Beginnings at Moira Baptist Church
An
abridged version of a paper given to the Irish Baptist Historical
Society on the beginnings of Baptist witness in Moira.
13th
Sept 2001 by Pastor David McFarland
The
full version with updates to the present day are best viewed in
pdf format.
Go here to view in a new window
Moira
marches on
"Commander" JC Henry of the new Baptist Missions "expeditionary
force", known as the Evangelism and Church Planting Team,
reported in the December 1986 issue of the Irish Baptist, under
the title - Moira marches on. (Note the language of battle)
"On
July 1st 1986, the BM team moved into a new field of operation
in Moira, seeking to promote the formation of a New Testament
Church by means of the New Testament evangelism. By early August,
resulting from successful forays using house-to-house tactics
combined with a tent crusade, they had established a small but
secure bridgehead. These meetings were friendly, inspiring and
almost too comfortable. Everyone agreed we must seek to keep moving
forward. The only way open at this time was to hire a local Hall
for regular public worship services. We did and God greatly blessed
the special opening meetings. Saturday night support arrived from
all over the country. The hall was packed. By thus going public
we have further consolidated our position as a force for God in
the community. The volunteers in our still small unit are keen
to do their bit for the KING and the extension of His Kingdom.
Happily there are others showing a desire to join with us. Pray
on for Moira and its little Baptist Fellowship. The battle is
just beginning."
Fifteen
years on, we in Moira Baptist Church are thankful to God for victories,
yet the battle has only begun. We are still marching on and Jim
Henry's battle theme is not inappropriate, as we shall see.
Moira
has always been a very strategic place. It was a flourishing village
when Lurgan had only a few houses and Belfast was little more
than a ford on the Lagan. Numerous surveys and finds carried out
by archaeologists in the past two centuries tell how Moira has
been inhabited some thousands of years before the coming of Christ.
The ancient village sat on one of the five great roads that led
from Tare of the Kings to the great fort of Dunseverick on the
coast of North Antrim. Dunseverick was the port from where Irish
chieftains travelled to Scotland.
Early
in 7th C, Conal ruled what are now roughly South Antrim and North
Down. He fled to Scotland after murdering the High King. On the
mainland, he raised a large army of Britons, Saxons, Scots and
Picts and after nine years, returned to Ireland with the support
of Ulstermen. The opposing army of the new High King met him at
Moira. However, in the course of a six day battle on the banks
of the Lagan, Conal and the Scottish army was routed and its commander
slain. It was one of the most decisive and bloody battles Ireland
ever saw. Sir Samuel Ferguson considered it "the greatest
battle, whether we regard the numbers engaged, the duration of
the combat, or the stake at issue, ever fought within the bounds
of Ireland".
It
is with the recording of the Battle of Moira in the Annals, that
we first hear of Christianity in the area, with a few references
to the Abbots of the old Abbey at Magheralin. One Thousand years
later (late 1600s) the Presbyterians came to Moira. John Wesley
visited the village twice - in 1756 and 1760. The latter occasion
is recorded in his journal: "I rode to Moira. Soon after
twelve, standing on a tombstone near the Church, 1 called a considerable
number of people to 'know God and Jesus Christ whom He had sent'."
In the 1820s a Methodist church was formed.
But
it was to be another 160 years before Jim Henry led his troops
into battle and Baptists came to Moira. For many years Moira has
been an attractive location. The construction of the Lagan Canal
at the end of the eighteenth century brought with it much trade
to the area. This was followed in the 1840's by the arrival of
the railway, which extended the line from Lisburn to Lurgan and
Portadown. The railway station is still as it was built more than
a century and a half ago. The building of the M1 motorway in the
1960's closed the canal and, by taking most of the traffic from
the West that once passed through Moira, might have threatened
the future of the village. In fact it was the opening of the Moira
motorway junction in 1966 that has largely accounted for the growth
in population. More and more people were prepared to see Moira
as a place from which it is easy to commute to work. A new mission-field
was developing. Among those attracted to live there was a growing
number of Baptists who had to travel to other towns to attend
a Baptist church. Other believers were finding there was not much
"evangelical life" in the village at that time. The
time was right for Church planting.
Baptist
Missions interest in Moira began in 1985. In January of that year,
the Mission produced a document entitled 'Strategy for the future
in Ireland'. Part of that document reads: 'We would envisage some
use of 'Team Ministry' in Church planting situations in the North,
together with allocating our Evangelist to given areas for specific
periods of time in order to 'test' the initial response'. The
Mission identified 'towns and areas' for such Church planting
exercises. The first three named were Ballymoney, Moira and Saintfield.
(God has honoured this strategy and within two years of the document
being produced, churches were formed in Ballymoney and Moira.
Saintfield was to follow soon after.)
A
decision was made to send the first church planting team to Moira
in the summer of 1986. Its aim was to plant a Church "through
gospel preaching and the 'welding together' of Baptists who already
were living in the area". This was done with the knowledge
and cooperation of the neighbouring Baptist Churches.
The
outreach began in April, with three days of house-to-house visitation
as a means of testing of the response. The first call was to a
lady who just an hour before had prayed that God would send someone
to give her spiritual help. That day Mrs Sadie Andrews openly
professed saving faith in the Lord and within days, her mother
came back to the Lord. What an encouraging beginning the Lord
gave!
In Jim Henry's report to Baptist Missions for April 1986 he says
"I do believe that a carefully planned programme with the
support (enthusiastic!) of local churches could see a church planted
and growing in this area…. I look forward to the summer months."
On
1st July, the Moira team came together for the first time. Joining
Jim Henry was his BM colleague, Cecil Johnston and two Bible College
students. Stanley Black (Carryduff) and David Whitmarsh (Lisburn)
had been given summer appointments by the Mission. A thorough
visitation programme to every home was carried out with great
profit.
A Tent Mission was conducted in the Demesne for two weeks from
July 27th to August 10th. A number of Baptists in the town supported
the outreach and then began immediately to consider how best to
bring together the Baptist folk who lived in the area. A significant
statement is recorded in the BM report of the summer campaign
in the Irish Baptist Oct. 86 - "It was our intention that
Moira '86 would lead to Moira '87 and beyond, God willing".
A
home was opened on Tuesday nights for prayer and Bible study.
Some fifteen to twenty people attended those meetings and enjoyed
such tremendous fellowship together that nobody wanted to go home.
There was real excitement as they considered how to move forward!
The desire was to begin Sunday Services and establish a gospel
witness on a regular basis and they did not wait too long.
By
October that year the Lisburn Star had printed an article on the
Baptists in Moira and announced the beginning of a Baptist Fellowship.
Meetings were to be held in the local Orange Hall. To quote the
Star, "Jim Henry looks forward to the time when Moira Baptist
Fellowship will be a permanent work in the area. "It is hoped
that a permanent site may be found for the erection of the church
building and to serve the growing Baptist community in Moira",
he said."
Indeed the first publicity leaflets distributed in the village
to announce the new services, said, "We are planning to erect
a Church building on a permanent site." Men and women of
faith were on the march.
A
service of Praise was held on 1st November with a packed congregation
and tea for all was served in the local Primary school. Sunday
services commenced the following day and prayer and Bible Study
night moved to Wednesday. Those involved in the early days tell
of the practical commitment needed by the small fellowship. Each
Sunday they had to arrive early to clean up after the excesses
of the occupants of the previous evening. A fire had to be lit
and kept stoked all day and even then everyone was cold. This
as much as anything, reinforced their conviction that they needed
a place of their own soon and so began the search for more suitable
accommodation.
Ten
days after the first public meeting, representatives of the Fellowship
met with men from Baptist Missions and Lisburn Baptist. The Lisburn
church expressed its interest in and commitment to Moira. They
disclosed that they had been actively seeking to acquire a site
in the town. The men from Moira identified their priorities to
be the securing of a site for a suitable meeting place and the
formation of a local Baptist Church. They recognised the need
to protect their autonomy, yet realised that they were dependent
on the goodwill of others. Baptist Missions promised continued
support with Pastor Baxter planning to become personally involved.
There was recognition that when the Moira Baptist church came
into being, it would not be the daughter of any existing church
but would be composed of people who already held membership in
different Baptist churches.
Within
two weeks of that meeting, the Moira Baptist Fellowship decided
that it would be best if a church was formed and notified Baptist
Missions that they had set 3rd January 1987 as the date for constitution.
This was just 6 months from the arrival of the BM team! This small
force was well and truly on the march! Its income was less than
£60 per week and yet they had big visions of having a Pastor
and a building of their own. Before the next year was out, they
would have the former and be well on their way to having the latter.
Towards
the end of 1986, the fellowship sent out a special announcement
inviting everyone to "celebrate the formation of Moira Baptist
Church". The letter included the line "anyone wishing
to join the church may have more information from ---- "
- presumably this was aimed at Baptists living in the village.
There was a degree of reluctance by some Baptists and some local
churches to support such a new venture. Right from the beginning,
Baptist Missions had given the neighbouring Churches notice of
their intentions for Moira and had asked for details of "Baptist
folk" from Moira who attended their church. One church informed
us of two couples getting married and coming to live in the area
and for years both those couples have been deeply committed members.
But it has taken years before many Baptists living in Moira have
joined the church in their village. To this day a considerable
number prefer to worship where they have always worshipped and
the friends in Moira will always respect that.
The
service on 3rd January 1987 had one hundred and fifty people present
to witness twelve foundation members agree to the principles and
doctrines of the Baptist Church and sign the membership book.
The local paper said the Irish President attended but his name
was Pastor Wm. A McGilton, Baptist Union President that year!
The speaker was Pastor J Birnie, Chairman of Baptist Missions
and Pastor J McBratney of Lisburn brought greetings from the neighbouring
churches. The offering that day of £500.02 more than doubled
the church's bank balance.
January
was a busy month. The first baptismal service was held in the
Lisburn Church building on 21st Jan. Two people were baptised
and joined the church. On 26th January the church met for its
first Business meeting. Twelve members were present. Four deacons
were elected, Sunday school staff appointed and applications by
two new members accepted. The church agreed to set aside offerings
on the first Sunday of each month for a building fund and to apply
for membership in the Baptist Union of Ireland. They were subsequently
received into the Union on 13th May 87.
Within
four weeks of constituting, the membership had risen to sixteen.
A Sunday school was started, the women held their first meeting
in February and the church reported the conversion of one of those
attending the services. Pastor Baxter came alongside and from
March to July provided regular ministry and support. Four Baptist
Missions workers were involved in door-to-door evangelism in March
before moving on to the Saintfield project. On 11th March Pastor
Henry wrote to thank the church for a gift he had received; "It
has been a privilege and a great joy to have been associated with
the beginnings of the work in Moira… (I) will always keep
Moira in my prayers. Thank you for your interest in Saintfield.
Pray God will do it again". We know He did.
The
new deacons were quickly at work and showed tremendous vision.
In their first meeting they put wheels in motion to acquire a
suitable site and intensive negotiations began. In their second
meeting they decided to approach the Irish Baptist College about
the possibility of having a student for the summer months. By
April the church was moving on both fronts. Mr Jonathan Watson,
a final year student, was invited to take up a summer appointment
that included preaching and visitation. He wrote in response,
"I am looking forward immensely to the summer, when I shall
be working in the church, as well as outside the church, in an
evangelistic capacity."
The
months that followed were filled with enthusiastic involvement
and far-reaching decisions. The church met on 7 occasions during
the year to discuss major issues, in addition to those meetings
where new members were accepted.
In
June a unanimous decision was made to purchase a three-acre site
on Clarehill Road. One shudders to think what would have happened
had the church hesitated then, considering the phenomenal rise
in the price of land in Moira since then and the particularly
attractive location. But the price was an enormous figure for
sixteen members to commit to. At the time, current giving amounted
to £400 per month and the balance in the building fund stood
at £1,007. In a forward-looking move, outline planning permission
was sought "under the description "Moira Baptist complex"
to accommodate any future sub-development on the site". Development
envisaged at that point included erecting a temporary meeting
place and the possibility of the Baptist Housing Association building
sheltered dwellings. It was to be another year of protracted negotiations
before the site was legally owned. The church was delighted by
the Tobermore Church's generous gift of their portable hall.
In
September, a call was issued to Mr Jonathan Watson to become Pastor
of the church. Mr Watson accepted, saying, "I feel it a high
honour to be the first Pastor of Moira Baptist Church. Remember
my youth and inexperience and pray that these may not hinder my
usefulness". His Induction service was held on Sat 14th November
1987 in the Presbyterian Hall in the village which was kindly
granted. The preacher was Mr Watson's former Pastor WJK Byers
and the Chairman of the meeting was Pastor JC Henry.
The
purchase of a site and the calling of a Pastor in the same year
were two enormous steps of faith for a young church with only
twenty-four members. Interest in the Moira Church was growing
in Irish Baptist circles. News spread through regular articles
in the Irish Baptist. A letter was sent to Churches in the Union
asking for help and over the next two years quite a number of
churches responded generously.
The
church acknowledged the support of the Aided Churches Tithe Scheme,
"without which the church could not even contemplate engaging
a full-time worker". Imagine the joy in Moira when Pastor
JR Grant, Union Secretary came in October, bringing a cheque for
£21,000. It was a gift from the Southern Baptist Convention
Foreign Mission Board, Richmond, Virginia, USA.
The
church was growing and two more members were added before the
end of 1987. It was truly a year of blessing.
1988
began brightly with three new members joining. The 2nd Annual
Church Meeting in February was told planning permission had been
granted for permanent dwellings on the new site. Sketch plans
were already being drawn for a permanent church building, though
it was recognised that a temporary building would need to be erected
in the short term. In May the office bearers made visits to a
number of churches to see recently constructed buildings. Much
discussion ensued over what type of building to erect.
To
see our site and property follow this link
The
year saw blessing in a number of areas, notably increased attendance
at the services. It became obvious that the portable building
given by the Tobermore church was not going to be large enough
for the church. God again supplied the need and another larger
portable building was offered free of charge.
The
year was not all taken up with property and planning applications.
The church sought to strengthen fellowship with a church dinner
in May and an outing to Co. Tyrone in August. Concern for the
young people of the church and community led to the formation
of a Baptist Youth Fellowship, though its beginnings were small,
and a Junior Bible Class on Sunday mornings. Open-air outreach
was a feature of the summer with the evening service being cancelled
on the second Sunday of each month and a meeting held in the Demesne
and other sites in the village. A small team engaged in door-to-door
visitation on Monday evenings.
Office
bearers grappled with a number of issues not unfamiliar in any
new church. In October, a number of changes were made to the constitution.
Seventeen new members were added during the year making the total
thirty-five but it was with regret that the church learned of
the departure of eight members, including some foundation members.
This, combined with other factors, made the following year a quiet
one.
The
members entered 1989 with hopes that it would be a year of new
things. At the AGM the church appointed two elders. Some suggested
starting a Campaigners' Clan. The church looked forward to the
visit of a BYE team in the summer. A bi-monthly Men's fellowship
was commenced and this has proved a most popular meeting over
the years. Men began to meet on Saturday mornings for a prayer
breakfast.
Considerable
work needed to be done to make the portable building into a suitable
meeting place. The church was grateful for the use of the Orange
hall as a meeting place but lack of suitable accommodation restricted
church activities. A team of members and friends worked enthusiastically
and sacrificially on the new portable hall, determined to have
it ready for the summer. After a marathon effort, that saved a
great deal of expense, the hall was ready for use and invitations
sent out. The letter of invitation said, "like any new work
it is difficult at times but well worthwhile". On 22nd September,
a large congregation gathered in the new hall. The preacher was
Pastor Alec Judd from Lurgan. It was a great feeling to enter
another winter programme with accommodation in which to grow and
develop.
The
summer visit of the BYE team had been a "resounding success".
It had bound the young people in the church together and was instrumental
in bringing forward two young men in the church for baptism. They
were baptised on the first Sunday in the new building.
As
the Pastor's letter to members at the end of the year shows, the
church had grown "three-fold" in 3 years but a definite
slow-down was evident. Despite the high profile of the church
in the community in 1989, only two new members joined that year
and two left. There were still thirty-five members though two
of the young people were about to join at the start of 1990.
Minute
books record a distinct emphasis on meeting the needs of children
and young people. One member pleaded for immediate attention to
be given to some form of meeting for children during the week.
And so began something for which the church has been recognised
over the years - a deep interest in the evangelism and nurture
of children.
By
the end of May, plans had been agreed for the Youth Fellowship
to move to Sunday evenings and for a Friday programme of Junior
and Senior Youth clubs to meet on alternate weeks. Both were to
include games, outings and other activities with an evangelistic
epilogue. It was also proposed to begin a Good News Club for children.
Over the summer months great effort went into looking for leaders
for this programme. At the same time the number of very young
children attending made the church consider a second crèche.
Once more Baptist Youth helped the church by providing a BYE team
and it was reported that at least one child had been saved as
a result of the team's ministry.
The
development of the site for sheltered dwelling led to much discussion
with the Baptist Housing Association and Planning Service. The
Historic Buildings Branch were anxious to keep the proposed dwellings
away from the listed St John's Church of Ireland building and
the Baptist Church was anxious to keep the development as close
to the West corner as possible to leave adequate scope for their
buildings and for future developments.
As
the year drew to a close, the church met to consider how to more
effectively evangelise the community. A Mother and Toddler group
was just one suggestion, again thinking of families and children.
In
February 1991, the church agreed to accept an offer by the Baptist
Housing Association for part of the site on which to erect a sheltered
dwelling scheme. Negotiations had ensured that both buildings
on the site would benefit in the overall development. The church
office-bearers began to think of what type of church building
should be erected, thought they knew its construction was some
way off.
However
this was overtaken by events when in early April '91, Pastor Watson
informed the Elders that he was resigning. While expressing his
sorrow at leaving many good friends, he said, "I really do
feel that my ministry in the church has come to an end. I believe
that a new and fresh ministry is required to encourage and build
up God's people in Moira and to steer them through what seems
to be an exciting and happy future. I now know that my portion
lies elsewhere." He preached for the final time as Pastor
on Sunday 19th May.
The
church was anxious to continue a clear gospel witness and concerned
that their witness should be relevant and challenging. They accepted
an invitation to conduct a Sunday service in Laganvale clinic,
a local Nursing home. For years, on one Sunday per month, the
evening service moved out of the church hall to meet in the Home.
The early meetings were well attended and much appreciated by
the residents and staff. The monthly service in the home continues
to this day but on a weekday morning at the request of the management.
A
Mothers and Toddlers Group was formed and was immediately successful.
Up to twenty mothers attended with their children. This means
of outreach has developed enormously over the years, being recognised
and appreciated throughout the community.
The
Junior Youth Club grew and the number older of children necessitated
the opening of a Senior club, despite the difficulties of getting
enough leaders. A Good News Club for children was also in operation.
A caravan had to be acquired to provide additional space for crèche
and children's church during the Sunday morning service.
Before
the year ended, the office-bearers were again talking about plans
for a building, suggesting a multi-purpose accommodation to seat
one hundred and fifty and costing around £100,000. Sketches
were provided for the 1992 AGM and an architect chosen. Over the
next year the design was refined, plans submitted and the project
put out to tender. Meanwhile construction work on the Housing
scheme had commenced in the spring of 1992 and was expected to
be completed in August 1993.
But
the church leaders were not only looking to build a bricks and
mortar structure; their desire was to see the church built spiritually
and a strong gospel witness maintained. From the beginning of
the vacancy, the elders were exercised about finding God's man
to be the new Pastor and knowing God's timing. They had the dilemma
of urgently needing both a permanent building and Pastoral care.
A couple of Pastors' names had been carefully considered during
the year and a tentative approach made, but an idea was growing
that possibly a part time Pastor could meet the need. At the AGM
in Feb. 1993, they had a proposal for the church. They recommended
that Pastor Jack Bradley, formerly of Dunseverick, Rathcoole and
Cliftonpark churches and now retired, would come alongside for
6 months to help with visitation, midweek meetings and some Sunday
preaching. He would not have a contract of employment or become
a church member. The church wholeheartedly accepted his appointment.
Jack was to provide this support to the church for the whole of
1993 and indeed continued voluntarily to be involved in visitation
in the village well into the following year. His contribution
to Moira was greatly appreciated. He was not seen as a part-time
Pastor, though the possibility of having one was still being seriously
pursued. Indeed it was agreed that pastoral care was a priority,
despite the pressing need for a new building.
Office
bearers got a shock when they received quotations for erecting
the new building. The lowest was over £100,000 more than
the church had budgeted for and so a number of options were considered
to reduce cost. The Contractor with the lowest tender was chosen
but the project was revised to allow only the minor hall to be
completed and used as a multi purpose facility. The whole building
was going to be much larger than the church had first envisaged
but it would be erected in such a way that it could be completed
in stages, as accommodation needs and finances dictated.
Building
began in the summer of 1993 to hopefully be ready in the autumn
of 1994. The present structure is a testimony to the faith of
those began the project in the first year of the church. But now,
seeing the growth in recent years, those men would recognise that
even their faith was too small and considerable development is
urgently needed.
Over
two years had gone by since Pastor Watson's departure. Assurances
had been given that the calling of a Pastor was number one priority.
Several names were mentioned regularly and some were invited to
preach, in one case for a series of services, but there was no
conviction that any one was God's choice. A church meeting was
held at the end of 1993 in which the elders explained how they
were approaching the matter of the vacancy, particularly with
reference to two names that some had considered possible Pastoral
candidates. By then, the elders and deacons had moved away from
the idea of a part-time Pastor and recognised that, despite financial
constraints, there was a need for a man to pastor the church full
time.
Two
and a half years without a Pastor had left a heavy burden for
the elders but there were encouraging signs. Attendances had improved,
bringing a need of more chairs and new hymnbooks. Membership grew
to forty-seven and hopes were high, but 1994 was to be another
difficult year.
During
the year, the elders were beginning to focus on one man. This
man had been approached within the first year of the vacancy but
had felt it was not the Lord's time for him to move. The elders
intimated that the man they were considering approaching was Pastor
David McFarland, who had been assistant to Pastor AG Judd in Lurgan
since 1991. Office bearers encouraged the elders to again make
tentative enquiries. A remarkable series of providences showed
both parties that God was at work in the matter and subsequently
the Moira office bearers were informed that Pastor McFarland was
prepared to consider a call. The office bearers met every week
during July to pray for guidance in the matter. In August they
unanimously agreed to take the matter further and met with David.
A growing conviction that this was the way forward made the office
bearers give careful consideration to all the implications of
calling a Pastor.
On
28th September 1994, the church met and agreed by a large majority
to invite Pastor McFarland to come to Moira. He indicated that
he would prayerfully consider the matter and hopefully respond
within four or five weeks. However he had an accident and the
resulting complications that lasted for many weeks left him very
unwell. He accepted advice not to make a decision in such a condition
and it was over eight weeks before the church in Moira was told
on 3rd December that he had accepted the call. The church understood
that David had given an undertaking to Pastor Judd to carry extra
responsibility in Lurgan during his year as President of the Baptist
Union of Ireland. It was agreed that He would come in the spring
of 1995. This gave the church time to concentrate on the building.
The work had been progressing, though more slowly than was hoped.
Every effort was now put in to have it ready for the Induction
service in April.
Meanwhile
the housing complex was opened on 22nd September 1994, although
some residents had moved in as early as August '93. It was named
"Henry Court" in memory of the late JC Henry who had
done so much in bringing Moira Baptist Church into being. His
widow, Maureen performed the opening ceremony and Pastor Alec
Judd was once again the guest preacher. The church continues to
take a vital and practical interest in Henry Court and benefits
enormously from those who live there and worship with us. At present
we have around nine who attend regularly and six of them are members.
The
fact that the vacancy was coming to an end generated considerable
enthusiasm. Vacancies are often difficult times in any church
and Moira is no exception. The church was praying that in the
new building and with a new Pastor, they would again see days
of blessing and growth. An article on Moira in the Newscene column
of the Irish Baptist in January 1995 expressed it like this, "1995,
a new year, new start, a new era, moving on, moving ahead - a
step of faith" ….and concluded, "Please pray for
us and with us in 1995 as we believe exciting times lie ahead
if we continue to be faithful to God's Word"
The
Induction service for Pastor McFarland was to be the first major
meeting in the new hall. Members and friends worked extremely
long hours to have the building ready in time but it was a very
different service that first filled the hall. Ernie and Peggy
Condy had joined the church in 1990 and immediately endeared themselves
to the fellowship. Their faithfulness and willingness to work
was an inspiration to everyone. Being more mature than most of
the church, they were looked to for wisdom and guidance. Ernie
was on the building committee and, with his incredible skills,
spent an enormous amount of time working on the new building.
All this was done despite devotedly caring for Peggy who had very
poor health. She was looking forward to the coming of the new
Pastor, who had grown up calling her "auntie" Peggy
- she was a cousin of the Pastor's mother. But it was not to be
and she went to be with the Lord. Exactly two weeks before the
induction, the new hall was used for the first time and was packed
for her funeral service and to thank God for her life and testimony.
The new Pastor's first duty was to bury one of his flock.
In
April, the headline on an article in a local paper read - "A
double boost for Moira Baptists." "Moira Baptist Church
will have cause for celebration on Friday, April 28. For not only
will they have their first Pastor for four years but also a new
building to worship in." That evening the building was packed
again with church folk and visitors who came for the induction
service. The Irish Baptist reported, " So large was the number
that some one hundred folk were seated in the overflow building.
However in spite of today's modern technology, a technical hitch
with the CCTV necessitated a break in proceedings of the main
service in order to pack everyone in. In the end three hundred
people were crammed, a bit like sardines in a tin, into the main
church building". What the magazine did not know was that
quite a few had given up and gone home. The preacher once again
was Pastor Alec Judd! (He must have enjoyed the place, for after
his retirement from Lurgan, he joined the Church in Moira.) Some
of us thought that, had Jim Henry been still with us, he would
have had one of his usual interesting comments to make. Jim had
been called home suddenly in September 1991. His co-evangelist
on the Church planting team from 1988 to 1991 was now Pastor of
the church he (Jim) had done so much to plant.
And
so a new chapter began in the life of Moira Baptist Church. The
story from there ought to be told by someone else and perhaps
one day it will be. It is a story of the great goodness of God.
We have seen remarkable growth in numbers. The Sunday morning
congregation has risen from around fifty or sixty to an average
of one hundred and seventy. Last Sunday (9th Sept 2001) we had
around two hundred with extra seats having to be placed in the
aisles. We have a large number of young families and lots and
lots of babies. Membership has risen to ninety-two and we are
processing a number of requests that may soon lead to us reaching
one hundred or more.
Within
the first year in the new hall, we began a programme of voluntary
work on the main building. Since the external work had already
been completed in April 1995, we were able to work during the
winter months on plastering and fixing ceilings. On 4th May 1996
one of our deacons, Ronnie Baxter suffered horrendous injuries
in a fall from the ceiling. His life hung in the balance for weeks
but God answered prayer in a remarkable way. Ronnie still suffers
greatly from his injuries and recently has had to give up work
but is still totally committed to the work and witness in Moira
Baptist.
The
new building was opened on 25th October 1997. As we meet there
is work going on to complete the next phase. The balcony will
give us an additional 90 seats. And as I said earlier, we are
already having to look at extending our facilities for young people.
We have nowhere near enough space for Sunday school or youth activities.
Sunday morning is a particular problem with not enough room for
children's church and crèche. Our present debt prevents
us moving too quickly but one of these days we may have to take
another great step of faith.
We
are continually seeking ways to bring the gospel to a community
that largely is materialistic and ambivalent. We want to show
the community that we care; that we are a church with a heart.
We are deeply concerned, for example, to impact the lives of young
people who have nothing to do but spent their evenings in the
demesne drinking and taking drugs. Over the past year we have
become actively involved in building relationships with them and
this summer had a very successful week of outreach to them. We
are seeking to know how best to move this forward.
Another
avenue inside the closed doors of Moira has been our website.
We were one of the first Irish Baptist churches to be online and
we use the web address on all our publicity. Only eternity will
reveal its full impact but we have at least two families worshipping
with us as a result of our Internet presence. Today on our website
we celebrate the first birthday of little Jed -----. He was born
very prematurely to a couple of members who had had a tremendously
difficult year. Daily email prayer requests kept the church informed
through all the dark days and we soon discovered that people were
logging in right around the word and telling us that they were
praying. Jed's miraculous progress is testimony to fellowship
in prayer. As a result we are regularly being asked to pray for
people in need in the community and far beyond, particularly ill
children.
We
have raised our horizons with a strong missionary interest in
Baptist Missions and other agencies. One of our members served
two years as short-term missionary in India and we have a continuing
involvement both there and in Romania. We were thrilled when God
called one of our young men, David McCavery into the ministry.
Today we have 3 more young men undergoing training for service;
two of them began classes this week at the Irish Baptist College.
The coming of the Irish Baptist College to the Moira area is anticipated
with great interest. The church has always been a supporter of
the college. We hope its proximity will enable us to benefit from
the input of staff and students into the area as we seek to reach
out to a number of rapidly expanding villages all around us. We
are looking at how we can best impact communities where we have
significant numbers of our folk living; places such as Donaghcloney,
Dollingstown, Magheralin, Aghalee, Ballinderry and Maghaberry.
Today
the evangelical situation in Moira is radically different to what
it was fifteen years ago when "Commander" Henry led
his troops into Moira. Today we have committed evangelical clergy
in all the churches. Moira Baptists can no longer expect to benefit
so much from the attendance of believers unhappy with the lack
of spiritual food and evangelical fervour in their own church.
Christians in Moira have a wider choice of places to worship and
serve than ever before. But what a privilege it is to have the
support and practical help of Godly ministers in the work of the
gospel in Moira in the 21stC. We began the new millennium with
a joint outreach using the Jesus video and I am sure we can work
together even more effectively in days to come. We are Baptists
and committed to our distinctives and will continue to exercise
a fervent witness to our community but there is a big difference
between now and the past. Baptists are no longer seen as a few
people who were coming to take people from other churches in the
village. We are recognised for our commitment to the gospel and
to our community. Moira Baptists are respected by most of the
believers in the area and most unbelievers have heard about us
and from us. Our prayer is that we will be faithful to God and
that He will come among us in power as we try to tell them of
Jesus.
We
are still in a battle for souls and the enemy is not giving up
but we know that our King will give us the victory.
September
13, 2001 by David McFarland . Published in the Historical
Journal of the Association
click
here to see a summary of the happenings since 2002
