Second Week of Ministry: June 15 - 21

Monday was our day off.  Robert and Sandra Poynton took Katie Manley, Kathy and I to join them for a day at Glendaloch in Co. Wicklow.  It was absolutely beautiful. 

On Friday and Saturday the entire team went to the Irish Bible Institute here in Dublin to attend a seminar on Worship led by Marva Dawn.  Our team gives her presentation a mixed review.  Some of her teaching was helpful to a few of us.  At many points our team members regarded her teaching as controversial or even somewhat offensive.  After the weekend, the IBI seminar became the source of considerable discussion at our team meeting. 

Friday evening prayer meetings continue with 20 to 30 people from various nations around the the world.  These meetings are some of the most inspiring experiences of prayer Kathy and I have ever known. 

Saturday evening the team of interns went to the Boals' home for a barbeque and were engaged in their usual Sunday ministries at Abbey.

But on Saturday afternoon Kathy and I traveled to Portadown to visit Stafford and Patricia Carson, the PCI minister there.  Stafford and I met at the Pastors Summit, a research group in which we participated for two years.   On Sunday morning, Kathy and I attended 1st Portadown, the PCI congregation of which Stafford is the pastor.  Since we've met many of the people in that congregation at our last visit to Ireland in 2006, we feel that we have made friends there.  On Sunday evening I had the opportunity to preach there.     Later that evening, Stafford, Patricia, Kathy and I drove out to Portballintrae on the north coast of Ireland for a brief visit.  Later on Monday we stopped to visit Clive and Carole Kyle, relatives of Michelle Bounds.  Carole Kyle is Patricia Carson's sister!  What a small world!  Unfortunately, I forgot to take photographs of the Kyle family.  But some of you may have the opportunity to meet them, because they will be visiting Shippensburg very soon.