Ramy and I have been spending a couple of nights a week in one of the pubs recently, partly to try and connect with some people who we wouldn’t meet otherwise, and partly so I can beat him at pool and make him feel bad (I can write that here because he can’t get back at me).

Its been good fun and we’ve met a few characters, let me introduce a few.

A couple of weeks ago we walked in and 3 ladies were sitting at one end of the bar, they seemed in good form. After a couple of minutes they called us over, and asked us where we were from as we looked like visitors. Although slightly insulted (I live all of 2 minutes away), I said Bangor and Ramy said “Lebanon”. One of the ladies said “Where’s that?”, he said near Israel, she said “Where’s that?”. 

He changed tack.

“Have you ever heard of Beirut?”.

“Beirut - of course I’ve heard of Beirut. The Shankill is Beirut!”.

I don’t think either of us was expecting that answer. Anyway, we laughed, we talked some more and then Ramy beat me at pool (I know its hard to believe…).

We’ve seen these ladies a few more times since, and they’re always up for a chat. About a week later after the Beirut incident, then shouted at us from across the bar “Youse are Christians aren’t you?” - they really know how to offend me. We ended up having a chat about church and stuff, which was pretty cool. Hopefully we’ll get to have a few more chats like that with them.

I’m trying to not name them, or give away too much info, but there are 3 of them, and they would love it if you would pray them into Jesus’ kingdom (in a pre-destined, future would love it kind of way.)

Ryan

We had a great night last night in our well.

As usual we met together for dinner, but we had decided to set aside time this week to talk about our hopes for what we can do around the Shankill, and to see if there are things we can achieve together. Its exciting when people want the same things, and it feels like it matches up…

So over the next while we’re going to start exploring things like gardening (no joke), tutoring school subjects, and working with kids with special needs among other things… Watch this space for developments - we may need help!!

I wasn’t going to post about that… you just got lucky.

The point of posting was because I realised that I hadn’t given you an update on St. Luke’s in a while.

We’ve been asked to return the keys to St. Stephen’s at the end of the year, so they can persue their refurbishment. In one sense its disappointing, but having had a bit of time to mull it over, it frees us (me) to get on with being relational here…

So there you go.

See you on Sunday evening for the first ever Wells joint gathering thing… Can’t wait.

Ryan

A few months ago the minister of Woodvale Methodist Church, Margaret Ferguson, had the idea of getting the youth from all the churches on the Shankill together for a monthly worship and teaching service. Having the idea is one thing, but actually making it happen is something entirely different. She has tireless worked on contacting and involving each of the 40+ churches on the Shankill road and getting them involved in this event called Engage. No one has ever managed to make something like this happen around here before.

Last night we had the privilege of organising the second event in St. Michael’s Church of Ireland halls. The night was themed around prayer, and we invited Alain Emerson from 24-7 Prayer Ireland to come and speak. 

Around 200 kids turned up and we worshipped together and it was amazing - it reminded me of what Psalm 133 says - “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity“.

With the help of Richard (from the Moneyrea well), Christina and Charles we led the worship before Alain came and shared a very challenging message.

The night was topped off with some hot dogs provided by St. Michael’s - food is always a good way to end a night!

Its great to have begun working here at a time when God is clearly beginning to move His people to work together and seek to bring the Kingdom to the Shankill. These are exciting times!

Ryan

We officially began gathering people together a couple of months ago now, but God has been gathering people to this place long before we ever thought about it. Erin, Lidia and others have been living and working on the Shankill Road for 5 years or more…

So really what we did is bring together the people who are working in this place, to support each other, encourage each other, and inspire each other to reach out more into this community. So far that looks a bit like dinner once every couple of weeks, when we share food and share what God has been doing in each of our journeys. We also try and meet up in pairs weekly to disciple and support each other in a more personal way.

Straight after Summer Madness we were lucky to have a group of people come to help us do some intentional mission for a week, which we called FWD (Faith With Deeds). Rather than follow the normal StreetReach approach of cleaning up, we decided to focus on starting relationships that could be followed up in the weeks, months and years to come… So we knocked on peoples doors and asked to chat and pray with them. To be honest at the start of the week I was dreading asking people to do it, as I felt like it would never work. At the end of the week I was amazed at how willing people had been to let us come into their homes and share with us a little of their story.

We also ran some community barbecues in the evening times, which brought along loads of people that we had never had the chance to connect with before - so hopefully we will get the opportunity to see them again.

During the week we met a teenager called Mickey, and Dave got quite friendly with him. After FWD ended Dave kept up the relationship and invited him along to some things that Dave goes to - he was pretty relentless! I got a text a week or so after FWD to say that Mickey had become a Christian - God is amazing! I’m looking forward to watching and supporting him on his journey with Jesus over the coming years…

We’ve got the keys to St. Luke’s church, which we’re using for times of 24/7 prayer. To be honest I’m not sure where that fits with this, or if indeed it might become into its own thing - only time will tell.

That brings us up to now I guess.

We’re starting to grow a little community of people who love each other and want to support each other; and who love the Shankill and want to see it transformed by Jesus. This blog is to help you be part of our journey - the highs and lows, the good times and the bad, the excitement and the boredom that will define our story in the days, weeks and months to come. 

I’ll not be the only one posting, hopefully we’ll all chip in with our bit of the story.

Don’t be a stranger - check back soon,
Ryan