A much-anticipated Sabbath at the Larne church in the Irish Mission (Northern Ireland) took place on 27 May 2023 and became a high day of fellowship for members and guests.
Larne's regular worshippers are usually fewer than ten on average, so when members from the Filipino Adventist church in Belfast visited, the church overflowed, increasing the membership sevenfold. Cars were bumper to bumper in the car park, with every slot taken.
Among the congregation was a Fijian family and several members from Kenya. We had visitors from the Coleraine church. They brought encouragement to a dwindling church. The intended simple visit became a thrilling mountain-top mini-day of fellowship.
Interim church minister, Pastor Claude Lombart, taught the Sabbath School and preached on the 'Power of Intimate Love from and for God'. Several joyful and uplifting musical items showcasing the giftedness of children, youth and adults interspersed the Sabbath School and the worship service. An abundance of mouth-watering dishes followed the solid spiritual food in Word, prayer, songs and music.
An Irish brother who had attended the church for a few years felt touched by the sermon. He approached the pastor afterwards, asking to become a member through a profession of faith since he was baptised by immersion in his late teens in a Bible-believing church.
The day's joy made it feel like the fellowship and worship experience ended too soon, but it lingered. They promised to come again. We can't wait for a repeat. Nothing can beat praising God and bonding as an international, loving and caring church family.