‘Christianity Explored’

LISBURN is in the spotlight not only when it comes to the concentration of churches in the city and surrounding countryside but also more and more local people are now seeing the value of exploring what Christianity is all about.
By The Newsroom
Published 17th Mar 2013, 12:37 BST
The Christianity Explored course in progress in Sloan Street Presbyterian church hallThe Christianity Explored course in progress in Sloan Street Presbyterian church hall
The Christianity Explored course in progress in Sloan Street Presbyterian church hall

Around a dozen of Lisburn’s churches have already run the ‘One Life’ Christianity Explored (CE) programme and two of them are currently in the process of completing it.

Sloan Street Presbyterian church and Lisburn Baptist in Longstone Street offered the programme to their church members and the public from January.

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Presbyterian minister, Rev Andrew Faulkner, said: “Sunday evenings have been great, around 80 people have come each time and the course lends itself to discussion in a very easy, accessible way. Life is tough for many people and it has been wonderful to see the way that Jesus provides answers for us.”

One local participant said: “I’m not a Christian but really enjoyed CE. I learned a lot and it made me think. Things are now more clear.”

Another added: “It has been really encouraging to see how people have been opening up to each other in the discussions, and how the familiar stories from the Bible have come to life.”

The organisers at Lisburn Baptist have been very encouraged by the interest and attendance on Wednesday evenings, even though their normal weekly Bible Study is running parallel with it.

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Victor Watson explained: “God has been so good! We have had a tremendous team of a dozen members dedicated to answering questions posed by guests about life, God, and especially the person and mission of Jesus Christ. It’s clear that our society is confused on such issues and a biblical answer brings a sense of relief and stimulates hope in people today.”

Alastair Magill, one of the elders at Lisburn Baptist observed: “We are having approximately 40 people attend on Wednesday evenings, which begin with a meal followed by a DVD and Bible discussion on the Gospel of Mark.”

He added: “We have seen from the Bible and from personal experience that like the apostle Peter, recognising who Jesus Christ is and trusting in Him, changes lives and brings forgiveness and hope to many in a difficult world. We all need God’s forgiveness and we have seen that this is possible only through Christ’s death on the cross.”

One guest remarked about participants at their table: “We are not here by accident. God has brought us here and we have all helped each other - we have so many experiences in common, it could only have been God.”

Christianity Explored was developed by Rico Tice of All Souls Anglican church in London and it is now known to be running in over 80 countries, including 30 prisons.

Related topics:Lisburn