APRIL 2020 I was hungry and you gave me something to eat Matthew 25:35 Barnabas stands alongside our Christian brothers and sisters around the world where they suffer discrimination and persecution. By providing aid through our Christian partners on the ground, we are able to maintain our overheads at less than 12% of our income. Please help us to help those who desperately need relief from their suffering. Barnabas Fund Donate online at: is a company Office 113, Russell Business Centre, registered in England 40-42 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 6AA www.barnabasaid.org/herald Number 04029536. Registered Charity [email protected] call: 07875 539003 Number 1092935 CONTENTS | APRIL 2020 FEATURES 12 Shaping young leaders The PCI Intern Scheme 16 Clubbing together A story from Bray Presbyterian 18 He is risen An Easter reflection 20 A steep learning curve A story from PCI’s Leaders in Training scheme 22 A shocking home truth New resource on tackling homelessness 34 Strengthening your pastoral core Advice for elders on Bible use 36 Equipping young people as everyday disciples A shocking home truth p22 Prioritising discipleship for young people 38 A San Francisco story Interview with a Presbyterian minister in California 40 Debating the persecution of Christians Report on House of Commons discussion REGULARS A San Francisco story p38 Debating the persecution of Christians p40 4 Letters 6 General news CONTRIBUTORS 8 In this month… Suzanne Hamilton is Tom Finnegan is the Senior Communications Training Development 9 My story Assistant for the Herald. Officer for PCI. In this role 11 Talking points She attends Ballyholme Tom develops and delivers Presbyterian in Bangor, training and resources for 14 Life lessons is married to Steven and congregational life and 15 Andrew Conway mum to twin boys. witness. 24 As I see it Alan Meban attends Cecil Graham is married 25 Mission Connect Kilmakee Presbyterian to June and an elder in 33 Betsy Cameron Church and writes about Windsor Presbyterian culture and politics as Alan Church and former clerk of 42 Reviews in Belfast on his own blog South Belfast Presbytery. 44 Life in PCI and Slugger O’Toole. He has a long association with the BB. Cover illustration: Jessica Hollywood April 2020 No. 830 Editor: The views expressed in the features, news reports, letters and book £1.50 (€1.80) Sarah Harding reviews of this magazine are not necessarily those of the Editor. Published by: Subscriptions and Advertising: Editorial comment and signed articles do not necessarily contain the The Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Elaine Huddleston; Lisa Skinner; official views of the Church, which can be laid down only by the General FSC Assembly Buildings, Suzanne Hamilton Assembly. Acceptance of advertisements does not imply endorsement Belfast BT1 6DW. of the goods or services. The Editor reserves the right to decline any LOGO T: +44 (0)28 9032 2284 Design and Layout: advertisement or letter without assigning any reason. Letters may be E: [email protected] Edward Connolly edited for publication. No correspondence can be entered into regarding W: www.presbyterianireland.org Printing: non-publication of advertisements or letters. W & G Baird Ltd The Presbyterian Church in Ireland is a Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC104483); Registered Charity in Republic of Ireland (20015695). Herald April 2020 3 EDITORIAL LETTERS Mental health and she does not know mine! God moves in mysterious Dear Editor ways! A friend, knowing my interest David Denton in mental health (I was chair Belfast of the Scottish Association for Mental Health for six years), An all-age Church passed me a copy of the Dear Editor Fear vs trust February edition of the Herald. As an older member of the As I write, the Covid-19 pandemic is sweeping the world I am minded to offer some Presbyterian Church in Ireland, and panic, fear and hysteria levels are extremely high. further perspectives. I wish to share some of my People are thirsty for information and advice and as In my view, it is not just ‘part concerns. While I realise that Christians we have added questions about how to respond of Christian life’ to listen to the Church has to adapt to the in a biblical way. Is it wrong to stockpile food, or should others suffering some sort of modern age, it is important to mental anguish: it is part of I prepare to provide for my family, friends and those in remember that people of all everyone’s life to encourage need? How can I speak and act in a way that will proclaim ages attend it. those who need to talk. The the good news of Jesus to those who don’t know him? Therefore, there should be biggest challenge for us is to In situations like this, our natural human instinct is one a balance between the use of listen – and some of us are not traditional and modern music of self-preservation and therefore it is perhaps hard to get very good that! a balance between taking sensible actions and making in the Church. Personally, I miss A religious perspective the singing of the psalms and sure we think of others first, especially the more vulnerable is not necessarily the best members of our society. In her ‘Life lessons’, Sophie de paraphrases in church. They way forward. The suicide contain wonderful teaching Witt says she finds the most difficult thing about being intervention training that from God’s Word, which would a Christian is “being obedient to God’s Word and not we introduced in Glasgow a benefit people of all ages. justifying my selfishness”. I imagine this pandemic will test number of years ago – which Today there is a trend to us all to the core when it comes to our selfishness. As one included the families of those move away from sacred to message circulating social media highlighted: starvation who had been bereaved (that secular activities during the causes 25,000 deaths a day, but unlike Covid-19, we don’t was so important) – suggested week without any spiritual hear about it because Covid-19 affects the rich – starvation that discussion of the love input. A short epilogue at the doesn’t. of God etc. is not necessarily end of each activity would be Cecil Graham raises another important issue in this helpful. Indeed, to raise ‘the sufficient. We are instructed edition, also largely neglected – the persecution of love of God’ can be distinctly in the Bible to ‘make disciples’ Christians. Reporting on an interesting debate in the unhelpful as it can heighten of the Lord Jesus Christ. This House of Commons, he shares the sobering statistic the sense of guilt. One of the involves building young that 260 million Christians around the world were at risk participants was a minister Christians up in their faith. of persecution in 2019. In China 5,500 churches were and he said that he took off his When I was a child, I came collar when “talking someone destroyed, closed down, or confiscated. Cecil’s article gives to faith in the Lord Jesus from the brink”. us much food for thought and prayer points to consider. Christ as my Saviour after a One day, a suicidal young Kevin Hargaden addresses another worrying issue – special children’s service in woman on a train talked to me homelessness. He sets out the shocking reality of the scale a Presbyterian church. As for nearly two hours – God was children we were instructed to of this problem, particularly in the Republic of Ireland, never mentioned. But there challenging the Christian community that we need to sit quietly in church and respect was a divine intervention! the sanctity of God’s house. do more: “The myth that we cannot help has become She mentioned an uncle, Mr stronger than the fact that we can…” Kevin promotes a Sadly, many children and adults Stewart, lived in Linlithgow. seem to have lost this sense of new resource, published by the Irish Council of Churches There were 30 Stewarts in the respect in church. to help congregations tackle it practically and prayerfully. telephone directory, and the Finally, it is important to As we approach Easter, it is good to be reminded that first number we dialled was realise that God blesses unity in we serve the living Jesus, who fully displayed his power his. He came to meet her and Christian service, so we should and majesty when he triumphed over death on the off they went. cross. In his Easter reflection, Dr David Clarke reminds us Exactly one year that no matter what we are facing, Jesus goes before us. later, a stunning Despite our fears and anxieties, we can trust in him. “Fear, young woman which has large eyes, dreads the future, but faith moves came up to confidently forward.” me in Glasgow Wishing you a happy and healthy Easter from everyone Central: she in the Herald office. hugged me and said “thank you” and off she went. I still don’t know her name 4 Herald April 2020 Letters to the Editor Please note: Letters are limited to 300 words and may be edited for clarity Write to: Presbyterian Herald, Assembly Buildings, Belfast, BT1 6DW and length. They will only be published in the Herald if the author’s name and Email: [email protected] address have been supplied to the Editor. On request these will be withheld from print. Anonymous letters will not be considered for publication. The views expressed in the letters are not necessarily those of the Editor or PCI. try at all costs to live peaceably died. She had few options “May the God of hope fill politics and social affairs.