Day Four: County Louth
Monday 4 April
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 Four: A heart for young people!
Around 80% of the adults members of the vibrant Redeemed Christian Church of God “Seat of Mercy” parish in Drogheda, County Louth are frontline workers but so far not one of them has contracted Covid-19. “To God be the glory!” smiles Tosin Popoola who co-pastors the church with her husband Kayode. As a congregation, they are aware of God’s faithfulness and protection through this time.
On day four of this year’s Finding Faith Tour, I caught up with Tosin over Zoom and I was immediately struck her joyful perspective. “Of course, we are looking forward to coming back together but sincerely the only thing we are really missing is physically gathering together,” she says.
There are over 100 children and young people in the Drogheda church and on a normal Sunday, around 180 to 200 people gather for worship. Since the lockdown, the church has been meeting over Zoom. “We have a fantastic choir and some of the worship leaders have children who play instruments so they lead us from their homes and you can see everybody joining in, dancing and singing!” Tosin said. People have even joined the service who have never been to the church before.
The church has continuous times of prayer and fasting every Tuesday and Thursday with a special 7-day prayer focus for healing of those affected by the pandemic. “I’m surprised how enthusiastic people are about prayer [when it is not possible to can’t gather together physically]. Every week, we are fasting and praying for our youth.”
“As a nation, God is asking us to come back to our first love, to humble ourselves and pray!”
In more “normal” times, the church organises a Valentine’s Ball and an annual “Hallelujah Party” (at Halloween) for the young people. The youth leaders are trained in safeTALK and some of the young people have helped to raise money for Suicide Prevention Charity SoSAD. The young people often look at Tosin and Kayode as a mother and father figure in their lives.
Tosin’s passionate concern for the youth is evident as she describes the pressures some of the young people have been facing because of the uncertainty about Junior Cert and Leaving Cert exams.
“My youngest daughter is preparing for her Leaving Cert this year, so I really empathise with them. We are bringing in a trained counsellor to talk with them on May 16 to help them to deal with their anxiety and their questions.
“They are happy that I can call them and at least we can see each other on the screen,” Tosin adds.
