Ballee Baptist Church

Summer 1986

FROM PASTOR GEOFFREY WARD

Greetings in the Saviour’s Precious Name.

I would like to take this opportunity of expressing my thanks to you all for your help and prayerful support while I was in Eastern Europe. It was indeed a time of rich blessing and we are thankful to God for His goodness and protection upon us in all our travels. At the time of travelling abroad there was the threat of terrorist reprisals because of the American bombing of Libya: there was also the problem of the leak from the nuclear reactor in Russia. We see from these happenings how unsafe his world is and we realise the great fact about the uncertainty of tomorrow. How good it is to know that the Lord is Sovereign over all and with the Psalmist we can say: “My times are in Thy hand” Psalm 31 v 15.

This trip of a lifetime [as the Ballymena Guardian refers to it!] was not only an opportunity to preach and teach the Word of God but was also a time when I was able to glean information and learn about missionary work in general.

I would like to share with you some of the things I learned so that we as a Church may be able to pray more intelligently for missionaries and the mission field.

1 Missionaries are human beings. They become depressed and discouraged at times; they get tired and lonely; they need and value your prayers. The workers at ECM in Vienna were so pleased and encouraged when I told them that we pray for them. Here is a work you can do for the Lord; pray for the missionaries, write to them, send them a tape. I can assure you that they will really appreciate it.

2 Pray for the work of the European Christian Mission [Tom Lewis] and his team of workers. Some of the work they are involved in is as follows:

Ministering the Word of God and preaching the Gospel in the Iron Curtain countries

Training men to be lay pastors to work among their own people

Sending in young people to work in summer camps amongst the youth

Sending material and financial help to those who are persecuted

Radio broadcasts to Albania and Yugoslavia

Translating the New Testament in to the Albanian language

You can imagine the financial outlay involved: do pray that the Lord will touch the hearts of His people and that this need will be met.

3 Pray for the Pastors, particularly those of Romanian Churches who are continually pressurised and persecuted by the state authorities. Pray for Daniel Cocar and Titus Mihet. These are two men whom God is blessing and using; they are constantly being questioned and scrutinised by the secret police.

4 Do remember your brothers and sisters in Christ in these Iron Curtain countries. They have not the religious privileges and freedom which we have. Pray that God will keep them and bless them and that their faith might be strong in spite of adversity.

5 Let us rejoice that the Lord is building His Church in spite of the opposition of communism. Praise God that many behind the wire of the Iron Curtain are coming to Jesus Christ. God is prospering His Word and blessing His servants. It is good to know that we as a Church have been able to play a small part in bringing the Word of God to those who are less privileged than ourselves. Let us unite in prayer that God would continue to bless and do mighty things so that many precious souls would hear the Gospel and come to a saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ask the Lord to give you a vision; ask Him to give you a burden for the mission field not only in Eastern Europe but world-wide; ask Him to give a love for your brothers and sisters in Christ who live in less privileged places than we do.

I close with Words of the Saviour John 4 v 35, “Say not ye, there are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? Behold, I say unto you, lift up your eyes, and look on the fields for they are white already to harvest.”

God bless.

oOo

Prayer is so simple;

It is like quietly opening a door

And slipping into the very presence of God.

There in the stillness

To listen to His voice,

Perhaps to petition,

Or only to listen;

It matters not

Just to be there

In His presence

Is prayer.

oOo

LADIES’ FELLOWSHIP

by Jean Campbell

In the last Ladies’ Fellowship report Mrs Ward mentioned how we were looking forward to a visit from Mr Jams McKeown representing SGM [Scripture Gift Mission]. This meeting took place on 9^th April when James brought along some slides of the work. This was followed by the prayer meeting on 23^rd April when Mrs Joan Shaw brought a message from God’s Word. We receive much blessing and encouragement during these times of fellowship.

A special prayer meeting was called on 14^th May to remember Pastor on his mission behind the Iron Curtain. Mrs Frances Smyth brought the message at that meeting which was well attended. We thank God for all His goodness and answered prayer concerning the Pastor’s safe return and for much blessing he received as precious souls came to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. To God be the Glory. May this encourage us to pray on.

The 21^st June is the date set for the women’s outing, God willing. We trust that the weather will be favourable and that all those able to go will return home relaxed and well tanned.

The Ladies’ Fellowship prayer meetings continue every 4^th Wednesday during the summer months. May God pour us all the spirit of true believing prayer continuing steadfast in this place of service, That we may see a work done for His glory as souls through the power of God’s Holy Spirit are brought under conviction of sin and drawn to repentance and saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ Who alone is able to save.

Approach, my soul, the mercy seat,

Where Jesus answers prayer,

There humbly fall before His feet,

For none can perish there.

oOo

SPEAKING PERSONALLY … Desmond Shaw

Naught have I gotten but what I’ve received.

Grace hath bestowed it since I have believed.

Boasting excluded, pride I abase,

I’m only a sinner saved by grace.

When I was just a child about three years of age, my mother received the sad news from the battle-front during the second world war that my father had been killed in action, a member of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders serving in Italy with the 8^th Army. He had been shot dead and his body laid to rest with many more young men in the Great War graveyard at Casino. This meant that my mother was left with two young boys to bring up on her own, and so she sought to do this under the instruction of the Word of God, Proverbs 22 v 6, “train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.” My mother believed in the rod of correction mentioned in Proverbs 22 v 15 and although she used it and used it well it didn’t stop the devil from getting hold of my young life and leading me to do many things contrary to my mother’s teaching. Without going into detail I served him for many years and became rebellious to the things of God. Then God started to answer my mother’s prayers and my brother got saved and was later called of God into the Faith Mission as a pilgrim. This didn’t go down too well with me, and it seemed to make me even harder against the things of God; space does not permit me to go into detail regarding some things that happened in my life, such as thinking that only God Himself would tell me when I would have to be saved, not a minister or preacher or anyone like that. Then God started to work in my life and His Holy Spirit started to convict me of sin and after three days and three nights of torment of mind and soul I knelt beside my brother at the bedside and he pointed me to the Saviour, and I have found over the years the …

He is not a disappointment.

Jesus is far more to me

Than in all my glowing daydreams

I had fancied He could be.

And the more I get to know Him

So the more I find Him true

And the more I long that others

Should be led to know Him too.

oOo

THE SECOND BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES

A great prayer met with a great promise

by John Carson

From the very outset of this second book of Chronicles we see that Solomon was a man of prayer, and a man who had found great favour in the eyes of the Lord. This is borne out in the fact that when the Lord appeared to him and said, "“Ask what I shall give thee” [1 v 7]. Rather than ask for material things as most of us would Solomon desired to have Wisdom and Knowledge to stand before his people [v10]. The Lord not only granted his prayer but also gave him riches, wealth and honour [v12]. Now Solomon was determined to build a House for the Lord [2 v 1] and chapters 2, 3, 4, contain the material, building and furnishing of the House and in chapter 5 we find the House is opened and amidst the praise and worship we find the Glory of the Lord filled the House. If I may just take a moment to say that this should always be the case in the Lord’s presence is chased right out of the midst by fighting and squabbles amongst the people of God.

As we now move into chapter 6 I want to dwell here for a few moments as we take time to look at Solomon’s prayer.

A GREAT PRAYER

A PRAYER FOR THE PLACE Chapter 6 v 20

Solomon’s prayer to God was that his eyes would be upon his house day and night. Friends in these dark and evil days that we live in let us make this our prayer that God would keep His eye upon our Church day and night and that He would protect it from every attack that the devil would try to mount against it.

A PRAYER FOR THE PEOPLE

In these days we should be holding unto God for the people, especially those who are out of Christ. As I thought of this my mind was turned to Proverbs 29 v 18 “Where there is no vision the people perish”. Surely if there is anything the Church of Christ needs today it is a God-given vision and I believe this should be a three-fold vision of the Lord, the Lost and the Last. Yes friends I believe there are people today who as Ivan Thompson would say are not only on the road but some are in the road. Let us pray that they would get a fresh vision of the Lord and His dying love. Then there are some who have this “I’m all right Jack” attitude and have no thought for the soul of dying men and women who are going to be lost. But most important of all we need a vision of the lost days, and we need to work while it is day, for the night comes when no man shall work.

A PRAYER FOR THE PROVINCE

Solomon’s prayer was that when there was no rain that the Lord would send rain. Well one thing we in Ulster do not need to pray for and that is rain, but one thing that I carry a great burden for is to see it raining great showers of blessing upon this little province once again.

Having looked at the prayer let us now take time to look at the promise.

A GREAT PROMISE Chapter 7 v 14

“If my people which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, forgive their sin and their land”

There are many ways you could look at this verse and I am sure that more learned men than me could bring a lot out of this but there are just two simple things I see in this verse and I want to leave them with you.,

A HUMBLE PEOPLE

Friends, if there is one thing that we the people of God need to learn is how to live a humble life. You know there are some of us and boy we just think we are the cream of the cake. There are some Christians today who walk about with their heads in the air and they would hardly take time to look at you! But really what are they? I know I was nothing but a guilty hell deserving sinner, I was “Hopeless and helpless, dead in trespasses and sin” [Ephesians 2 v 1]

A HEARING GOD

The second thing I see here is a hearing God, and praise His name those of us that are His know that we have a prayer hearing and a prayer answering God. Time after time in the Scripture we see God answering the cries of His people. Remember Paul and Silas in prison in Philippi; God sent the earthquake at midnight and as a result a soul was gloriously saved. Daniel in the lion’s den, and many more that we haven’t time to mention. I think friends if God could answer the cries of His people in those days and preserve them from death, I’m sure He can do the same for us in 1986, if only we turn to Him and earnestly seek His face to move in this little province of ours so that revival might sweep these shores once again.

I hope that you have been challenged by this work in the way that we might turn to Him and see great things done for the extension of the Kingdom.

oOo

YOUNG PEOPLES’ FELLOWSHIP

“He giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might He increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall; but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint” Isaiah 40 v 29-31.

On Monday 24^th March our meeting was taken by Grange Baptist. At this meeting we had a Grange vs Ballee quiz and as usual our young people were narrowly beaten. Afterwards we enjoyed tea and fellowship.

On Monday 31^st we again had our annual outing. Due to a diversion we went to Newtownards Shopping Centre and then afterwards in our crowded minibuses to the Forest Park where we enjoyed games amidst mud, hail, rain and cold. After games were over and some muscles strained we then went for a high tea in the minibuses outside Ginesis in Ballynahinch. After tea we went for a ‘wash’ and a splash in Bangor Swimming Pool. We also played indoor football and badminton and after a very enjoyable day we returned home with high spirits and tired bodies. Best Sports girl was Kim McCullough and best boy was Lesley Kirk.

On 7^th April we had a visit from Stanley Todd from SIM who brought a video presenting in an amusing yet informative way the answers to excuses many people make to involvement in missionary work.

From 11^th - 13^th April we went on our now annual weekend to Kilkeel. Our guest speaker for the weekend was Pastor Eddie Rea who spoke on the assembly and the believers’ responsibility i.e. baptism and Church membership. Everyone present enjoyed blessed times around God’s Word. The weekend was better organised this year, due to experience gained from last year, with quiet times first thing in the morning and last thing at night, a time around God’s Word during the day and a time of fellowship in the evening. Everyone enjoyed fun and games consisting of donkey fights, adventure games, to ‘cooling down’ in the river.

On the Monday following our return from Kilkeel we had a visit from Pastor Chambers of Hill Street Baptist who brought a message from the Word of God on Walk, Witness and Worship and then left the remainder of the meeting open for a time of discussion followed by a cup of tea and fellowship.

The meetings for the season came to a close on 28^th April with a challenging message from God’s Word by our own Pastor.

oOo

THE PRODIGAL

Mrs McCausland

In the Bible we read you all know

Of a prodigal saved here below.

If you open your book at the Gospel by Luke

The 15^th chapter will show

How they brought forth the robe and the ring,

Made merry, did shout and did sing;

Did dance and did laugh round the fatted calf

While the father himself he would sing;

CHORUS

Glory to God he’s come home.

From guilt and from crime

And from feeding the swine

Glory to God he’s come home.

Now we very well know that the lad

Came home very weary and sad,

He knew he’d gone wrong with a riotous throng,

He felt he was all that was bad.

But to cheer him the father would sing,

While the air with the music did ring.

‘Come, let us rejoice with heart and with voice’

While down in this heart he would sing;

Now the elder brother drew near

While the music and dancing went on;

For a servant he sent and asked what it meant;

He told him his brother had come,

He was angry and would not go in,

But the father came outside to him

And said, ‘Why be sad? We are merry and glad.’

While down in his heart he would sing;

Now if there’s a prodigal here,

Come now, to your Father draw near.

He’ll freely forgive and take you to live

With Him, you’ll have nothing to fear.

And the bells of Heaven will ring,

At the birth of a child to the King,

And you’ll be so glad, they’ll say you’ve gone mad,

You’ll cause such a song when you sing.

oOo

MISSIONARY NEWS

by Desmond Shaw

Once again it is time to share with you some news from the different missionaries and missions throughout the world.

Let’s remember those especially in “God’s work” connected with the Church. Remember Sam and Anna Irons still labouring faithfully at Holywood. They have listed many requests for prayer - young men who have backslidden, others who are willing to listen but still haven’t made their decision; those with many family problems etc. Pray for them as they give instruction and seek to help in all these different situations. Then there’s James McKeown still carrying on the great work in SGM; remember him as he goes from place to place preaching the Gospel and especially in the South of Ireland. It’s good to see Geoffrey back home from his first term at New Tribes Bible College; let’s remember him and Gillian as they plan their summer work and later as they marry and DV in August go back to College together. Pray that they may know God’s perfect will for them.

ACRE Gospel Mission - James and Dorrie Gunning have settled in well in their new surroundings. The people have received them and are very friendly. Many of John Marinho’s family are attending the meetings; pray that soon they may see a break and many coming to faith in Christ. Remember the rest of the ACRE family; some of the children are sick; others need visas; also transport problems. These dear saints of God really stand in need of our prayers; let us not fail them - God is able. In Fergo the Church rang Jack Bennett seeking help as there was no one to look after the Church - no Pastor - but also there was no one to send to help them - how sad!

UFM - I have a letter from Edmond Norwood, especially for the young folk of the Church, regarding a Young People’s Weekend, Teens and Twenties, in Castlewellan Castle, Friday 12^th September 7.30pm - Sunday 14^th September 4.30pm. If any of the young folk are interested I can give you further details. The desire of the UFM at the moment is for more workers for Spain, Laire, Brazil, Ivory Coast and many other places. They have asked for special prayer for the weekend mentioned that many young folk may hear the call of God and be obedient to that call - “Pray the Lord of the harvest that He might send forth labourers unto His harvest”.

New Tribes Mission - It seems to me through reading the literature from NTM that the devil is at work in many places where the missionaries are labouring - Colombia, Brazil, Philippines etc. - enemy groups from outside coming is God’s intervention, as we pray with believing hearts.

OMS - I am sure you remember Nancy Gill, the girl who was working in Indonesia with so much darkness and satanic power all around. Well she has sent some news of answered prayer, 14 souls baptised in Wagir where there were so many satanic attacks. At Lodoyo 10 baptised, 5 trusted Christ about 2 weeks ago in one of the older Churches and 2 government officials have got saved. Surely this is proof that God is still in control.

CEF - Remember all the workers associated with this mission, especially during the summer months as they seek to reach boys and girls with the Gospel [not forgetting the Bible School in our own Church, June 30^th - July 4^th]. John and Irene Barfoot hope to come for a short break at the end of the month. They both feel totally exhausted physically and drained spiritually; so let us continue to uphold them before the Throne of Grace that God will minister to their needs.

What a privilege we as a Church had to send our Pastor to Eastern Europe and we will not soon forge what we heard from the pulpit. Continue to pray daily for these our brothers and sisters in Christ who I believe would put us to shame regarding their love and zeal for Jesus Christ in the face of so much persecution and harassment. We have so much materially, they have so little.

Thank you again for your continued interest and giving. Pray on!!

oOo

HE ASKS SO LITTLE AND GIVES SO MUCH

Micah 6 v 8

Adeline Larkin

What must I do

to ensure peace of mind?

Is the answer I’m seeking,

too hard to find?

How can I know

what God wants me to be?

How can I tell

what’s expected of me?

Where can I go

for guidance and aid

To help me correct

the errors I’ve made?

The answer is found

in doing Three Things

And great is the gladness

that doing them brings…

“Do Justice” - “Love Kindness” -

“Walk Humbly with God”

For with these Three Things

as your “rule and your rod”

All things worth having

are yours to achieve

If you follow God’s Words

and have Faith to Believe!

oOo

CHILDREN’S’ CORNER

ALL WRONG, BUT RIGHT

One Saturday evening a little fellow came running to the bus stop. He had caught sight of the big bus coming round the corner. He hurried ever so fast, and got there just in time. The bus stopped very close to him and the driver pulled open the big bus door. The little fellow stepped boldly inside and took a seat almost as if he owned the bus. Then he looked around at the other passengers and smiled at them all. This brave little boy could not have been more than eight years old and he was travelling all alone. The bus was on its way to Ikot-Ekpene in Africa. Soon the bus conductor asked the boy for his fare. The little boy just looked at the man - then he said, “But sir, my money has already been paid!”

“Don’t talk nonsense, boy!” the rude man said. “No one here has paid for you.”

The little boy shook his head. “No sir; no one here; but Jesus paid for me.”

“And who is Jesus? Is He the owner of this bus?”

“No, I didn’t say that He owned the bus; I said that He paid for me,” the boy replied.

By now all the people in the bus were listening. Some began to laugh at the man who was trying so hard to get his fare. Angrily he asked the boy, “Where is your father? Is he here?”

“I have no father; he is dead.”

“Who is your mother then? Is she here?”

“My mother is dead too,” said the boy. “But before she died she told me that one day I could make a long trip free, because Jesus paid the fare for everybody when He died on the Cross. And so that is why, when I saw the bus, I hurried to get in. I thought that nobody would ask me for any money since Jesus paid for me.”

The listening passengers hid their smile. The boy’s words brought tears of shame to their eyes. Yes, the little fellow was wrong about his fare, but he showed that he knew more than they did about Jesus, and what He had done for him on the Cross.

A kind man sitting nearby dug deep into his pockets and pulled out some money. Then he handed the surprised conductor the boy’s fare. “My boy,” the man said, “you are quite right that Jesus paid for you. But what He paid for you was no small price such as your fare on this bus. It was something much greater. In these short trips here on earth we must pay our own way. The fare Jesus paid for you was for a more important journey - a fare you could never pay yourself - He paid your way to Heaven. Because of our sins the price for our fare to Heaven is highter than anyone can pay. God knew that, but He wanted us to be there with Him so much that He let His Son Jesus willingly pay our way for us by dying on the Cross. It cost Jesus His life to pay our way to Heaven. That was the price He had to pay, my boy, and He paid it for you. Do you believe it?!

“Oh yes sir! I understand now. I was wrong about the trip, but I was right about the fare, wasn’t I? It is all paid.”

Then, leaning back in his seat, the boy exclaimed, “I’m on my way to Heaven and Jesus paid the fare!”

Boys and girls, do you know and believe in your heart that you have been saved from your sins and that you are on the way to Heaven? Jesus paid the price and now He offers a free salvation to you.

oOo

THE GRACE OF GOD

Diane Alexander

Two or three years before the death of John Newton, when his sight was so dim that he was no longer able to read, an aged friend and brother in the ministry called on him for breakfast. Family prayer succeeding, the portion of Scripture for the day was read to him - “By the grace of God, I am what I am”. It was the good man’s custom, on these occasions to make a few short remarks on the passage read. After the reading of the text, he paused for some moments, and then uttered the following affecting words, - “I am not what I ought to be! Ah! How imperfect and deficient! I am not what I wish to be! I abhor that which is evil and I would cleave to what is good! I am not what I hope to be! Soon, soon, I shall put off mortality and with mortality all sin and imperfection! Yet, though I am not what I ought to be nor what I wish to be, nor what I hope to be, I can truly say “I am not what I once was”, a slave to sin and Satan; and I can heartily join with the apostle and acknowledge, “By the grace of God, I am what I am” - let us pray.”

An instrument of ten strings Psalm 92 v 3

Two eyes - to read Jehovah’s Holy Word

Two ears - to listen to our Living Lord

Two hands - to do His bidding day by day

Two feet - to walk in wisdom’s narrow way

One tongue - to tell and sing His worth and grace

One heart - to love Him, till I see His face

oOo

NOTICEBOARD

SPECIAL MEETINGS

On Tuesday 8^th July we are to have Mrs Irene Barfoot from CEF, Switzerland along to speak. Please make a special effort to attend and encourage our sister as she and her husband work in Switzerland among the boys and girls.

On Sunday 27^th July at 6.30pm we are to have a visit from Mr Tom Lewis, [Eastern Director of the European Christian Mission]. Make a date with us and find out more of what is happening behind the Iron Curtain today.

On Friday 19^th September at 8.00pm Mr Harold Serenger [Director of American Board of Mission to the Jews] will be with us DV. His subject - “Spreading the Passover Table”. A meeting not to be missed!

PASTOR’S HOLIDAY MONTH SPEAKERS

August

3^rd Mr Ivan Thompson, Belfast

10^th Mr William Kernohan, Ballymena

17^th Mr Graham Anderson, Rathfriland

24^th Mr Herbie Fitzsimmons, Banbridge

31^st Mr Howard Martin, Belfast

BIBLE CLASS

The Bible Class will recommence DV on Tuesday 10^th September at 8.00pm. Subject - The Holy Spirit.

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations are in order to Heather Campbell and Alan Hoey who were married on Saturday 31^st May at 2.00pm. We wish them God’s richest blessing for the future.

A NOTE FROM THE EDITORS

It is encouraging once again to receive more “bits and pieces” for the magazine. It makes the job of compiling the magazine much more easy. Keep it up!

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

July

6^th Mr James McCosh

13^th Mrs Power

20^th Mr Sandy McAleese

27^th Mrs Sadie Morrison

August

3^rd Mr & Mrs Andy Wilson

10^th Mr & Mrs Robert McMaster

17^th Mrs Sally Fleming

24^th Mr Jack McIlwaine

31^st Mrs Marina Bell

September

7^th Mrs Audrey Thompson

14^th Mrs Jean Wilson

21^st Mrs Jean Lucas

28^th Mr Billy Weatherall

ooOoo

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