Last year what an amazing week!!  Before setting off we had such high hopes and expectations of what God would do and how He would bless us in Kilkenny and we weren’t disappointed!  From our safe journey down, to the warm and generous welcome we received from the local congregation - it was clear that God really went ahead of us and would meet each of our needs throughout the week as they arose. 

During the week Kilkenny city were hosting their annual arts and crafts festival so the team had ample opportunity to develop their creative talents!!  Each morning was spent in kids’ club (aged 4-13), teaching the children how Jesus is ‘the light of the world’, getting alongside them through lots of fun arts and crafts activities and sharing with them how Jesus has made a difference in our lives and how He can make such a difference in their lives too.

In the afternoons the team headed into the city centre to carry out some street work.  As the team sang on the street, some members handed out Gospel literature and Robin Fairburn (Board Mission Ireland) used his sketch board to preach.  A good number of people stopped to listen and many of the team had significant, meaningful conversations.  We rounded off the week with some door-to-door work with Tom Dowling (Irish Mission worker, Kilkenny).  Though the afternoon sessions were the part of the team everyone had been the most anxious about, we found that as we stepped out of our comfort zones in faith God blessed us so richly and gave us courage and boldness that was far beyond ourselves and our own strength.

Our evening programme began on the Monday night with a time of prayer, in partnership with members of the local congregation, to bring the work before God and seek His blessing.  Other evening events included the screening of the film Amazing Grace, a drop in/arts event for teenagers and an Arts Celebration Concert on the Saturday night.

If it sounds like we had a busy week it’s because we did!  But we wouldn’t have changed a minute of it.  It was our privilege to work alongside a vibrant and growing church in Kilkenny and to see God at work, calling others to Himself and building up His people there.  Roll on 2010!!

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!” Ephesians 3:20-21