Willowfield in East Belfast, is a broken community dealing with high levels of deprivation and the effects of sectarian violence. Evangelist George Newell explains how the hope of the gospel is being shared thanks to Church Army’s Centre of Mission.
For the past six-and-a-half years I’ve been living and working in Willowfield – a place which is in the top 10 per cent of most disadvantaged areas in Northern Ireland. The parish borders the sectarian flashpoint of the Short Strand and troubles continue to flare up. However, despite all of this, God is clearly at work in people’s lives.
Evangelist, Richard Waller , and Evangelist-in-Training, Gordon Lamb, work alongside me at the Willowfield Centre of Mission, where we seek to find relevant ways to reach people with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Our ministry is extremely varied and is supported by more than 100 volunteers from the local church and community. Some of the projects we help to coordinate include: youth work, Kidz Klub, lunch clubs, street outreach, English language classes for those from Eastern Europe, a fresh expressions gathering called Just 55 and community outreach events in the church.
The Archbishop of Armagh, Alan Harper, has described what we do as: “working where the spiritual and social are hardest to unite, quietly working small miracles through the grace of God.”
Street outreach is an important part of our ministry and each Saturday morning I lead a team of volunteers who offer prayer for healing on the streets using a double-decker bus as a drop-in. Two other mornings in the week, Gordon, with the help of volunteers, offers tea and coffee at the local bus stops as people are going to work. Both of these projects allow us to be a visible presence, break down barriers and build relationships with people.
A lady who we have come to know through these ministries summed up what we are trying to do. After receiving prayer for a family member, she said: “Praise the Lord for our church.” What is so remarkable about that statement is that she does not attend Willowfield Parish Church, but through the care she has received on the streets she has met with God through the team and sees herself as part of the church.
We also help to run a Food Store Ministry which distributes home-cooked freezer meals, non-perishable items and Christmas hampers to families experiencing difficulties. This has become increasingly important as the effects of the recession impact upon people’s everyday lives. Practical projects such as this enable us to gain respect in the community and to have a voice that is listened to.
Alongside this practical mission, I have a responsibility for training Gordon as he works towards a Foundation Degree in Evangelism with Church Army, which is a four-year course. He is now in his third year of training and it has been a real privilege to see him grow in his faith as he seeks God’s will for his future.
Gordon said: “It is so exciting and an immense privilege to be part of Church Army’s training programme. Here at Willowfield I am learning not just how to live within a new culture but also how to listen and to be obedient to God’s calling on my life.”
So, as a team, we give thanks to God for all that He is doing in Willowfield and the way He is changing the lives of those who are hurting, broken and marginalised. May Jesus Christ be at the heart of everything we do.
To read more about the Willowfield Centre of Mission please visit http://www.churcharmy.org.uk/pub/action/com/WillowfieldCOMweb.aspx
From the shareit! magazine of the Church Army