Ards news blog

2008-11-22T06:56:00.001-08:00

Good Sermon!
After a very long and boring sermon the parishoners filed out of the church saying nothing to the preacher. Towards the end of the line was a thoughtful person who always commented on the sermons."Pastor, today your sermon reminded me of the peace and love of God!" The pastor was thrilled. "No-one has ever said anything like that about my preaching before. Tell me why." "Well - it reminded me of the Peace of God because it passed all understanding and the Love of God because it endured forever!"

2008-11-22T06:46:00.000-08:00

What do you get when you cross an atheist with a Jehovahs Witness?.... Someone who knocks at your door for no apparent reason.

Our Church

2008-11-13T16:23:00.000-08:00

from our sending Church, by Pastor Mark Bradfield

2008-09-06T03:46:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been a couple of weeks since our last update and a lot has been happening.
To begin with we had a good week in the town centre - handing out over ten thousand tracts (at our best estimate) over the five days. We invested in a couple of banners but towards the end of the week had to save them from a couple of lesbians that took offence at being warned of the destructiveness of their lifestyles.
The next week - commencing 18th August we had our kids club week. The theme was 'Back to the Bible' and we had on average about twenty nine children there each day. They all had a good time and the week following, one of the little girls that attends church throughout the year accepted Christ as her own personal Saviour.
We took an easy week after that to gather our wits again and now are getting back into the fray!
We have had some ambiguous news which should make us weep but when looked at through gospel eyes is in reality a relief to us all.
A number of 'missionaries' have announced their intentions to leave Northern Ireland and return to the States because of economic reasons.
We read everywhere that there is a recession around the world and yet we all seem to have plenty of food in our cupboards and freezers. Our clothes are all clean ( or could be) and we're not short of a few pounds to spend on our Starbucks and entertainment.
Some of these missionaries are those that have been preaching the false doctrine of Landmarkism ( Baptist Bride) others - those that have refused to separate themselves from the worldly churches and organisations on every hand for the sake of popularity and numbers (of souls in pews). The churches that had been started have been run down to nothing and yet still have pictures of full churches on their websites. Such pastors of such churches should be ashamed of themselves - firstly for preaching false doctrines and secondly for misrepresenting their work abroad in order to 'get' more money from their supporters.
Others yet crying poverty found to their shame that they actually had more money coming in each month than even the wealthiest members of the church!!A member of a church stated that she didn't know how these people could come over to Northern Ireland and have all these 'activities' because of the cost involved.
Yet another 'christian missionary' invites the Mayor of Londonderry to open (again) his church and opens the doors of the church to cater to the orange men of the town. How does this church then intend to reach out to the Roman Catholic souls of the town after this? What astounds me even more is that only a week or two previously the Mayor was represented at the opening of the Gay Pride week in the town whilst Christians from the free Presbyterian church and ourselves protested! How do you reconcile the two? Having studied Pure mathematics, applied mathematics, physics and computers science to degree level - I STILL CAN'T - HELP PLEASE!
To a bible believing bystander like myself there seems to be only one reason; Life is not just as comfortable as it once was (recession) also the people here are not the 'thick micks' that the rest of the world makes us out to be and once we open the Bible for ourselves we can see for ourselves the error that is so plain in their lives. Why does this affect a Bible believing man of God - it doesn't - but when you love money, men and power you will compromise your testimony, your church and your family for it - in fact you'll do just about anything for it. And when the goose stops laying the golden eggs or the going gets just a little to rough, then they just get going.
One of these missionaries at the behest (and much complaint of his family) has left the mission field claiming that it's God's will - after promising all and sundry that he wouldn't do what all the other missionaries had done - leave.
You know what - in retrospect - maybe it is God's will - His people can certainly do without such compromising and money oriented characters 'ministering' to the lost. One missionary has had it so difficult that he will be going home with nearly one quarter of a million dollars in his back pocket - what a tough life they lead!!!!
So we are relieved at last not to have the good name of Christian dragged through the mud and sorely misrepresented.
There are more than enough thinking reasoning people here to start and lead churches so if you are reading this dear saved soul do it.
Stick to the Bible - even if it hurts - and God will bless. Any other way is a fool's errand. Pastors - your pastor is God Himself - not any other member of the congregation. They are supposed to listen to you after you listen to God. Not the other way around.

http://www.bbcib.com/ Editorial

please pray for Bro Paul Forrest's family

2008-08-19T15:25:00.000-07:00

My sister, Brenda, took a turn for the worst during the night. Her heart completely gave out and she passed away last evening after I sent the last email. I talked to the heart doctor immediately after she passed away and her heart would not respond to any kind of electrical shock. Please pray for our family. Brenda was 63, she had no children and was the only sister I had. Bro. Paul Forrest

leave a message and we will pass it on

update

2008-08-14T02:34:00.000-07:00

Update on Brenda my sister, she had some heart problems yesterday but medication took care of the problem and today they took her off the medication. They have washed out the wound on her left shoulder several times and will continue to do so until around Thursday or Friday when they will stitch up the wound. She is still in an induced coma and will be probably until Monday or Tuesday of next week. They are to x-ray her back tomorrow - she is having problems lifting her left leg. She also has two broken ribs. The doctors says that she is a little better today than she was yesterday. Please keep her in your prayers. Bro. Paul

update on the sister of Bro Paul Forrest, Evangelist

2008-08-12T16:23:00.000-07:00

Brenda is still in an induced state of unconsiousness, the doctors want to operate on the shoulder where her left arm was detached from shoulder but are unable at this time because of problems she is having with fluid in her lungs. The doctors Hope tomorrow they will be able to operate. At this point it seems it is still an hour by hour if she will recover. Please continue to pray for her. Bro. Paul

pray for the sister of Bro Paul Forrest, Evangelist

2008-08-11T04:09:00.000-07:00

Early Sunday morning my Sister Brenda who lives near Snow Hill, NC was involved in a single car accident. She was thrown from the car and she lost her left arm all the way up to her shoulder, her blood clotted and she did not bleed all the way out. She is in the hospital in Greenville, NC on a ventilator in a semiconcious state. Please put her on your prayer list and pray for her. Brenda is 62

Samuel Cullen sucking his thumb

2008-07-27T03:00:00.000-07:00

Our Son was born on Thursday the 24th.

Baby Samuel weighs 8 lbs 9 ozs.

My wife and son are doing well and i will post more pictures and update as soon as i can.

That’s Not My Job

2008-07-10T03:43:00.000-07:00

This is a story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, & Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could of done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could of done.

Church day out..

2008-07-08T05:34:00.000-07:00

We had a day out at the Battle of the Somme Museum a few weeks ago. Here are some snaps taken at the Museum.....

Going through the trenches..
The tour guide using Jade as an example of what would happen when young men would sign up for the army...

And here she is all signed up and ready for battle..

After the Museum trip we headed to Church for the service and we got to listen to this preacher. Anyone recognize him?

Then after the service we had a good time of fellowship and of course some food.

The men just love to talk..

And drink tea..

Baptism service 11th June 2008...

2008-06-20T05:06:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of baptising 3 brethren last Wednesday, 1 of whom was my Son. We had to use the baptismal pool at our home Church in Londonderry and it was a blessing to have the company of the folks there but especially to see these 3 people follow Christ in believer's baptism. Here are some pictures of the service....

The Church folks...

The Baptisms...
Our Son Mark who is 7 years old

Bro. David preparing to get baptised

And Bro. Brians turn...

A great time was had by all and we praise God for bro. Brian and David and our Son Mark and the step of faith they took. Amen.