Covenanter Witness Vol. 86 - Rparchives.org

congregations. They are under, fivepresbyteries: Northern, Southern, Eastern,Western, and Australian. Most of thecongregations are concentrated in thenorthern part of the island. The AustralianPresbytery has two congregations under itscare, Geelong and McKinnon (Melbourne)with an outreach work at Frankstown.There are approximately 3500 members inthe denomination, a figure which has heldpretty steady since the beginning of thecentury. Many of the congregations are inrural districts and are sited close togetherby American standards, 10 or 15 milesapart. This makes for close fellowship.All through their history there hasbeen a close bond between the Irish andAmerican branches of the Church, and thishas meant a similarity in outlook andmethods of working, even though thedistance separating them was enormous forover 150 years. (It is only a seven-hourjourney now.) Congregational ways ofworking are very alike. Much emphasis isput on the preaching of the Word in theIrish Church, and great care is taken thather ministers be as well trained as possible.(There aren't enough students for theministry to meet the growing need, especiallyfor outreach, at the presentmoment.) Christian education is put at theforefront. Most congregations enter theirchildren for a Sabbath School examinationconducted in November of each year bySynod's Committe on the Instruction of theYoung. The matter of establishing adefinite adult Christian education programis under active consideration, (In manyinstances part of the Wednesday nightprayer meeting is devoted to detailed,deeper, Bible study conducted by thepastor.) The C.Y.P.U. is workingenergetically in many areas;it is led by anExecutive Committee corresponding toour National Staff, which is in turnresponsible to one of Synod's committees.As happens in every part of the Christianworld much of the effort for missions isconducted by the Women's MissionarySocieties, but men are being drawn intothis aspect of the work more and more.Each congregation is expected to makespecial evangelistic efforts from time totime, and these often take the form ofpreaching campaigns. There is an increasingemphasis on personal witness, forexample, several ladies in Belfast areopening their homes for morning coffeepartiesat which the Word is studied withtheir non-Christian neighbors.The Church as a whole is becomingmore and more conscious of its responsibilityto reach out.In Northern Ireland practicallyeveryone has some connection with somedenomination, even though some of themdon't attend church. But in spite of this,individual congregations make strongefforts to bring them in. At a presbyterylevel there are Elders Fellowships at whichelders meet for mutual encouragement andtraining. The Eastern Presbytery has anactive outreach committee which isrecommending the establishing of a newwork to the north of Belfast. (Ron andCarolyn Homa worked with this committeewhile they were in Ireland.) At Synod levelthe Committee on Evangelism and ChurchExtension has supported an evangelist forseveral years. Rev. Kenneth Smith is takingover this work for one year, starting thissummer. This committee supports anoutreach work in a housing estate calledCastleroe, and is ultimately responsible forthe church camps which are held for youngpeople in Portrush at the beginning ofAugust, and for the evangelistic campaignheld in Cork every year by the C.Y.P.U.Cork is one of the most Roman Catholiccities in Ireland. Evangelistic work there ismuch easier now.Under Synod the Irish Mission Boardsupports four colporteurs (missionaries)working in different parts of the island. Mr.Thomas Beck is in Dublin; Mr. and Mrs.Thomas McKee in Cork; Mr. and Mrs.James Anderson in Galway; and Mr. andMrs. Joseph Kerr in County Donegal.Foreign mission work is supervisedby a board consisting of members fromboth the Scottish and Irish Churches,responsible to both Synods. Work is nowconcentrated in Ethiopia. Mission stationshave been established in the Tigreprovince, with the permission and supportof the Ethiopian government, one inMakale, and another in Sheket. Otherareas, such as Araghure, are visitedperiodically. The door is wide open inEthiopia at the present time. It may notremain open, so the need is very great forconcentrated effort now. Moremissionaries are urgently needed, and themeans to support them. Perhaps thegreatest need is for a teacher to help trainnational teachers.The troubled state of NorthernIreland has made some difficulty for theChurch, but its work has not been undulyhindered. This situation needs muchprayer.Items for Prayer:1. that individual congregations bealive to the needs and opportunities intheir own areas.2. that revision of the Christianeducation program be in accordance withthe mind of the Spirit.3. that the personal witness ofmembers become more effective throughtheir increasing maturity in the Faith.4. that continued guidance be givento the Eastern Presbytery in its plans foroutreach.5. that the new work at Castleroeincrease in scope.6. that Christians left behind inSyria, Turkey, and Lebanon continuefaithful.7. that guidance be given to theForeign Mission Board, to the FieldCouncil and to individual missionaries rethe work in Ethiopia.8. that more missionaries be sent toEthiopia.9. that a third minister be sent toAustralia.10. that Divine blessing rest uponRev. Kenneth G. Smith, his wife, andfamily as they minister to the Irish Churchthis year.11. that God call more students to theministry, and continue to guide the staff ofthe Theological Hall in their training.12. that the present situation inIreland help rather than hinder the work ofthe colporteurs and the Church in general.13. that the summer camps andconferences make a strong impact forChrist upon young people.14. that definite guidance be given tothe Committe on Evangelism and ChurchExtension as it plans for an internationalconference next year.Quinter.... from page 15Medical School; Mrs. Sharon Feltis, FortHays State; Daryl Nuss, Sterling College;Leland Mann, Colby Junior College; BobMcWilliams, Tom McElroy, CynthiaGraham, Ron Graham, Marsha Maxwellfrom high school; Joey Graham, DonnaMann, and Roger Mann from eighth grade.Mr. and Mrs. Sam Wilkey andchildren of Wichita worshiped with us oneSabbath recently.Daryl Nuss has been elected to Who'sWho of American Colleges. He shared withus at a recent morning service how Godhas called him into the ministry of CampusCrusade which he is entering for full timeappointment in July.Dr. Bob Gross and Mrs. ElizabethGross of San Diego and Earl McClelland ofStudley, Kansas, attended church serviceson April 11. Earl and wife had beenhonored at an Open House on April 10 onthe occasion of their sixtieth weddinganniversary. Several from Quinter attendedthe event. Earl and Martha wereactive members in the Quintercongregation before moving to Studley anumber of years ago. Mrs. Gross is Earl'ssister.Miss Marie Wright spent several daysin New Mexico. She was a special guest atthe banquet and graduation exercises atChuska Indian School, Tohatchi, NewMexico, on May 27 and 28, and enjoyedrenewing friendships with students,faculty, and friends in that area.We praise God for fine rains and apromising outlook for harvest.JUNE 23, 19T 13