Evangelism Teams 2022 (Armagh and Cavan)

Monday, 14th November 2022
Image: evangelism-teams-2022-armagh-and-cavan

Evangelism Teams

Each year our students take part in a week of evangelism and are partnered with one of the churches in the Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland. This week we'll hear from the teams that went to Armagh and Cavan.

Armagh Team

The College Evangelism Team to Armagh was full of excellent opportunities to speak to all ages about the good news of Jesus Christ. The week commenced with the Sunday evening church service, with the team using their musical talents in praise. Tim gave his testimony and highlighted how important it is for young people to have good spiritual influences. Matthew Campbell preached on Moses’ call in Exodus 4, where God promised an anxious Moses, “I will be with your mouth.” These words echoed in our minds throughout the week, providing much-needed encouragement as we went out to share the gospel with the people of Armagh.

Each morning we arrived at schools to help set up for the Amazing Journey, led by James Robinson. It was a great privilege for the team to observe James’ enthusiasm and commitment to teaching schoolchildren the gospel in such a creative way. Members of the took part in dressing up and teaching the children, preparing food for the kids to taste, and helping with the costumes that children could try on. Perhaps the most amazing part of the Amazing Journey programme was when a little boy from Bangladesh approached us to tell us how much he enjoyed it:

“That was the first time I have heard the stories of Jesus,” he said with obvious joy on his face. “You’re not allowed to talk about Jesus where I’m from.”

“Well, we are so glad that we could teach you about Jesus today, you can request a free Gospel of John to take home with you and read.” I responded.

“No, not allowed at home,” he replied.

Continue to pray for this little boy that somehow he would be able to learn more about the Saviour.

In the afternoons we were joined by John Cunningham as we distributed one thousand ‘What’s the Story, John’ booklets throughout the surrounding areas. In God’s grace, not a few people were willing to talk to us openly about God. These ranged from an angry atheist, a disillusioned Mormon and a man with half an hour’s worth of difficult questions about faith! What a joy it was to hear some of these lost, precious souls show an interest in attending the church either on a Sunday or at the ‘Mums and Tots’ group.

The team took part in various service at the church. On Wednesday Emily gave a heartrending word of testimony of how Christ transformed her life and gave her lasting hope. Nathan followed this with an exposition of Psalm 91. By Thursday afternoon we had no evangelistic resources left for the doors and spent an enjoyable afternoon with senior citizens, many of whom had no connection to the church. Bryan gave his testimony and Armagh’s assistant pastor, Mark Rooney, preached. Both speakers had a message for the elderly that emphasised certain hope and peace in Christ alone. It was that steadfast hope and eternal peace that spurred us on all week and united us in our efforts to serve the church in Armagh and we give all the glory to God for what He did through us.

 

Cavan Team

Pastor Ivan Watson hosted our team of seven at Cavan Baptist Church during the week of October 22nd-28th. Hebrews 12:1-3 was the week’s devotional theme. Ivan led us most mornings patiently and faithfully through this pivotal text, unaware as we were that it would so suitably illustrate the history of this church.

We arrived on Saturday evening to set up camp in the church building, just in time to be hosted by Ivan and his wife, Carol, for dinner. Hospitality proved a major thread binding the week together: We sat down for an enormous buffet lunch hosted by the church following the Sunday service, and we were served delicious meals prepared by a different church member each evening throughout the week.

Our team partnered with Ivan and Patti, one of three long-term church workers from the U.S. in Cavan, going door to door or meeting with individuals in the town centre with the Gospel message and Bibles (as well as various tracts, “3 Steps to Heaven” booklets, and an invitation to a Johnny Cash [cover] concert). Many seeds were sown; the Lord will provide the growth.

What became clear as the week progressed was that the labour of Ivan and Carol, Patti, Evan and Rachel (the other church workers from America), and the church in Cavan was not in vain. Following the work of Pastor Ian Grant, who planted the church almost 30 years ago and worked many years faithfully in Cavan to sow seeds of the Gospel, these brothers and sisters have continued week-in and week-out to reach out to their community with the message of hope. As we went door to door, our team sensed a ‘softness’ towards the Baptist church in Cavan. We praise God that the longstanding witness of the church shines brightly as a ‘city on a hill’ for its neighbours.

Various team members were given the opportunity to share their testimonies, preach sermons, lead Bible studies and youth evenings, and participate in high school outreach events. The testimonies and the lessons taught were powerful, but perhaps most powerful was the lesson we learned from Ivan each morning as he humbly encouraged us from Hebrews 12:1-3 to continue to ‘run with perseverance’ as he has done in Cavan.

On Friday, our final day in Cavan, we drove to Belturbet, where Joel and Katya Marcus have been serving in a relatively new church plant. Again, the team went from door to door to share the Gospel with the needy. It is encouraging to see how the Lord is establishing his church in Belturbet. That evening, a crowd gathered to hear David Kelly playing some Johnny Cash tunes (very realistically!) and using the story of Cash’s life to explain the Gospel.

We are grateful for this unforgettable experience in Cavan. Please pray for Cavan Baptist, Belturbet Baptist, and the evangelistic efforts in Virginia as they seek to faithfully live out their calling to make disciples in their towns.

 

    Blog Archive

Let’s Read: Spurgeon the Pastor: Recovering a Biblical and Theological Vision for Ministry Let's Talk: Surviving Ministry Staff & Students Favourite Books of 2022 Let's Read: Spurgeon the Pastor: The Church Gathered BYE Teams Hugh D. Brown Lectures How I spent my sabbatical Let’s Read Spurgeon the Pastor: The Church Identified 1st Year Reflections from Andrew and Debbie Second Year Placement (Josh and Glenn) Final Year Reflection: Chris Banks Let’s Read Spurgeon the Pastor: The Church Functioning New Library Books (April 2023) Easter Reflection 2023 Irish Baptist Historical Society Lecture Report on the Life of Hugh Orr Let's Read: Spurgeon the Pastor: The Church Multiplying Friends of the College May 2023 Let's Read: Reflections on Spurgeon the Pastor by Geoff Chang Student Reflections on Graduation 2023 Where will our students will be serving this summer? Pray Without Ceasing: A Week of Summer Prayer 2023 Reflections on returning to Peru Recognition Service Report 2023 Commencement Service Report 2023 Cross Cultural Report in Ireland Cross Cultural Reports 2023 2 Short Book Reviews Let's Read: Keeping Your Children's Ministry On Mission: Practical Strategies For Discipling The Next Generation by Jared Kennedy Let's Read: When Children Become Brothers And Sisters What's in a name? Evangelism Teams 2023: Coleraine and Keady Evangelism Teams 2023: Castlederg and Tobermore Let's Read: Welcoming and Safeguarding Book Review: Weakness Our Strength A Strange Man from Another World
Let’s Read: The Path to Being a Pastor: A Guide for the Aspiring Graduate Updates Tribute How to Avoid Becoming a Graceless Theological Thug Let's Read: The Path to Being a Pastor Hugh D. Brown Lectures—Understanding and Applying Zephaniah Book Review: Children of Abraham: A Reformed Baptist View of the Covenants by David Kingdon Graduate Updates: Laetitia Let's Read: The Path to Being a Pastor (chapters 5-12) New Books in the Library Friends of the College—March 2022 Graduate Updates: Andrew Let's Read: The Path To Being A Pastor (chapters 13-23) Deacons The Risen Christ Changes Everything Why Four Gospels? Let's Read: The Path to Being a Pastor (Chapters 24–27) The College Graduation MA Missions Module Reflection Student Reflections (first and second year) Book Review: The Crucible of Leadership Let’s Read: Why Should We Love the Local Church? (Introduction) Let’s Read: Why Should We Love the Local Church? (Introduction) Friends of the College: September 2022 Let’s Read: Why Should We Love the Local Church—You’re Beautiful Commencement Report Cross Cultural Placements 1 Cross Cultural Placements 2 Cross Cultural Placements 3 Let’s Read: Why Should We Love the Local Church—Beauty Demonstrated 1st Year Reflection (Ana Rut) Evangelism Teams 2022 (Armagh and Cavan) Evangelism Team 2022 (Ballycrochan & Comber) Let's Read: Living Beautifully Let's Read: Why Should We Love The Local Church “Always winter and never Christmas” Three Kings
Let’s Read Irish Baptist College Conference (Online) From Intern to Undergraduate (Emily Middleton) Let's Read: The Hole in our Holiness — The Reason for Redemption Baptists and Revival in the Long 18th Century Second Year Placements From Intern to Undergraduate (Josh Brown) Let's Read: The Hole in our Holiness — The What and Why of Holiness Final Year During A Pandemic 2nd Year Placement Experience Friends of the College 2021 Update The Art of Reading More Books Let's Read: The Hole in our Holiness — The Real Possibility of Holiness A Basic Easter Fact The Servant King Podcast Let's Read: The Hole in our Holiness — You Are Holy Third Year Reflection Gospel Guardians: Protecting the Purity of the Gospel for Future Generations Graduation 2021 Book Review: Succeeding at Seminary Let's Read: The Hole in Our Holiness — A Work in Progress Why the Irish Baptist College is Vital to the Health of the Association A Good News Story: The Ministry Partnership Scheme Why Study the Biblical Languages? Profit in Toil: A Short Message on A Level Results Day Let's Read: Small Preaching Recognition Service Report 2021 Sin Forgiven: Nourishment for Life and Joy for Living Let’s Read: Small Preaching—The Character of the Preacher Commencement Service Report Placement Friends of the College Update God Rejoices over His People: A Meditation on Zephaniah 3:17 Let’s Read: Small Preaching—Constructing the Sermon Evangelism Teams: Newcastle and Brannockstown Evangelism Teams: Stonepark and North Belfast Christian Fellowship First Year Reflections (Reuben and Andrew) Some New Books Let’s Read: Small Preaching—The Craft of Preaching Let's Read: Small Preaching—What is God Saying? A Christmas Reflection on John 1 - ‘The coming of the light’ Christmas Reflection on John 1 - ‘Life, Light & Glory’
Time to read Genesis...again Friends of the College - January 2020 Friends of the College - January 2020 Finances Tribute to Marion Craig The Resilient Pastor: Surviving & Thriving in Ministry Just a Blow-in? What is new on the shelves at IBC? Friends of the College - February 2020 Four Reasons to Study Theology Academically From Spain to Moira Testimonial Financial Update Friends of the College – March 2020 Irish Baptist Historical Society: The Mayflower Thomas Patient: the Father of the Irish Baptist Church Testimonials The Pastors’ Conference: An Encouraging Privilege Testimonials (part-time studies) In the worst of times: COVID-19 and the Book of Ruth Friends of the College - April 2020 The Long Wait: Victory Delayed Testimonials - Preparation for Ministry and Evening Classes The Leadership Podcast Testimonials - Ladies Study Fellowship The Leadership Podcast (part 2) Friends of the College - May 2020 Reflections from the Student Chairman Why do we teach the Old Testament? Reflections on first year at IBC Friends of the College - June 2020 Why do we teach Romans? IBC Placement Is Church History a Thing of the Past? Friends of the College - July 2020 Friends of the College – August 2020 Friends of the College September 2020 Recognition and Graduation Service Introducing the Irish Baptist College’s New Logo Commencement Service Friends of the College - October 2020 Filled with the Spirit: Soundings in Luke’s Theology of the Holy Spirit The Famous Five: The Abiding Relevance of the Solas of the Reformation Friends of the College - November 2020 The Importance of Theological Training in Fulfilling the Great Commission First Year Reflections — Tim Houston Singing: The Place of Theology in Corporate Worship New Library Books Friends of the College – Unite to Pray – December Christmas Reflections
Agree and Close notice.

By continuing on our website you agree with our Privacy Policy and to the use of cookies by third party plugins. Find out more here