Saturday, November 18, 2006

Proc Trust NIMA

Still on the retrospective postings, having now made it as far as last Monday and Tuesday! Having flown back from Scotland at 7am - which necessitated leaving Dundee at 4.30am, it was off to Dollingstown for the Proclamation Trust Northern Ireland Ministry Assembly.

This was the first event of its kind in Northern Ireland, but hopefully it will become an annual event, due to its success. All in all, about 200 ministers, pastors and preachers came together in St Saviour's Church to discuss and learn about preaching from two masters - Kent Hughes and David Jackman.

Hughes, I didn't know before then, but Jackman I had known from two summers in London at the student conferences. David Jackman presented a series of 'sharpening your skills' sessions, looking at the preparation of sermons, concentrating on what the text is saying, and how to communicate its message today. Kent Hughes dealt with the Bible itself, then with the heart of the preacher, as well as providing some reflections on his own ministry - tomorrow is his last Sunday after 27 years as pastor of his church in Chicago.

As well as the teaching from the front, the Assembly allowed plenty of time for networking, both renewing friendships and making new ones; and also to enjoy the great food on offer from the parishioners of Magheralin and Dollingstown!

Let's hope the event hapens again next year...

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