Our campaign runs under the title, ‘Doing Something More For God.’It is interesting to note that when word “more” is used in New Testament, it often relates to prayer. For example, in:• Matthew 20:31: “And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, Thou Son of David.” • Luke 22:44: “And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”If you are asking the question, “What can I do to help this project along?” we can provide no better answer than to direct you to offer more prayer. No work of God is ever accomplished without earnest and intense prayer.• Brownlow North, one of the preachers who became a favoured instrument in the hands of God during the 1859 Revival, wrote a series of ‘Six Short Rules For Young Christians.’ Significantly, his first rule is: “Never neglect daily private prayer; and when you pray, remember that God is present, and that He hears your prayers (Hebrews 11:6).”• When a few young men from Connor Presbyterian Church were stirred by their minister Rev. J. H. Moore to, “Do something more for God,” they commenced a Sunday School, followed by a Bible Class for the parents of the children, and then a prayer meeting that became the harbinger of the 1859 Revival. These young men (James McQuilkin, John Wallace, Robert Carlisle and Jeremiah Meneely), majored on three truths when they met in the Schoolhouse in Kells and prayed for revival: - the Sovereignty of the Holy Spirit, - the sufficiency of the Holy Scripture, - and the secret of Holy Supplication.They were greatly encouraged by what God had done through the prayers of George Muller; in fact James McQuilkin encouraged his companions to persist in prayer by issuing this challenge,
“Why may we not have such a blessed work here, seeing that God did such great things for Mr Muller, simply in answer to prayer.” Reading what was available of George Muller’s book at that time, ‘The Narrative of the Lord's Dealings with George Muller,’ they too learned the secret of true intercession and, “the Spirit of God came pouring into this newly-opened channel. ‘Christ and the Cross’ became the one absorbing theme of the gathering ... .”Soon their prayer meeting was thronged and many new ones were established. So many people were converted in that district that by spring 1859 there were an average of 16 prayer meetings each night of the week in Connor parish alone. With tremendous speed the Spirit of God spread His power to Kellswater, Ahoghill, Dramaul, Portglenone, Ballymena, Broughshane and Ballyclare. Before long, almost the whole of Ulster was caught up in the visitation of grace that ultimately resulted in the conversion of 100,000 souls. Let us give ourselves to prayer for this venture in 2009, pleading such promises as are found in Ezekiel 36:37-38:“Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock. As the holy flock, as the flock of Jerusalem in her solemn feasts; so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of men: and they shall know that I am the LORD.”
A central part of our 'Consider Christ' Campaign for September/October 09 is to distribute over 1,000,000 pieces of Gospel literature across Northern Ireland.
We intend to accomplish this in two legs:
(i) Using the Royal Mail 'Door-to-Door' Service, we aim to put one gospel tract based on our Saviour's words in John 14:6 into every home in the country.
This means all 740,000+ residential properties will be covered – something we have never done before!
The cost for delivery alone is £39 per 1000 leaflets (provided the leaflets are under 20 grammes).
(ii) 250,000+ copies of a second tract is to be printed.
This will be different from the first, and will be given to our congregations (churches are completing Order Forms for this tract at the moment, having decided how many they will require to cover as much of their area as possible).
PERSONAL INVOLVEMENT
Rather than having Royal Mail to do 'all the work,' we thought it would be good to give our people opportunity for personal involvement. These tracts will have a space on the back that will allow each local church to advertise their own service times / special meetings / gospel mission. It may be that you will be interested in volunteering to design / print a small label to fit this space; others can assemble at the church and position the stickers, therefore ensuring greater involvement in this crusade.
Initially, the cost for 1,000,000+ had been set at £27,500.
I must pay tribute to others who had 'travelled the second mile' to cut this cost for us: two printers had offered to do the work for us at cost ... approximately £10,000.
However, I returned a phone call to a representative of the 'Every Home Crusade' last week ... and was delighted (too weak a word!) to be told that if we would be happy with Every Home Crusade helping us with our Campaign and, at the same time, fulfilling their vision to place gospel literature into every home in the province, they are willing to print all 1,000,000 tracts at absolutely no charge to us!!
REJOICE!
We praise God for this amazing development, and would encourage our churches to consider hosting a deputation meeting for 'Every Home Crusade' as soon as practicably possible.
This immense saving will now allow us to strengthen the 'weakest' part of our Campaign at the moment – the billboards.
"Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits" (Psalm 103:1-2).
Brownlow North was greatly used of God in the great 1859 Revival that swept Ulster.
His grandfather was the Bishop of Winchester, who was the son of Lord North, and once Prime Minister of England. Though of noble stock, Brownlow North was a godless young man.
"For forty-four years of my life," he tells us, "my object was to pass time pleasantly; so long as the day was spent agreeably I was satisfied."
In 1854, God laid him low with a severe illness - and then raised him to life eternal, and propelled him forward to successfully labour for Christ. He became one of the most popular preachers in Ulster in 1859.
'The Rich Man And Lazarus'
A book by him that travels under the title, 'The Rich Man and Lazarus,' is a collection of the sermons that he preached during that great awakening in 1859. (You could pick a copy up from the internet - a worthwhile read, especially in this 150th anniversary year of the Revival).
Six Short Rules For Young Christians
Brownlow North authored, 'Six Short Rules For Young Christians.' In the light of our current Campaign, Rule#3 is particularly relevant: - Never neglect daily private prayer; and when you pray, remember that God is present, and that He hears your prayers. (Hebrews 11:6).
- Never neglect daily private Bible reading; and when you read remember that God is speaking to you, and that you are to believe and act upon what He says. I believe all backsliding begins with the neglect of these two rules. (John 5:39).
- Never let a day pass without trying to do something for Jesus. Every night reflect on what Jesus has done for you, and then ask yourself, "What am I doing for Him"? (Matthew 5: 13-16)
- If you are in doubt as to a thing being right or wrong, go to your room and kneel down and ask God's blessing on it. (Colossians 3:17). If you cannot do this, it is wrong (Romans 16:23).
- Never take your Christianity from Christians, or argue that because such and such people do so and so, therefore, you may (2 Corinthians 10:12). You are to ask yourself, "How would Christ act in my place"? And strive to follow Him (John 10:27)
- Never believe what you feel, if it contradicts God's Word. Ask yourself, "Can what I feel be true if God's Word is true"? And if BOTH cannot be true, believe God and make your own heart the liar. (Romans 3:4; 1 John 5:10-11).
(Special thanks to our Treasurer for this Campaign - and church historian, Mr David Browne, for supplying me with the above info).
The title of a message uploaded to Sermon Audio today caught my eye.
In the light of the Presbytery Campaign, the minister of our Ballymoney congregation, Rev. David Park, has taken the theme, 'Doing Something More For God.'
Using Acts 9:6 as his text, and covering the main headings:
1. The REALISATION that should be Felt;
2. The VARIATION that should be Known;
3. The SUPPLICATION that should be Made;
Rev. Park urges God's people to go further in our labours for the Lord this year. Plus he suggests some very practical ways in which we can 'Do Something More For God.'
Take some time today to tune in to this most profitable message.
Testing out some banner and shop ad sizes at Lisburn today are two members of our organising committee, Revs. Robert Ormerod and David McLaughlin.
NB. The banners/posters shown are not for our campaign - these were provided to us as test sizes! Also, our banners will be longer and deeper than the one in the photo.....(promise!).
When the Campaign launches on Monday, 7 September 2009, eight billboard sites in Belfast will be displaying our message.
Given the fact that we plan to hold Regional Rallies, not only in Belfast, but also in Londonderry, Armagh, Enniskillen, Ballymena, Newry, Lisburn and Dungannon, can anyone familiar with these areas suggest a prime site(s) for billboards either in - or leading into - these locations?
If you are aware of an excellent site, please note down the billboard sponsor (Clear Channel, CBS, etc.) and post the details of location up here.
These information leaflets were distributed at Presbytery on Friday night past. They outline the Plan of Action for our Outreach Endeavour in September/October.
Our campaign runs under the title, ‘Doing Something More For God.’
