Saintfield Branch Profile.
GIVE GOD THE GLORY
How appropriate that we have been asked to contribute to this edition of the magazine as we celebrate our 5th anniversary in 2005!
Later on in the year we are holding a Praise Service.
In due course, an invitation will be issued to each Branch and we do hope you can join us for this special occasion, giving God the glory for the great things he has done.
In this report I shall endeavour to give you a taste of our Branch.
Fellowship over the years has grown as we came to know each member in a personal way, which, after all, is the ethos of DCFI.
MONTHLY RALLY
From October through to June we meet on the 1st Saturday of each month at 3.00 p.m. with a variety of speakers and singers taking part.
We are grateful to Saintfield Baptist Church for the use of their excellent facilities.
NUMBERS
Although we started off quite small, numbers have now built up to around 45–50, with the folk coming from their own homes or residential/nursing homes in the area.
For some it’s the only time they get out so they thoroughly enjoy the meetings and look forward to them.
Great support is also received from our faithful band of helpers, especially where transport is concerned as we don't have access to a minibus.
Praise the Lord for journeying mercies too.
CHRISTMAS PARTY
Over the years our Christmas Parties have been going from strength to strength!
Last year we invited members from Newtownards Male Voice Testimony Choir who brought along with them support from Shankill and Newtownbreda Choirs.
A thoroughly enjoyable day was had by all, along with plenty of good food and fellowship.
OUTINGS
We have had a total of three outings since our commencement.
For the first one we went to Newcastle and had tea in Glenada, stopping off at Brennan's for ice cream on the way back!
On the second outing we toured the Co. Down coast and had lunch in Greyabbey.
This year we decided on something closer to home, holding a picnic in Rowallane Gardens just a few hundred yards along the road – it was too good a day to sit in a coach as the weather was superb.
HOLIDAY HOME
Three of our members regularly attend the holiday home, sometimes twice or three times a year, and in fact two have been saved while on these holidays.
Bobby Potts is one of them and you can read his interview in this magazine.
So, with this encouragement we decided to have our first Branch holiday.
Special thanks go to Dessie and Margaret Russell, who since joining Saintfield Branch have been a great encouragement to us.
They were hosts to around 15 people who took part in the 5 day break in March of this year and all thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
Those who went brought back glowing reports of the food, accommodation and fellowship.
So we look forward to planning the same again next year!
PRAISE SERVICE
As we look back over the past five years we want to celebrate His goodness to us.
Please endeavour to join us on Friday 30th September at 8.00 p.m. and enjoy fellowship with us.
Trusting in the Lord for the future.
CAROL CHESNEY
Branch Secretary.