January Youth Event
Don't Waste Your Summer
Pray for a new Youth event to be held on 16th January ( DV ) which is being organised with the Youth Pastors of the Bangor area. The aim is to present to our young people a range of opportunities for short-term service this Summer. A number of agencies which have opportunities for late teens / early twenties have been invited to explain what they can offer. Bangor Worldwide will sponsor the event but please pray for Keith McIlwaine and the other organisers as they finalise arrangements. Pray especially that a good number of young people will attend and that the agencies will be encouraged by their response.
2013 Financial Report
Give thanks to God for a very encouraging financial report for 2013. When exceptional income, such as one-off legacies, is excluded we have seen an increase in giving again this year and we are delighted that 160 agencies/organisations will receive a donation from Worldwide as a result .Give thanks too that the committee was able to finalise the programme for 2014 at its meeting in December and that only a few details about seminars remain to be resolved. Please pray that these will be settled soon and we can move on to the next stage of preparing publicity materials.
Church Alive
Please pray for the on-going discussions about another Church Alive event this May. Last year , in conjunction with Open Doors and Christianity Explored , we trialled this event at venues in Bangor and Ballymena. The response was excellent and we are seeking to repeat the format with new speakers. Two venues ( Londonderry and Ballymena ) have been agreed but we would like to add at least one more. Pray that the discussions on this and other details will be fruitful.
Government Meetings
A number of meetings will be taking place this month between various government agencies and the NI Conventions group of which we are a part. Please pray that these meetings will go well and that we may see support for the Conventions as they seek to attract new visitors to their events.
South Sudan
Finally, you will know that we are having a focus on South Sudan at this year’s Convention. Please pray for this new country at this time when it is in danger of slipping into civil war with all the misery which this would create for the local population. Remember the church leaders as they seek to act as peacemakers between the opposing factions.