Wednesday at the Bible Week
The hall was silent last night as Gloria Kwashi shared the story of her ordeal at the hands of a gang who had come to kill her husband. On that occasion Gloria was also dragged through the streets to the diocesan offices which they proceeded to ransack and rob. She was left blind until an operation in Texas restored her sight.
In a moving testimony, she expressed her thankfulness for God's grace throughout and shared about the power of forgiveness. Archbishop Ben acknowledged the wonderful gift God had given him in Gloria who had paid a high price for his uncompromising preaching.
Bishop Ben shared about his miraculous delivery during a second attempt on his life and went on to preach from Jude 1:14-16, read by Rt Hon Jeffrey Donaldson MP MLA, (DUP). Ben challenged us to a joyful, wholehearted committment and a willingness to sacrifice, even die for the Gospel. "Be like Enoch," he said, " who walked with God."
At a reception before the meeting, office bearers in Down and Dromore Mother's Union listened as Mama Gloria shared about MU in Nigeria. We heard about a dynamic, deeply spiritual organisation that performs a vital role in that society (and has a lovely uniform!). Diocesan President, Roberta Rogers, shared about the ways in which Down and Dromore MU is engaging with the needy here in Northern Ireland. She then presented a Gloria with a gift of tiny baby knits, made by MU members for babies in neo natal units.
Tonight is the last chance to join us at Bishop's Bible Week and we hope you'll take the opportunity for teaching and fellowship.