The Missionary Weekend The missionary weekend, with its emphasis on spreading the Gospel world-wide, has been an important feature of life for the Ballymoney congregation since Cabra days. It is one of the highlights of the church calendar, anticipated eagerly at the commencement of each year. It would be impossible to recount all the times of blessing that have been experienced over the years since Rev. Cairns first organised these meetings. Instead what follows are two reports, the first from one of the earliest missionary weekends held in Ballymoney, the other held more recently in the Free Presbyterian anniversary year.

Final Missionary Weekend Sunday Morning Service in old Building

1974 - "We thought the people were never going to go home."

This comment summed up the interest shown in the missionary weekend held in 1974. When the weekend was first arranged, there had been some apprehension as to how well the meetings would be attended. However the Lord did 'exceedingly abundantly' above what was asked of Him. The church was packed to overflowing and best of all, there was a real sense of God's presence.

The main feature of the Friday night meeting was the screening of the New Tribes Mission film, 'God Planted Five Seeds' which told the story of five young men who set out to reach Indians in Bolivia with the Gospel and were murdered soon after their work commenced. There were also messages in song from the Carryduff Quartet.

Another interesting feature of the Friday night meeting was a display of items collected by Mr. Tim Donaghy, a member of the Enniskillen congregation, who had been serving the Lord in Peru . This included hummingbirds half the size of a human thumb, poisoned darts, carvings and woven materials. The items were kept on display throughout the weekend and caused tremendous interest.

One exhibit, which attracted more attention than the rest, was a stuffed anteater. In fact it caused consternation when one girl, who had not known that it had been left overnight in the church, arrived on Saturday to do some work. When she saw the large, fierce-looking animal casting a malevolent eye at her from the communion chair, she almost suffered heart failure!

The Saturday meeting was a real marathon, lasting from 8 p.m. to 11.15 p.m. And then there was tea to be served!!! Approximately 400 people gathered to hear reports from three missionary students, Miss Lorraine Wolfenden, Mr. John Hanna and Mr. John Todd. Miss Pat Torrens, (now Mrs. Wesley McDowell) who was then a member of the Ballymoney congregation, told of contacts she and another nurse had made during a visit to the South of Ireland in 1973. Miss Valerie Shaw spoke of her work among the Jews and showed a film. The special soloist on this occasion was Rev William McCrea. A report of the meeting records that Rev. McCrea was kept singing long after the meeting and tea were past. Some things never change!

On the Lord's Day Mr. Tim Donaghy was the preacher. Overall the weekend was considered to have been a success, with many young people in attendance and some called to serve the Lord in a full-time capacity. Rev. Cairns summed up in this way: "I have long prayed that the Lord will call the best of our young people into His service, at home or on the foreign field. I believe that He has spoken to many during this special weekend and I hope to see them eventually in full time service."


2001 - "Every square of blue carpet was covered with seats."

This is how Rev. Park remembers the huge attendance at the Friday night meeting of the 2001 missionary weekend. It was the largest crowd on the first night of the weekend that he had seen since his arrival in Ballymoney and certainly one of the largest gatherings in the history of the missionary weekend. Unlike the 1974 meetings, the focus of the weekend was on one area of the world, namely Spain . On Friday, 12th January, Miss Joy Gillespie, who works with Rev. Lyle Boyd and his family in Cortijos Nuevos in the south of Spain, traced the history of evangelical witness in Spain since Franco and gave a report of her work . The Word of Truth singers from the Ballymoney congregation brought messages in song. A very special feature of the meeting was the testimony of Josefa Ortega Teruel, a senior member of Rev. Boyd's church in Cortijos Nuevos who was saved through the witness of her brother. Rev. Boyd was on hand to interpret for her. This charming little lady, by her words and actions, quickly endeared herself to those present.

The preacher for the Friday night meeting was Rev. Lyle Boyd. At that time he was trying to raise enough money to buy a new minibus for the work in Spain . The offering collected on Friday night was ?1,500 with a further gift being given of ?1000. This was more than had been collected over all four meetings in January, 2000.

On the Saturday night Miss Joy Gillespie showed a video of the work in Spain . The singers were Mrs. Alison Maternaghan and her son Peter from Ballymena. Rev. David McLaughlin preached. On Sunday at the noon service Rev. Boyd was again the preacher. Alfonso Ortega Teruel, Josefa's brother, testified of God's grace in his salvation. Rev. Boyd was released from having to interpret on this occasion as Joy McAuley de Bernabeu was present in the meeting and she translated Alfonso's words very skilfully.

At the final meeting of the weekend at 7.00 p.m, Mr. George McConnell, Chairman of the Free Presbyterian Mission Board, brought a general report and the Ballymoney Choir sang. Rev. Ron Johnstone was the guest preacher. At the close of the meeting Rev. Park felt that he should make an appeal to God's people to stand, indicating their desire to do God's Will, whatever the cost. Quite a number responded to the appeal and stood to their feet as a signal that they were determined to 'go through with God.'

Many of those present throughout the weekend testified to the great blessing received and gave sacrificially for the extension of God's work. When all the offerings had been totalled it was found that the sum of ?5,744 had been brought in. This was more than double the total for the year 2000 and triple the amount raised in 1997, Rev. Park's first missionary weekend in Ballymoney. The words of Psalm 126 verse 3 seem very appropriate to sum up the feelings of the pastor and congregation:

'The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.'

Group of ministers and missionaries who took part in the last weekend in the old auditorium