Day Twenty-One: County Monaghan
Thursday 21 May
The annual VOX magazine Finding Faith Tour looks very different this year. Instead of a 7-day road trip around the island, this year VOX editor Ruth Garvey-Williams brings you highlights from all 32 counties (one per day plus one for each of the 31 days in May). Contact Ruth if you have a story to share.
Day 21: A Time of Flourishing
Exciting and unexpected opportunities have opened up for Presbyterian minister, Rev Stephen McNie and his congregation in Monaghan during the pandemic. With four tech-savvy members of the congregation, the church was able to move to live streaming (on Facebook and YouTube) with relative ease.
And through the online services, new people are tuning in to watch and engage. “One guy phoned me after watching a service and expressed his desire to become a Christian. He has a church connection but had never come to that point but since then he has reached out to his pastor and fellow church members with the news!” Stephen shared.
“People have a new appetite for spiritual things.”
A member of the congregation began inviting his work colleagues to watch the live stream. All five of them tuned in and two have continued to do so every week, opening up new conversations about God! “This has broken down barriers and started something meaningful in the workplace,” Stephen said.
“For me personally, the scripture that has been speaking to me is 1 Peter 1:3-9. We have a living hope through Jesus and in this time of trial, our faith is refined and proved genuine. I’m seeing our church showing greater love during these difficult times. And I’ve seen people whose nominal faith is being challenged as they ask, ‘Where am I spiritually?’ I’ve been talking to people who have recommitted their lives to the Lord. They felt as if they had been playing at church, but now have come to know Christ for themselves.
“The pandemic is pushing us in new directions and through these trials we are seeing a flourishing among our church members,” Stephen added.
