Coleraine Branch Profile.
, , A branch of Disabled Christians' Fellowship has been formed and will be commencing on Saturday April 12th at 2.30 pm in Mountfern Adult Centre, Coleraine",
So read the report in Coleraine Chronicle on April 5th 1986, under the heading Disabled Christians Fellowship for Coleraine.
The photo to the left shows my two daughters, age 7 and 9, who were there to help on that very first day. Emma, now 24, lives in Brazil, and Carol, age 27, is married and living in Edinburgh, but their Mum is still a helper in the Coleraine Branch!
God set His seal on the formation of the Branch over 17 years ago by saving a lady who was an M.S. sufferer. She is still with us and enjoys the meetings month by month.
Though there have been many changes over the years, - only two of the original committee members remain, our venue has changed three times, and many of our members have died, become housebound, or moved elsewhere, - D.C.F. is still an important event on many people's calendars.
We have always had the use of two Social Services buses, which are well filled each month. Others fill their cars and by 2.30 pm our Chairman, Mr Brian Cargin, is leading the hymn singing.
Visiting singers - or sometimes our own home grown talent - and local ministers and laymen give us a varied programme month by month. As the Gospel is sounded out clearly, our constant prayer is that God's faithful Holy Spirit will apply it to individual hearts and needs. Everyone enjoys the tea and goodies after the meetings. These are served by the ever-growing team of willing, smiling helpers.
For many years, our greatest prayer need was for male helpers, but this has been reversed over the last 18 months.
We praise God for a group of 15 or more dedicated men and women who work together in harmony for the glory of God.
Each year in June we enjoy a visit to the T.B.F. Thompson Centre in Garvagh for our annual outing. It's a brilliant venue for a rainy day! Our second photo shows a group from our Branch enjoying a week's holiday in the Holiday Home in Newcastle earlier this year.
YVONNE STEWART.