Profile of North Belfast Branch.
HISTORY
In 1971, the late Rev Dr John Girvan, then minister of the recently formed congregation of Immanuel, after speaking at a DCF meeting thought it would be an idea to
commence a Branch in the North Belfast area.
Thirty-one years later our Branch still meets on the first Saturday of each month in Immanuel Presbyterian Church Halls, Crimea Street, off the Crumlin Road.
During this time there have been 3 chairmen, the first was Ronnie McWatters, who was also a Regional Chairman.
He was followed by the late Alfie Griffiths and the present chairman is Tom Johnston.
MEMBERSHIP
We have a membership of 38 with an average attendance at the meeting of 31.
There are 12 enthusiastic helpers/drivers without whom our Branch could not function.
We are grateful to North and West Belfast Trust who give us the use of minibuses without which we could not get our wheelchair users to the meetings.
Our membership is drawn from the greater Shankill area, Oldpark Road, Crumlin Road, Shore Road and Glengormley.
We are thankful for those of our members who know Christ as their own and personal Saviour and pray for those who as yet don't know Christ that they may come to saving faith in Him.
ACTIVITIES
We invite local clergy to speak at our meetings and try to encourage them to get any disabled people they know to join our Branch.
"Our Daily Bread" Bible Notes are distributed to our members and throughout the year some members take part in the meetings.
OUTINGS
Although we don't have a holiday to the Holiday Home, some of our members are regular visitors to the Home.
We remember the Home and our Director, David Goode, in our prayers at our monthly meeting and encourage our members to pray for the wider work of D.C.F.
Our annual outing is in June and this year we are planning to go to Whitehead, with our tea in Carrick Elim Church who kindly allow us the use of their halls.
We thank God for His goodness to us.