Launch of RELENTLESS PRAYER in Lisburn

Wednesday February 10th 2016

Rev Canon Sam Wright (right) and members of Lisburn Cathedral pictured at the launch of ‘RELENTLESS PRAYER’ at Trinity Methodist Church on Tuesday 9th February. Included is the Rev Simon Genoe, Vicar (left).

Churches in Lisburn launched ‘RELENTLESS PRAYER’ at Trinity Methodist Church on Tuesday evening February 9.

From Wednesday February 10 until Easter Sunday (March 27) churches across the denominations will join together in 40 days and 40 nights of constant prayer for the City of Lisburn and its people and will pray on a wide range of subjects including business, education, health and emergency services.

The 18 churches taking part are First Lisburn, Railway Street, Harmony Hill, Legacurry, Hillhall and Hillsborough Presbyterian Churches; Lisburn Cathedral, Christ Church, St Paul’s and Derryvolgie Parish Churches; Seymour Street and Trinity Methodist Churches; St Patrick’s and St Colman’s Roman Catholic Churches; Lisburn Christian Fellowship; Lisburn City Church; Mount Zion Community Church, and Lagan Valley Vineyard.

Rev Simon Genoe (Vicar at Lisburn Cathedral) pictured giving a short address at the launch of ‘RELENTLESS PRAYER’ at Trinity Methodist Church on February 9.

The special guest at the launch was Councillor Thomas Beckett (Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council).

In a challenging address, the Rev Simon Genoe (Vicar at Lisburn Cathedral) spoke of the need for a Vision of Christ, the Church and the City. Simon, who has been instrumental in organising the project said: “This is the most significant gathering of local churches for many years.

“We are hoping people will visit different churches and everyone is welcome to call in at any time to pray for as long or as short a time as they can. Each church will have a prayer room set up and there will be a host of stimuli to help people to focus their attention. along with ‘prayer champions’ who are helping to co-ordinate the prayer time slots in each church to make sure every minute of the 40 days and nights is covered.”

Pictured at the launch of ‘RELENTLESS PRAYER’ are clergy and church leaders from some of the 18 churches taking part in the project. Included is Councillor Thomas Beckett (Mayor of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council).

The Chairman of the Lisburn City Centre Ministers’ Fellowship, the Rev Paul Dundas (Rector of Christ Church Parish) said: “Lisburn churches have been working more closely in recent years and ‘RELENTLESS PRAYER’ was the next step in that bond.

“The ‘Christians Against Poverty’ centre and the ‘Foodbank’ at Lisburn City Church have involved a number of churches in Lisburn and we wanted to see how we could be even more of a part of the city. With help from Prayer 24-7, we were inspired to say that we want to see God’s blessings for our city.”

Rev Paul Dundas (right) and members of Christ Church Parish pictured at the launch of ‘RELENTLESS PRAYER.’ Included are the Rev John Pickering (Senior Minister) and the Rev Julie Bell (Curate).

Trinity Methodist Church will be hosting the first three days of prayer, from Wednesday February 10 and Seymour Street Methodist Church will then take the baton from Friday February 12 followed by St Paul’s Parish on Tuesday February 16, Derryvolgie Parish on Friday February 19 and First Lisburn Presbyterian Church on Saturday February 20. Other churches and dates will be finalised soon.

Report and Photographs by John Kelly