INSIDE
B angor Elim
bangorelim.com
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In a world that will tell you that
‘the church’ is out of date, out of
touch and irrelevant, Bangor Elim
endeavours to display the love,
hope and peace which comes from a
relationship with The Living God. We
serve to show how you can be ‘made
whole’ through this truth.
This ‘Inside Bangor Elim’ magazine aims to introduce you to the
church and tell you about what goes on and how we would like
to serve you. From babies right up to the retired and free among
us, we seek to provide a place where everyone is welcomed and
loved, with the hope that life is always a little bit brighter being
part of the family of God here.
We would love for you to visit us. For service times and directions
please see page 4. Alternatively, feel free to visit our website
bangorelim.com for more information, or find us on Facebook.
02891271800
info@bangorelim.com
www.bangorelim.com
Follow us on
Media Team
Trudy Hanna, Sara McCrea, Ian
Watters, David Gilmour, Samantha
Trimble, Gary Hanna, Philip Gibson,
Gary Faulkner, Lyn Crossley, Robert
McCready, Gary Beattie
Photographs
www.watermarkphotography.co.uk,
Ian Watters and Samantha Trimble
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Bangor Elim - Inside
Designed & Printed by Vision Solutions NI | www.visionsolutionsni.co.uk
Bangor Elim Church
Balloo Crescent
Bangor
BT19 7WP
To help us remember what we are about
and what we are called to do, we have
a mission statement or logo.... www.
makingpeoplewhole
WWW is well known to represent World Wide Web, but for us
it stands for Win Walk Worship. Our calling as a church is to do
all we can to win people for God by sharing the good news, to
walk (live) in a way that honours God and reflects what He has
done for us, and to worship Him not just through our songs and
services, but through our everyday lives. We believe that Win
Walk Worship will lead people into wholeness which can only be
found in a vibrant, meaningful relationship with God.
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CoffeeCompany
our state of the art coffee shop
See You on
sunday!
open before
and after
our Sunday
serivces
Bangor
Elim
Balloo Crescent, Bangor, BT19 7WP
Sunday Morning
10:30am
Sunday Evening
6:30pm
For more information visit www.bangorelim.com
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No Perfect People
I wonder what springs to mind when you think of church? Even reading this will make some of
you break out in a cold sweat, and in some extreme cases, heart palpitations and panic have
already set in! To some, church brings back memories of dusty buildings, old people singing
old songs, and the inevitable grey-haired guy at the front using old-fashioned language
that goes right over your head. Not somewhere any of us would be rushing back to.
When it comes to church, the truth is that most people probably
don’t feel that they fit in, or would be very welcome. Lots of people
think of church as something resembling a stuffy private club
where only the elite congregate, and ordinary people seem out of
place. Sadly those who dare to venture into a church often feel that
people are looking down on them. In an episode of The Simpson’s
the token Christian Ned Flanders tells Homer that he is going to a
Christian camp “where he can learn to be more judgmental.”
Bangor Elim is filled with ordinary, everyday people who have
found that life makes a lot more sense with God than without him.
We are not perfect, nor do we pretend to be, and we don’t think
of ourselves as better than anyone else. We are just a group of
people who have found forgiveness, love and purpose through
our relationship with Jesus. We would love to dispel all your fears
and preconceptions about church and we guarantee you a warm
welcome. You won’t have to dress up, we would love you to come
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Bangor Elim - Inside
as you are; you don’t have to have life figured out or your problems
solved, you can just come as you are. You can bring your worries
and fears, your issues and doubts, and you will still be made very
welcome. You don’t have to pretend to be something you’re not,
because there are no perfect people here, just people doing life
together, learning to love the God who loved us first, and who
doesn’t expect us to be perfect. We’re all works in progress, with
much to learn, but when you’re part of something bigger than
yourself, it makes those learning curves seem a lot less scary.
Sometimes it’s good to throw all those preconceived ideas about
church out the window and just give it a try (or maybe a second
try?). I don’t know what you are looking for in life, I don’t know
where you have come from or what you have seen or endeavour
to be, but it is our hope that we might provide a place where you
can figure those things out, feel safe and know what it is to truly
live.
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my story
Sophie
Something for Everyone
leader. “I enjoy the input into people’s lives. I feel very privileged
to help others, to talk and to mentor them. I also love the crazy
games nights!”
As well as this, Sophie is involved in Bangor Elim’s
Sunday school, The Factory, “I love teaching the kids about
Jesus. I have great love and respect for Robert and Lorraine
and their work to guide children, even when they’re so young.
Being involved in Factory is so fun, the games are brilliant and
I love leading and singing the songs using the Britney Spears
microphone!”
As someone who is involved in a number of church activities, in
conversation Sophie is quite obviously driven by faith and God
to participate. Being raised in a Christian family and growing up
in the church environment, she talks about how she knew about
God and Christianity but how a number of defining moments
within the past few years have furthered her understanding of her
relationship with God.
“I didn’t think for myself, and although I never walked
away from God it was important to have my own experience of
Him so that I could grow,” she explains. “First of all, in my 4th
Year in Glenlola I was invited to attend the Girls’ Night run by
the Youth Fellowship. When I arrived I was very scared because I
didn’t know anyone, but what I saw there was love and friendship,
Christian relationships. There was something attractive and real
– I wanted that too”.
“The second most significant experience was my first
mission trip through Youth to Romania. I’d say it was here I
matured and grew up a bit, seeing how the pastor out there lived
and relied on God. It struck me quite a bit how at home it was
too easy to develop a real unpassionate attitude to faith – like
it’s another part of our routine – but I witnessed people who
were made to depend on God and trust in Him. Romania was the
first time I’d felt confronted by faith of that kind. In more recent
times God has caused me to rely on him more through various
situations. When my Dad was away in China with work, as well
as feeling the importance of family, I felt God as Father so much.
Between last summer and this year different things have triggered
my determination to do things right and fully appreciate Jesus, the
cross and forgiveness.”
Sophie’s growth in God has been accompanied by action
and involvement in various church activities. Sophie has a strong
heart for younger people and as a student training to become a
teacher, it is an element of her personality reflected in her church
commitments as well. She is involved in Youth, which for many
years was her place of growth and where she now grows as a
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Another less widely known ministry that Sophie helps
with is the Water Drop. Organised and run by a small group of
young people, the Water Drop involves meeting at midnight on
a Saturday night to pray and then heading down to High Street,
Bangor to give out water and have conversations about God
with the people who are out, sometimes being there until 3am.
“Waterdrop is something which has taken me outside of my
comfort zone. It has challenged and blessed me. I enjoy that it
does that. Last summer, I had also attended a prayer meeting
of young people from various churches. My friends and I were
then invited to feed the homeless in Belfast. From that time it felt
like I needed to make the decision to be active, both in reading
and praying but also in serving. My involvement in Water Drop
followed on from this as well. I want to feel more like an activist
rather than somebody who is passive. Feeding the homeless and
waterdrop has increased my sense of the gospel of love and faith
as something urgent.”
With the increasing awareness of the role of faith in
changing the world around her through love, Sophie is hoping
that 2011 holds more spiritual growth and opportunities for her
to exercise activism. “I want to explore God in new environments
and for Him to continue to move. I want to discover who I am
and serve in new ways. I’d like to see life outside of the normal
confines of daily routine here. Not to be distracted but to serve
God entirely. In the long-term future I really want to teach for
God. Jesus has completely changed my life, He is my strength for
every single day. I hope to make my career a place to show God
off and tell people about Him. But ultimately I want to make sure
I continually seek him, live for him and love him in everything I
do.”
what I saw
there was love
and friendship
Creche
Shorts
The Factory
An extension of our main service for
parents with children up to three. It offers
a live link to the service to enable parents
to engage with what’s happening in the
main auditorium. Keep an eye on the big
screen - notification is given during the
service as to when Creche is available.
Ages 0 - 3 years.
Fun toys, enjoyable activities and
entertaining sing-a-longs make for an
exciting way to introduce our littlest
members to Jesus. Shorts runs during the
morning service for pre-school children
aged 3 and over.
Building kids to be followers of Jesus.
Our team use drama, music, games,
discussion and crafts to help the children
learn who God is and how they can get
to know him. With special guests Pete
and Molly, The Factory runs during the
morning service for children in Primary 1
to Primary 7.
“The church is the great lost and
found department.” - Robert Short
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Something for Everyone
Youth Fellowship
Youth Fellowship provides a place for all
our young adults to hang out and get
to know each other. It gives them the
opportunity to find out who they are
and what life’s all about. In current and
relevant ways we aim to show them Jesus
and how He can change their lives for the
better.
Friday Night – 7:45-10:30pm
Remix – Sundays during the morning
service
Boys/Girls Nights - as announced
Sunday Night Live in Youth Coffee Bar after main evening service
Something for Everyone
Core Share and Prayer
Groups
Share and Prayer Groups
These groups are an extension of our
main Share and Prayer groups specifically
aimed at our 20’s and 30’s members.
These groups provide a place to chat and
study the Bible with people at the same
stage of life.
Share and Prayer is an opportunity to
connect with others in a small group
environment. Meeting in homes
throughout North Down, our small group
network highlights the high value we
place on community. The groups are
designed to provide an atmosphere of
friendship and support, as well as spiritual
development for people of all ages.
Groups meet every other week to share
the experience of Christian living, pray for
each other, and study the Bible through
discussion and application for daily
living. The aim of Share and Prayer is the
development of our Christian experience
and the enrichment of our daily walk with
Jesus.
Every other week, 8pm – 10pm. Groups
meet on different nights, Monday to
Friday.
Every other week, 8pm – 10pm. Groups
meet on different nights, Monday to
Friday
The Church is the one institution that exists
for those outside it.” - William Tyndale
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W2G - Women
Brothers - Men
Child Protection
This ministry aims to build relationships
among the women of our church. It
is hoped that each woman will be
encouraged as she discovers who she
is in Jesus. Meetings are relaxed and
informal, with all the craic you would
expect to find in a big group of girls. Last
Monday night of the month at 7:30pm.
Here, men are invited to leave their fears
at the door and take a leap of faith!
Whether it be our outdoor pursuit nights
encompassing zip-lines and climbing
walls, or our team-building events and
quiz nights, there is something for every
man to enjoy. Our overall aim is that they
will become the men God intends them
to be. Events held throughout the year.
Protecting the safety and well-being of
our children and young people is vital
and underpins everything we do. All
of our children’s workers are subject to
rigorous background checks and ongoing police checks, as well as annual
regulated child protection training,
all of which is monitored by our child
protection officers.
‘The church can be a
place to call home’
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Creative House Ministries (CHM) is the
worship arts department of Bangor
Elim Church, led by Suzanne Hanna.
The mission statement of our church is
“Win Walk Worship”, and so the heart of
Creative House is to purposefully serve
the church by “uniting and releasing
the creative arts in worship and
evangelism”.
In Creative House we have a talented
team of co-ordinators, who “side by
side” manage a variety of growing
ministries within four creative rooms musical, dramatic, visual and technical.
Musical Room
Dramatic Room
Visual Room
Technical Room
Worship Group (Choir & Band): Tuesdays
7:30pm – 9:00pm.
Drama Group: Wednesdays 7:30pm – 9:00pm
Arts Team: Saturdays 10:00am – 1:00pm (last Saturday of the
month). Additional workshops as announced
The Tech Team embrace the sound, lighting, computer and
camera elements of Creative House. Each Sunday the teams are
hard at work during the services. They also technically support
special events with ongoing workshops and rehearsals.
Vocalize: 30-minute one to one vocal workshop for choir
members (by appointment)
New Wave (Youth band workshops): Last Friday of the month
Additional workshops as announced
Dance/Mime Team: As part of the drama team, this group
rehearses on Wednesdays 7:30pm – 9:00pm as required.
Poets Corner: A resource ministry used throughout the year as a
tool for worship and evangelism.
Photography Team: As part of the Arts Team, the photographers
serve at special events and services as required.
Crafty Angels: Wednesdays (fortnightly 7:00pm – 10:00pm)
Web Team: A resourcing ministry that manages the website.
Audio Visual Team: A resourcing ministry that creates AV’s for
sermon series, special events and announcements.
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“Colouring” the church with the creative best that God has given
us is our privilege. Whether it be crafting a Sunday worship
service, staging an open air, producing an album, partnering
with SAT initiatives, building a set, rehearsing a production, and
so much more, we are passionate about reflecting our Creator
God and so excited about colouring the next steps of Bangor
Elim’s worship walk. As we plan for the future, look out for new
ministries and opportunities to be creative for the Kingdom!
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Liar,
Lunatic
or
Lord?
I remember
seeing a post
er outside a
LIAR, LUNATI
church once
C, OR LORD?
that read, “JE
YOU JUDGE”.
How about y
SUS CHRIST,
It
certainly ma
ou? Have yo
de me stop
u ever consi
why millions
a
nd think.
dered the cl
worship and
aims of Jesu
follow Him e
s Christ and
very day?
There are many opinions
and views of Jesus. For som
e He was just a historical
misguided, misjudged and
figure,
mistreated, who ended up
being crucified and dying
claims He made. Even the
for the
people of His day couldn
’t get past the stumbling
His birthplace, family and
blocks of
status; born in the backw
ate
r
town of Bethlehem to an
young couple - a carpente
unlikely
r and a humble girl who
claimed to be a virgin, bu
t yet was
pregnant.
When He was young, Jes
us showed great promise
but it wasn’t until His thi
really began to attract atte
rties that He
ntion when a band of the
most unlikely followers
joined Him. These follow
(di
sciples)
ers were a bunch of non
-descripts, fishermen, tax
even a terrorist!). Not exa
col
lectors (and
ctly the cream of secular
or religious society! His
outlandish, His teachings
cla
ims were
radical, and everywhere
He went miracles took pla
heard, the blind were ma
ce. The deaf
de to see, and even the dea
d came back to life. He
conventions of His cultur
broke with the
e; He was loved by the ma
sses, feared by the religi
threat to the Roman rulers
ous
and was a
.
Jesus caused a stir in the corridors of power, but it was the claims He made
the
that placed Him in the firing line, declaring Himself to be Lord and Saviour;
declared
He
world.
Son of God sent by His Father to take away the sins of the
and
that all who would trust and follow Him would be forgiven and set free,
could find peace with God.
if so to
That poster I read asked the question, “Jesus, you judge: Was He a liar, and
ped
worship
what end? Was He a deluded lunatic, who for 2000 years has been
”
Saviour?
and
by millions? Or was He who He claimed to be, Jesus the Lord
We would invite you to make your own mind up, to investigate and
find the truth for yourself.... liar, lunatic or Lord, you decide.
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my
story
why you need
Ian
Jesus
Jesus loves you! He desires to have relationship with you, and to give you a life full of joy and purpose.
Why do you need Him in your life?
1. Because you have a past
You can’t go back, but He can. The Bible says, ‘Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.’
(Hebrews 13:8) He can walk into those places of sin and failure, wipe the slate clean and give you a new
beginning.
2. Because you need a friend
Jesus knows the worst about you, yet He believes the best. Why? Because He sees you not as you are,
but as you will be when He gets through with you. What a friend!
3. Because He holds the future
Who else are you going to trust? In His hands you are safe and secure - today, tomorrow, and for
eternity. His Word says, ‘For I know the plans I have for you... plans for good and not for evil, to give you
a future and a hope. In those days when you pray I will listen.’ (Jeremiah 29:11-13)
If you’d like to begin a personal relationship with Jesus today, please pray this prayer....
Lord Jesus Christ, I am sorry for the things I have done wrong in
my life. I ask your forgiveness and now turn from everything which
I know is wrong. Thank you for dying on the cross for me to set me
free from my sins. Please come into my life and fill me with your
Holy Spirit and be with me forever. Thank you Lord Jesus, Amen.
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I was born in 1969 and grew up in Leeds where I stayed
until I left home in the summer of 1987. I left for pastures new and
the bright lights of London where I lived for 3 years. London was
full of its ups and downs, its highs and lows, both personally and
professionally. For all the people that live there it was quite often
a lonely place. This was especially difficult for a shy young adult,
with no family nearby and a liking for drink. It was a testing time
but one I can now look back on with delight, though still also an
equal amount of horror.
In 1990 I enlisted in the Army and faced the ‘battlefield’
of Northern Ireland. It was this first year that helped me to grow
up and develop a level of maturity and self-confidence to match
my age. The majority of my service was spent between Northern
Ireland and England, with a tour of Bosnia in 1996/97. In March
1993 I married Beverley whom I had known for 10 months. On
Christmas day 1995, I walked through a minefield, literally, and
not only once but twice. Some may say the Lord was watching
over me already, however nothing could have been further from
my thoughts. Nonetheless that day had such an effect on me that
I have made a conscious effort not to work on Christmas Day
again.
I joined the PSNI in November 1997 and passed out in
May 1998. I was posted to uniform duties in Belfast until 2002
when I exchanged my green uniform for something a little more
business-like, donning a suit and tie and moving into CID. It
was there that I met one of the biggest professional influences
of my career, and the first real example of a Christian. Alistair
McCauley, now retired, is a true witness to the truth of the Lord.
He showed me how to live a life that served others, but it would
take more than that to make me turn to Christ.
In 2006 I became a member of the Body Recovery and
Identification Team. I joined, like everyone else, not out of any
sense of morbid curiosity, but because I felt able and ready to
do this difficult job. The team is used in incidents where there
are issues in identifying the deceased and usually where there
are multiple deaths. My first real call to duty came early on the
morning of 23 November 2008. A PSNI vehicle had been involved
in a road traffic collision on the outskirts of Warrenpoint. A team
of 6 of us were deployed to the scene and recovered the bodies
of our 4 colleagues from the burnt and twisted wreckage that
had been their Mitsubishi patrol vehicle. Such is the nature of
the role and the affiliation that each of us felt, we continued the
process through recovery to identification of each of the deceased
officers.
At some time during that day I felt something. I can’t
describe what it was or how it felt, but I knew that I had to go to
church. My only previous liaisons with church was the ‘hatched,
matched and despatched’ rule, and also the annual Remembrance
Day service. On Sunday 30 November I darkened the doors of
Bangor Elim, taking up a seat at the very back with quick access
to the doors to get out fast and unseen. I had previously been to the
church when visiting the motor bike show one Saturday afternoon
earlier in 2008 when two of my boys were bored. Somehow though
it had left its mark.
I was touched by what I saw, what I felt, and most
importantly what I heard. The atmosphere, the preaching, and the
people was somehow what I had been looking for for the last 40
years. I returned the following week, Sunday 6 December when
I decided to give my life to the Lord, although I never told any
one how I felt or what I had decided. No one else in my family,
immediate or extended, had any sense of religious belonging. The
impact on my life was immediate, I felt a sudden change, a sense
of ease and comfort with myself and the world around me. Those
that know me know I put running before anything, and at that time
I literally was, I was addicted. If I didn’t run I was hell to live
with; I put running ahead of my family, I organised work around
training, the lot. I also used to virtually cry myself to sleep and
quite often wouldn’t sleep for fear of not waking; death had a
strange sort of grip on me.
After becoming a Christian, people began to see a
change in me, especially Bev, who asked me if I was dying. I had
songs picked for my funeral, and I could talk comfortably about
death; the fear had gone. In February the Lord led me to take
part in an Alpha Course at church. During this time of learning
I gained strength and understanding, and began cementing my
faith.
I first wrote this as Easter 2010 was approaching and
I had an appointment with a baptismal tank; a day and date that
will stay with me forever. I have since also been blessed to see
my wife Bev come to know Jesus, and all three of my boys aged
8, 12 and 16 are now regular attendees at church. We all serve in
various areas of the church and our lives have been blessed over
an amazing 24 months, all through the love of God. Yet while I
write with great sadness at the remembrance of the loss of James
Magee, Kevin Gorman, Kenny Irvine and Declan Greene in such
tragic circumstances, a little good did come, in that a family was
introduced to the life found in Jesus Christ.
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Cancer Support
Drop-In
Co-ordinator Timothy Vitty
Griefshare – Real help
for deep hurt
Co-ordinators - Paul & Claire Murphy Claire and Paul have been
attending Bangor Elim for
over 18 years. Following the
personal loss of two of their
children and Paul’s mother,
they have a desire to help
others who are affected by
grief and bereavement.
Griefshare is a grief recovery
support group designed
to help people after losing
someone they loved. Each
session shows a DVD featuring
personal stories of people
who are grieving the death
of a loved one, and expert
insights on topics important
to grief recovery. Following
the DVD there is a small
group discussion, with the
opportunity for everyone
to interact and share, if they
choose, personal experiences
of grief.
Social Action Teams
Bangor Elim’s SAT ministry was born out of the Full House vision for
the church. A vision not just about filling a building with people,
but filling a people with God; a vision about seeing every seat filled,
not with a house full of spectators but with followers of Jesus. SAT
stands for "Social Action Teams" and is the united team of social
action outreach ministries within the church. Our SAT ministries aim
to acknowledge need, raise awareness and offer hope in the issues
that affect people in their everyday lives. In essence, SAT aims to
connect with people and take time to show love, compassion and
understanding.
Griefshare groups are held at
church and also in other local
venues. At present the group
meets on Monday nights
and for further information
you can visit www.
makingpeoplewhole.com or
by contacting Paul Murphy on
07976838560.
Juvenile Justice Centre
Outreach Ministry
Co-ordinator - Gayle Bunting
Woodlands Juvenile Justice
Centre (JJC) in Bangor is the
only custodial facility for
children in Northern Ireland
and can accommodate up to
48 young people between the
ages of 10 and 17. Our aim
and vision for this ministry is
simply to be involved with the
young people at Woodlands
JJC. We feel that many of
them have been victims of
circumstance and are often
misunderstood.
The SAT team visits the centre
on a regular basis, usually on
Friday evenings, where we
meet with a small group of
the youth to play football. The
young people have responded
brilliantly during the SAT visits
and the SAT volunteers have
also had a great time in the
unit. We feel that every young
person has a unique and
special talent, and we simply
hope to encourage their vision
for their life and their sense of
self-worth, so these talents can
be harnessed and put to their
best use.
In Northern Ireland there are
around 49000 people living
with cancer. Dealing with
a cancer diagnosis can be
a difficult experience, with
people often feeling lost and
not knowing where to turn for
information and support. Tim,
the co-ordinator of the Cancer
Support Drop-In, started
his own cancer journey in
November 2005 when he was
initially diagnosed with cancer.
It came back as secondaries
in February 2006 and then in
June 2006, Tim was given a
short life expectancy, but God
had bigger plans for Tim and
his family and he is now in
remission. Tim has since set
up the Cancer Support DropIn to help others who have
found themselves affected by
cancer.
The drop-in is run by
volunteers who have been
trained in cancer awareness.
As well as providing
information on the financial,
emotional and practical
support that is available from
various organizations, the
drop-in has also welcomed
guest speakers from local
cancer support charities. The
drop-in is open on the first
Wednesday of each month
in the Coffee Company from
7.30pm to 9.30pm, and the
team welcomes anybody who
has been affected, whether
directly or indirectly, by a
cancer diagnosis. Freezer Friendship
Co-coordinator Lillian Parkinson
Freezer Friendship provides
meals for a period of time
to support people and their
families through bereavement,
illness, birth of a new baby and
other difficult times.
SAT is a thriving ministry within Bangor Elim that has grown into a
number of different ministries. These ministries want to show God’s
love in both practical and very meaningful ways, drawing alongside
people through some of life’s most difficult circumstances. As a
team we want to BE the church in our local community, helping
and supporting people through seemingly hopeless situations,
that through this they would get a glimpse of God’s amazing and
unending love, grace and mercy.
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Family Matters
Co-ordinator’s Craig Donnachie
Bloomfield Drop-in Karen Rogan
Breezemount
Co-ordinators Heather and Jackie
Davison
CAP Money
Co-coordinator - Norman McElroy
Helping Hands
Co-coordinator Sarah Boyd
Helping Hands aims to do
just that - be a helping hand
to support people in the little
things that we sometimes take
for granted, things such as
gardening, shopping, cleaning.
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Bangor Elim - Inside
CAP (Christians Against
Poverty) provides money
management training to help
people manage their finances
and avoid unnecessary debt
through budgeting skills and
a simple, cash-based money
management system that
really works. Where people
have unmanageable debt,
CAP will also assist in resolving
those debt problems. The
course has universal appeal
for anyone wanting to gain
control over their finances. At
Bangor Elim the courses are
run by Jenny McNaught, Alan
Lowry and Norman McElroy
who have all been trained as
money coaches.
Heather and Jackie are
passionate to see families
and marriages strengthened
in our local community.
Together they run a number
of educational and supportive
courses held in the church and
other local venues. The 21st Century
Parent
This course has been devised
and written by one of the
foremost voices in this field,
Rob Parsons, and is aimed at
parents of pre- and primary
school children. It is divided
into eight sessions covering
issues such as: ‘You are not
alone’; ‘Building a sense of
value’; and ‘Defending the
boundaries’.
Celebrate the Light
Estate Outreach
How to Drug-Proof
Your Kids This course is offered to
parents of teenage children.
Developed between Care for
the Family and Hope UK, this
course is 60% parenting and
40% drugs awareness, taught
in six two-hour sessions.
Looking firstly at how bad the
problem really is and why kids
take drugs in the first place,
the course continues in week
three with how to educate
children to make good choices
and parenting positively in
week four. Weeks five and six
deal with intervention and
coping with relapse.
English Classes for
Immigrants
Co-ordinator Stephen Moore
These classes are for anyone
in our local community whose
first language is not English.
English is taught to beginners
and also to those who want
to improve their language
skills. The classes are FREE and
run on a weekly basis. Tea
and coffee is available, giving
migrants the opportunity to
come together to improve
their spoken and written
English in a comfortable and
relaxed environment. The
class is also an opportunity for
socializing and to find help and
signposting for services such
as housing, finance and where
to find a doctor or dentist.
Bangor Elim has been running
a drop-in for 11-16 year olds for
a number of years in the two
local estates of Breezemont
and Bloomfield. God has
opened real opportunities for
volunteers in the drop-in to
build strong relationships with
young people, parents and
other people within the estate.
The drop-in is a safe place
for young people to come
along to meet with their
friends, enjoy tea & toast, play
some PS3/Xbox and relax.
The drop-in also forms a safe
environment for young people
to explore their faith. The time
and effort of the volunteers
who attend the drop-in is really
appreciated by young people
from the estate, many of
whom feel that they have been
forgotten or are undervalued.
In turn, this regularly leads to
conversations about our faith
and why we’re so keen to turn
up every week to see them.
Over the last year, the drop-in
based in Bloomfield estate
has been able to hold music
and video workshops with
the young people and an
intergenerational project
that encouraged young
people to engage with older
people from the estate. This
intergenerational project has
also allowed the church to
build relationships with older
people from the estate. A
range of organisations and
individuals have come along
to speak to the young people
about issues including drugs,
relationships from a Christian
viewpoint, and what it is like to
live a Christian life in a secular
world.
Celebrate The Light is a free
family fun night that the
SAT teams organise as an
alternative to Halloween. On
the night there is face painting,
crafts, bouncy castles, games, a
cinema room, party bags, and
Bangor Elim’s very own “Meet
and Greet” area where the
children can get the autograph
of all their favourite movie
heroes. Free tea, coffee and
tray bakes are also available for
the adults. The night ends with
a fantastic fireworks display.
Christmas Outreach
Each year the SAT teams host
a Christmas event for some of
the most deserving people in
our local community who may
otherwise not get to share in
the celebrations. We provide a
free dinner, entertainment and
a hamper or gift.
bangorelim.com
23
meet our staff
David Rogan
General Maintenance Manager
Geogre McMurtry
Stephen Jones
Church Treasurer
Youth Leader
Kellie Stewart
David Beckett
Trudy Hanna
Senior Pastor
Pastoral Research Assistant
Conference Centre Manager
Suzanne Hanna
Dorothy McCready
Cleaner
Worship & Creative Director
Hugh Moore
Gary Beattie
Senior Pastor
Senior Associate Pastor
Julie Stevenson*
Pastor’s Secretary
*See ’Connect’ Page 48
24
Bangor Elim - Inside
bangorelim.com
25
leadership
leadership
1
Alpha
Alpha
Who is Alpha for?
Alpha Course is primarily designed for people who aren’t church goers although each course is open to anyone
who would like to attend. Courses attract a diverse range of guests from various age groups and backgrounds. Most
come having little to no knowledge of the Christian faith. There are 16 million people worldwide who have attended
a course which are taught in 164 countries and communicated in 112 languages, over 7000 of which are currently
running in the UK. Guests attend for various reasons:
To investigate the existence of God
n
To simply learn about the faith
n
Explore questions regarding death and an afterlife
n
Or explore the purpose of life
How the course works
2
The course organises around one or two leaders in small groups of around 12 people. The aim is to encourage
discussion. Alpha is free to attend and courses take place in many locations ranging from house meetings, to coffee
mornings or large venues catering for hundreds. Most are evening sessions typically lasting 2 hours.
Throughout the course people remain with their small group so they can get to know one another to continue
discussions and deepen friendships. Each session begins with refreshments and a chance to socialise, there is then a
short talk addressing the topic (see below). This is in turn followed by a time of small group discussion with emphasis
on exploration and discovery in a relaxed and informal way.
6
5
n
4
Course Plan
Holy Spirit Weekend
Week 1 Who is Jesus?
Week 2 Why did Jesus die?
Week 3 How can we have faith?
Week 4 Why and how should I read the Bible?
Week 5 Why and how should I pray?
Week 6 How does God guide us?
Week 7 How can I resist evil?
Week 8 Why and how should I tell others?
Week 9 Does God heal today?
Week 10 What about the church?
Who is the Holy Spirit?
What does the Holy Spirit do?
How can I be filled with the Holy Spirit?
How can I make the most of the rest of my life?
7
3
"I am a stronger Christian encouraged by the testimony of others" - LD
The leadership structure of the church and responsibility
for leading the church rests with the pastors and elders.
Currently our leadership team consists of:
pastors
1
David Beckett
2
Gary Beattie
3
Hugh Moore
elders
26
Bangor Elim - Inside
"My questions have been answered" - JC
"I feel closer to Jesus, better understand the Bible and who the person of the Holy Spirit is"
"I have taken Jesus as my Saviour" - PF
So far, overall, 209 people have enrolled in the church’s Alpha
4
Joe Lindsay
programme – and at least 10 have responded by becoming
5
George McMurtry
Christians.
6
Robert McCready
7
Gary Hanna
bangorelim.com
27
it’s easier to build a child than to repair an adult
- Bill Wilson
Pete & Molly
Hi kids,
This is the part
of the magazine
that is just for
you! The Factory
is on each Sunday
10.30am-12.00pm for
primary school
children. Have a
read at what some
of our kids have
to say about ‘The
Factory’ to find
out more. Hope to
see you soon!
Pete and Molly
28
Bangor Elim - Inside
I like the singing
and dancing. It is
awesome! (Jacob)
I love
hearing all
the stories
(Lauren)
I’m loving
ry!
the Facto
h DVDs
c
t
a
)
w
h
n
e
a
v
k
e
e
e
W
b
(Re
it’s
ows
and play game sh
class!
I LOVE GOING TO THE FACTORY
EVERY SUNDAY BECAUSE WE MAKE
LOADS OF COOL THINGS (Olivia)
I love every single thing
about the Factory. It is
fab and I made a new
friend (Josh)
I can’t wait until
Sunday again!
(Courtney)
I learn a lot of things about
the Bible in the Factory.
(Nathan)
We love se
eing
Pete and M
olly
every week
(Gemma and
Katie)
I am having
great fun
learning
about Jesus
(Joanna)
bangorelim.com
29
Something for Everyone
Little Gems
BB
Campaigners
A chance for parents/carers to get
together while the kids enjoy our toy
collection, soft play area and craft station.
A healthy snack is served during the
morning. All for a small donation of £1
per family.
Friday mornings 10am – 11:30am in the
sports Hall
A well-known uniformed organisation
which needs no introduction. The
boys can enjoy many different activities
including badge work, gymnastics and
football of course! Our BB Camp is also
eagerly anticipated every year, with little
sleep but much fun had by all, our overall
aim being to share God’s love with the
boys.
Tuesday nights –
Anchor Boys (pre-school – P4) 6:30pm7:45pm
Junior Section (P5-P7) 7pm-8pm
Company Section (Year 8 – 18) 7:45pm10pm
Another uniformed organisation for
both boys and girls. Through a varied
programme of crafts, games and outings,
we aim to share the gospel with the
children in fun and relevant ways, helping
them to develop and grow in all areas of
life.
Eagles (4 year olds-P2) Friday night
6:45pm-8pm
Junos (P3-P6) Monday night 6:30pm-8pm
Inters and Craftsmen (10 – 18 year olds)
Monday night 8pm-9:30pm
Kidzone
A chance for children to play games
and meet new friends in a safe and fun
environment, while parents enjoy the
main evening service. Kidzone runs
during the Sunday evening service for all
children from Primary 1 to Primary 7.
30
Bangor Elim - Inside
bangorelim.com
31
Back to the Future The History Bit!
Luke 14:23 Go out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, that My house may be filled. (NKJ) so that My house will
be full. (NIV)
For nearly a century Bangor Elim has been built upon the
foundations of Christian fellowship within the community. In
the early years, from 1914, large crowds would gather on the
high bank above Ballyholme promenade to watch July baptismal
services.
University’s Christian Union. Pastor Robert Tweed opened the
purpose built church at Southwell Road on 31st January 1926 at a
total cost of £643. The church remained in the same building until
an increase in numbers required them to move to larger premises
on Bloomfield Road in 1992, (now the site for Lidl).
Elim Founder George Jeffreys first held meetings for local people
in a tent, which was bought for £20. On one occasion a decade
later in 1924, a total of 61 candidates braved the cold seawater to
be baptised in the tide. From these humble beginnings the Elim
Church in Bangor has grown into a centre for family worship for
Christians of all ages.
The Bloomfield Squash Club was bought and renovated for this
purpose. The congregation numbers steadily rose at Bloomfield
Road until it became necessary for us to look for new premises
again. In April 2000 exactly eight years after moving into
Bloomfield Road, Bangor Elim moved to it’s current ‘state of the
art’ building in Balloo Crescent.
Bangor Elim is the fourth longest established Elim Church
anywhere. The Elim Pentecostal Church is a worldwide
fellowship, which incorporates a large and growing number of
national Pentecostal groups around the world. There are 60 Elim
congregations throughout Ireland, north and South, and over 500
throughout the UK.
A ‘good’ problem to have
We find ourselves 11 years on in Balloo Crescent with a
continually growing congregation and the wonderful problem
of needing to update and accommodate the requirements
of our expanding church. In 2011 we hope to embark on a
refurbishment programme that will see us increase our main
auditorium seating to just fewer than 1000 seats.
The Elim church in Bangor was established in 1919 and the
first minister was EW Hare, a former president of Cambridge
Jesus said it and we believe it - we believe that God's heart is that His house might be full. For a few years now Pastor Davy has been
sharing a vision that God gave him of the streets black with people coming to church and we believe that time is coming. As a leadership
we believe that God has been preparing us and getting us ready for "Full House". In 2003 during one of the meetings at Elim Conference
God really spoke to us from Mark chapter 2.
And again He (Jesus) entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. Immediately many gathered
together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even at the door. And He preached the Word to them. Mark 2:1-2 When
it was heard that Jesus was in the house.....there were so many that came that there wasn't enough room, even at the door.....and He
preached the Word to them.
We believe that this is God's heart for Bangor Elim - it's our heart for Bangor Elim.
But FULL HOUSE is not just about filling a building with people, it's about filling a people with God. As much as we want to see every seat
filled - we want to see every life filled. We want a house filled with the presence, power and glory of God, filled with love for God and for
others and overflowing with the joy of abundant life.
To help make "Full House" a reality we established four significant teams in 2008.
Social Action Team
Evangelism Team
The SAT team will bring the social gospel to the streets
In a variety of ways the evangelism team will take the
of Bangor by "acknowledging need, raising awareness
“good news” to the streets of Bangor.
and offering hope. SAT will initiate and provide relevant
and life giving community development outreach
Encouragers Team
within Bangor and the surrounding areas.
Every person who makes a decision to follow Jesus
whether it is during a service, at an event or in their
Full House Crew
own home needs some encouragement. They need
As a means of supporting the 24/7 "full life" of Bangor
someone to talk to them about the significance of the
Elim we wish to mobilize a team who will look after
decision they have made and then to help them begin
various areas of service and events.
their walk with Jesus.
32
Bangor Elim - Inside
bangorelim.com
33
my story
Leanne
My name is Leanne Crosbie. I’m 40 years old, married
to Michael, and together we have five children (yes five!) Matthew (12), Samuel (9), Bethany (7), and twins Lucas and
Ethan (6). I have been coming to Bangor Elim for the past 30
years and I have been saved for the last 28. I don’t come from a
family of church-goers but when I was young a lot of my friends
who lived nearby were involved in church and invited me along
to the youth events. During one particular Sunday night service
on 28th Oct 1982, people were sharing their testimonies and I felt
really challenged. I had been coming to church for a good couple
of years but I realised I didn’t know what my story was or what
God meant to me - I hadn’t actually made a commitment. That
night was the start of my daily walk with Jesus. Since becoming
a Christian, I haven’t really looked back and I feel blessed to
have been involved with Bangor Elim for so long. Don’t get me
wrong, there were times when it was hard, especially when the
children were small. Michael and I didn’t have the same time to
get involved with activities and ministries going on in the church
and that can feel isolating. Even still, God seemed to hold us firm
in Bangor Elim. I suppose that feeling wouldn’t have changed
no matter what church we went to, and now that the children are
getting a bit older, I have more time to get involved. I now go to a
women’s housegroup on a Tuesday morning, as well as serving in
crèche and at Kidzone. The time at housegroup is a much-needed
bit of ‘me time’ in the hectic busyness of everyday family life!
Like all families, we have the usual arguments about
finding shoes and coats as we go out the door to school, and
there’s always lots of teasing between the oldest and youngest of
our lot, but being a Christian really challenges me to live out
my faith at home so that my children see it and know it makes a
difference to me. Like a lot of mums, it would be great to have just
one or two (or five or six!) more hours in the day to feel a bit more
organised and settled, but getting a bit of quiet time to read my
Bible after the kids have gone to school helps me to get on with the
rest of the day. In our marriage, we have also seen real answers
to prayer and, although difficult at the time, it has built our faith
as individuals, and as a couple. One particular answer to prayer
34
Bangor Elim - Inside
concerns our only daughter, Bethany. She is the one who often
needs the most prayer – our description of her is usually, ‘if it’s
going to happen to anyone, it’ll happen to Bethany’! When she
was 18 months old, Bethany’s face was scalded by hot gravy in the
kitchen. We were told she would spend two weeks in intensive care
and another two or three weeks on a hospital ward recovering,
with a lot of scarring likely. We went in to ‘auto-pilot’ I suppose
(the twins were only 3 months old), but throughout we prayed, and
we asked everyone at church to pray. In the end, Bethany was
only in intensive care for five days, on the ward for a further five,
and the scarring more or less went entirely. The prayerful support
of the pastors and the rest of the church was vital, but so too was
the practical support we received. My mum came to stay with
us during Bethany’s hospital stay and while Michael and I were
at the hospital, friends came to help my mum with the bedtime
routines for the children at home. One of our friends, who now
coordinates the Freezer Friendship SAT ministry, also organised
daily family meals to help us out during that very difficult time.
To me, this is what church is truly about – practical love.
Difficult times are going to happen to every family (especially
ours, with Bethany around!) but being involved in an extended
church family means there is support, help and love there to see
you through those times, practically, emotionally, and spiritually.
To me, this is
what church is
truly about –
practical love
We Believe
The Bible
When it comes to the Bible, people have loved it and
hated it, but one thing they have never done is ignore
it.
Since the Bible was written by God, it's perfect—the teachings
and ideas it contains are God's own, and are completely
trustworthy.
For thousands of years, probably no religious book has been the
source of more controversy and devotion than the Bible. It's been
banned, translated into countless languages, burned, smuggled,
mocked, defended, and consulted for answers to everything
from prophecy to politics to morality. People have committed
horrible acts while citing the Bible as their justification... and
they've done beautiful acts of goodness while claiming the Bible
as their inspiration. What is this volatile book, and why is it still
on bookshelves around the world thousands of years after it was
written? If you've ever picked up the Bible and read parts of it
at random, you may have felt more confused than enlightened.
What's in the Bible that causes so many extreme reactions, and
that makes it so important to people today?
The Bible's purpose is to show us how we, personally, can find
God. The entire Bible—from the "boring" history parts to the
amazing eyewitness accounts of Jesus' life—tells the story of
God's love for us, and how we can come to know God personally
through Jesus.
The question of what the Bible says is relatively easy to answer.
The Bible, in a nutshell, is a collection of several dozen short
texts (called "books of the Bible") written by various authors
who lived in the Middle East over a period of time stretching
from the Bronze Age to the Roman era. Together, the books of the
Bible tell an epic story about God's interactions with the ancient
nation of Israel and with mankind in general. The final section of
the Bible describes the life and death of a man named Jesus, and
depicts the actions of his followers—men and women who called
themselves "Christians".
But obviously, if the Bible were just a book containing some
interesting historical tidbits, we wouldn't place so much
importance on it today. The fact is, the Bible makes some pretty
serious claims about itself and about the events it describes. We
consider the Bible to be a foundation of our faith.
The Bible is made up of hundreds and hundreds of pages and
countless different tales, but all those stories fit together to tell a
single story: God loves us and wants to know us personally. That
core story is sometimes called "the Gospel," and we consider it
to be the most important story ever told.
At Bangor Elim we place a high value on the message of the
Bible for everyday life. Although many today feel this message
is old and even outdated, the Bible continues to prove relevant
in every generation and has much to say for 21st century living.
‘Explore’ is a unique way of studying the Bible and is designed
to help those who desire to develop their understanding of its
message and come to a deeper appreciation of many aspects of
spiritual life.
At various times throughout the year the Explore course is
delivered as a series of six study nights in which subjects are
offered in a bi-weekly programme. Each night begins at 7:30pm
and consists of two 45 minute study sessions and a coffee break.
Study materials are provided to enrich participation and to
enable continued private study of the important subjects covered.
Explore’s aim is the enrichment of faith and empowerment for
living out the message of the Bible.
Here's what we believe about the Bible:
The Bible was written not just by humans, but by God himself.
God inspired the various Biblical authors to write what they did.
bangorelim.com
35
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share prayer
Beverly
Tracy
Lynne
Jill
Gary
Ernest
Ann
Alex
Tim
Graeme
Robert
Chris
Jill
Jim
James
Hugh
Angela
Ian
Sara
Toni
Lorraine
Samantha
36
Gavin
Phyllis
Bangor
Bangor West
Bangor
Ann Moore & Jill Ward
Robert & Lorraine McCready
Graeme Marcus
Ballyholme
Bangor
Bangor
Hugh Wilson & Beverly Simpson
Gary Hanna
Jim Todd
Bangor
Bangor
Bangor
James & Samantha Trimble
Ian Watters
Phyllis Hunter
Bangor Elim - Inside
Carolyn
George
Robert
Bangor
conlig
Newtownards
Tim & Toni Beckett
Chris & Lynne Noble
Ernest McKee
conlig
Bangor Elim
Newtownards
Gavin & Sara McCrea
Carolyn Dines & Angela Rogan
Jill Bell
Newtownards
Bangor West
Bangor
Alex & Tracy Rodd
Robert Wilson
George Dines
bangorelim.com
37
Introducing Bangor Elim
missions
the app
news | sermons | videos | music | blogs
team
We are a group of people from the church ranging
in age, gifts and interests but with this in common....
we love God and want to see the Good News about
Jesus go out to the ends of the earth! Our theme is
‘How can they believe in Him of whom they have not
heard?' (Romans 10 v 14).
As a team we are responsible for raising awareness of
the work of Elim Missions and generating financial
support through various fundraising events such
as Wedding Fayres, BBQs, coffee mornings, and
sponsored walks. We also hold nights throughout
the year when updates are given on our missionaries,
and time is dedicated to praying for their work. We
sometimes have guest speakers or live link-ups with
missionaries across the globe and of course, there is
always tea, coffee and buns!
"He is no fool who gives
up what he cannot keep to
gain that which he cannot
lose"
Jim Elliot, missionary martyr who lost his life
in the late 1950's trying to tell the Auca
Indians of Ecuador about Jesus.
38
Bangor Elim - Inside
Elim Missions in Ireland mainly concentrate
on Central and South Africa where we support
missionaries to build, maintain and fund schools,
hospitals, and homes for the elderly. We also run child
sponsorship schemes, Christmas shoe box appeals and
many other programmes - the list is endless! Where
we are made aware of a specific need, we also support
missionary programmes in other parts of the world.
Bangor Elim Missions is about to enter a new and
exciting phase as we send our very own missionaries
David and Esther Allen to Cambodia. Please read the
interview on the following pages about the challenges
David and Esther will face as they serve God in this
part of the world.
Keep up to date with what is happening within Elim
Missions on the missions page of the church website.
visit our new website www.bangorelim.com
bangorelim.com
39
What drew you to consider the
life-changing step of becoming
missionaries?
bound
for
Cam
bodia
A new year always brings change
of some sort but for David and
Esther Allen, March 2011 will
mark the beginning of a very new
chapter in their lives. They will be
travelling to Cambodia to work as
Elim missionaries alongside John
and Ann Turner (Ulster Temple) who
started a local community work in
the Capital, Phnom Penh, about
three years ago.
>>
40
Bangor Elim - Inside
David: For me, it was going to Uganda
a few times in the last three years and
seeing children living on the streets and
people with no hope or future. Because
of that, I was desperately burdened to be
able to make a difference in their lives; to
do something to give them real life, show
them love and Jesus.
Esther: I have always been interested in
missionary work but when I served with
short-term mission teams to Uganda it
really impacted my life and made me
feel like I had to do more than give up a
couple of weeks each year to help those
in need.
What do you think you will
most enjoy about your work in
Cambodia?
Esther: The climate; it’s warmer than
Northern Ireland! This is an adventure
which God is taking us on and we are
looking forward to making a difference to
the people we will come in contact with.
Life in Cambodia will be a huge culture
shock, which we will learn to embrace
(not the rats!).
David: One of the roles I will be involved
in will be running the men’s ministry with
football teams to draw people in and,
hopefully, encourage them to come along
to a church. They are big on football there.
We are both looking forward to working
with John and Ann Turner who have
already established a work there, having
been sent out there three years ago from
another Elim church, the Ulster Temple. It
will be great drawing on the experience
they have gained over the last few years
and being able to help and support them
going forward.
Tell us something about
the people and country of
Cambodia.
David: Cambodia is in South Eastern Asia,
bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between
Thailand, Vietnam and Laos. The terrain is
mostly low, flat plains with mountains in
the southwest and north. The population
is nearly 14.5 million. Life expectancy is
62 years. About 60% of the population is
aged twenty or younger and 96% of the
population are Theravada Buddhists. The
people lack education and productive
skills, and 36% of them live below the
poverty line.
Esther: There is a big gender divide, with
a lot of family abuse towards females,
who have very low self-esteem and are
not seen as equal or important in their
culture; very different from our Western
views. We hope that as a married couple
we can improve male/female relationships
by showing and teaching how important
each role is and, hopefully, bring an
example of stability and love based on
Biblical teaching. We may not be able to
change a whole culture in one go, but we
can impact and help in people’s lives one
at a time.
What is the economic
situation like there?
David: Cambodia was once a prosperous
nation, but was devastated in the terrible
time of the Khmer Rouge, a Maoist
regime notorious for its genocide and
many other atrocities carried out. Despite
recent progress, Cambodia remains one
of the least developed countries, but it
is improving with buildings and shop
numbers increasing.
How do people respond
to the Gospel there?
David: There are more women who
respond, as they have low worth and
self-esteem and have nothing to lose.
It is harder for the men, as becoming
a Christian will mean being cut off by
family and could even mean losing any
inheritance if they profess Christianity.
What do you think you will
miss most about home?
Both: Family, friends and our church
family. sther: Working in the church office
What is security in the country
like, and are there any issues?
Both: There are no major issues and
all seems quiet. There is an openness,
although we are bordered by the fairly
closed countries of Laos, Thailand and
Vietnam.
Tell me about the church you
will be going to serve in.
David: Elim Missions in Cambodia
operates two churches. In the Elim
International Church, God is meeting the
needs of a significant section of Phnom
Penh’s Christian missionary and worker
community. On a typical Sunday, between
100 and 150 take communion. The other
church, the Khmer Church, has at its core
a strong group of young Khmei, homegrown Christian men and women.
Are their church services very
different from ours?
David: Their services are similar as they
have been set up by a couple from
Northern Ireland, but we’re not sure if they
follow the format as we know it! They’re
probably a bit more relaxed than here, we
reckon.
How do you feel you will
adapt to being in a different
culture?
David: The three years of summer
teams to Uganda have given us a good
grounding and helped us see a lot of
cultural differences to Northern Ireland,
and that you need to respect that as part
of integrating into another society. For
example, in Uganda men hold hands as
gesture of friendship but, being from N.I.,
that was a major shock!
Will you be able to share the
gospel and disciple people
freely there?
Esther: Yes, there’s a very open use of
the Bible to help teach English in local
schools. The new Church Centre is a
multipurpose building housing all the
Elim Missions. We will be involved with
a day care centre where around forty
children are cared for each day, teaching
English in the Bible language classes and
Good News Clubs.
How is your support? If your
personal support is good do
you have any projects that
need funding?
Esther: We are thrilled to be supported
by Bangor Elim and Elim Missions U.K. If
we can identify a need in the work we
will be involved in, we hope to liaise
with the mission team from home to
ask for specific help and support out in
Cambodia.
What could the church/friends/
others do to help encourage
you?
Esther: Prayer is a priority, which we
appreciate is difficult; as the old saying
goes, “out of sight, out of mind.” But please
remember us in your prayers!! Please also
keep in touch with us. We want to be
kept up to date with your news as well, so
either write, email, Skype or Facebook us;
it’s good to talk! We also have a blog, so
you will be able to follow our missionary
journey in Cambodia online. Of course,
financial support helps keep us in food
and water too.
bangorelim.com
41
my story
George
anything at all for myself. I was crushed. The doctors told Betty
I had suffered a double-sided stroke and that there was a chance
I may not make it, and if I did, it would be likely I would need
full-time nursing care and may not ever be able to return home.
Yet despite hitting my lowest ebb and feeling really angry with
God, I once again began to gradually recover and I returned
home. This time I was unable to go back to work and was
unable to drive. At the age of 46 that’s a bitter pill to swallow,
but I knew I had to keep going for Betty and my sons, and deep
down I still believed and held on to God’s promise to me. More
input from the therapy teams over the next six months helped me
to learn to walk a few steps and I regained my driving licence
but stroke number five was just a few months away. This time
not as serious as before thankfully, but my eyesight was affected.
I experienced my first stroke in 1995, at the age of 42. With a
second stroke in quick succession and a blood clot on the lung,
things were looking bleak and my wife was told by the consultant
to expect the worst. To me, it felt like the whole world and my
life had fallen apart before my eyes. I received intensive therapy
for three months in hospital and it was during this time God
gave me the promise that He would restore me again. It was
a promise I was to hold on to for five years, as I had been left
unable to walk and requiring the use of a wheelchair. Previously
an active, healthy and working man, I was devastated.
Following a lengthy period of physiotherapy at home, I finally
learnt to walk again with the aid of walking sticks and splints
and was able to return to my job, but in May of 1996 I collapsed
again – another stroke. Again I was hospitalised and required
a further bout of therapy at home but eventually I returned to
work once more. This time I could only manage part-time hours
as I was left with a residual weakness on my left side and my
left hand was locked closed. Despite feeling physically weak, I
reminded myself of the promise God had given to me in hospital
the first time, and I kept fighting on. Another five months passed
before it all happened again, but this time everything felt so
much more physically and spiritually difficult to cope with. Back
in a wheelchair and unable to walk, my pride was hurt and I had
lost some of my fighting attitude. It was at this time that I began
to ask God the big question, why?
It was in February 2001 that I travelled with others from the
church to a Healing Conference in Toronto, though not with
the idea that God would heal me. The conference started on a
Tuesday evening but I was exhausted from the travelling and
had decided not to go the meeting but thankfully the others in
the group persuaded me, as it was at this meeting that the most
incredible things happened...
Pastor Bill Prankard was speaking and he asked for those who
needed healing of any kind to stand up so he could pray for
them. I stood, looked around and saw that there were lots of
other people standing too. He then asked us to put our left hand
on our head. At this point I thought, well there you go, that’s
typical - just like the hype I’d heard people talking about at
home. I couldn’t even move my left arm but as I looked around
and saw everybody else doing it, I grabbed my left arm with
my right hand and stood swaying, trying to keep my balance
with both hands on my head. The pastor then simply prayed
and asked God to heal those who were standing. As he prayed,
my left hand fell down. I thought it had just slipped down but I
looked down and the hand that had been locked closed for years,
was now open and I was able to move my fingers! We were then
asked to come to the front and share if anyone had been healed.
So I left my seat and headed for the platform. It was then that
another person in the group shouted after me and waved my
walking stick in the air – I hadn’t taken an independent step
in five years! As I walked, my leg splint fell open. The muscle
wastage had been restored and my leg was now too big for the
splint. To say I was entirely amazed by what happened is an
understatement.
As the months passed I began to see improvements in my
condition and started to feel a bit more like myself, even learning
to accept my new lifestyle and cope with the disabilities that
came with it. Then came Sunday 6th June 1998, what I call
‘My Black Sunday’. I went to church in the morning as usual,
though not feeling very well. Part way through the service I got
a blinding headache, like a knife had been stuck into my head. I
asked Betty, my wife, to take me home but I never made it that
far. Two weeks later, I regained consciousness in the Ulster
Hospital. This time my left side was completely paralysed, no
movement at all; my eyesight was very poor and I could only
see the outlines of everything. I couldn’t swallow, speak, or do
Returning home, I’ll never forget the look on Betty’s face. She
had been wary when I had rung to tell her what happened but
she couldn’t deny the change when she saw me in person. Since
then I haven’t looked back. My medication was stopped, the
hospital tests came back clear and I’ve been well ever since, but
it was a long and a difficult journey. There were times when I
thought I couldn’t keep going, couldn’t face another day. I had
questioned God, cried to Him, and been angry with Him. Yet
there was always a quiet voice inside telling me to keep going,
and keep going, and keep going. In the end, despite the tears
and the setbacks, the dark days and long nights, God kept his
promise. I have been healed.
42
Bangor Elim - Inside
New Worship Album recorded live in Bangor Elim,
led by worship leader/songwriter Suzanne Hanna
and the worship arts team “Creative House”.
The heartbeat of this album tells the story of
what it means to be “Alive in Christ!”
As each unique song rings aloud with the sound
of people boldly worshipping Jesus we pray
you will come to know the abundant life made
possible through the Cross.
Available for purchase at Bangor Elim £12
or email creativehouse@bangorelim.com
Also available : 2008 CD More Than Enough
by Creative House Ministries Price £8
For more info on Creative House:
w - www.bangorelim.com/creativehouse
e - creativehouse@bangorelim.com
f - follow Creative House on Facebook
bangorelim.com
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What is Bangor Elim Youth?
Bangor Elim Youth exists as a part of the church to address the
needs of the young people in our local community, ranging in age from
11 to 20+. Whether you want to listen to music, play pool, or just
chat, our Youth Coffee Bar is a comfy, chilled out space where you
can hang out before and after our main Friday night programme.
In today’s society where suicide, addictions and loneliness are issues all too
frequently associated with teenage life, we don’t retreat in our passionate belief
that God can make a difference.
Stephen Jones (Youth Leader)
E-mail: steve@bangorelim.com
Web: www.bangorelim.com/youth
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bangorelimyouth
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Bangor Elim - Inside
Girls/Boys Night – This happens once a month on a Wednesday night from 7.30pm to 9pm. It’s a fun night for the girls to do things
like pamper and pyjama nights, movie nights etc. For the boys it’s pizza, football, Xbox and all the things that boys like to do. For date
and themes of the nights see our website for details.
House Groups – These happen every other week and are divided into age groups. It allows you to get to know others of a similar age
in a smaller group setting. To sign up for these, you can fill out an online form on the youth section of the website.
Youth Fellowship – Every Friday night from 8pm to 10.30pm we come together as a group and encourage each other to love God
and put that in to practice in everyday life. This involves a wide range of activities from our own youth band, games, nights out, day
trips, weekends away, fun nights and a whole lot more. From time to time throughout the year we have special trips and events with
recording artists coming to perform live in concert.
Re:mix – During our Sunday morning service at 10.30am, while the main sermon is going on, those aged Year 8-10 head out to our
youth coffee bar. Each week we take the main church sermon and ‘remix’ it to apply to this age group. It’s a great opportunity to
embrace how the Bible applies to you in your everyday life at an age when you are just beginning to make big decisions.
Sunday Night Live – On a Sunday night our church service begins at 6.30pm and directly after we open our youth coffee bar for a
chance to hang out and relax, ending at 9.30pm. Every other week we have themes and activities ranging from dress-up nights, table
quizzes, pool competitions, acoustic nights, movie nights and a whole lot more.
Whether you come to the church every week, twice a year or have never been and are aged between Year 8 and 20 something,
you are welcome to come along. Our facilities include a wide range of activities from pool tables, Xbox, jukebox, snack shop,
air hockey and foosball. The youth section on the website is regularly updated with what’s going on and there are also weekly
announcements on our Facebook page – check it out!
bangorelim.com
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We Believe
In Prayer
It’s just talking to God!
As we read the Bible, we find that Jesus was often found praying
and at times He even took himself away from the crowds and
His closest friends so that He could get alone with His Father
in prayer (Mark 6: 45,46; Luke 6:12). Some of these intimate
moments are recorded for us in the Bible.
After watching Jesus, the disciples knew that they needed to be
taught how to pray. They could see the importance of prayer, and
the wonderful things that happened when Jesus prayed. Jesus
told his followers that when they pray they should say ‘Father’,
He was showing them that in prayer we can be building our
relationship with God. As with every area of our lives, the more
we talk to someone the better we get to know them and through
that our relationship and friendship deepens.
Jesus taught us that our relationship with God should be like
that of a child whose intention is to honour and obey. When we
give our lives over to God there is something inside us which
automatically wants to reach out to Him; we naturally want
to please Him. We realize that we want and need to talk and
commune with God, but our urge to pray goes beyond that, we
feel the need to worship and praise Him too.
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Bangor Elim - Inside
God made us so that we could talk things over with Him and He
in turn could talk with us and help us. Our Christian life is not
complete without this communion with Him.
God invites us to come to Him in prayer. Just think of it – the
One who made the universe wants to talk to us. He made us,
understands us, loves us, and wants to help us. Time and time
again in the Bible He invites us to take our problems, worries,
cares and joys to Him.
God is good and He wants to help us and free us from the things
that would hinder our walk with Him. God is everywhere, so
wherever we are He will hear us and answer. If sometimes the
answer is no, it is good to bear in mind that just as a parent
sometimes says no to a child for his/her own good, it is done
through love and constant care.
You will find that you will be encouraged, strengthened and
guided in all things as you pursue God in prayer and get close
to Him.
bangorelim.com
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connect
Get Connected
On these ‘Get Connected’ pages you will find information about every area of the church. We have also provided you with ‘a
face to go with the name’ in some cases. Please feel free to speak to Julie at our information desk if you have any questions.
Kidzone
Factory
Robert and Lorraine McCready
During Sunday
evening service
Creche
Tracy Robb
Boys Brigade
Jonathan Grimshaw
Little Gems
New To Bangor Elim
Nicola Cree
Kids
Child Protection
RAF
Brothers
David Rogan
Alpha
Campaigners
*Pastor’s Secretary Service Manager
David Porter
Julie Stevenson
Gary Faulkner
Welcome Team
Youth Fellowship
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Bangor Elim - Inside
Tracy Robb
Davy Porter
Robert & Lorraine McCready
Nicola Cree
Suzanne Hanna
Julie Stevenson
Coffee Company
Ways to Serve
In Touch
Boys Nights
Ushers
Sarah Boyd
Creative House
Communion Set-up
Remix
Girls Nights
Discovering New Life
Ricky & Emily Magrath
Emily Magrath
Youth
Ann Moore & Fiona Beckett
George Dines
Social Action Team
Sunday Night Live
W2G
Adults
Pastor Hugh Moore
Sarah Boyd
Prayer Clinic
George McMurtry
Share & Prayer Groups
Shorts
Carolyn Dines and Janine Skelly
House Groups
Explore
Janine Skelly
Encouragers
Outreach
Missions
Ruth McKee
Carolyn Dines Ann Moore & Fiona Beckett Ricky & Emily Magrath
Ruth McKee
Beccc
Suzanne Hanna
George Dines
Gary Faulkner
bangorelim.com
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the rogan family story
The dream of Bangor Elim Family Foundation is to share the blessing of God with families encountering
serious life struggles. We have all come across situations where our hearts have been broken by people’s
circumstances. Sometimes life throws things in our path that turn our world upside down or cause extreme
hardship. The Foundation allows us to bless in practical ways those, both inside and outside the church, facing
situations that all of us hope we never have to confront.
The reason we do this, the reason we show people extravagant love is because
of the extravagant love God has shown us. We would love you to become a
partner with us in this new and exciting venture. There are several ways in
which you can do that:
1
You can nominate or recommend a
family or situation that might become
a recipient of the foundation.
2
You can give a one off donation.
You can become a monthly partner
from as little as £4 per month
(£1 a week).
You will not believe how much encouragement, blessing and joy your
contribution will bring. Please consider becoming a partner with us.
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Bangor Elim - Inside
3
David: Jamie was three when he was
formally diagnosed with Duchenne
Muscular Dystrophy. We had our
suspicions before that. He’d been
very slow to walk and we’d been to
physiotherapy, different things with
him, and been to see a consultant. At
the meeting with the consultant they
had used a few terms which, with my
educational background, rang a few
bells. We had checked things out on
the internet before that and what we
saw with Jamie ticked all the boxes
with that particular condition. So, when
we went to see the consultant for the
formal diagnosis, I think we knew about
80 per cent that this was what we were
looking at. And I suppose your initial
response is, in some ways, devastation.
I know that as a dad you have all these
things that you want to do with your
boys – playing football, going fishing – all
those things, and for somebody to say
that your child has a condition that is
going to severely limit what he can do
physically, and potentially there are also
some educational issues associated with
that particular type of muscular dystrophy,
it almost takes your legs out from under
you.
Angela: When the physio mentioned
muscle weakness, I went online when
David wasn’t in the house and I read
about the condition. That’s when it hit
me, even before the doctor told me. I just
cried. In front of the computer, I just cried
and cried and cried. David came home,
we went to bed that night and I didn’t
mention it to him. I hadn’t talked about
it or anything but that night I couldn’t
sleep. I sat and cried out to God, ‘Please
God don’t let this be what my son has’.
So when the doctor said those words, ‘It’s
muscular dystrophy and it’s one of two
types’, my heart just sank.
D: It’s muscle weakness, muscle
deterioration. The body can’t regenerate
muscle cells and so once a muscle cell
dies that’s it. As a child gets bigger,
physically, with less muscle in the frame
there are physical implications for that. It
affects every muscle in the body.
A: Really over the past three years since
Jamie was diagnosed, his whole wee life
has changed. He’s had to get used to so
many things that weren’t supposed to be
normal for him. Hospital appointments
are probably a biggie, just having to
attend – because he literally is all the time
at different appointments, seeing all these
new people. He eventually started asking
questions like ‘why do i have to go to the
doctor all the time?’ and Andrew started
asking why. A few months later, around
last year [2009] he started having to wear
night splints and that was a big question,
‘why do i have to wear these?’ – things
like that. Also starting to take steroids
there in July [2010]. Jamie now has to take
four tablets every morning and a tablet
at night. He gets a drink made up as well
for his bowels every morning. Also all
the different tests he had to go through,
x-rays and everything. Being different
from his friends, he finds it very frustrating.
He can’t run, he can’t ride a bike, he can’t
skip, he can’t jump, he can’t run with his
friends or keep up with his friends. Out
playing in school he gets frustrated. He’s
very independent and he’s very strongwilled. He loves football, he’s Liverpool
mad! I’ve taught him well and his hero is
Stevie Gerrard! He just wants to be the
next Stevie Gerrard. He can’t though, he’ll
never play football. That’s hard for him.
D: I think my biggest fear in the journey
that we’re going through with him
is the point where he realises the full
implications of the condition.
A: Basically when Jamie had not been
long disgnosed, God gave me a verse, ‘The
joy of the Lord is my strength’ and that’s
something which I hold on to every single
day because if I don’t spend time in God’s
presence then there’s no point in me
starting a day. God gives me the strength
that even though I don’t understand why
God is letting us go through this, and that
this is happening in our lives, we know
that God has the power to heal Jamie and
at this stage he has chosen not to, I still
trust God, I still trust him with my life and
our children’s lives. So I know that God
will either one day give us that miracle
that we’re praying for everyday or that he
will keep his promise that he will give us
the strength to go through whatever lies
ahead.
D: Despite all we’ve been through with
Jamie, God has been so faithful and has
never left us in it. To worship and to lead
in church, I think I would be being untrue
to God and untrue to myself if I didn’t.
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ban
gor
elim
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Bangor Elim - Inside