Exchange. Spring/Summer Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up Galations 6:9.

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1 Spring/Summer 2016 Dear Friends of the Mission Christmas has come and gone for another year, Spring is hopefully around the corner, even now, we see a change in the brightness of the dawn and the lengthening of the evenings. We have all been very busy in the Halls with all the activities that come with the festive season. After the short Christmas break we are up and ready to go for another season in reaching out to the lost for Christ here in Belfast. Do pray for all of our volunteers in our halls (the backbone of our Mission) who tirelessly give up of their time to participate in teaching Sunday school, supervising Mums and Tots, helping out with our youth groups, Boys Brigade and Girls Brigade etc. Continue also to remember our faithful Missionaries and their wives as they lead the work in the various halls. A big thank you to all of you Out There who pray daily and give practically to support our work year in and year out. May the Lord bless you all as you continue to work with us in our labours for our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up Galations 6:9. Belfast City Mission Glengall 3 Glengall Street Belfast BT12 5AB

2 Belfast Charity Shop It is with a tinge of sadness that we have had to come to the decision to close our Charity Shop on the Lower Donegal Road. Our current lease ends on 30th April 2016 and we have decided not to renew it. We are so indebted to many people for the years that it has been up and running especially to Sally McBurney and Janie Ferguson, Jean Strain and Kathleen Dines, to Ann Russell, Anne Pringle and to Hilary Campbell. A big thank you must also go to the numerous Churches and individuals who donated new and second hand clothing and bric-a-brac over all of those years. For the last fi ve years or more we have only been opened two days per week for the lack of volunteers and on top of this our rent and utility bills far outweigh what our income is annually Belfast City Mission Annual Rally We give you a warm invitation to our Annual Rally to be held on Thursday 28th April at 7.30 p.m. (D.V.) to be held in Ballygomartin Presbyterian Church, Ballygomartin Road, Belfast. (Kindly lent) Our guest speaker this year will be Rev Sam Castles, Minister of Lisnabreen Presbyterian Church, Bangor. Special singers from various parts of the globe are from our Bridge Hall, Kimberley Street. There will also be a visual presentation of our Mission work produced by Ivan Patterson. Do come along and enjoy fellowship with us on this occasion

3 2015 Annual Christmas Appeal WOW! IT KEEPS GETTING BIGGER AND BETTER This was a comment from one of our Missionaries about our past Christmas Appeal response. The Monday morning of 7th December 2015 was Unreal as car after car arrived offl oading presents and foodstuffs for hampers. The amount of toys started to pile up like a literal mountain (as you can see by the photographs) as we stood in amazement at the quantity growing ever larger. Fortunately we have valued helpers who come year after year along with some of the Missionaries to help sort out the hampers and toys into age groups and gender. The delivery s kept coming on the Tuesday and Wednesday and then the same the following week. The Missionary s from our various halls then delivered the gifts and hampers around their specifi c districts to families and individuals who struggle at this time of the year. A big thank you once again to all who contributed or helped in any way. The Lord loves a cheerful giver (2nd Corinthians 9:7) Spring/Summer

4 Points for Prayer and Praise Sandy Row Hall Willie Logan Food bank working well, many new contacts being made. Work continuing in men s hostel. Canadian Team working with children of the area. Planned coffee mornings for locals (twice monthly) P.C.I. team planned for end of July. Thanks for the faithfulness of people in supporting the hall and the work. Fairview Road Hall, Ballyduff Alan Martin Pray for the health and strength of members of the hall. Community Fun Day planned for May / June Holiday Bible Club in July. Thank God for a man who trusted Christ. For unity in Fellowship For the Children s / Youth activities being well attended Ballysillan/Bilston Road Hall Andy Williamson Pray for commencement of youth club in the Spring. Night of Faith and Football Meeting with Stephen Baxter, Roy Walker and Johnny Jamison. Summer Outreach in area with a team from Churchtown Presbyterian Church. Commencement of Men s outreach in the Spring. Praise for Sunday School numbers doubling. Doors that have opened through distribution of gifts at Christmas. Increased numbers on a Sunday evening. Connections being made with local community groups Rathcoole Hall David Bell Pray for all the leaders and helpers within all the youth activities each week. Pray also for end of session services and as parents evenings are planned and take place. Pray for the planned visit of Teen Mission International from the U.S.A. who will be based here in the month of July especially as they help with our Holiday Bible week 25th- 29th July Continue to pray for the area as a whole, for peace to prevail during the coming months. Praise God for a young woman who was saved recently

5 Mayo Street Paul McCaw Thank God for increased attendance on Sunday evenings. Those who attend the hall suffering with addictions. As I visit, read and pray with a man recovering from a stroke, that he would come to Christ. Children who attend the Sunday School and the Kids Club that they would come to Christ at an early age. Praise God for a young man who was saved just before Christmas. New people, including a young family, who have started attending the hall. Being asked to carry out a dedication service for two children who attend Mums and Young Ones. Great Northern Street Hall Ivan Patterson Pray for young leaders to assist our Children s work. For those who are ill. For new opportunities to witness to young people and students. For the safety of Missionaries as they go about the work. For those who decide the future of local Schools. For the elderly who cannot understand why parents do not come to the hall or send their children along. Praise God who provides when we least expect it. For the children s good news club. For the children s leaders who take on a heavy load. To those who visit the hall to encourage us. For those in the hall who continually remind us that God continues to work miracles. For dedicated workers who keep on serving the Lord. Canton Street Hall Michael Waddell Pray that good contacts be made in the area. For believers to be built up in their faith. God s leading for future days. Praise God for a young man who trusted Christ who is planning a Mission trip to Africa in 2017 Kilburn Street Hall Lloyd Watson Pray for a Special Mother s day Service to be held on Sunday 6th March when Phyllis Arnold will testify and the singer will be Elaine Newell. For a Box Opening service to be held on Monday 18th April 7.45 when Mr Hartford Arnold will Testify (Hartford and his wife lost 2 young sons within 10 days) Singers Banbridge Male Voice Choir. Praise God for a dear lady who trusted Christ and is now attending the hall. A man of 47 suffering from cancer who trusted Christ before Christmas. An unsaved man who asked for a visit to his sick Father in Law and I had the pleasure of leading him to the Lord. Spring/Summer

6 Staff News Your prayers for our staff would be valued as we have 4 members especially going through very diffi cult times of late. Mr Tom Marshall (Bloomfi eld Drive) lost his dear wife Hilary just before Christmas, her funeral service was held in Park Avenue Free Methodist Church Belfast taken by Pastor Norman Morrell. Tom also is waiting for a kidney transplant as he has to perform self-dialysis three times on a daily basis. Pray that Tom might experience Gods comfort and consolation in these days. Pray for Arthur Mcclelland (Shore Road) who has been ill again of late. Arthur s health hasn t been good over these past few years; pray that The Lord would give him a touch with his healing hand. Pray also for Billy and Elizabeth McCullagh (Island Street Hall) Billy has no sight at present due to bleeds at the back of his so called good eye and to make matters worse he suffered a stroke and is now recovering at home. Elizabeth, one of our Administrative Secretary s in the offi ce has been through surgery lately and now faces six months of chemotherapy plus radiotherapy in the coming days. Pray earnestly that the Lord (Jehovah- Rapha, Exodus 15:26) might be pleased to touch this couple with his Sovereign hand. Called Home It is with deep regret that we announce the home call of Rev Dermot McMorran, one of our Governing Body members. His funeral service took place in Trinity Presbyterian Church Bangor taken by Rev Ricky Montgomery. Mr Jim Charters (Former Superintendent of Mountcollyer Hall) was also called home before Christmas; his funeral was from Sinclair Seaman s Presbyterian Church Belfast taken by Mr Arthur McClelland (Missionary, Shore Road) His wife Lily s funeral service was in the same Church just fi ve weeks later. Please remember in your prayers the bereaved families of these faithful servants of God

7 281st Belfast City Mission - Rathcoole Girls Brigade Company are celebrating their 40th Anniversary Events Starting Nov 2016 If you were ever a member and would like to be involved Or for more information please contact Angela Magill Words of Wisdom God thinks most of the man who thinks himself least (John Blanchard) He that is down need fear no fall; He that is low no pride. He that is humble ever shall have God to be his guide. (John Bunyan) Spring/Summer

8 Bullet Prayer and Praise The need for a New President for the Mission after the home call of Mr David Kennedy. Prayer for our Vice President Mr Ronnie Ross who was knocked down in Carrickfergus lately. He has had a hip replacement and is also having physiotherapy for a fractured shoulder as well. Remember him as he recovers in Whiteabbey Hospital. Continue to remember our newest staff members Paul McCaw (Mayo St), Andy Williamson(Ballysillan) and Jordan Neill(Shore Road) who are settling in very well. The Offi ce administrative work to keep things ship shape. For all of our Volunteers across the whole Mission, in our halls and beyond (Auxiliary Secretary s) For our Mission Widows. Mrs Janet Smith, Mrs Ellen Cooke, Mrs Elizabeth Montgomery and Mrs Jean Anderson. Pray for the Superintendents Board and Governing Body as they oversee the work of the Mission. For the fi nances of the Mission that the Lord (Jehovah Jireh) will continue to meet our needs in these diffi cult fi nancial times for everyone. Tel: info@belfastcitymission.org.uk Web: Twitter account: belfastcitymission@glengallinfo Charity number NIC