that they are loved and valued by God and by his people and to communicate that to others.

Leslie and Mabel are both originally from Co Tyrone - Leslie from Aughnacloy Presbyterian Church and Mabel from Clonaneese Presbyterian Church. They have three grown-up children. Alongside their part-time roles in Tartaraghan they continue to work with The Faith Mission, mainly managing The Faith Mission Centre at Portadown.

Prayer Points:

• Praise God for all the opportunities to share the gospel and for answered prayer.
• Pray for the congregation of Tartaraghan to deepen in their love for God and concern to reach out to others.
• Pray for fresh vision to see the mission field on their doorstep.
• Pray for wisdom and love as they communicate the gospel and seek ways of connecting with local people.

Latest Report – March 2023 

The hope of the gospel

We live in a world where there seems to be so much hopelessness. The news is dominated by the cost-of-living crisis, wars, corruption, family breakdown etc. There are many with "no hope and without God in the world" (Ephesians 2:12).  The challenge is how to effectively communicate the wonderful hope the gospel offers. 

In January our church ran 'Hope Explored' on three consecutive Sunday afternoons; we were delighted to see some folk on the fringes of church attend. The course focuses on the hope, peace and purpose Jesus gives. Mabel was talking recently to a woman who said she'd been looking for these things all her life but had no connection with church and didn't know where to look... until a neighbour invited her to Christianity Explored, where she became a Christian.

Part of our work involves building relationships with people, both in the community and with those on the fringes of church, whether through visitation or an event. Leslie previously visited all the homes within a two-mile radius of the meeting house. He plans to revisit these homes with an updated What's On leaflet introducing church activities and the booklet Road to Freedom. Pastoral visitation gives opportunity to visit individuals, some in seemingly hopeless situations, to share God's Word and pray with them, pointing them to Jesus, the only one who can give real hope. 

We are also involved in:

• TLC (Tartaraghan Little Children): a weekly toddler group for parents/caregivers and children.
• Family@4: a monthly informal outreach event for families on Sunday afternoons with crafts; usually, over 100 children and parents attend. It can be a challenge sharing God's Word with such a diverse age group.
• Men@10.30: a weekly men's outreach with games and crafts.
• Friendship group: a monthly event for senior members.
• Women's Bible study: held every fortnight, it brings women of different ages together.

At most of these activities we are thrilled to have people from outside our church fellowship along; food is provided, giving opportunity to chat and build bridges.

We are thankful to be part of a church fellowship where God's Word is central; whether it's the very short Bible thought for toddlers, deeper study for women or anything in between. Those at Men@10.30 listen intently to the Bible slot, with one man taking an Ultimate Questions booklet recently. While we rejoice in good attendances at Sunday services and our organisations, we long to be people who desire to put him at the centre of our daily lives and ministry - to "seek first the Kingdom of God". Then we can share the hope of the gospel with a needy world.

Please pray: 

• Thank God for all who attend the events.
• Pray for wisdom in communicating the wonderful hope of the gospel.
• Pray that as believers we put God first in our lives.

To download a printable PDF version of this report visit the Mission Reports listing at the top.