An

Evangelistic Adventure

in

DUBLIN

A Report to the Irish Mission and British Union

Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church

CITYOFHOPE

Compiled by Pr David Neal

2016 Irish Mission of Seventh-day Adventist Church

CITYOFHOPE

Irish Mission President: Pr David Neal

Graphic Design: Lydia Hamblin
Editorial Consultant: Weiers Coetser, Communication
Director, Irish Mision

CONTENTS
12
2013 & 2014
12 Planning and Preparation

13 Prayer Without Ceasing: By Gavin Anthony

15 Exhibit: The Zechariah Project Programme:
By Gavin Anthony

17 The Ranelagh Building Crisis

06

18

Introduction

Spring 2014

06 Not by Might, Nor by Strength, But by my Spirit:

18 Jesus 7 North, South, East and West

A message from David Neal

07 United in Spirit, United in Prayer, United in Mission:

08
09
10

A message from Mark Finley

The Citizens Obedience is the Citys Happiness:
A message from Ian Sweeney

Evangelism Partners

Greed is the Knife, and the Scars Run Deep

11 Effective Evangelism and The Promise of

Pentecost Again

21 Drumcondra and Ringsend Community Focus

22 Exhibit: Ringsend Health Expo

Exhibit: Brain Power Seminar

24 Exhibit: Heroes Academy

25 Living Living Life to the Full: May 17th 26th

27 Exhibit: Living Life to the Full

28 Irish Mission Field School of Evangelism:

By Llew Edwards

30

46

Summer 2014

2015

30 Seminar & Street Work

46 Sowing and Growing Again

31 Exhibit: Beyond the Burden of Proof

47 A Journey of a Thousand Miles:

By Edith Samambwa

48 In Consultation: By Sharon Platt-McDonald

50 CREATION Health
51 West Dublin Calls
52 Im Scared of Jesus
54 Exhibit: A Man for All Time
56 When Angels Dance!
58 The Pastors Perspective Round-Table Discussion

32

61

Autumn 2014

Recommendations

32 Dubliners Investigate Eternity

61 What We Could Have Done Better

34

62 Tough Questions about God: By Victor Hulbert

Ancient Discoveries First night

35 Competing with the Champions

63 A Church Building for for North / West Dublin

37 A Bus Ride with Destiny (Mark Finley)

64

38 Dublin Concludes Most Ambitious

Campaign for a Generation

40 Exhibit: Ancient Discoveries

43 Exhibit: Nightly Schedule
44 The Follow-Up Challenge
45 Exhibit: Discovery Bible Seminars

Resources
64 Evangelistic Materials
65 Value for Money?
66 Gratitude
67 The Longer View and an Appeal

NOT BY MIGHT,
NOR BY STRENGTH,
BUT BY MY SPIRIT
By David Neal
President, Irish Mission
The three year Dublin City of Hope project from 2013-2015 was a landmark experience for the Irish Mission,
which I believe could only have come about as a result of the Lords timing. While city-wide evangelism
projects have been frequent and familiar in British Union Conference cities such as London, Birmingham and
Manchester, such was never deemed possible in a Mission context.
That is until the General Conference launched its Mission to the Cities programme in 2012, a refocusing of
evangelistic emphasis to urban communities. The aim was to share Jesus love and soon return with people in
some of the worlds great urban cities, particularly focusing on those with a population of over 1 million. The
2011 Irish Census recorded the population of Greater Dublin at 1.8 million. With a surge of Adventist members
into Dublin between 2000 2010 from Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and South America, who brought with
them the holy aspiration to connect with their new neighbours and friends, was this a door the Lord opened,
that no one could shut? Combine that with the willingness and availability of Mark and Teenie Finley, and the
British Union Conference to provide substantial financial support it became clear that the timing was just
right.
This report is the story of how we worked together in partnership with the Lord over the past three years. It is
also a statement of account. Blessed by a wealth of committed people and financial resources, were they used
to good effect? What is the outcome of our labour? What lessons have we learned? And where does the church
in Dublin and for that matter the wider Irish Mission go from here?
Through all the dreaming, the planning, and the delivery of Dublin City of Hope, we were ever sensitive
and thankful to God that this was a project in His name. We praise Him and give thanks for everyone who
participated and supported, pastor, elder, member, and guest. But above all we praise Him for His Spirit
hovering over Dublin, stirring men and women, boys and girls to make Christ the Lord of their lives.
Not by might, nor by strength, but by my spirit, says the Lord of hosts (Zechariah 4:6).

UNITED IN SPIRIT,
UNITED IN PRAYER,
UNITED IN MISSION

By Mark A. Finley

Dublin is the largest city in Ireland. With its population of nearly two million people in greater Dublin, this
traditionally Irish Catholic city, has presented a formidable challenge for Seventh-day Adventist mission.
When Pastor David Neal, the president of the Irish Mission, invited my wife Teenie and me to visit Dublin
to consider the possibility of conducting an evangelistic series there, we clearly recognized the significant
challenges of evangelism in this sophisticated, cultured, secular European city. We knew that the Holy Spirit
would have to move powerfully if we were going to see results for the kingdom of God.
After our first visit to Dublin in 2012 we were convinced that there were certain necessary factors in place to set
the stage for God to do something extraordinary. The Irish Mission leadership, the Dublin pastors and church
members were focused on mission. They believed God was at work in Dublin and evangelism was possible.
Without this necessary ingredient I am convinced the results would have been minimal. Another factor that
contributed to the ultimate success of the meetings was the willingness on the part of the evangelistic team
and the church members to launch a multi-faceted, comprehensive outreach approach. No one initiative or
program generated hundreds of interested people but the varied programs produced significant interest from
people who were spiritual seekers.
The success of the Dublin City of Hope series was the result of the Holy Spirits blessing on pastors and
members involved in a multi-faceted, comprehensive outreach approach. There were prayer initiatives,
lay training seminars, Bible study and literature outreaches conducted. Health, finance, and archaeology
seminars were launched. Local Adventist pastors held baptismal classes for interested people for weeks before
the evangelistic meetings ever began. The city was saturated with tens of thousands of advertisements for the
major evangelistic series conducted in a prominent hotel facility in one of the best parts of the city.
Follow-up meetings, continuing seminars and Bible studies with interested people were conducted for months
after the series ended.
In reflecting on what God did in Dublin, I have had this one reoccurring thought. The Holy Spirit powerfully blesses
a united church that focuses on mission. Although there were many things we could have done better, the team was
united in spirit, united in prayer and united in mission together. We focused on the possibilities in Europe not the
impossibilities. The power of God blessed our combined efforts to the
glory of His name and an abundant harvest was reaped for His kingdom.

THE CITIZENS
OBEDIENCE IS THE
CITYS HAPPINESS
By Ian Sweeney
Pastor and President, British Union Conference

The Dublin city motto is obedientia civium urbis felicitas, which means, The citizens obedience is the
citys happiness. There have been calls in recent times for this motto to be modernised and changed so that
the citys motto reflects a more diverse and inclusive society as opposed to this mottos rather authoritarian
tone.
Dubliners will no doubt continue to debate the issue of obedience and its relationship to happiness. Meanwhile,
the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the British Union Conference has experienced a wonderful joy and
happiness in being obedient to the mandate of Christ (Matthew 28:19, 20), which has led to the Holy Spirit
in choosing the city of Dublin to be our focus city for the Mission to the Cities (MTTC) initiative. It has been
tremendous to see the many lives that have been impacted by the hard work and spirit led activity of the
members, pastoral team as well as Pastor Mark & Sister Teenie Finley and their team.
Dublin is a wonderful city, but I believe that now it is being made an even more incredible place by the impact
that the Seventh-day Adventist Church has and continues to make.
The hymn writer John H. Sammis could say it no better than when he penned the words, Trust and obey, for
theres no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

EVANGELISM PARTNERS
Dublin Members
Dublin Ministerial Team
Irish Mission Ministerial Team
Irish Mission Executive Committee
The Stanborough Press
British Union Conference
Trans-European Division
General Conference
Emerald Foundation
Adventist Frontier Missions
AdventistLaymens Service & Industries

GREED IS THE
KNIFE, AND THE
SCARS RUN DEEP.

The deepest scar of all was the loss of trust in the state
church and its clergy. Not only was private faith in
shock, but the once unshakable relationship between
church and state also broke down. By 2011 Taoiseach
(Prime Minister) Enda Kenny did the unthinkable in
challenging head-on those running matters spiritual.
With a deep sense of outrage he described the church
as full of elitism, dysfunction, disconnection, and
narcissism, whose only interest when called to
account was to uphold instead the primacy of the
institution, its power, standing and reputation.
With personal faith in the church shattered and broken
in the psyche of the nation, why would a Dubliner
ever again trust anyone claiming to speak on behalf
of God?

That was the challenge the Dublin City of Hope

steering team faced in preparation to connect with
Dublin was the place to be, boom-time had arrived. Dublin people. In doing so we asked a number of
In the first years of the new century, Dublin rose to soul-searching questions.
become the vocal cord of the Celtic Tiger, roaring
louder than ever before. As the new century dawned so With trust in the state church almost demolished,
did a new currency (the Euro) creating an immediate
how could we best connect with the hurts and
credit driven property boom. With under-employment
concerns of Dubliners?
Ireland opened up its labour market to the new EU
accession countries (from Central and Eastern Europe). Had we ourselves rediscovered and experienced
Dublin - the epicentre of the boom experienced huge
the attractiveness of the Gospel in both word and
and dramatic growth, economically, socially, and
deed?
culturally. Dublin had become metropolitan.
Would it be possible to build up a bank of trust
Just as some Dubliners began to think that things
strong enough for our friends to once again
just couldnt get better, the global economic crash
seriously consider the claims of Jesus? But this
of 2008 took Ireland from boom to bust overnight.
time not through the foggy filter of the church,
A piece of graffiti painted on the Dublin East Wall
but through the clear lens of Scripture.
Road, said it all: Greed is the knife, and the scars
run deep. Like a pack of dominoes falling in quick I have come that they may have life, and that they
succession, trust in bankers, politicians, the police and may have it more abundantly (John 10:10), is the
judiciary simultaneously reached rock bottom. For the wonderful offer Christ makes. In the Dublin context
Dubliner, there was hardly anyone left to trust.
it seemed more crucial than ever to demonstrate this
through both word and deed.
The Celtic Tiger, Dublin Traffic Jam.

St Patricks Cathedral, Dublin.

10

Dublin Ranelagh Church circa 1998.

It is often said that a picture is worth a thousand

words. Around the year 2000 there were just 25
Dublin members. A small number had been earnestly
praying for growth for some time. The Lord answered
the prayers of these faithful members in a way they
expected not. Within five years they would be joined
by members from every continent on earth to help
them in their mission. By January 2013 membership
for Greater Dublin was 232, with a further 150+ adult
worshippers retaining their membership abroad. Add
to this picture an additional 100+ children born to the
newly arrived members, clearly the life and witness
of the Adventist church in Dublin had changed
dramatically.

EFFECTIVE EVANGELISM
AND THE PROMISE OF
PENTECOST AGAIN
While training for ministry at Newbold College,
I took the elective class Introduction to Church
Growth. Coinciding with the 1986 Harvest London
city-wide evangelistic campaign, Mark Finley ran
a Field School of Evangelism at the New Gallery
Centre, Regent Street, London W1. With classes held
on location, the course and the experience was an
invaluable foundation for ministry.

THE BIBLICAL MODEL

Ever since the fall of Adam, Christ had been
committing to chosen servants the seed of His word,
to be sown in human hearts. During His life on this
earth He had sown the seed of truth and had watered
it with His blood. The conversions that took place on
the Day of Pentecost were the result of this sowing,
the harvest of Christs work, revealing the power of
His teaching.
The arguments of the apostles alone, though clear and
convincing, would not have removed the prejudice that
had withstood so much evidence. But the Holy Spirit
sent the arguments home to hearts with divine power.
The words of the apostles were as sharp arrows of
the Almighty, convicting men of their terrible guilt in
rejecting and crucifying the Lord of glory.
Under the training of Christ the disciples had been
led to feel their need of the Spirit. Under the Spirits
teaching they received the final qualification, and went
forth to their lifework. No longer were they ignorant
and uncultured. No longer were they a collection of
independent units or discordant, conflicting elements.
No longer were their hopes set on worldly greatness.
They were of one accord, of one heart and of one
soul. Acts. 2:46; 4:32. Christ filled their thoughts;
the advancement of His kingdom was their aim. In
mind and character they had become like their Master,
and men took knowledge of them, that they had been
with Jesus. Acts 4:13. (Acts of the Apostles p.45)

THE BIBLICAL PROMISE

Harvest London Messenger Report 1986.

The Finley approach to church growth is shaped

by the reality of Christs soon return, with an
unshakable confidence in the mission and message
of the Seventh-day Adventist church. Not only is it
driven by prophetic instruction (Revelation 14:6-12),
but modelled on Acts 2 and the growth of the church
as a result of Pentecost. In particular it claims the
promise of Joel, quoted by Peter that the church will
experience a further Pentecost again at some time in
the future (Acts 2:17-21). The model is amplified and
summarised by Ellen White in Acts of the Apostles.
The promise is outlined in The Great Controversy:

The angel who unites in the proclamation of the third

angels message is to lighten the whole earth with his
glory. A work of world-wide extent and unwonted
power is here foretold. The advent movement of
1840-44 was a glorious manifestation of the power
of God; the first angels message was carried to every
missionary station in the world, and in some countries
there was the greatest religious interest which has
been witnessed in any land since the Reformation of
the sixteenth century; but these are to be exceeded by
the mighty movement under the last warning of the
third angel.
The work will be similar to that of the Day of Pentecost.
As the former rain was given, in the outpouring
of the Holy Spirit at the opening of the gospel, to
cause the up-springing of the precious seed, so the
latter rain will be given at its close for the ripening

11

of the harvest. Then shall we know, if we follow on

to know the Lord: His going forth is prepared as the
morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as
the latter and former rain unto the earth. Hosea 6:3.
Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the
Lord your God: for He hath given you the former rain
moderately, and He will cause to come down for you
the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain. Joel
2:23. In the last days, saith God, I will pour out of
My Spirit upon all flesh. And it shall come to pass,
that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord
shall be saved. Acts 2:17, 21.
The great work of the gospel is not to close with less
manifestation of the power of God than marked its

PLANNING AND
PREPARATION
The conversation about the Dublin City of Hope
project began in the early summer of 2012. Mark
and Teenie Finley agreed to visit Dublin with Janos
Kovacs-Biro (Trans-European Division Evangelism
Director) to get an impression of the nature of not only
the church in Dublin, but also the Irish Mission. The
opportunity arose because of the General Conferences
Mission to the Cities evangelism focus. Could it be
that the time was ripe for Dublin to receive help?
It was the evening of June 18th when we first met
together, at the Carlton Dublin Airport hotel. Members
from the north, from the south, from the west and from
the east of Ireland gathered together for a revival and
prayer time (this was a Monday night meeting!). In
addition to the preaching, Irishman and longstanding
Galway member John McNamara gave a memorable
rendition of his personal theme song, Until Then.
It was clear that as Mark shared his story that evening,

In the last days... I will pour out of my Spirit all flesh

opening. The prophecies which were fulfilled in the

outpouring of the former rain at the opening of the
gospel are again to be fulfilled in the latter rain at its
close. Here are the times of refreshing to which the
apostle Peter looked forward when he said: Repent
ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be
blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come
from the presence of the Lord; and He shall send
Jesus. Acts 3:19, 20. (The Great Controversy p.611)
The focus of this report does not permit us here to
unpack the evangelistic principles contained within
the two quotations. But as we review the Dublin
City of Hope story, one principle shines through from
beginning to end:
Effective evangelism is a humble and submissive
disciple of Christ, faithfully and enthusiastically
dedicated to working in partnership with the
supernatural power of the Holy Spirit, seeking the
advancement of the Kingdom of Heaven.

12

A group of long-standing Irish Mission members.

he felt a connection with Ireland and its people,

particularly the state religion. His mother was a
Catholic, and he attended a Catholic school as a child,
and served as an altar boy in the church of his youth.
Who could be better suited to understand the mind-set
of Dubliners? But he knew it was always going to be
a challenge, particularly facing the reality that only
50 Irish people have been baptised into the Adventist
Church in the past 40 years.
Mark also resonated with Irish Mission members
that evening. With Teenie he saw a membership
eager and willing, ready to work in partnership to
make a difference in Dublin. As the Finleys left for
another appointment in Europe the following day,

an impression was left that this would not be their

only visit. Over the summer months of 2012 the
conversation continued about a possible timeframe
for an evangelistic series. By August, the months of
May and September of 2014 were pencilled into the
diary. Perfect, more-or-less a two year lead to get
everything ready.

and Reformation emphasis encouraged by the

General Conference, an emphasis many Irish Mission
members enthusiastically embraced.
Audrey Moyo - not a Dublin member, but a faithful
Adventist living 150 miles west in the isolated
town of Castlebar, County Mayo - is an example
of how the Dublin vision spread beyond the M50
(the orbital motorway). Committed to setting up a
prayer community for the Dublin project, the group
still functions today. In every church, and on almost
every Sabbath, worshippers lifted up Dublin in prayer
before the Lord.

John and Monica McNamara.

REVIVAL AND
REFORMATION

That the spiritual climate of

the church was a contributing
factor to the success of the Prayer Matters - Irish Mission Elders Planning Session
project is without doubt. March 2013
But as the moving of the
Spirit would have it, the
in members always looking outward, from now
timing of the Dublin project
on until Jesus comes.
coincided with the Revival
That we will connect with Irish people, and that
Setting the spiritual tone.
many will appreciate how good God is, through
His Son Jesus and become His disciples.

PRAYER WITHOUT
CEASING

That as programmes run in Dublin are shared

across all the churches in the Irish Mission that
Mission to the Cities, will have a significant
impact on lives right across the island.

That our congregations will experience the

the Lord will intervene through His Spirit to

help us connect with the people of Dublin.

dynamics of Zechariah 8:23, This is what the

Lord Almighty says: In those days ten people
from all languages and nations will take firm
hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say,
Let us go with you, because we have heard that
God is with you.

That the Dublin Ranelagh church building will

Pray for our Zechariah Project interns who

Gavin Anthony, the Dublin Prayer coordinator

guided the focus:

That over-and-above all the plans that are made,

be ready and visitor-friendly to receive guests.

That our work together in Dublin may be

characterised by unity, compassion, and a
passion for Gods honour.

That the Dublin City of Hope focus will result

are working door-to-door in Dublin, and the

expansion of our Zechariah Project discipleship
programme.

That God will be honoured in our community

through the monthly Blue Jeans Sabbaths, and
that we will become increasingly aware of the
needs of our community.

13

PREPARATION AND TRAINING

2013 was the year the Dublin church prepared - and
made plans. Every local church programme dovetailed
into the big picture. In the preaching, in the prayers,
in the Sabbath School class, in the board and business
meetings, in the Irish Mission Executive Committee,
the mood was expectant. Expectant that God was
going to move and do something extraordinary in this
city. In January every Irish Mission member received
a copy of Revive Us Again to help set the spiritual
tone.

March 2013 Irish Mission Elders met together for

Evangelism training and briefing about the City of
Hope Project with Ian Sweeney and Janos KovacsBiro.

May 2013 - Irish Mission Day of Fellowship, and

Mission Session focused on the plans for Dublin

Autumn 2013 - Becoming a Contagious Adventist

course training, designed to help Adventists
confidently and joyfully share their faith with
friends, family, neighbours and work colleagues.
Each Irish Mission pastor was equipped with the
material to train their members.

Autumn Jesus 7 Seminar training (the Jesus 7

seminar was designed by Janos Kovacs-Biro as

a walk-through inter-active exhibition following
the 7 stages of Jesus life, followed by 7 evening
seminars).

The four Dublin pastors organised members into

working teams teens, prayer ministries, street

witnessing, health ministries, Messy Church for
children and families, life groups and numerous
more. The aim to enlist every member having a
role. The organisation was focused and worked.

The Zechariah Project formed a discipleship

internship programme to train Christian leaders
(see inset page).

When members see that leaders have a vision and

know where they are going, they are willing to follow.
Our common experience was, Pastor, please give me
something to do I want to help.

14

making

GOD
known
WHO IS IT FOR?

DUBLIN
CITY OF HOPE
2013-2015

JanuaryMarch 2015 (Ranelagh)

Anyone in the Irish Mission who has time to

invest in discipling others and a desire to grow
in their own discipleship to Christ.

Thursdays

Programme

18:00-21:00

WHAT IS IT?

An internship programme where you will be

working with the Dublin pastors in joining the
apostle Paul to work for others till Christ is
formed in you (Galatians 4:19).
This quarter, we will be focusing on personal
visitation and giving Bible studies.

HOW WILL IT WORK?

We will be holding teaching and training

sessions in Ranelagh on Thursday evenings.
The main programme segments are as follows:

Jan 8

Teaching Session 1

Jan 15

Teaching Session 2

Jan 22

Practicumvisitation 1

Jan 29

Teaching Session 3

Feb 5

Practicumvisitation 2

Feb 12

Teaching Session 4

Feb 19

Practicumvisitation 3

Feb 26

Teaching Session 5

March 5

Practicumvisitation 4

March 12

Teaching Session 6

March 19

Practicumvisitation 5

March 26

Teaching Session 7

18:00-19:00 Eating and sharing experiences

19:00-20:00 Leadership review and teaching

WHAT WILL I GAIN?

20:00-20:30 Individual discipleship plan

20:30-21:00 Prayer and visitation planning
If you are unable to join us in Ranelagh, you
will still be able to register to join us through
an interactive video-link from 19:00-20:30 on
alternating weeks. Only 12 places available.

JOIN US
LIVE ONLINE!

For those attending in person, these Thursday

teaching sessions will alternate with personal
visitation with one of the Dublin pastors.

REGISTRATION

To attend training sessions in Ranelagh, or participate

LIVE online, please register by contacting Gavin
Anthony: 087 413 2517gavin@adventist.ie.

An essential component of the

internship programme will be growing
you as a Christian leader with the
vision and skills to disciple others. This
will include:

Leadership and character

development.

Developing a personal discipleship plan

with a pastor as your coach.

Directed reading.

Skills to teach the Bible to others.

SIGN-UP DEADLINE: JANUARY 4, 2015

15

THE BIBLICAL VISION

Under Zerubbabel, a remnant had come out of Babylon for the purpose of rebuilding the temple and
Jerusalem. The whole of Jerusalem had been totally destroyed by the Babylonian army 70 years before.
But with the return of the remnant to Jerusalem, there was renewed hope that God would restore His
people as they started to rebuild the temple. However, the people who lived around Jerusalem quickly
discouraged the remnant with the result that they stopped building.
About 15 years later, God called the prophet Zechariah to encourage the remnant to return to restoring
the temple. For when the temple would be nished, God could dwell in Jerusalem and His people would
be revived by His presence. Their restoration would make such an impact on the surrounding nations
that God foretold, ten people from all languages and nations will take rm hold of one Jew by the hem
of his robe and say, Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.(Zechariah 8:23)
Living with the remnant in Jerusalem, Zechariah declared to their relatives still in Babylon, Come! Come!
Flee from the land of the north, declares the Lord, for I have scattered you to the four winds of
heaven, declares the Lord. Come, Zion! Escape, you who live in Daughter Babylon! (Zechariah 2:6-7)
This call to leave Babylon was not just a call to escape Gods judgements coming to Babylon, but a call
to join the remnant in Jerusalem in rebuilding the temple and the city. So the call to come out of Babylon
was actually a call to come into the rebuilding programmeto restore the place of Gods presence.
Unfortunately, this vision of transformation and international witness through God dwelling among his
people in Jerusalem was never fullled.
But it can be today.
In our time, God desires to dwell in human hearts. In the same way the temple in Jerusalem was broken
down and needed to be rebuilt so God could dwell within, so people today have broken lives which can
be transformed as they learn to make it the place of Gods personal presence. The New Testament
describes that such transformation happens as we work with God so that people may be conformed
to image of His Son (Romans 8:29). We are called to work like Paul for the Galatians, until Christ is
formed in you (Galatians 4:19).
Gods people have a critical mission to prepare others for the return of Jesus by teaching them how to
grow in Christlikeness. Like Zechariah, we have a message for our spiritual relatives living in spiritual
Babylon. As the last prophetic message given to the world declares, Come out of her, my people, so
that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues (Revelation 18:4) And
like Zechariah, this call is not just to come out of a bad place, but to come into the presence of God
ultimately in the New Jerusalem.
Consequently, the Zechariah Project focuses on this prophetic mission to equip people to
rebuild broken human lives. For when God restores the temple of the human heart and dwells
within, people will reveal the image of God with ever increasingly glory (2 Corinthians 3:18).
And when this happens, it results in a cosmic and eternal witness to the goodness and love of
God.

join the journey!

16

THE RANELAGH
BUILDING CRISIS
As new members arrived in Dublin from all parts of
the world, it became clear that the present and only
Dublin church building was no longer fit for purpose,
both in size and condition. The existing sanctuary and
rooms were designed to accommodate a maximum
of 100 people. From 2005 onwards up to 250
worshippers would occupy every square metre of the
building. In addition the building was shared with a
growing Romanian congregation meeting for worship
every Sabbath afternoon.

February 2014 asbestos found in roof.

A 2008 plan to demolish and rebuild on the same site

a three story building providing extra capacity was
rejected by the city authorities. As a result the search
for an alternative building on another site began, but
none was found within the limited resources available
at the time.
As the number of worshippers increased, a new
church group was planted on the north-western side
of Dublin. Meeting in the Castleknock Hotel and
Country Club, around 60 Ranelagh worshippers living
around the M50 motorway started meeting together.
For a very short while capacity problems in Dublin
Ranelagh were alleviated, but the material condition
of the church still fell short of being visitor-friendly.
Come the autumn of 2013, with the Dublin City
of Hope in its preparation stage, something had
to be done. As so often can happen, the plan for a
quick cosmetic makeover and tidy up became a full
refurbishment. The leadership of the local church and
the Irish Mission faced three critical issues:

The refurbishment included rewiring.

The church would not be ready for the May meetings.

Long-term future of Ranelagh

Value for Money
Limited Time
Questions arose among members about the longterm future of a city centre building with a very small
building footprint. A refurbishment, while making the
building attractive, would not increase capacity. How
could this be value for money and good stewardship of
the Lords resources? A big and prayerful question to
be considered, but time did not permit long discussion
on the matter.
It was a turbulent time for the Irish Mission and the
local church leadership as they considered what to do

Transformation! (September 2014).March 2013.

17

for the best. As each side pressed for action in one

direction or another, trust was tested to the limit.
What was the best way forward? On the one hand,
a representative, fit for purpose building - the home
of Seventh-day Adventist in Dublin was an urgent
resource for mission.

would not solve the capacity problem, for the Dublin

City of Hope project to have any significant effect,
a building to welcome the community was essential.
As a meeting of minds emerged and BUC funds were
combined with local and other funds to refurbish 47a
Ranelagh Road, work to refurbish started in midFebruary 2014, with a hoped for completion date of
May 1st. For the City of Hope project, the church
was to serve as the nerve centre hosting in particular,
the Field School of Evangelism and a Vegetarian
Cookery School conducted by Teenie Finley in the
newly designed kitchen.

At the same time, as prime land values in Dublin

increased, a view emerged among the local leadership
that the best long-term plan would be to sell Ranelagh
and put the funds toward a new larger church
building in a more accessible suburban area. Would
not spending 250,000 on refurbishing Ranelagh
be a poor stewardship of resources with the known
limitations?
As the repairs got under way, asbestos was found in
the roof of the church hall. Not only would the cost
In December of 2013 the British Union Conference of the refurbishment increase, but its careful removal
recognised the problem in the context of the urgent and replacement would extend the time required. The
need, and granted 115,000 towards a full Ranelagh church would not be ready for the May meetings.
refurbishment. The view was taken that while such

Overflow & Multi-purpose Hall.

JESUS 7

NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, WEST

how this all about Jesus seminar served not only as

a bridge-building link to the major May 2014 Living
Life at its Best seminars, but a reaping event in its
own right, particularly in Belfast.

How could Irish Mission members in Londonderry,

Galway, Limerick and Belfast connect with the Dublin From BUC News 874
City of Hope project? A few years ago in Budapest,
Hungary, Janos Kovacs-Biro launched Jesus 7 with http://adventist.org.uk/news/news-archive/ir/
considerable impact on the city. The time was ripe to reaching-out-beyond-church-walls-jesus7-in-ireland
bring it to the Irish Mission. Weiers Coetser reports on

18

REACHING OUT BEYOND

CHURCH WALLS: JESUS7 IN
IRELAND

Belfast Adventist church looked startlingly different

to both pedestrians and motorists during the week
starting 13 April. The normal, neat parking area
was transformed into a vibrant exhibition space. A
marquee manned by friendly volunteers provided
passers-by with a friendly encounter into the life of
Jesus.
Belfast pastor, Adam Keough, reports that up to 150
members of the public visited the Jesus7 exhibition.
The neatly laid out exhibition engaged visitors with
information on places where significant events in
Jesus life and ministry happened. They also enjoyed
sampling foods similar to those eaten at the time of
Jesus. Artistic images provided opportunities for
contemplation as visitors entered into the world in
which Jesus lived. Student nurse, Catherine Sands,
walks past Belfast church every day on her way
to City Hospital. After visiting the exhibition she
wrote on Facebook: I thought it was very good and
informative. I loved all the different pictures and
places as well as information on where Jesus had been.
The prayer stations were very thought provoking.
The innovative exhibition was only one part of a
more comprehensive project. Beyond the invitation
to explore the exhibition space came an opportunity
to be part of a Jesus7 seminar that took place nightly
in the Belfast church that was also live-streamed to
other venues across Ireland. Nor was the exhibition
unique to Belfast. Similar exhibitions could be found
in two Dublin venues and in Londonderry. All three

Belfast Jesus 7 Exhibit Volunteers.

congregations also sought to reach out beyond the

walls of the church. A local community hall in Dublin
Ringsend and the Maldron Hotel in Drumcondra
hosted further exhibitions while in Londonderry
church members received permission to exhibit two
of the exhibition posters every day on the central
Guildhall Square.
Pastor Stephen Wilson and Lindita Vani describe that,
We were praying and thinking about how we could
give people an opportunity to see, read and hear, or
perhaps even make something as part of a real live
experience here in Dublin. We wanted to help people
engage at a deeper level. The first days focus was
on Jesus, the greatest gift so they gave each attendee
a beautifully wrapped gift box full of Bible promises
from Jesus. As visitors opened the gift they were
invited to share in front of a video camera how they
felt. This generated a good few smiles and giggles and
reflection on how we receive Jesus, the greatest gift.

19

Another group of young people set up in Christchurch

Cathedral. Between 9:30 am and 4 pm they invited
people to copy the Gospel of Mark by hand. Deborah
Koizumi, a student, reflected. In the beginning
there werent many people coming toward the table
to copy the Gospels, so the vicar suggested that we
put the board right next to the entrance. This time
the response was better. People now participated in
the activity at the beginning of their visit, not at the
end. Madeleine Reynolds tells how, during her shift,
she met with some visiting Australians. One of them
shared that he had an Adventist friend back home
who had been giving him books to read. He found
meeting another Adventist here in the heart of Dublin
inviting him to copy the Gospels to be a remarkable
coincidence.

involved. A Dublin Ranelagh church member watched

the programme in a friends home with seven other
Christians. She thought that it was important that
the programme was not trying to be sectarian which
would have put people off otherwise. They were
disappointed the series finished so soon, reports
Pastor Gavin Anthony. Betty ORourke reports from
the West of Ireland that pizza was a motivation to
Galway church youth and their friends at the home of
Telia Daiwoo. She says, The youth particularly liked
the interactive style and the visual aids used to convey
the story of Jesus walk on this earth. In Limerick
City, church members and friends gathered at the
home of Bruno and Nuala Basil. They reported that
both college and secondary students took time away
from their usual studies to spend time in the study of
Scripture. In other homes, Betty adds, some older
In addition, across all the venues 25,000 Jesus7 folk are learning a new aspect of technology which
leaflets were distributed and the various venues has the power to transform lives.
were promoted on Facebook and other media
outlets including an appearance on local radio for Has the programme made an impact? During a Friday
Simone Coetser and Richard Roberts. Nightly Jesus7 evening appeal, four people in Belfast requested
Presentations, the daily exhibitions and activities led baptism, including one individual who had come
toward a series of evening seminars with the popular into the meetings from the street. In Drumcondra
and friendly presenter, Pastor Janos Kovacs-Biro. an English tourist attended the Wednesday evening
Presented live from Belfast church they were streamed meeting. She was the only visitor that evening and the
on the www.Jesus7.ie website. A media team from the group there had prayed that someone would come,
Trans-European Division worked hand-in-hand with reports Pastor Wilson. They were disappointed that
local volunteers to manage the recording and the link it looked like nobody would be there that night, and
to the Internet.
then this lady came and stayed for the seminar. She
came back every night after that and stated she wanted
The focus was once again on reaching beyond church to be part of our community when she returned to
walls. Belfast church was transformed into a caf England. Pastor Wilson has more good news: Three
studio for the event with drinks and refreshments Catholic young men from India came each night and
available on the tables during the presentations. With state they want to join us more often. On Sabbath I
up to 45 in attendance each night, Pastor Keough met a few Baptists from Brazil who said our church
was particularly encouraged by the 13 visitors who and its programmes felt more like home than the
attended as a result of visiting the exhibition, and the Pentecostal church that they have been attending.
17 visitors who were friends of Belfast members.
They came as a result of a personal invitation.
Londonderry church members celebrated the end of
Jesus7 with an Easter Sunday church breakfast. They
In addition to receiving the live-stream each night, spoke with enthusiasm about the friendships that they
Dublin members put on a vibrant programme. At made, including a visitor who attended four of the
the Maldron Hotel this included special music and evening meetings and asked to join the church. There
activities before the programme began. The great was a sense of accomplishment and pride in a project
effort paid off, says Pastor Wilson. We had 10-15 that was very well done.
visitors in the City Centre location, and 10 teenagers
regularly visited the community centre.
Music was an important part of the pre-programme in
the Dublin venues. Annie Laile, one of the members
who attended, commented that it was a beautiful
family-like experience! Other small groups also got

20

DRUMCONDRA, RANELAGH,
RINGSEND, TALLAGHT, AND WEST
DUBLIN COMMUNITY FOCUS

building, exposure to the community was restricted.

None-the-less for most of 2014 and early 2015, a
number of health expos and felt need-seminars were
held on site, raising interests. The venue serves today
as a home for the Dublin Drumcondra congregation,
with mainly young adult worshippers. During one
BALLSBRIDGE PRE-WORK
stage of the Dublin City of Hope project, this was
The urban suburbs of Drumcondra (population 15,000) the only place available for use as a base, due to the
and Ringsend (population 10,000) became territorial refurbishment of the Dublin Ranelagh church.
assignments to expand the work of the church in
the north central and south central areas of Dublin. Imagine what the Holy Spirit of God can do through
Both chosen areas had similar social and economic a small piece of paper decorated with selfless love.
needs. Both contained a mix of old and new Dublin. These were the words of Ana Carolina, a member
The larger Tallaght area (population 30,000) on the of the Drumcondra Seventh-day Adventist church
outer south-western side of the city served as home as she reflected on a creative outreach project that
to the Dublin Romanian congregation. Their base at her congregation has embarked on in Dublin since
the Maldron Hotel was not only for worship, but to February 2014. Over a period of several weeks
also connect with the community. With the purpose volunteers made over one thousand quilled cards
of holding the major evangelistic programmes at with encouraging messages. These cards were then
Ballsbridge Hotel, these three centres became the handed out to members of the public in Dublin streets.
main venues for the pre-work. On the western M50 Lindita Vani tells the story. It started with wanting to
side of the city, the Castleknock church also found go around and ask strangers on the streets of Dublin:
Are you single? on Valentines Day and wanting to
ways to connect with their community.
make their day by giving them a card with a simple
Space does not permit, nor do justice, to the efforts Bible verse, Love is 1 Corinthians 13
of Dublin members in their pre-work activities, a
picture of excitement, enthusiasm and passion seeking See more at:
to connect with Dublin people by whatever means to http://adventist.ie/news/archives/ir/1000-plusintroduce them to the claims of Christ. Below is just a prayerfully-quilled-cards#sthash.hE8foRav.dpuf
brief summary, with links to the detailed story.

DRUMCONDRA

RANELAGH

Free Hugs.

With Dublin Ranelagh undergoing refurbishment

in the spring of 2014, members supported the
Drumcondra Art and Business Campus.
Drumcondra and Ringsend projects. Its youth in
The Art and Business Campus, located at 40 Lower particular, joined up with others from across Dublin
Drumcondra Road, Dublin 9, is home to a diverse to take to the Ranelagh and other Dublin city-centre
community of creative talent. In late 2013 the rear streets with the free hugs and prayer ministry
room of this building became available for 24/7
multipurpose use. The vision was for this venue to An enthusiastic group of around 70 young people
serve as a Centre of Influence connecting daily with descended excitedly on the centre of Dublin. In front
the community. Because it was located at the rear of the of the main gate of St Stephens Green Park, with

21

their green and orange boldly printed T-shirts, they

offered Free Hugs and the message that You are not
alone. For more than two hours, the group opened
their arms and warmly hugged hundreds of surprised
and delighted Dubliners and even tourists. One hug
recipient happily commented, This is the best thing
that happened to me today. Thank you very much. It
was amazing to see how a simple hug could bring the
most beautiful smile onto peoples faces and send a
message of hope that they are not alone A girl living
in Dublin sent a message expressing disappointment
that she was not able to join the Free Hugs that day.
She wrote on the event Facebook page, Are you
going to do more of this? I hope Ill be able to make
it next time.

RINGSEND
Just over a mile from the Ballsbridge Hotel (location
of the main public meetings) is the small inner city
urban village of Ringsend, adjacent to the River
Liffey, with a demographic mix of working class and
new upwardly mobile Dubliners. With an accessible
community centre in the heart of the village, it was the
perfect setting from which to minister. The highlight
of five months of intensive work in the spring of 2014,
was an intensive week-long health expo with 300
visitors passing through, followed up immediately
with Breathe-Free and Brain Power seminars.
They did not come alone, they came in groups!
reports Stephen Wilson, one of the coordinators for
the project. There was the scrabble club, the kettle
bell class, the senior citizens computer club, the
crche staff. All came to learn more about their health
and encourage one another to better living.
See more at:
http://adventist.ie/news/archives/ir/health-expotakes-over-community-centre-in-dublin

TALLAGHT
This is the best thing that happened to me today, thank you.

The weekends activities ended on Sunday afternoon,

20 April with a group who went out distributing
Neighbourhood Prayer Watch cards and more
Celebrations magazines near the Ranelagh Road
Adventist church. The beautifully designed prayer
cards invited people from the community to pray,
relax, let go and let God take over with details of
how to send their prayer requests and get a free Bible.
Pastor Dan Serb leading Heroes Academy.

Out and about in Ranelagh.

The Dublin Romanian church contributed to the prework with something quite different, innovative,
and geared towards a young audience. While some
flyers were distributed locally, the main objective
was to reach friends of the church young friends.
Heros Academy, is a frantic mix of Bible stories,
games, crafts, drama, quizzes and challenges, all
with the aim of introducing un-churched children to
bible characters, Aaron, Joseph, Daniel, Esther, Mary
Magdalene, Peter, John, Paul and the greatest hero of
all, Jesus.

See more at:

http://adventist.ie/news/archives/ir/smiles,-free- Much of the programme consists of retelling some
of the most loved stories and the lessons learned
hugs-and-prayers-in-dublin-youth-impact

22

years. However, with the City of Hope project in mind,

the parents and children made a commitment to also
spend part of their Easter break on a mini concert tour.
Joy Pontanar is the choir conductor. She says, Its
beautiful to see how God could use even the smallest
of His children to spread His love What an amazing
opportunity for these children to be welcomed into
these hospitals and nursing homes and through their
songs send a wonderful message that in Jesus we have
an abundance of joy and hope.
Heroes Academy Joy.

See more at:

from them, explains programme leader, Pastor Dan http://adventist.ie/news/archives/ir/childrens-choirSerb. He adds, It highlights the difference between brings-cheer-to-hospitals-and-nursing-homes
fantasy and reality, deception and truth. Participants
are encouraged to emulate the heroic traits and lives
Health Expo
of faith and true strength of the Bible characters. The
series of programmes has had real appeal among the
younger generation. Their animated faces and energy
was palpable. We have been encouraging our regular
church young people to bring their friends, Dan says.

Take care of your Family/Learn how to Protect your Health

See more at: http://adventist.ie/news/archives/ir/

battles-of-the-super-heroes-in-dublin

Enjoy a variety of free health

screening services:

Blood Pressure
Weight & Body Fat Analysis
Lung Strength
Cardio-vascular Health

Know Your Health-Age

Anti-stress Massage
session

This is the best thing that happened to me today, thank

you.

WEST DUBLIN

The childrens choir has been singing in hospitals

and nursing homes every December for the past few

Location: Ringsend &

Irishtown Community
Centre, Ringsend House
Date: March 30-April 6
Time: 9 AM-9 PM

Public Presentations also offered:

(Times:12:30-1:30pm; 7:00-8:00 pm)

Monday, March 31: Kiss Diabetes Good-bye

Tuesday, April 1: Great Tasting Cooking For Health
Wednesday, April 2: Mental Health Fitness
Thursday, April 3: Hydro Therapy Remedies For The Family
Friday, April 4:
Family Health Fitness
Saturday, April 5: Squeaky Clean Inside Out-Colon Cleansing

And Much More!

For More Information, call Jeff Freeman: 0858237118

Expand your brain capacity in LESS than 10 days!

Formerly known as the Castleknock church, every

opportunity was made to raise friends and interests
for the Ballsbridge meetings. On several Sabbath
afternoons during the February, March and April
of 2014, members conducted door-to-door surveys
raising interest in spiritual matters. Many reported that
it was hard going at times, with frequent suspicious
responses at the door, Where are you from? I attend
the local Catholic church down the road, thank you
very much, goodbye!
The West Dublin church is also blessed with many
children and youth who wanted to bless their
community with their presence.

Information:

8 lectures in this series

Date:

6-9 May 2014 (Tue-Fri) at 19:00-20:30

12May
September
10
9:00, 11:00, 15:00, 17:00
Malmesbury
SDA Church,
Jakarandastr
Venue: Ringsend
& Irishtown
Community
Centre,
9:00 1200
& 14:00
- 18:30
Thorncastle
Street,
Ringsend,
Co. Dublin
Registration: info@befree.co.za or at the hall
Enquiries: 087 132 3111

23

24

LIVING LIFE TO
THE FULL May 17th 26th

would be the case, but it was The result was that this
hotel event planted a serious spiritual interest in the hearts
of many visitors.
Victor Hulbert in his report below unpacks how the Living
Life to the Full meetings, planted a serious spiritual interest
in the hearts of many visitors, but before he does, theres a
group of Dublin people who need holy recognition:
The highest commendation in this entire report goes
to every Dublin member who prayed consistently for
their personal friend or relative to attend the meetings.
Some of the best moments of the entire project for me
were as Dublin members with a sense of holy pride,
introduced a friend, neighbour, colleague, or nonbelieving spouse/relative. They did not say it out loud,
but the smile on their face revealed a deep but subtle
message of joy.

Ian Sweeney leads prayer immediately prior to

Ballsbridge meetings May 16th 2014.

My prayers are being answered, here is the friend I

am praying for - the Lord is using me for His purpose.

week before the opening night at the Ballsbridge

Hotel, 100,000 flyers were distributed to homes within
a five mile radius of the hotel.

Prayer

meetings were held in homes, and churches,

across Dublin, and the Irish Mission, and overseas. We
trusted that the Lord would open hearts and minds as
invitations to attend were received by interests, mailshot
recipients, Facebook messages, and friends of members.

Would

the planning, the Bible studies, the supper

clubs, and the free-hugs on the streets, lead to Dublin
people attending the Ballsbridge meetings? Would
Dublin members with their busy lives, give the time and
commitment to attend. The success of these meetings
depended on the active involvement of regular church
members.
What about the reality that these May meetings were a
little different from the norm? As Mark Finley noted,
reporting for the Adventist Review, In my 45 years of
ministry, Ive never done anything like it before.
The planning culminated in May 2014 with a big oneday event in the Ballroom of the Dublin Ballsbridge Hotel,
where the Adventists took up most of the entire ground
floor. Visitors could walk through a health exhibition.
Another exhibition focused on Jesus, with pictures of the
Holy Land and the life of Christ. One room was turned
into a Christian bookstore with a variety of books. In the
evening, visitors chose between four seminars: biblical
archaeology; how to live longer and healthier; happy
marriages and raising happy, healthy kids; and how to
manage finances and get out of debta real worry in a
country that recently went through a financial crisis. Some
300 to 350 people attended in total. The neat thing was
that the wife might want to go to the health seminar, the
husband might want to go to the archaeology. Interestingly
enough, archaeology was the largest. We didnt think that

My response to the Lord as I greeted the friend, Thank

you Lord for sending him/her, your Spirit is working in
this city, as you have promised.
Hunched over, face haggard, he timidly slouched
through the door into the exhibition area. He had no great
expectations. His life had been difficult. His health was
struggling. His stress levels were high. He knew he needed
something. Ninety minutes later he was a different man.
His head was held high and a smile on his face told a story
of transformation.

Denzil McNeilus (right) and Dr Brian Schwartz share

Christian principles on health and finance.

25

Mike was one of over 400 Dubliners who made their way
to the Ballsbridge Hotel on Saturday evening, 17 May as
part of an innovative outreach experiment. Members from
the four Adventist churches in Irelands capital city had
worked for months to develop relationships, build contacts,
pray for friends, and invite the public to four seminars
running simultaneously in the prestigious city centre hotel.
Following a warm greeting by Karen Hamilton, the head
receptionist for the Living life to the full series, Mike
found he still had time for a look around the health expo
before the main programme began. It was there that staff
noted not only his dejection, but also serious high blood
pressure, dehydration and stress levels. Keeping him under
observation they helped him rehydrate, talked with him

Pastor Finley (right) and Dr Hasel share insights on the

authenticity of the Bible.
and discovered that he was struggling both with financial
difficulties and with health. Slowly his blood pressure
reduced towards a safer level.
Im so glad you came, Edith Samambwa enthused. The
finance seminar will give you advice both on financial and
physical health. And that is exactly what happened. For
a full hour he listened attentively as Denzil McNeilus,
President of Sterling State Bank, Minnesota, USA, shared
his testimony of how God had transformed his life and
business. He mixed biblical principles with sound finance.
It is the first time that I have ever made this kind of
presentation, Mr McNeilus confessed. However, his
positive, personable presentation cast doubt on the media
portrayal of bankers as hard-hearted money grabbers! He
was joined by Brian Schwartz, a cardiac surgeon who
added a positive health balance to the lecture.
Tim Hamblin brought two friends with him. Unchurched
and no longer churched is how he described them.
But they listened attentively to Pastor Mark Finleys
archaeology lecture and in words typical of a 24-yearold, described it as interesting. An older visitor who
had actually postponed a hospital appointment to attend
enthused not only over the presentation but the friendliness
of the speaker who stopped to share a few words with him.
Pastor Finley shared the platform with Dr Michael Hasel,
a lecturer in biblical archaeology at Southern Adventist

26

Just a few of the many volunteers helping to make the

seminars a success.
University, Tennessee. Unsurprisingly, their joint lecture
attracted the largest audience with extra seating having to
be brought in from adjoining halls.
Upstairs was also crowded, but seating was not such
an issue as it was a balance of interactive lecture and
aerobic exercise. Over the week Dr Allan Handysides and
Ernestine Finley shared Living life to the fullest, while
athletic sisters, Lyndi Schwartz and Andi Hunsaker put
people through their paces, encouraging an increased level
of exercise in an increasingly sedentary world!
Sunday evening saw rain, and an expectation of reduced
numbers. However, the halls were still full and a family life
seminar was added, courtesy of John and Clair Sanches.
The chatter in the large exhibition area both before and
after the meetings demonstrated that spirits were high and
members were motivated.
Among the many members who brought family or friends
with them was a mother with her late teenage son who
slipped away from church to Dublins gang and drug
culture. Another cause for joy and for prayer.
Written By Victor Hulbert (Photos: Charles Senna)

CELEBRATIONS Health team with Dr. Allan & Janet

Handysides, Teenie Finley, Donna McNeilus, Edith Samambwa.

7:30pm
Saturday

FAITH

Lost Cities of the Dead

Good Choices
Get Fit Quick

May 18

Middle East Mysteries

Exercise
Get Fit Quick

Monday

Fantastic Finds in
Ancient Lands

Water and Air

Get Fit Quick

Jerusalem Journey

Nutrition
Healthy Cooking

The Patmos Scrolls

Environment
Healthy Cooking

Captive in Babylon

Social Support
Healthy Cooking

The Last Empire

Rest
Healthy Cooking

Faith in the Flames

Belief and Optimism

Healthy Cooking

May 17
Sunday

May 19
Thursday

May 22
Friday

May 23
Saturday

May 24
Sunday

May 25
Monday

May 26

7:30pm
Saturday

FINANCES

Plan for Success

FAMILY

Effective Parenting

Creating Wealth

no programme

Sunday

How to Get and Stay

Out of Debt

ABC of Parenting

Monday

3 Secrets of Making
More Money

Your Parenting Style

Understanding Wealth

Keeping Calm

How to Survive
Economic Crisis

Positive Reinforcement

Maintaining Integrity

Active Listening

The Path to Greater

Success

Family Rules

no programme

Building Character

May 17
May 18
May 19

Thursday

May 22
Friday

May 23
Saturday

May 24
Sunday

May 25
Monday

May 26

Living

Life
to the
Full

Amazing HEALTH
Discoveries
Celebrations

!
!!
CITYOFHOPE
!Over the past 6 years
Ireland has gone through a

difficult crisis. It has been hard for people to adjust

to changes in quality of life, and financial pressures
have forced us to re-evaluate our society. City of
Hope is an initiative to help Dublin improve its
future by supporting its citizens to develop the
_
family, faith, finances and health
the things that
give us hope.

!
!

Ballsbridge Hotel, Pembroke Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4

Exhibition opens at 6:30pm.

Get your blood pressure checked in the Health Expo
Purchase great value books
Explore the places Jesus visited
Meet the speakers

!
Seminars start at 7:30pm.
!

To book your FREE place now

(085) 775 2096
cityofhope.ie
Big4Dublin
#Big4Dublin

Learning to improve your

Family
Faith
Finances
Health

CITYOFHOPE

FAITH

Amazing Discoveries

Mark Finley and Michael Hasel take us to some amazing

places in the Middle East where archaeological discoveries
are revealing secrets of the ancient past that can help us in
our lives today.

Mark Finley is a speaker on Hope

Channel International television and Dr
Michael Hasel is professor of Biblical
Archaeology and Near Eastern Studies
in Southern Adventist University,
Chattanooga, Tennessee.

!
!!
!

HEALTH

Celebrations

Dr Allan Handysides has recently co-authored a book

entitled Celebrations. Celebrations describes an acronym
carrying with it both the secrets of a healthful lifestyle and
an exuberant appreciation of the joy of living well.
Get Fit Quick: Feeling sluggish and tired before the day has
even started? Dr Andi Hunsaker and her colleagues will
encourage you along at your own speed. Come dressed to
exercise in whatever is comfortable for you.
Healthy Cooking: Ernestine Finley, better known as Teenie,
will share her practical approach to health and vegetarian
cooking. Her motto is a meal can be both healthful and great
tasting.

Dr Allan Handysides graduated from Edinburgh University

and after a short stint in the Rotunda Hospital spent most
of his career as a paediatrician in Toronto University
Children's Hospital. Recently he has worked as a health
educator and has written many articles and books on
health.

Dr Andi Hunsaker is Head of Thoracic

Radiology in Brigham and Women's
Hospital and a professor in the Harvard
Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Teenie Finley specialises in teaching
vegetarian and healthy cooking.

FINANCES

BALLSBRIDGE
May 17-26
2014

Plan for Success

Denzil McNeilus is a banker with a difference. With 50 years

experience running the bank he co-owns he will share how
to handle money and finances with integrity. What do you
do when you are drowning in debt and does life have
meaning over and above gaining wealth?

Denzil McNeilus is President of Sterling State Bank in

Minnesota. He is a keen photographer and loves to travel
the world and serves on the board of ASI, an international
network of Christian businesspeople.

!
!!

!! Living
!!
!!
!! to the
!!
!!
!
!

Life
Full

FAMILY

Effective Parenting

George Bernard Shaw said that a happy family is but an

earlier heaven. So how do we ensure a happy family? John
and Clair Sanches will introduce you to parenting skills and
character building strategies, that will help you be more
effective parents and build the foundation for happier
homes.

Clair Sanches is a Family Life trainer who

lectures across Europe. John Sanches is a
psychologist who has specialised in working
within the prison service. John and Clair have
been married for 27 years and live in England
but are originally from the Netherlands.

27

IRISH MISSION
FIELD-SCHOOL OF
EVANGELISM
Llew Edwards & Weiers Coetser
The Dublin - City of Hope programme included a
Field School of Evangelism. Led by Mark Finley,
the experience was nothing short of a masterclass in
evangelism. Theory and practise poured out of the
teacher, revealing a depth of experience and focused
passion that was contagious.
The Irish Mission ministerial team were joined
by some colleagues from England and Scotland.
Together we discovered five core principles at the
heart of the Finley approach to church growth, which
he invites every pastor and evangelist to embed into
their ministry.
We include these six principles with brief notes below
as a reminder of what it takes - to be - and stay, a
church whose focus is on outreach and evangelism.

FIRSTLY

THE BIBLE CAN BE TRUSTED

Finley presented information that countered the
prevailing agnosticism of our times, demonstrated in
the following quotation by Walter Dietrich

up and addressed the questioner, stating that the kind

of evidence that Finley had just presented, made the
position of the questioner ridiculous and ludicrous.
The gentleman turned out to be Professor Kenneth
Kitchen from the University of Liverpool!

SECONDLY

THE 1ST AND 21ST CENTURY ARE

NOT SO DIFFERENT:
The prevailing culture of the 1st Century AD was far
from conducive for church growth. Listed are eight
reasons that could have limited the spread of the
Christian gospel.
1. The sheer numbers 120 Christians in a
population of 60 million in the 1st Century
2. A consumer-oriented society
3. A hedonistic society
4. A sports-centred society
5. An entertainment culture
6. A rationalistic & philosophical society
7. A military society
8. A society with formal, empty, and failed religions
How accurate a description this is of our sociological
situation today yet in this culture the church
exploded in growth!

THIRDLY

THE EARLY CHURCH - OUR MODEL

In the book of Acts, we are shown the keys to the

Statements about God are above historical evaluation early churchs growth:
- in the modern age, history must be understood and
described as if God did not exist.
1. A significant emphasis on prayer
Where there is no God there is no direct intervention,
no divine revelation, no miracles, no Saviour and no
resurrection. Finley presented evidence and arguments
that countered these views and urged us to have full
confidence in the truthfulness of the Scriptures.
As an example, Finley recalled a Bible lands
presentation he once gave highlighting the historical
sites. A person sitting at the back of the seminar raised
a hand and asked - What if you are a postmodern
scholar like myself who does not accept that Canaan
existed in the 2nd millennium BC? Before Finley
could answer the question, an elderly gentleman stood

28

a. Three examples of prayer life were given that

could be implemented immediately in our
local churches.
i. A prayer time at church on Sabbath
morning. Derek Morris once pastored
Forest Lake Church, Florida. He grew
it from 2600 to 3300 members. Visit
Forest Lake any Sabbath morning at
8:30am and you will find 20 to 30 people
praying for the Holy Spirit to be poured
out during the worship service.
ii. Prayer Cards distributed to members

who list 3-5 people in their sphere of

influence. The first month they simply
pray for the people by name. Second
month show a kindness. Third month
share some literature. Fourth month
invite and bring to an event.
iii. Third - Start a prayer chain.
2. Supernatural manifestations of God

xv. Is saturated in prayer.

b. Sermons that help reach and connect with
unchurched people are:
i. Biblical, bathed in the Word of God.
ii. Relevant to the lives of the listener,
where he /she is.
iii. Transparent
iv. Illustrative - a biblical message that
provides windows to see through.
v. Prepared well in advance of delivery.

3. A Focus on the Word presenting Christ as the

fulfilment of the Messiah of the Old Testament.
A survey of 329 churches (conducted by Thom 4. A diverse, multicultural, multi-ethnic church, with
Rainer of the Southern Baptist Theological
a loving and warm fellowship.
Seminary) indicated the factors that lead people to
join a church.
5. Explosive growth.

90% - The pastor and his preaching.

88% - Doctrine.
49% - Friendship of the members
12% - Worship style and music

a. A church focused on outreach and evangelism

- has the following 15 qualities:
i. In order to reach the unchurched it
majors on majors, never on minor issues.
ii. It is biblical by conviction and
theologically conservative.
iii. It gives evangelism priority and passion.
iv. It provides deep biblical teaching.
v. It encourages comprehensive small
group ministries to flourish.
vi. Relationships between members are
healthy and holistic.
vii. Its facilities are smart, bright, clean and
appealing to the eye.
viii. It runs a visitor-friendly greeting
ministry, to ensure a positive first
impression for guests.
ix. Members are reminded frequently about
the value of contagious and authentic
friendliness.
x. Excellence reigns in place of mediocrity
(e.g., punctual start, good graphics)
xi. Interests have access to an inquirers
/ new member class (dont place in a
traditional Sabbath School class).
xii. Expects much and receives much.
xiii. Has a vision and knows its purpose.
xiv. Practices the principle of Total Member
Involvement.

God grows His church in spite of the negatives, and

where people believe He is working. The disciples
were more committed to being agents for divine
grace, than work and methods.

FOURTHLY

INTERESTS ARE KEY

Advertising through both the printed and electronic
media has its place Make a big splash in a small
area. At the same time, never underestimate the
value and importance of members inviting their
friends to outreach events, evangelism seminars, and
church worship. Andrew was held up as a Biblical
model of a person bringing others to Jesus. Much
practical advice was shared on finding interests, preregistering people, and following up interests. Dont
concentrate on spending money to find interests. Build
your interest base through what the church offers the
community - over a 5 -10 year period.

FIFTHLY

CHURCH GROWTH EYES

Pastor Finley emphasized the importance of
developing a church growth conscience keep in
mind Gods heart longs to win the lost. Also to have
church growth eyes the ability to see men and
women as winnable for Christ. The classic example
is Jesus.

29

SIXTHLY

DISCIPLES MAKE DISCIPLES

Pastor Finley argued that the Acts church practiced
disciples making disciples - 2 Timothy 2:2. And the
things that you heard from me among many witnesses,
commit these to faithful men who will be willing to
teach others.

FINALLY

Lay Bible Training School with Teenie Finley and Karen

We were taught the importance of making an Hamilton.

appeal at the end of each sermon.
conviction of Gods passion for lost people - will
achieve success!
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
The bibliography referenced in this Field School is
listed elsewhere in this report.
If there is no direct appeal to change, people will
leave more resistant to change than before they
arrived. Actions that come out of appeals reinforce
the thoughts that the listener has heard.
The reasons for such appeals could include:
1. The need of inner peace (John 14:27).
2. The need to know what to do (John 2 & Mark
15:16).
3. How to be filled with the Holy Spirit beyond
tongues.
4. How the Holy Spirit leads to obedience (Acts
5:32-33).
5. To keep the commandments of God and experience
the Spirit of Truth (John 14:15-17).

SEMINARS &
STREET WORK

June to September 2014

The May Ballsbridge Hotel meetings were
immediately followed for the next two months of
Sunday evening seminars, Discoveries in Daniel,
and Beyond the Burden of Proof, a lecture series
considering the relationship of the Bible to science.
Both took place each Sunday evening still at the
Ballsbridge Hotel, in a small seminar room. The
objective was to provide Living Life to the Full
interests not only the opportunity to study further, but
to provide opportunity for new friendships to grow.

But we faced a problem and disappointment. The May

meetings created for us a huge surge of confidence.
We had connected with a group of new Dublin people
who were interested in what we had to share. They
were warm people, interested, searching, and some
admitting theyd never before attended anything like
it! Members experienced a new confidence in the
Lord, in the mission of the church, visibly seeing
that the Dublin church was making a very clear step
forward connecting even with Irish people. We were
Coats & jackets on for Field school of evangelism.
not looking for instant commitments, instant change
for that was never the purpose of the May event. And
6. The joy of pleasing Jesus.
In summary this week-long masterclass taught us - yet, these were this is how it should be moments.
that the success is not so much in the preaching, but
the system around the preaching, that incorporated The moment Mark and Teenie Finley left Dublin,
all of the above. Simple principles applied with a the interest of the new attendees waned, at least the

30

majority of them. Of course, crucial to this evangelistic

you think about it. The follow-on seminar series
strategy is the transitioning process, with strong
began within a fortnight. Too much too soon?
follow-on, step-by-step spiritual seminars, and a Members and their children faithfully attended the
growing relationship not just with the Lord, but also
May meetings, many with their interests, on both
with His people.
school-nights (through Dublin rush hour traffic)
and weekends - a huge commitment.
The follow-on seminars definitely inspired, but In the Ballsbridge ballroom guests had space. They
in the main were attended by a small number of
were attending a large event, with the choice to be
members and even fewer interests. Having said that,
anonymous if they wished. Were they ready for the
what joy it was in particular to see Jane and Mary
smaller more intimate seminar, albeit in the same
(pseudonyms) both with deep Catholic roots discover
hotel?
new truths from scripture. As the seminar leader What about the charisma of the evangelist whose
sensitively presented the Daniel 7 lecture, he feared
preaching style engaged, but also because of his
its understanding might be unpalatable to the listener.
personal roots, creating a strong bond with his
What they heard was new, very new, hearing for the
listeners? When the evangelist left, was it too
very first time claims about God and His relevancy
difficult a step to connect with the local team?
for today, not through the misty filter of the church, No detailed research yet done on this, just conjecture
but through the clear lens of scripture. As the seminar
and an impression at this point in time.
ended, Mary responded with the exclamation, Why
did nobody tell me about this before? Mary was As these seminars drew to a close, we were already
baptised, February 27th, 2016!
getting all in place for the September meetings. Most
of August saw many Dublin members (both young
Why then such a sudden drop-off of interests?
and old) once again distributing invitations, sharing
magazines, giving away free hugs, and making as big
The May meetings were 8 sessions essentially an impact as they could possibly make.
spread over two weeks. Many new interests
attended every night, a huge commitment when Let the pictures tell the story

31

DUBLINERS
INVESTIGATE
ETERNITY
Irish Mission / BUC News 17th September 2014

Pastor Gavin Anthony and the mailing team

The scariest moment of any evangelistic event is

opening the doors on the first night and wondering if
anybody will come! Historically it has happened that
nobody came and happened in Dublin, but not on
this occasion.
As dusk fell on Sunday, 14 September, and the lights of
the Ballsbridge Hotel came on, a team of pastors and
fifty volunteers found themselves busy welcoming
a crowd of over two hundred, all responding to an
invitation for a series of meetings that was overtly
addressing religious topics over a three-week period.

Promoting the Ancient Discovery Meetings in Ranelagh

Village

175,000 Ancient Discovery Leaflets were distributed for the

September meetings

A prayer for the Holy Spirit to go ahead of the invitation

32

Not only did they

come the first night,
they returned again on
Monday, Tuesday and
Wednesday to experience evangelist Pastor
Mark Finleys energetic
multimedia presentations on biblical prophecy and
the future of the planet Earth. The series was scheduled continue to run for four nights a week until Saturday, 4 October.
Ancient Discoveries was the climax to an eighteen
month initiative, Dublin - City of Hope. During
that period Dublin churches and their members went
to great lengths to reach out to the city. Initiatives
included felt needs seminars, street witnessing, social
media, and personal friendship. 175,000 invitations
were distributed across Dublin in the previous weeks.
A website and a phone line were monitored 24 hours
a day during the two weeks prior to opening. There
were 160 pre-registrations.
People not only came, they
engaged. An enthusiastic
Dubliner with a broad Irish
accent told Pastor Finley,
Im not very religious and
I dont usually come to
meetings like this. I came
last night, and I listened. I

said to my wife and to my son, If there is eternity, we

would be foolish not to investigate it. He was there
with his family again the following evening.
At the close of the Tuesday meeting Irish Mission
President, Pastor David Neal, noted one attendee
walk up to the screen at the front of the hall with a
camera in his hand. Pastor Finley had finished his
presentation with an artists image of Jesus returning
on the clouds surrounded by angels and a rainbow.
The visitor was clearly touched by the beauty of the
scene and wanted to take a memory of it back home
with him. David said, A conversation ensued and
the friendship is deepening. We are looking forward
to see how it develops over the next few days and
weeks.
Many of those registered are known to the Dublin
pastors. Over the months they have become friends of
the church. In addition friends, spouses and relatives
of existing church members attended. But there were
also a significant number of new faces and friends
made. Some friendships are already deepening. A
couple approached the registration table expressing
concern that they had booked a holiday for the
coming week and that they would be missing some of
the presentations. No problem! Special arrangements
were made to provide them with recordings of each
meeting.
The meetings are also online. A fledgling but
passionate Irish Mission media team, under the
leadership of Pastor Stephen Wilson, has been pulled
out the stops to stream the series live to the City of
Hope website. The quality of the stream improved
nightly, only exaggerated by the increasing numbers
of viewers.
An openly moved Pastor Neal states, This is the
biggest evangelistic effort that has happened in the
history of the Dublin church.
As the time this report was written there were still
12 more nights of presentations but as Pastor Finley
stated, all this is part of a long-term process. Along
with his wife, Teenie, and the support team from
America, said,
Our goal is to support what the pastors and
members will do and what they have already
done Our aim is not 20, 50, 100 baptisms but to
change the culture of the local church to one where
they believe and experience that outreach is not
just possible but is a reality.

33

ANCIENT DISCOVERIES FIRST NIGHT

From: David Neal
Sent: 15 September 2014 06:35
To: David Neal
Subject: Ancient Discoveries - First Night
Dear Team
When we consider the response to the efforts made in partnership with the Lord to invite Dublin
people to the Ancient Discoveries series, we can only say Thank You Lord.
I cant give you this morning the details of who has responded, but heres an overall picture:

We saw many new people in the audience wed not seen before
We welcomed back friends from the May meetings/the summer seminars/the Health Expos
Many friends, contacts & relatives of church members were in attendance
We have more friends and contacts registered first night than members
We ran a childrens bible club with 45+ children registered
There was a holy buzz and excitement in the hall helping create the atmosphere for guests that
they are attending something of significance

Teenie Finely and Rob Everett have a dbase set-up, which is second to none in helping us identify for
follow-up to connect with new and existing new friends. This is the heart of our work over the coming
days and weeks connecting with the people the Lord has seen fit to place in our sphere of influence
It is to be expected that we have some challenges:
We need more of our members to register and attend with their friends.
For those watching via the internet, you will notice that were intentionally not yet connecting
with you - and recognising you are out there. Please forgive us for this. The reality at this
point is that we need people to attend in the hall (members and guests). In particular, if Dublin
members choose to connect regularly during the series via the internet, this will not help keep
the critical mass that helps create all the buzz, interest and excitement etc.
Thanks for the comments regarding the streaming operation. We have some technical challenges
with the media output (to place in context every evangelistic series I have attended since
childhood has faced the same. In days gone by it was the Kodak Carousel jamming! Today its
regarding the quality of TV pictures). Be assured, were vigorously working to sort.
Mark, as ever, preached with conviction, passion, and power. One particular guest commented to me
how much they appreciated the genuine conviction shining through the presenter, demolishing their
long held view that such types were slick and inauthentic. The reflective joy this morning is that the
Holy Spirit has stirred some Dublin people, who we are more than privileged to encounter, support,
and offer hope to in His name. Thank you Holy Spirit
Thank you - for partnering with us in your continued prayers.
Cheers and best wishes,
David
Living Life to the Full
www.cityofhope.ie

34

COMPETING WITH
THE CHAMPIONS

evening, after the match, the Kerry team and their

supporters (who incidentally won the match) would
be celebrating their successes in the same venue that
Mark Finley was lecturing.

Irish Mission / BUC News 25th September 2014 The hotel had a special
arrangement with the City
of Hope organisers that
Mark Finley could use their
facilities to lecture during
the All-Ireland Final. As the
teams kicked off in Croagh
Park, Mark Finley began his
presentation. Sound engineers
preparing for the evenings
celebrations were watching
the match on a television in the room above the
auditorium and technically Mark Finley, standing on
How can an evangelistic programme compete with the stage could see the match in progress as he talked.
a major football championship final? That was the
challenge for Dublin Adventists for the start of week Would anybody still come to City of Hope? Sceptics
anticipated that attendance
two of Dublin - City of Hope.
would drop away completely.
At 4:00 pm that afternoon 183
The Ancient Discoveries programme featured wellpeople checked in to listen to
known international speaker, Pastor Mark Finley at
Mark Finley. The attendance
the centrally located Ballsbridge Hotel and continued
was marginally lower than
to generate excitement in the Irish Mission. However,
the previous week but it still
Sunday, 21 September brought the biggest challenge
exceeded expectations. During
for the series so far.
the rest of the week attendance
remained at the 180 mark with
The GAA Gaelic Football All Ireland Championship
listeners
eagerly returning to
Finals, an Irish obsession, was scheduled to take
place in nearby Croagh Park. 70,000 supporters from listen to Pastor Finleys simple yet passionate
Counties Donegal and Kerry had made their way to presentations on biblical themes.
Dublin to support their teams. The city was alive with
the green and yellow team colours.

The week two programme saw the addition of some

world class music. Pastor
Finley and his wife, Teenie,
were joined by American
vocal artist Charles
Haugabrooks. Charles opened
and closed the meetings with
beautiful musical renditions.
On his first night he sang a
Christian hymn set to the tune
of the Londonderry Air, the
internationally known Irish
tune composed in Limavady,
Northern Ireland. By Wednesday evening Amazing
Grace was the song that moved the audience.

The Ballsbridge Hotel traditionally hosts one of the

qualifying teams and their supporters. This year the
hotel became the home base for the Kerry supporters How to measure the success of an evangelistic
club. Every room in the hotel was reserved. In the programme? It is very easy to become obsessed with

35

numbers, and there is a fair bit of counting on a nightly

basis. Decisions to follow Jesus, and baptisms is
another measure. On Monday, after a moving sermon
on the Second Coming, each person in attendance
received a decision card. One of the options that was
available for selection on the card was to indicate a
desire to be baptised. Seventeen cards were returned
requesting baptism. The enthusiastic pastoral team is
now busy visiting the individuals who made decisions
for baptism and those who asked for prayer.
Good news is happening beyond the hotel-based
meetings. Over the weekend, two Dublin churches
welcomed unexpected visitors. Two first-time visitors
arrived at Ranelagh in central Dublin. They had not
been aware of the Ballsbridge event, but they had
somehow received a copy of the book Patriarchs
and Prophets. The book made a deep impression
on them. They did some investigation and brought
themselves to church without any previous contact
with Adventists.

Members and interests listen intently as Mark Finley

preaches the Word. One gentleman take vigorous notes.

As pastors and volunteers reflected on these events

at the Tuesday morning planning meeting, Pastor
Finley reflected that it would seem that Gods Spirit
is moving powerfully in Dublin. It would certainly
seem that there is a combination of factors at play in
this event. He noted the tremendous investment of
resources and effort, and time and energy by church
The Castleknock church in the north-west of the members.
city also received two first-time visitors. Pastor
Ben Pontanar had met them in the Tallaght area of When last have any of us invested 4 nights of our
Dublin. They live in a deprived area where antisocial leisure time in a week, three weeks in a row to attend
behaviour and gangsterism is rife, but they dont a religious event?, reflected Pastor David Neal. The
really fit in there. They met one of our members and campaign has certainly highlighted the commitment
they found a friend. This friend introduced them of many members and visitors. The Holy Spirit clearly
to Pastor Ben and they visited church that same seems to be leading people.
weekend. At the church there was discussion about
the upcoming baptismal services. These two young As the first baptisms took place with candidates
prepared by Dublin pastors over the last few months;
men immediately requested baptism.
Pastor Dan Serb also experienced a contact out of we wait with baited breath to see in what surprising
nowhere the same weekend. He received a carefully ways God will continue to bless Dublin, a city of
hope.

Record numbers turn out for Ballsbridge Day of

Fellowship, members and interests combined.

worded email from a person south of Dublin. They

had read a copy of The Great Controversy. Wanting to
know more he requested a meeting with Pastor Serb.

36

From all across Ireland we gathered.

A BUS RIDE
WITH DESTINY
(This story was told, in conversational style, by
Mark Finley to an audience at the Stanborough
Press Open Day, 13 September, 2015)
A young adult was studying at St. Andrews University,
Scotland for a degree in religious art. She had
dismissed religion and said, Religion is not for me,
as its filled with myths and fables. At the end of her
class in art history, she went to her major professor
who asked, What did you most get out of this class?

They got talking and she enquired as to where he

was going. Im going to the Seventh-day Adventist
church, he replied.
Bingo!
She remembered that internet sermon, Im going
with you, and Ive got to explore this thing called
religion. Whats that book youve got in your hand?

In response she said, What I most got out of this

class is that to believe in God is quite foolish, you
have to be quit ignorant, as Christianity and religion
is a fable foisted on the masses to control people, its
really about a power struggle.
The professor responded, Thats exactly what we Sharing Jesus on an Endinburgh bus leads to Dublin baptism.
intended to have you come out of the class with, that
was our intent, because you cant have any confidence Patriarchs & Prophets, you can have the book, he
replied.
in the teachings of Christianity.
As she left that discussion, a light dawned in her mind,
Why would you have to try to destroy something
like faith and religion if it were unreal, and does not
make intellectual sense, surely you would just totally
ignore it?

She took that book in her hand, and she read the first
paragraph. God is love, and it described Gods
created world, it described the origin of evil, it
described the magnificence of creation. I dont know
who this woman Ellen White is, but she must have
been inspired, her writing blows me away, she said.

The professors comment was the seed God put into

As she read that first paragraph, she was moved to
her mind.
tears - secular, post-modern, godless, but having a
She went back to Italy where she was living and began longing in her heart to know Christ, having a longing
exploring spirituality and the New Age movement. in her heart to be filled spiritually, searching for
Her mother had been listening to an Adventist sermon something she did not know what she was searching
on the internet and recommended it to her daughter. for, because post-modern men and women have a
Knowing it was an Adventist preacher, it kind of hole in their hearts. As Augustine said, Lord, our
lodged in this young adults head, made some sense hearts will never find rest, until they find rest in you!
but didnt impress her, and didnt change her life.
Trying to fill up self, an empty self with self, is a
Returning one weekend to Edinburgh for a wedding foolish way, because you never fill self with self, you
due to take place on the Saturday afternoon, she only fill self with God.
decided for the morning to do some shopping, and to
get to the shopping centre, she got on a bus. She got Living a self-centred life, I read that, and it touched
on the wrong bus (the wrong bus for her -- but the my heart. She began seeking.
right bus for God). The fellow sitting next to her had
a bible in his hand. He was an African young adult I was teaching Sabbath School in the Dublin Ranelagh
Adventist church and the young adult and her mother
going to a Scottish church, she was Irish.

37

walked in, came into the Sabbath School class,

attended our meetings, and both have since been
baptised!
I thank God for my African brother in Edinburgh who
gave his Irish sister a book.

DUBLIN
CONCLUDES
MOST AMBITIOUS
CAMPAIGN FOR A
GENERATION

I thank God for British and Irish men and women who
are giving to their friends, neighbours and working
associates, our literature, because it makes all the
Irish Mission / BUC News 9th October 2014
difference in the world.

The most ambitious outreach campaign organised

by the Seventh-day Adventist church in Dublin for a
generation drew to a close on Sabbath, 4 October as
churches from across the Irish Mission converged on
the Ballsbridge hotel for a day of worship, baptism,
and fellowship. More than 700 church members and
visitors from across Ireland found seats in the hotel
ball room to listen one final time to presentations
from Mark Finley, the evangelist who captured the
hearts and the minds of the Ballsbridge audience over
the last three weeks.
Mother and daughter Mary and Giorgia Maghelli.

The two sermons Pastor Finley preached expanded

on the positive themes that he had presented during
his nightly meetings. In the morning he explored
the question, How can I discover Truth and rejoice
in the certainty of Gods will? This was a Biblical
exploration on the characteristics of Gods true church.
In the afternoon the seasoned preacher brought the
prospect of heaven to life with beautiful, Biblically
derived descriptions of what eternity will be like after
Jesus soon return.

All to Jesus I surrender.

The day was marked by a celebration of individual

decisions for Christ. The final two weeks of the
evangelistic series has seen a series of baptisms
held in the newly refurbished Ranelagh church near

38

the centre of the city. On Sabbath, 27 September,

twenty-seven people were baptised in four different
baptismal services arranged by each of the Dublin
congregations.
On the final Sabbath, as the Ballsbridge meetings drew
to a close, a crowd of worshippers once again filled
the Ranelagh church to rejoice as a further eleven
members chose to join the church through baptism,
bringing the total of new members to thirty-eight.
Mark Finley explained that a further forty people
have indicated a desire to be baptised and that they are
preparing to join the church over the coming months.
In his morning presentation, Mark Finley showed
slides of baptismal services that were taking place all
around the world, and explained that the individuals
who chose to join the church over the last three weeks
were joining a vibrant international church with more
than 18 million members.
During the final presentation, Pastor Ian Sweeney,
President of the Seventh-day Adventist church in
the United Kingdom and Ireland remarked to Pastor
Finley, We are not as big as Moscow and the
Philippines, Africa, and the other places where you
would have been. But the reality is that Dublin is so
unique! Turning to Pastor Finley he said, What
you have done here, and what you have allowed the
Spirit of God to do through you and the team has
been awesome. The impetus that has been given here
in the Irish Mission is so wonderful. I know there is
no greater joy in the spiritual journey than seeing it
culminating in one giving ones life to Christ.
Irish Mission President, Pastor David Neal, worked

church membership is authentically international,

with no one predominant culture. We have a beautiful
and balanced mix of Filipino, African, Brazilian and
Eastern European members whove arrived in Dublin
over the last decade, whove joined the small number
of Irish members to reach Dublin people for Christ.
We are aware of more than 75 church members who
attended these meetings with community friends. As
our friends and guests attended the nightly meetings,
many expressed how immediately at home they
felt. From an historical perspective, I am greatly
encouraged that more Anglos attended these Dublin
meetings in 2014, than in Harvest London in 1986.
However, the end of these meetings is just the
beginning for an enthused Pastor Neal and the Dublin
members. We may be at the end of one campaign, he
stated as he formally extended his thanks to Mark and
Teenie Finley, but ours is the business of Heaven! We
will continue tirelessly to make friends and continue
the good work that you have done in Dublin.

Photos by Denzil McNeilus

Photos by Denzil McNeilus

previously with Pastor Finley as a student at the

New Gallery during Harvest London in 1986. The
success of the Dublin programme is that Irish visitors
felt that they were connecting to something truly
international, Pastor Neal explained. The Dublin

If one goes by the numbers involved in this campaign,

the work is cut out for the Dublin churches. Over the
duration of the meetings over 540 people registered
as attendees. Once Seventh-day Adventist members
were sorted from this list more than 300 friends and
new contacts have attended the meetings. Many of

39

these contacts have made decisions to recommit their

lives to Jesus and many have asked for follow-up Bible
studies and conversations. At the baptism, David Neal
made an appeal to the churches, Do not allow these
new members to remain in their chairs. Involve them
in the mission and the work of the church. Help them
to fulfil this call of God in their lives.

series of presentations on important Biblical themes

in the Ranelagh church as well as in the Ballsbridge
hotel.

Pastor Gavin Anthony presented a series of Bible

studies on the book of Matthew in the Ranelagh
church. Continuing with the health themes presented
by Teenie Finley during the Ancient Discoveries
On Sabbath afternoon, between services, Mark and series, the Ranelagh health team will be offer
Teenie Finley hosted a luncheon at the Ranelagh vegetarian cookery classes on a weekly basis as well
church hall for one hundred of these new contacts and as depression recovery presentations in the Ringsend
campaign staff. Among these visitors was Mike Garde, community centre.
Christian activist and blogger at http://dialogueireland.
wordpress.com. He took an interest in the advertised Photo galleries of the baptisms and of the Day of
meetings because of his interest in cults and cultism Fellowship can be found on the Irish Mission website.
in Ireland. Mike attended several of Mark Finleys
presentations. The presentation on what happens [Photos by Denzil McNeilus]
after death, elicited quite a response from Mike. It
has set him off on his own journey of exploration and
earlier this week, Mike wrote in a message, I am in
a monastery in Co Kildare and I led a bible study on
the issue we discussed last week. Death, soul sleep et
al. For Mike the questions have not yet been settled,
but he appreciated the conversations at the luncheon
and the stimulation of Mark Finleys meetings. You
need to be commended, he said, for actually trying
to make an impact on the City of Dublin.
During the Ancient Discoveries September 2014
programmes at the Ballsbridge Hotel, Lindita Vani
Wilson and a dedicated group of volunteers hosted a
programme for children each evening for the duration
of the series. These pictures tell the story:

ANCIENT
DISCOVERIES
CHILDRENS
MINISTRIES

Photos by Denzil McNeilus

Mark and Teenie Finley have returned to the United

States where a full itinerary of church meetings and
more evangelistic campaigns lie ahead for them. One
would expect that the churches in Dublin would now
forge ahead at a slower pace, but this is not at all the
case. As the Ancient Discoveries series was winding
up, invitations were issued to attend a broad range of
seminars across Dublin city. Revelation seminars are
scheduled to take place in Ranelagh and Drumcondra.
Dublin born Pastor Patrick Boyle, currently living in
England, returned to Dublin for a three-week long

40

41

Sunday 14 September,
at 7:15 pm
The prophet Daniel predicted the rise and
fall of nations 2500 years in advance. History
has been following his prophecies like a blueprint. The
state of Europe today specifically reveals the accuracy
of his predictions.

Learn about discoveries centuries

old as they reveal the truth of the
Bible.

Your invitation to hear

international speaker

Mark Finley
beginning Sunday
14 September, at 7:15 pm
The crumbling ruins of past
civilizations speak to us today.

Ballsbridge Hotel
Pembroke Road,
Dublin 4

Mark Finley, has spent more than

35 years preaching, teaching, and
presenting lifestyle lectures. Author
of more than 70 books, teaching
manuals, and articles, he is also
a speaker for Hope Channel. He
recently recorded Dublin asks tough
questions about God, a web-based
series of interviews which can be
found at cityofhope.ie.

Ernestine Finley, popular speaker and author of

Natural Lifestyle Cooking Cookbook, will present
practical, scientifically sound health features during
each programme that will enable you to live a
longer, happier and healthier life.

The prophecies of Revelation

pinpoint the 21st century. Discover
what is really going on behind the
scenes of world affairs and be
prepared for what will break upon
this world as an overwhelming
surprise.

To reserve your Free seats

for this series of live
Multimedia presentations

CALL: 01 442 5864

or register at:

http://cityofhope.ie
Ballsbridge Hotel, Pembroke Road, Dublin 4
FREE parking onsite
The Ballsbridge Hotel is located at the junction of Pembroke
Road, Northumberland Road (R118) and Lansdowne Road.
Dublin Bus routes 4, 7, 8, 18, 27x & 120 stop outside the
hotel. The nearest Dart station is Lansdowne Road.

Our society is confronted with

overwhelming problems such as
unemployment, a troubled economy,
rising crime, drug and divorce rates.
Bible prophecy provides hope for
our troubled world. You can face the
future with greater confidence.

ts
To reserve your Free sea
for this series of live
Multimedia presentations
CALL: 01 442 5864
or register at:
http://cityofhope.ie

Dont miss opening night

PROGRAMME 3 Tuesday, 16 September 7:15pm
Jesus, Jerusalem and the end of the world
Looking out from Jerusalem the world seems to be
facing disaster. Is there hope in Bible prophecy?

Join Mark Finley, the speaker for Hope Channel

International Television, for an incredible journey
through time. You will be amazed at recent
archeological discoveries that confirm the
truthfulness of Gods Word.
Finley has traveled extensively throughout the
Middle East to Jordan,
Israel, Egypt and Turkey.
You will thrill at his
clear, state-of-theart, fully-illustrated
presentations that
reveal the secrets of the
ancient past and their
meaning for our lives
today!

PROGRAMME 4 Wednesday, 17 September 7:15pm

The child who will change the world
Jesus. Good, bad, man or God? An ancient prophetic
code gives the truth and it will change your life!

PROGRAMME 5 Sunday, 21 September 7:15pm

Good God, bad world. Why?
If God is love why do bad things happen to good people?
The answer: a Star Wars battle in the book of Revelation.

PROGRAMME 1 Sunday, 14 September 7:15pm

PROGRAMME 6 Monday, 22 September 7:15pm

Lost cities of the dead

Discovered in Egypt, these cities lead us to some ancient
prophecies which have brought hope to millions.

Hope beyond tomorrow

2,000 years ago Jesus said he would return. Is this a
baseless claim, or could we possibly be on the edge
of eternity?

PROGRAMME 2 Monday, 15 September 7:15pm

Worlds future revealed in a dream
Written in Iraq 2,500 years ago this amazing dream
outlines our history . . . and our destiny!

Future programmes include:

The Explosion of the Occult
Incredible Discoveries on Life After Death
Europe in Bible Prophecy

All seats are free but the best seats are reserved, call 01 442 5864 Ballsbridge Hotel Pembroke Road Dublin 4

42

Ancient
Discoveries
REVEAL THE FUTURE

NIGHTLY SCHEDULE September 14 October 4

All Meetings Begin at 7:15 p.m.
Week 1

Week 3

Amazing Discoveries in the Lost Cities of the Dead

A Six Thousand-Year-Old Remedy for Stress and

Tension

Sunday, September 14

Monday, September 15

Iraq, An Ancient Kings Dream and Our Future

Tuesday, September 16

Jesus, Jerusalem, and Startling End-time Prophecies

Wednesday, September 17

The Child Born in the Middle East Who Will

Change the World

Sunday, September 28

Monday, September 29

Revealing Historys Greatest Religious Cover Up

Tuesday, September 30

Deaths Mystery Solved! Spiritualism Exposed!

Wednesday, October 1
Discovering New Life

Friday, October 3

Week 2

Sunday, September 21
Good God! Bad World! Why?

Monday, September 22
Hope Beyond Tomorrow

Solving the Mystery of Religious Confusion

Saturday, October 4

11:00 a.m.
7:00 p.m.

An End-time Movement of Destiny

A Future Beyond
Your Imagination

Tuesday, September 23

Why Cults are Exploding in Europe and How to

Identify a Cult

Wednesday, September 24

Whats Behind Societys Crumbling Moral Values?

Join Speaker Mark Finley of the Hope Channel

for this Amazing Adventure Through Prophecy

BALLSBRIDGE HOTEL, DUBLIN, IRELAND

84393_Finley_NF.indd 1

9/2/14 10:41 AM

43

THE FOLLOW-UP
CHALLENGE

non-plussed by our visits, saying for example

I did not expect to see you, what are you doing
here? Im not suggesting they were hostile, but
they were certainly unsure of the approach, and
didnt welcome us in with open arms as perhaps
we might have expected. Im not sure if this is only
a Dublin characteristic. Is a spot visit at the door,
at the home now considered too intrusive? Having
said this, some very good and inspiring visits took
place.

During the Ancient Discoveries series at Ballsbridge,

a few blocks away in the attic room of the Dublin
Ranelagh church, a bank of computers served as the
projects operational nerve centre. In this network was
the attendance record, the contact details, responses,
and literature requests. While it seems technical Once again after Mark and Teenie returned to the USA,
and it was, its role was vital in helping the team keep without their support it was like falling off a clifffocused on the interests.
edge. Keeping connected with our many interests was
a struggle. Some of the pastoral team had personal
Each morning would be spent capturing data from family issues to resolve, in the case of one key pastor,
the previous evenings meeting. While the significant family illness. Members needed to return to a routine.
amount of data was entered from the previous evening, All the while it was felt very important to keep the
the pastoral team met with Mark for bible study, to momentum going.
reflect, share experiences about the night before, and
of course pray for interests. While the May Field The long-term intent was to plant a church in the
School of Evangelism gave essential church growth Ballsbridge / Ringsend area. During October, once
principles, in a classroom setting, the September time again we continued to hold low key-seminars in the
together with Mark was more akin to a specialist Ballsbridge Hotel, this time on a Saturday afternoon
Masterclass - with a professor of evangelism. For (a good time for us, but not perhaps for them). But stay
the six pastors meeting daily around the table with with us they did not. A few attended the Wednesday
Mark and Teenie, we knew we were in the company evening follow-on series at the Dublin Ranelagh
of Adventisms premier evangelists - an incredible church, meetings held with Dublin born pastor,
privilege.
Patrick Boyle. Specifically brought in for the followup, he worked visiting interests across Dublin for a
month, giving bible studies, with a constant message
to the pastoral team to visit, visit, visit!
As I shared above, we didnt catch the art of the
evangelistic visit with confidence. Mark gave us the
idea, shared the principle, but we needed more handson training which we were not forward in requesting.
On reflection, there were some problems:
We did not capture with conviction this essential
activity in the evangelistic process. In future, more
1. We didnt catch with confidence the art of the practice with less distraction, more commitment to its
evangelistic visit. Am I making too much of this? value, both pastoral and evangelistic.
But it didnt work as well as it could have during the
series, and certainly did not afterwards. It makes Between October and December all Interests received
me wonder if such a programme should return to mail-shot invitations to follow-up seminars with a
the principle of having dedicated and focussed FOCUS magazine enclosed. The December mailshot
bible workers (lay or paid) to do this work.
included a seasonal greeting card with a message
The core job of the team was visitation, and Mark
shared how we should go about it, how to make an
evangelistic visit. Teenie provided the sheets of
names, which we distributed between us. We knew
what we had to do, so far so good.

2. The pastoral team (essentially the visitation team)

were also heavily involved in supporting the
logistics of the programme. All were engaged in
AV, reception duties, programme duties, and the
like. Our total focus was not on visitation, we were
distracted from this most essential task.
3. In our visits to homes of interests many seemed

44

from Mark.

AUTUMN SEMINARS FROM THE CITY OF HOPE

DISCOVERY BIBLE SEMINARS WITH PATRICK BOYLE

Patrick and Rosemary Boyle enjoying a break

while engaged in follow-up work.

THIS WEEKEND & NEXT WEEK

Venue: Seventh-day Adventist Church, 47a Ranelagh Road, Dublin 6
Saturday October 18th 11th, 11am
THE MESSAGES OF THREE ANGELS Revelation 14
Contact: Gavin Anthony 087 413 2517 / gavin@adventist.ie
Venue: The Mezzanine, Ballsbridge Hotel, Pembroke Road, Dublin 4
Saturday October 18th, 4pm
WAITING FOR THE PROMISE Revelation 22
Contact: Stephen Wilson 086 173 6523 / stephen@adventist.ie
Venue: Seventh-day Adventist Church, 47a Ranelagh Road, Dublin 6
Wednesday October 22nd, 7:15pm
WAITING FOR THE PROMISE - Revelation 22
Contact: Gavin Anthony 087 413 2517 / gavin@adventist.ie
NEXT WEEKEND & FOLLOWING WEEK
Venue: Seventh-day Adventist Church, 47a Ranelagh Road, Dublin 6
Friday October 24th, 8pm
WAITING FOR THE PROMISE - Revelation 22 (with Romanian translation)
Contact: Dan Serb 085 753 1872 or dan@adventist.ie
Venue: Castleknock Hotel, Porterstown Road, Castleknock, Dublin 15
Saturday morning, October 25th, 11am
THE MESSAGES OF THREE ANGELS Revelation 14
Contact: Ben Pontanar 087 674 4510 / ben@adventist.ie
Venue: The Mezzanine, Ballsbridge Hotel, Pembroke Road, Dublin 4
Saturday October 25th, 4pm
THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD John 3
Contact: Stephen Wilson 086 173 6523 / stephen@adventist.ie
Venue: Seventh-day Adventist Church, 47a Ranelagh Road, Dublin 6
Wednesday October 29th, 7:15pm
THE MAN WHO LOVED HER - John 4
Contact: Gavin Anthony 087 413 2517 / gavin@adventist.ie
Venue: Seventh-day Adventist Church, 47a Ranelagh Road, Dublin 6
Friday October 24th, 8pm
THE MAN WHO LOVED HER John 4 (with Romanian translation)
Contact: Dan Serb 085 753 1872 or dan@adventist.ie
Seminars also continue on a Friday night at The Meeting Place, Arts and Business Campus, 40 Drumcondra Rd Lower
(7:30pm), and also on a Tuesday evening at the Maldron Hotel, Parnell Square in the Romanian language.

45

SOWING AND
GROWING AGAIN

2015

Our aim is to change the culture of the local

church to one where they believe and experience that
outreach is not just possible but is a reality.
(Mark Finley)

engage in a major evangelistic outreach and so the

cycle once again began. But as each cycle is repeated,
the memories embed themselves on the hard drive,
becoming engrained, sceptical and eventually cynical.
And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak,
who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to
ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to
them.(Numbers 13:33 ESV)

In the planning of the Dublin City of Hope project, it

was essential to ensure that a foundation was laid for
Making God Known in Dublin has been our aim.
a sustainable evangelistic approach. In the opinion of
2014 saw an energy and enthusiasm among Dublin
this writer, anything less could be described as failure
leaders and members Id never previously seen. We
and a modern copy of an old cycle.
made friends with people, handed out brochures and
tracts on the streets, offered free hugs, conducted
Three key projects began in 2015 which I believe
all manner of felt need seminars, and supported the
contributed in part, to building that sustainable legacy
Ballsbridge meetings with incredible enthusiasm and
of outreach and evangelism.
sacrifice. While there were organisational hiccups
at times, problems to sort, yet for most of the year
The Cuisle Centre
I rejoiced in the Lord for all the spirit-prompted and
CREATION Health
spirit-filled moments. This is how it should be, I
An Adventure into West Dublin
kept saying to myself, as an increasingly confident
Dublin church, reached out to Dublin people with
joyful confidence. But the most dangerous part of
a major city-wide outreach is once the main public
event is over. Weve already shared how difficult it
was to keep connected with the Dublin people who
attended the Ballsbridge meetings.
For decades in the UK and Ireland the familiar, almost
legendary tale is told, of the evangelist who came to
town, did all the work with his team, baptised some
(always a very few in the Anglo context), and then
returned back to either America or Australia, and in
more recent times the Caribbean. Of course, the story
cannot be told without mentioning the great expense
involved. We spent all that money, but what did we
achieve? is the cry. It continues with the local church
resuming its normal steady rhythm of returning to
what might be described as safe mode. Looking
after the youth and children once again became the
supreme priority, their salvation above all others
mattered most (not an unworthy aim one might add).
And so by definition the focus returned to ourselves,
self-preservation, rather than being a community of
faith whos very reason for existence, the salvation of
others.
About a decade later (and I exaggerate not, at least
in the context of Anglo Adventism in the UK and
Ireland), some daring person thinks it about time for
the local church or district of churches to once again

46

A JOURNEY OF
THOUSAND MILES
STARTS WITH A
SINGLE STEP.
Report by Edith Samambwa, Cuisle Centre Manager

more important than money. Without the volunteers

who gave of their time in the various programmes
throughout the year, we would have not been further
than the first steps of this journey. Im grateful that
we have had enthusiastic and willing volunteers
throughout the year.
Gavin Anthony (local pastor) has been in attendance
in the Clinic on Thursday to meet and counsel anyone
seeking spiritual help.

WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE

STEPS WE HAVE TAKEN?
Free Health Checks
Tuesdays and Thursdays 10am 5pm
Natural lifestyle Cooking classes
Twice a month on a Wednesday evening
Step by step Cuisle Centre took shape over the year
from March 2015. At times we felt that we were lost in
translation as we grappled with the philosophy which
would guide our practice and as we struggled to find a
suitable name for what would become the first Centre
of Influence in the Irish Mission and even perhaps the
British Union Conference. But as the name Cuisle
(meaning life or pulse) rolled off the tongue easier
and the community began to step into the building
that once was an obscure brown building where a
group of people met and dined every Saturday, our
mission became clearer. There was more we could
offer to Ranelagh than just the occasional Saturday
visit. We could offer a listening ear, support and
encouragement, friendship, a hot meal or drink and
most importantly hope. The Health Checks, Massage
sessions, Depression Recovery classes and the very
popular Vegetarian Cooking classes were important
bridges we all have crossed to connect with many
whose hearts are looking for a place to belong.

Massage Therapy by appointment

Tues- Friday (9am-11am)
Two cycles of Depression and
Anxiety Recovery programmes
Two cycles of Parenting Classes
Run by Tobba and Gavin
Counselling sessions on appointment
Monday- Friday
One cycle of the Breathe Free
Stop Smoking programme
One cycle of the Unhooked
Addictions Recovery programme
Creation Health training
Adventist Recovery Ministries Training

Like all start-ups, there will be logistical hiccups and

we experienced such at the beginning but as a team
we have learned how to move from baby steps to a
firmer stride in 2016. We realise that leaflets may
be an expensive and yet ineffective way to get our
message across. We know that the pavement signs
were more effective and that word of mouth counts
for much. The health clinics have connected people
to the rest of the programmes more than the leaflets.
We know now that some programmes will need to be
done on a Sabbath afternoon to cater for the church
members. Most importantly we know that people are

47

people like herself. For Maureen everyone needs to

know how amazing the massage therapist is and what
lovely people are in that brown building. We may
never in our lifetime be able to quantify how many
Over the 8 months that the health clinic has been people have been impacted by the Cuisle Centre, but
on a qualitative level we see and hear the good news
functional twice a week,
spreading further than Ranelagh.
193 people have visited the clinic
The cooking classes have attracted a minimum In 2016 we intend to publish a monthly newsletter for
the community and church members.
of 20 people most days.
We have had 8 people complete the Depression
Recovery programme
We pray for more opportunities to serve and impact
One person successfully quit smoking during Gods children for good and be the life and hope
the Breathe Free programme
centre of Ranelagh and Dublin.
Most significantly we have had people request
prayer and even start attending
fadfaidh an t-aistear leanint. God bless
services after having attended the clinic.

OUTCOME

IN CONSULTATION

Joseph is one such person whom we connected with

recently and now attends Sabbath School, Divine
Service and Wednesday prayer meeting. Joseph is an
WITH EDITH SAMAMBWA
elderly Irish gentleman who lives alone in Ranelagh.
He walked into the centre a month ago after having (First published in Messenger November 20th 2015)
cycled past the Centre and deciding to come back to
see what this is all about.
Sharon Platt-McDonald, British Union Conference
Health Ministries Director, interviews Edith
Another Irish young man, Lloyd first walked into the Samambwa, Irish Mission Health Ministries Sponsor
Centre in a highly inebriated state in October but after and Centre of Influence Manager at the Cuisle Centre,
being cordially treated by the staff at the Centre he Dublin.
decided to come back on Saturday for church. He has
since taken part in activities with the youth and drops
into the centre each week to interact with staff. The
Sabbath of the cultural night was the first Saturday
night in years he had spent without drinking. Many
of the people come back for repeat blood pressure
checks and receive personalised fitness plans from
our physiotherapist. We currently have 4 people
attending one on one counselling sessions. The
Massage sessions are booked weeks in advance as we
have a long waiting list for this service.
For the young Muslim lady we met in the spring
who has no friends from her community even after
9 years in Ireland, or the Indian gentleman who
regularly drops in and is working on a weight loss
and fitness plan with our physiotherapist, and who
3 weeks ago brought his wife for a health check at
The Cuisle Centre - may be the reason to smile that
day. For Thomas who walked in on a cold Thursday
morning it was a place for a hot meal after a night
spent on the streets. For Jocelyn its important that
the community realise that the church in the brown
building is not just for immigrants but also has Irish

48

SPM: Edith, please give our readers an outline of At the moment I am primarily stationed in Dublin at
your professional background.
the Cuisle Centre while we get it up and running.
Edith: I qualified as an occupational therapist in
Zimbabwe, where I worked for 10 years before
completing a Masters in Public Health at University
College, Dublin, in 2007. In total I have worked for
18 years as an occupational therapist, with most of
that time (13 years) in mental health. Since late 2009
I have also been the Irish Mission Health Ministries
Sponsor.
SPM: What inspired your choice of profession?
Edith: Well, I sort of narrowed my options when I
decided (at 16) to do science subjects for A level to
avoid the A-Level History teacher! This gave me
the option of doing Pharmacy, Physiotherapy or
Occupational Therapy. I decided on the latter because
I knew it would allow me to work with those facing
psychological difficulties, something I had always
had an interest in.
SPM: What have been some of the highlights of
your work so far?

SPM: What have been some of the highlights of

your work as Health Sponsor?
Edith: There have been many, but the following stand
out:
Organising the first Mens Health Weekend in
March 2012 and the annual Womens Health
retreats. The Mens Health Weekend was
especially fun because we managed to get most
of the men in the mission to attend and share in
an awesome learning experience with Dr Chidi
Ngwaba.
Being a part of community health expos and
other programmes across the mission and
seeing how the health message truly is a bridge
for us into the community. This includes Weight
Loss and Stop Smoking courses.
Making friends with our members and helping
them see the health message as a positive feature
of our church life. Then seeing them and their
friends make changes in their lifestyle because
of my ministry.

Edith: Sharon, every day I see how life-changing

my profession can be. It is always great to see people
restored to full health, overcoming the challenges of
mental or physical illness, successfully doing day-to And, most recently, the chance to help
day activities, going back to work and social activities
conceptualise and set up the Cuisle Centre.
and having peace of mind. The biggest challenge in
mental health work is the revolving door syndrome. SPM: From your perspective what are the key
Its always exciting to discharge someone who has health principles for someone wanting to live a
learned the skills and attitude they need to live life healthy lifestyle?
without medication or therapy.
Edith: Sharon, I would say that the following are
SPM: Please give us an overview of some of the essential:
work involved in your role as Health Sponsor for
the Irish Mission?
Recognise that every little helps.
Edith: In the first few years it was mostly about
laying the foundation for health ministries in all the
churches. This involved lots of sermons on the health
message, health seminars and training programmes
for members. Because the mission is quite spread
out it was important to make sure each church has a
functioning independent health ministries department.

Start today dont procrastinate!

A positive attitude is everything!
Have fun while youre at it. A happy, healthy
person makes for a winsome witness.
So smile . . .

49

 Finally, remember that science is slowly

catching up with what God told us in the Bible: a
plant-based diet, adequate exercise, productive
activity, wholesome relationships, a positive
outlook and trust in God are the real keys to
living a healthy and happy life.

a positive experience for us and the community. We

have made friends with local businesses who even
send people over to us for health checks or massage
therapy!

SPM: Edith, any advice for our Health Ministries

leaders and health professionals who may want to
SPM: Congratulations on your appointment as the start such an initiative?
manager of the Cuisle Centre. What does it
entail?
Edith: This is a very rewarding work, but dont view
it primarily as a way of getting people into church.
Edith: Thank you. Cuisle Centre is part of the See it as a way of loving people and giving them the
Ranelagh church in Dublin. We have converted
chance to be whole and healthy too. Accept the fact
the church hall and other rooms into a clinic and that you will face some challenges from your own
lifestyle centre for the community, where
church members who may not see what you want to
we offer a holistic service involving mind, body and achieve. Keep this ministry simple. We have found
spirit that is accessible six days a week. The centre is that what most people want is just to have some
open Monday to Saturday. On Sabbath morning we company and a listening ear. One of our regulars just
offer a recovery group and also invite anyone who wants to come and feel useful. So we send her on little
attends the clinic during the week to join us for church errands to the supermarket, and so on, and that makes
or potluck. Members of the team continue to look her day!
out for our contacts on Sabbaths and connect them
to the relevant church ministries. During the week SPM: Thank you, Edith, for this most enlightening
we offer a drop-in health clinic, massage therapy, and encouraging interview.
and natural lifestyle cooking class. In addition to
which, our counselling services offer help with
anger management, addictions, family and couple
relationships, stress management, parenting,
depression recovery, fitness, and smoking cessation.
We also plan on starting a
day group for seniors. I basically make sure that all
this is going according to schedule including the THE DUBLIN CITY OF HOPE
marketing and equipment needs, skills training, PROJECT, AND THE IRISH MISSION
money matters and our community networking.

CREATION HEALTH

When the Mission Development board of Florida

SPM: Edith, is the project showing signs of success? Hospital invited Mark Finley to become an adviser,
little did they imagine that one day their ministry
Edith: Yes! At our official opening in September would extend to Ireland. During the planning stage
the guests were a representative cross section of the of the project, Mark invited us to connect with the
wonderful people God has allowed us to meet in the CREATION Health team as a ministry resource.
last six months young, old, wealthy, homeless, male
and female and mostly Irish. In fact, more indigenous A dynamic health and wellness ministry is vital to any
Adventist evangelistic effort. In the Adventist world
Irish people have walked through the centre doors in
there are many well-intentioned health programmes,
the last six months than have done so in the last six able perhaps to connect well within our community
years. A number of them are now regular attendees of faith, but not always so effective with the wider
at the centre and even attend our services or come in community. The reasons become clear as I share why
for prayer during the week. The fact that our doors the Irish Mission has embraced CREATION Health
are open and people have been walking in has been as its anchor health ministry resource.

50

 As an integral part of Florida Hospital, the

CREATION Health model comes with trusted
credentials, demonstrating a clear respect for, and
strong association with evidence-based medicine.
Like many Adventist health programmes, the
CREATION Health emphasis is in the area of
lifestyle medicine, based on 8 health principles,
inspired by Ellen White.

Robyn Egerton, Lynell LaMountain, and Cheryl

Chernault partnered with the Irish Mission as
CREATION Health trainers, visiting the Irish Mission
in both 2015 and 2016. The training has made a
significant contribution to securing a lasting legacy
for the Dublin City of Hope project.

The CREATION Health model is an attractive,

professional and joyful product, supported with
numerous online & offline resources.
CREATION Health seeks to keep in careful balance
physical health (diet and exercise), relationships,
emotional health, and of course spirituality.
Its theological/philosophical foundation is grace
oriented.
It is a health ministry designed to include the whole
family.
More specifically in supporting the Irish Mission
and the Dublin - City of Hope Project:
It serves to help and encourage Irish Mission
members to live healthy lifestyles, physically,
emotionally and spiritually.
It provides a respected and credible Adventist health
ministries foundation product, for Irish Mission
pastors and members alike, to use for community
outreach.
It is a vital follow-up resource for the Dublin
City of Hope project connecting with current
interests and new, in particular through Dublins
new Centre of Influence (The Cuisle Centre), based
in Ranelagh.
It creates a strong and lasting legacy of trained
and equipped local health ministry leaders, with
commitment, competence and credibility.
Health seems to be the best way to connect with the
community for a number of reasons. First, offering
a service gains trust. Second, good health is an
ever-increasing priority (or crisis) for many people.
Third and dont miss this one, it is the outreach
method most Dublin members feel comfortable
engaging in. Most Dublin members are new Irish.
They like this outreach method because it involves
service, helping them build bridges, and build
up trust with the wider Irish community. Fifthly
making men whole through health ministry syncs
perfectly with the compassion of Christ.

WEST DUBLIN
CALLS
The Dublin M50 is a C-shaped orbital motorway, the
busiest in Ireland circling the northern, western and
southern suburbs of Dublin. Located 8 miles northwest of Dublin City Centre, just off the M50 is the
Blanchardstown Centre, a large 180 store shopping
centre. Located in its shadow is the Coolmine
Community School, which from May 2015 became
the new location of the Dublin West Church (formerly
known as the Castleknock).
Of those who attended the downtown Ballsbridge
meetings in 2015, 2/3 of the interests came from West
Dublin. Those interests in the main came as friends
of members of the West Dublin church comprising of
New Irish from Africa, Asia and Europe with growing
families. West Dublin members work intentionally
to share their faith with all, but work particularly
hard at connecting with the Irish community. During
both the 2014 Ballsbridge and 2015 Blanchardstown
meetings, Dublin West members with enthusiasm
and appropriate pride warmly introduced their Irish
friend, neighbour, or work colleague to Mark, Teenie
and each member of the pastoral team.
In contrast to the Ballsbridge / Ranelagh area of
Dublin, Blanchardstown is located in the heart of

51

Dublin suburbia, a mix of middle class professional

families and a few areas of social deprivation. It was
noticeable while delivering brochures in local housing
estates that new Christian communities are springing
up. Adjacent to the letter box of several homes were
signs identifying the home as Christian. Christian
Ireland may still be dominated by Catholicism, but
in modern Dublin an evangelical movement seems to
be on the rise. There is no doubt that with a thriving
family centred, community focused church group,
West Dublin is going to see significant growth in the
next few years.

IM SCARED
OF JESUS
Irish Mission / BUC News 18th September 2015
Adventist evangelists come to share hope, so it is perhaps
surprising when a first-time attendee at a four-part Dublin
series, The Incomparable Christ, confessed, Im scared
of Jesus. International evangelist, Pastor Mark Finley, was
back in Dublin, Wednesday 9 Sabbath 12 September to
climax his contribution to the Dublin, City of Hope project
that the Seventh-day Adventist Church has been running
in the city for the past two years. It was his third visit in
the last eighteen months, and while he was delighted to see
how both ministers and members have developed a love
for evangelism, and to note how the Church has grown
with almost 60 baptisms during the period, he could not
help but feel compelled to engage one more time. During
his four-day stay he presented a lecture series, A Man for
all Time the incomparable Christ in the Crowne Plaza
Hotel, Blanchardstown.
On the opening night of the A Man for all Time, Finley
reflected on the various refugee crises that have been
experienced across the world in the last few decades,
including the ongoing crisis of twelve million Syrian
citizens displaced by the war in their country. He spoke
of the antidote to the pervasive sense of abandonment,
experienced widely around our world. Scripture brings the
hopeful message that we are neither alone nor abandoned,
but that there is a greater cause for hope in the life and
message of Jesus Christ.

Blanchardstown Mini-Series
Venue:
Blanchardstown Crowne Plaza Hotel

Date:
Wednesday September 9th
Friday September 12th
Sabbath September 13th (Irish Mission Day of Fellowship, Ballsbridge)
Theme:
A Man for All Time
The Incomparable Christ
Promotion:
11,000 brochures distributed within a three-mile
radius of the venue

Friends of members

Ballsbridge Interests

52

Quoting from the stories of the Old Testament, which

regularly featured migrations due to violence and
oppression, he showed how Israel never forsook their
belief that God would be present for the displaced and
wandering people of the world. Gods promise in Ezekiel
9:9, to revive, rebuild, and repair Jerusalems walls, is
relevant for the people of our world today. It is particularly
relevant, because Christ provides the key for new,
connected, and fulfilled life. His presentation spanned
many scriptural highlights, one of the most striking being
Ephesians 2 which declares that we are no longer strangers
and foreigners but fellow citizens with the saints and
members of the household of God.
The audience responded by returning every evening. It
was the second night presentation on the life of Christ that
drew the negative reaction. In a conversation following the
meeting the young man confessed his struggle to like a
Christ who he saw as judgemental and accusatory. This
led into a discussion on both penance, purgatory and hell,
and the young man left with a desire to search further for
more answers.

We were really encouraged by the response of the

people of Dublin to our advertising says Pastor David
Neal, President of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in
Ireland. Along with a core group of church members
from Dublin, and visitors intentionally invited by church
members, an additional ten to fifteen people responded
to the 11,000 advertisements that we distributed around
Blanchardstown. We were also delighted that several of
our friends from previous events returned to once again be
inspired and enriched by Finleys presentations.

DAY OF FELLOWSHIP, SABBATH

SEPTEMBER 12TH.
Returning to Ballsbridge for the entire Irish Mission family
to come together, Pastor Finley spoke about what it meant
to identify as a Seventh-day Adventist in this time of the
worlds history. It is about being part of a message and a
project that is much larger than us, a movement to share
Gods grace with the world that requires the best effort of
all of us. Many commented that they had never heard the
core Adventist message of Revelation 14 presented in such
positive language.
Numerous testimonies during the day shared how members
are reaching out to others, and how people came to enter
into a deeper relationship with God, including that of a solo
singer in a local choir who confessed she had been coming
to church for just one year and, as a result of the friendship
and care shown, was getting baptised that very evening.
It was not just her. As the day in Ballsbridge drew to a
close, local members converged on the Ranelagh church
where Pastors Gavin Anthony and Ben Pontanar led the
congregants in welcoming six new members through a
beautiful baptism ceremony.
The last year has been brimming with outreach events in
Dublin, beams a delighted Pastor Neal. He is brimming
with gratefulness for the positive support of Mark
and Teenie Finley for the City of Hope project. We
intentionally planned these high profile events to support
the efforts of church members around the Irish Mission.
We are sure that the churches have been energised to
continue the outreach efforts. We are extremely excited
about the new friendships that we have made over the last
two years.
Pastor Neal concludes. As the City of Hope project moves
into its final phase, our focus is on nurturing both these
newly forged relationships and the new members. We plan
to continue, the outreach process, albeit on a smaller scale.
Dublin members have learned that outreach is a day-today, continuous process. We are not content to wait for
the next big and expensive impact event. Small practical
efforts to reach the community and make friends has the
same potential to bring similar results. This will be our
continued focus.

Mark Finleys presentations, a Man for all time

drew an audience to the well situated Crowne Plaza
hotel in Blanchardstown. Mark Finleys presentations,
a Man for all time drew an audience to the well
situated Crowne Plaza hotel in Blanchardstown.

Mark Finley quoted Jesus words in John 14 vs 8 - I

will not leave you as orphans.

Every evening there was an opportunity for registered

participants to receive a gift. Here Pastor Mark Finley
hands a study Bible to one participant.

Olena Pavily and her two sons were baptised in a

beautiful ceremony at the Ranelagh church at the end
of the Day of Fellowship.

53

Dublin Handbill.qxp_Layout 1 01/09/2015 08:47 Page 1

54

Dublin Handbill.qxp_Layout 1 01/09/2015 08:47 Page 2

Coming to Blanchardstown, Dublin

September 9th at 7:30pm

The Man for All Time

The Incomparable Christ
The Rest of the Passion Story

3 powerful messages you wont want to miss!

Wednesday 9 September
Never Alone. . . How to Discover Inner Peace,
Security and Certainty in Uncertain times
Thursday 10 September
A Fresh Breath of Hope: How to Face the
Future with Greater Confidence.
Friday 11 September
The Best Is Yet To Come: How to Live Life to
the fullest today, tomorrow and forever.
Location: Crowne Plaza Hotel, Blanchardstown Centre, Dublin 15

Admission Free

Join Mark Finley, the speaker for Hope Channel

International Television, for an incredible journey through
Bible prophecy. You will be amazed that recent world events
are a fulfillment of these ancient predictions. Finley has
traveled extensively throughout the Middle East to Jordan,
Israel, Egypt and Turkey. Come, see and hear what he has to
say about Jesus whos claims are unmatched by any others
giving true meaning, hope and joy for our lives today!.

55

WHEN ANGELS DANCE!

Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God
over one sinner who repents.
(Luke 15:10)
Noreen Carter
Inga Diliartiene

Ballinacrow
Ballinacrow

27/10/15
30/05/15

Alemera Adamos
Monette Alqueza
Sharee Andrews
Cecilia Orock
Senzeni Dube
Rosemary Madyira
Giorigia Maghelli
Mary Maghelli
Manol Manolov
Petar Popivanov
Olena Pavily
Philip Pavily
Rio Pavily
Clea Tabo
Annie Tomas
Lloyd Zinyemba

Dublin Ranelagh
Dublin Ranelagh
Dublin Ranelagh
Dublin Ranelagh
Dublin Ranelagh
Dublin Ranelagh
Dublin Ranelagh
Dublin Ranelagh
Dublin Ranelagh
Dublin Ranelagh
Dublin Ranelagh
Dublin Ranelagh
Dublin Ranelagh
Dublin Ranelagh
Dublin Ranelagh
Dublin Ranelagh

27/09/14
20/09/14
27/09/14
27/09/14
04/10/15
04/10/14
01/08/15
02/11/15
04/10/14
21/02/15
12/09/15
12/09/15
12/09/15
20/09/14
27/09/14
31/01/15

Tinghao Hao
Fillipe Luiz Afonso Pereira
Ingrid Vasconcelos
Anamaria Vicu

Dublin Drumcondra
Dublin Drumcondra
Dublin Drumcondra
Dublin Drumcondra

26/09/14
13/12/13
13/12/14
26/09/14

Thea Marri Batoon

Thom Jannirri Battoon
Cyron Catibog
Victoria Chitoshi
Ise Oluwani Dare
Daniel Sean Kenan
Marko Mesaros
Frans Miambo
Stephan Mihai
Sheneece Mupandanyama
Kalvin Nicholas
Thelma Nicholas
Kareah Myrtle Orlina
Kezaiah Russ Orlina
Ahrl Shaun Kenan Recto
Erica Rellermo
Joshua Ruidera
Joseph Ruidera
Justina Tricolici
Sikhangele Weldon

Dublin West
Dublin West
Dublin West
Dublin West
Dublin West
Dublin West
Dublin West
Dublin West
Dublin West
Dublin West
Dublin West
Dublin West
Dublin West
Dublin West
Dublin West
Dublin West
Dublin West
Dublin West
Dublin West
Dublin West

27/09/14
27/09/14
04/10/15
27/10/14
27/10/14
04/10/14
12/09/15
27/10/14
12/09/15
27/10/14
27/10/14
27/10/14
04/10/14
04/10/14
27/10/14
04/10/14
27/09/14
27/09/14
27/09/14
27/09/14

56

Marius Anghel Cioca

Constantin Ciprian
Tudor Alin Constantin
Christina Dirda
Fiorineia Gaina
Oxana Manoli
Lionel Raymond Moisa
Stela Ioan Uldila Moisa
Daniel Paul Olariu
Elizabeth Pectu
Victor Olimpu Pop
Mihaela-Mirela Ruban
George Szenely
Igor Ursu
Tatiana Ursu
Artur Vadaniuc
Sandu Zamurca

Dublin Romanian
Dublin Romanian
Dublin Romanian
Dublin Romanian
Dublin Romanian
Dublin Romanian
Dublin Romanian
Dublin Romanian
Dublin Romanian
Dublin Romanian
Dublin Romanian
Dublin Romanian
Dublin Romanian
Dublin Romanian
Dublin Romanian
Dublin Romanian
Dublin Romanian

25/07/15
27/02/16
27/02/16
15/03/14
04/10/14
15/03/14
27/09/14
27/09/14
27/09/14
27/02/16
27/02/16
27/09/14
13/12/14
15/03/14
13/12/14
13/12/14
13/12/14

Yasmin Kilmartin

Galway

01/11/14

Victoria Afolayan
Victor Afolayan

Irish Mission Church

Irish Mission Church

27/10/14
12/09/15

57

THE PASTORS
PERSPECTIVE

Dan Serb: Even though I have participated in

numerous evangelistic projects, this one was quite
unique. For the first time I was part of designing
and implementing an evangelism strategy tailored
specifically for a modern European city. Our
meetings, brainstorming sessions, and prayer time
rekindled my desire to focus on evangelism. Pastor
and Mrs. Finleys optimism, drive, professionalism
and spiritual outlook, challenged and helped me
refocus the scope, and place, of my own contribution
to the Dublin ministerial team.

Ben, Dan, David, Gavin, and Stephen know each other

well. For the last three years, weve spent countless
hours serving as the planning group for the Dublin
- City of Hope (DCOH) project. We were an ideas
factory, we laughed and prayed together, we listened
to each other and shared our perspective with passion
and conviction. At times we were quite apprehensive
about how it was all going to work, but we were a DN: How has it shaped and grown your church,
united team that worked well. We recently sat around both spiritually and numerically?
a table and reflected.
Gavin: I was curious how the activities exposed
and highlighted different people and groups. Many
members who may have liked to think themselves
church leaders remained uninvolved, while other,
perhaps quieter members made really important
contributions. Its made me think again about who
we select for church office, committees and church
boards!! (Yeah, that time of year)

DN: Gents, how it has helped and developed your

ministry personally?
Gavin Anthony: I thinks its been a tangible reminder
of how necessary it is for us to be in front of the
public, and that when we do this, God will send
people to us. Therefore, I do not want to waste time
on activities that are not visible to the public. We only
grow authentically as we work with God in mission. Ben: When you do something you know you have
no personal strength to succeed, there is no other
Ben Pontanar: I would agree with Gavin that more way to look, but upward. It forces you to connect
than simply shepherding and pastoring the flock, we with God. And I felt and saw members experience
need to keep our members focused on mission. It has that. If connecting and reaching out is the work we
been a positive and inspiring experience, providing a need to do, then we must first find our foundation in
a closer connection and communion with God. This
strong sense of purpose.
is something we have made an area of focus for the
Stephen Wilson: Big events have a lot of positive last couple of months in my church. Numbers dont
energy around them and its exciting. In this case matter so much, as they will just come and surprise
the energy came from meeting new people who have us.
faith questions and are interested in God. This gives
you great confidence in your visits to ask a little more, Stephen: As a church of young students there was a
listen a little more intuitively and organise your time limit to how many friends could be invited as people
dont have so many friends. However, it gave an
better to spend it with people.

58

expression to the desire to serve God in a public way. new mission identity begins with a strong personal
I am impressed by how many young people have left connection with God.
Ireland to begin theological studies or serve in the
10/40 window mission fields.
Stephen: I think the series of events will encourage
the church to keep going. As a local congregation we
Dan: This initiative enabled us to work as a team have always understood our unique identity and role
and to bring the constituencies of our congregations within Dublin and this will not change.
together in shared events through a common vision.
The Dublin Romanian church has been primarily Dan: As I said previously, the Romanian church has
preoccupied with reaching out to the Dublin Romanian become more community oriented. Since September,
community. But the City of Hope enlarged the scope weve organized a Health Expo, a Smoking Cessation
and the vision of the church. Now we are more intent programme, a Thanksgiving service (to which fellow
on reaching out to the wider Dublin community. On a Christians in the local area of Tallaght were invited),
practical note, the church (with the assistance of the and on November 19th we hosted a fundraising event
Irish Mission) purchased translation equipment which for a community charity, together with six other local
enables us to provide translation from both English Christian churches. This event raised the profile and
to Romanian and Romanian to English. Numerical visibility of the church through media advertising,
growth , we have yet to reap the full harvest from including a radio interview I participated in on cityCity of Hope.
wide Spirit Radio station (November 17th). Helping
our focus has been the move to new church premises
DN: How do you see the future for your church?
we rent from our Methodist friends. For many years
we previously worshipped in a local hotel. And the
Gavin: I am most interested to see how the next phase miracle is that our Methodist friends are delighted that
/ legacy is going to be, particularly as we plan for the their church - the An Solas Methodist and Community
mission trip to the Philippines. I think the proof of the Centre in Jobstown, Tallaght is being used by us for
success of the last couple of years is how many people outreach and evangelism. It doesnt get much better
will be interested to become missionaries, both home than that!
and abroad. I have been reflecting recently on how
the call to discipleship is a call to be a missionary DN: How you see the future for the overall work
(fishers of men). So the call to go and make disciples in Dublin?
in Matthew 28 is not a call to create church members,
but missionaries.
Gavin: In spite of DCOH, I have noticed an increasing
tendency for churches to work alone. I really believe
Ben: Most of this year has been spent in trying to in increasing our interdependency, and deliberately
settle down as a church. We have moved to a new creating more large evangelistic projects that require
location. Weve worked on finding an appropriate us to work together and sustain an atmosphere of
name that identifies our mission, and now at the reaching outwards. At the same time, I think DCOH
beginning of 2016 we can work and own our budget. has created an energy that is being redirected into
At the same time, when you feel the church slowly new projects, which are bearing good fruit, i.e., the
embracing their identity in mission, this is something Centres of Influence both in Ranelagh and Tallaght.
to be very excited about. Particularly so, when the

59

Ben: I continue to see a shared vision and purpose

as far as mission is concerned. Although we meet
in different locations in Dublin, we cannot afford to
be a house divided in our mission to reach Dublin. I
believe that there was a lot of positives that we must
continue to build on from our DCOH experience of
working together over the last few years.
Stephen: If we realise that around the city are hundreds
of people who want to know more then we need to
work to meet them. It appears that large events over
a short period of time have worked really well and I
think that the greatest reaping we will see is when the
churches unite to do quality large events.
Dan: I agree with Gavin that the DCOH created a
good energy and new drive to reach out. I dont see
the churches focusing in their own areas and sphere
of influence as a problem, but as a welcome outcome
the more centres of mission and influence we have,
the farther our reach. However, I do agree that there
should be occasional regroupings and refocusing,
so that we move in the same direction and with the
same purpose. I believe that choosing a common
theme for the year, for example, and organizing
shared programmes, will bring us closer together
as a church family, and then send us out to reach
even further with the Gospel. On a practical note, I
believe that the church in Dublin will need a second
building in the near future, in order to accommodate
a larger proportion of the 500 worshippers in the city
at present. The building however should not just be
a place of worship, but a centre for a second Centre
of Influence, extending both territory and member
involvement.
DN: What did you learn from the experience, that
in future we should do differently?
Gavin: I have heard a number of comments about the
lack of member involvement in organising the large
projects and that it was too top down. I am not sure
how this could be done differently, but at least in the
future we may need to work more on perceptions of
involvement by church members and church boards.
Also, by the end people were very tired. Again, I am
not sure how we might do this differently.
Ben: Im sharing the same thoughts that we need to
allow our members to find their voice and involvement
in all aspects of our mission. We did try, but somehow
the discussions and meetings we had with our leaders
and the wider church did not progress enough into a

60

more evident and clearer involvement. I think this

is something that we need to have a more serious
conversation about together. Also, as the youth
minister, I hope to see more involvement in the future
coming from our young people.
Stephen: In my opinion some of the most beautiful
events were when large numbers of church members
were on the streets giving free hugs, fruit for
cigarettes, magazines and fliers. I think we skipped
by the first contact events which are fun and get a
lot of involvement, the closer you get to a campaign
the less people are involved in organising and running
the event.
Dan: I believe that we need to seek, import, devise,
and implement new and less-traditional methods
of evangelism. Also, we need to work harder at
helping the churches to take ownership of the various
programmes. This is not only in relation to planning
and implementation but also follow-up work.
Gavin Anthony
Dublin Ranelagh
Ben Pontanar
Dublin West and Greater Dublin Youth
Dan Serb
Dublin Romanian (Tallaght) and Ballinacrow
Stephen Wilson
Dublin Drumcondra and Drogheda

WHAT WE COULD
HAVE DONE BETTER?
The two-year lead time from idea to delivery was Those assigned to do visitation were distracted

good. But we needed more time to prepare with

with other tasks relating to the project. Visitation
church-made, personal interests and friendships in
needs commitment and focus.
place. 75% of the new people attending, came into
our meetings through cold brochure advertising.
We could have improved our logistics,
communicated deadlines more clearly, and held
Most of our Health Expos and felt need seminars
team members accountable more closely.
took place in the immediate three months prior
to the main Ballsbridge event. Most should have We did not see significant numbers of people
been held in the spring and autumn of 2014. Such
transition from one seminar to the next. The Cuisle
seminars should have been (and should become) a
Centre is set up to ensure a consistency in raising
regular constant activity of local church life.
and growing interests.

We struggled compiling our Dublin interest list Regarding the content of the preaching: Is anyone
prior to the May and September 2015 meetings.
The local database design did not work, we
experienced fears about the data protection act,
some real, some not real. But most serious of all
at the time, we did not capture the value of a large
local church live interest list, constantly updated,
constantly making regular connection with
interests informing of news and events. A debate
over paper communication vs electronic, resulted
in it becoming an either /or instead of the emphasis
on both.

The Ranelagh church refurbishment took place in

listening? Are Dubliners still interested in hearing

the objective truth of scripture? Should we have
not reshaped the presentations to fit todays 21st
century Dublin generation? It would be easy to
submit a PhD on the matter, as some have done,
but we will not! Suffice to say, were still not
really sure as to who todays Dublin people really
are. How do they think? Does one mind-set fit
all? What are their core concerns? Are they still
religious, or now secular? Should we not have
done more to build up trust with the community
before preaching the Word?

the autumn of 2014 and early 2015. The timing What does it mean to do active listening with
was a distraction, but the work had to be done.
Dublin people? Would being involved with them
in their projects, in their clubs and societies help
Our intent was to plant a church following the
build up trust?
September Ballsbridge meetings. To make it work,
required a group of 10-15 committed Dublin We are no longer confident of print advertising
members to leave their current church and lead
and its effectiveness to draw significant numbers
the plant. This has not happened to date. Dublin
of people. The amount distributed combined with
members seem settled and comfortable in their
the high cost, seems disproportionate to response.
current congregation. A church plant is still a
Neither are we yet confident of electronic
work in progress, an urgent requirement. There
advertising (Facebook, Google advertisements)
should be by now, a new Dublin church plant, with
the core value - of welcoming the guest and the But let none of the above distract from the great
stranger, for the sake of the Gospel. It is to be a
Holy Spirit led work that was achieved.
church community, not for ourselves, but for the
sake of the other.
We continue to be wary of the ailment, paralysis
of analysis.
Ownership of the project? Theres a call elsewhere
in this document for members to be more involved
in the planning and preparation.

61

TOUGH QUESTIONS
ABOUT GOD.

were made in two ways:

1. Focusing the difficult questions around
locations of historic or important social interest
to Irish people.

Victor Hulbert
2. Selecting a young, articulate, Irish host to ask
Pastor Mark Finley is recognised as the leading
the questions (Kari Rothwell). The balance of
Adventist global Evangelist. That in itself will
age, gender and culture aimed to make the spots
generate a large Adventist audience for a Missions to
appealing to a wider audience.
the Cities programme. It also means that Adventists
may well invite their friends. But outside of the
A total of nine spots visited locations such as the
Adventist community it may make little difference.
monument to the potato famine, Phoenix Park,
Just another evangelist coming to town, Mark
Kilmainham Jail, or even Dublins largest cemetery
Finley? Who is he?
to ask questions about the fairness of God, how does
God treat outcasts, or if we didnt come about by
In order to provide a positive answer to that question
chance, how did it happen?
the Irish Mission Executive Committee requested
the BUC Communication department to help them
The videos were placed on YouTube and shared on
produce a short series of Social Media spots that could
Facebook over a period of nine weeks preceding the
be used to increase awareness of Pastor Finley in the
September meetings. Facebook advertising increased
larger Dublin community. The spots needed to feature
public awareness in the greater Dublin area. Ministers
Pastor Finley in a context that connected him with
were encouraged to share the videos themselves and
Irish people, while letting them gain an understanding
to ask their members to share them on their own social
of his biblical credentials.
media.
The response was disappointing. Spots were seen
in their hundreds rather than in thousands or tens of
thousands. Most were viewed less times than there are
members in Dublin. For whatever reason, members
did not buy into the social media concept.
There were limitations. Pastor Finley only had a very
small time window for filming afternoons in May.
There were some technical issues on the filming but
these were overcome. The videos are still out there
and being watched. Dublin was allowed to ask the
hard questions, but Adventists must also ask the
hardest question could this social media exercise
The result: Nine short video interviews, Dublin asks have been more effective? And if it were to be done
tough questions about God.
again what should be done differently?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Good God / Bad Punishment

God, Hope and Suicide
Why so much violence in the Bible?
Molly Malone
Is Christianity still relevant?
Death
Are we a freak of Nature?
Any Hope for the future?
Promotional for the Ancient Discoveries Series

Pastor Finleys credentials in explaining Scripture are

self-evident. To connect those credentials to the Irish
people was more of a challenge but the connections

62

All the Tough Questions interviews may be found at:

h t t p s : / / w w w. y o u t u b e . c o m / p l a y l i s t ? l i s t = P L 8capq8wh9Fy33C1hRcicmZUY5kEaalM

A CHURCH
BUILDING FOR
WEST DUBLIN
A second church building for Dublin is a great need.
At its February 2nd 2015 meeting, the Irish Mission
Executive voted the following action:

VOTED

to make an investigatory application to the TransEuropean Division for funds from the 13th Sabbath
Overflow Offering (due in 2017) to proceed with a
second church building in Dublin.
With the Dublin Ranelagh building refurbishment
complete, it is an excellent now fit for purpose church
building, and currently used to house one of the four
Dublin congregations. Its location at one end of a
busy urban high street, adjacent to a Luas (metro)
station, makes it ideal for connecting with the local
and wider community. It is currently operating under
the Centre of Influence model, with its doors open
every day of the week. But its total seating capacity is
limited to 125.
At present, in addition to housing a Dublin
congregation, Ranelagh serves as the primary mission
centre for the work of the church in the city. With a
total of 500+ Dublin worshippers (including children)
there is need to plan for the future. The current
demographic and numerical make-up of Dublin
congregations is as follows:

As seen earlier in this report, our haste to refurbish

Dublin Ranelagh came into sharp focus with the
Dublin City of Hope project. While several
ambitious plans over the years have been considered
for the Dublin Ranelagh site (and elsewhere) with a
1,000,000 + price tag, we had to have one centre in
Dublin ready for the City of Hope project, that could
be identified as the home of the church in Dublin. With
our limited resources we determined to refurbish the
current building. Financial support for refurbishment
was provided by the British Union Conference/Irish
Mission (140,000) and Dublin members (125,000).
Whatever plans emerge for a further building in the
city, it is our intent to keep this city centre facility,
which as we have seen is not only now home for
a worshipping community, but also a serving
community.

The City of Hope project at this point in time has

provided us with hundreds of new friends and
interests to follow-up. It is without question that a
second church building for Dublin is a great need.
Not least because of the realistic hope that 50-100 of
City of Hope interests will join our community over
Dublin Ranelagh 200 Indian / Filipino / the next few years. How and where do they worship
African / Irish worshippers, meet in the church with our limited capacity? This is the challenge! It is
our belief that to build or purchase a building suitable
Dublin West - 100 African / Eastern European to accommodate 150 200 worshippers will cost in
/ Filipino worshipers, meet in the Coolmine the region of 1,160,000 / 1,500,000.
Community School, Consilla, Dublin 15.
With Irish Mission reserves limited, help is being
Dublin Romanian 125 Romanian/Muldovan sought from the wider church family. Our reserves
worshippers, meet in Tallaght Methodist towards funding a West Dublin church are mainly
held in property, of which if sold or mortgaged could
Church, Jobstown, Dublin 24 .
provide significant funding towards the cost.
Dublin Drumcondra 80 young adult
worshippers, primarily Portuguese speaking, The Trans-European Division has agreed for Dublin to
meet in Drumcondra Arts & Business Campus, be a project beneficiary of the 13th Sabbath Overflow
offering when next allocated to the TED in 2017 of
Lower Drumcondra Road, Dublin 9.
$330,000 / 225,000 / 290,000.

63

We have on file concept drawings for a Mission

Centre building, located somewhere in the corridor Kovacs-Biro, Janos. The Indescribable Gift,
of the Dublin M50 orbital motorway. At this point Publisher Unknown. February 2014
in time this is only one possibility. It could be the
case that we are able to find an existing building,
EVANGELISTIC MEETING
appropriate to convert to suit our needs.

RESOURCES

No building project can commence until adequate

funding is in place, although it is hoped that by White, Ellen G., Steps to Christ.
January 2018, funds will be ready, a piece of land / Pacific Press Publishing Association.
building identified, and work can begin.
Hibbert, Julian (Ed). Focus Magazine various
editions, Stanborough Press. 2012 - 2015
While support from outside the Irish Mission is
generous and available, it is the Dublin members who
will need to take ownership of this building project, Handysides, Allan R. (and others) Celebrations
- Living Life to the Full. General Conference
not least in raising the necessary funds to see it to
Health Ministries Department. 2012 , Stanborough
completion. Such fund-raising needs to begin now.
Press Magazine Edition, (Hibbert, Julian Ed).

DUBLIN
CITY OF HOPE
RESOURCES
RESOURCES FOR PREEVANGELISM

CREATION Health Sermon Series, Florida Hospital.

Creation Health Resources.

CREATION Health Seminar Personal Study

Guide, Florida Hospital.
Creation Health Resources.

Pujic, Miroslav (Ed). Experience the Joy, An ex-

planation of Adventist belief in a conversational

approach. TED Media. 2010

Morris, Derek J. The Radical Teachings of

Jesus, Autumn House. 2009

Follow-Up Evangelistic Materials

Anthony, Gavin. One Ambition. Christianity and

Discipleship from an Adventist Perspective.
Unpublished.

Finley, Mark. Unsealing Daniels Mysteries,

Small Group Bible Lessons and Graphics.
Hart Research Centre.

Finley, Mark. What the Bible Says About.

Finley, Ernestine. Natural Lifestyle Cooking / Pacific Press Publishing Association. 2012
Workbook / Instructors Manual.
Pacific Press Publishing Association.

Finley, Mark and Rothwell, Kari. Tough Questions for God. On location video clips
Adventist Media Centre UK. 2014
www.cityofhope.ie

Hibbert, Julian (Ed). Focus Magazine, City of

Hope (Irish Mission special edition)
The Stanborough Press, July 2014

Kovacs-Biro, Janos (Presenter). Jesus 7,

LCTV (Life Connect TV), Recorded Belfast,

March 2014.
www.lctv.today/jesus7

64

FIELD SCHOOL OF
EVANGELISM & LAY-BIBLE
TRAINING SCHOOL
The New Testament book of Acts
White, Ellen G. Evangelism, Gospel Workers,
Acts of the Apostles, and Christian Service

Finley, Mark and Ernestine. Light Your World for

God. A Dynamic Soul-Winning Manual
Hart Research Centre. 2002

Finley, Mark and Ernestine. Fulfilling Gods End

Time Mission. A comprehensive Evangelism
Training Manual. Pacific Press Publishing. 2013.

We spent all that money, and what did we achieve?

Before we answer the question, the chart below shows
how the funds were spent during the peak year of
activity 2014 (167,000 in total). Over the three years
of 2013 2015 we spent close to 250,000. Media
equipment purchased continues to be used for the
Dublin Ranelagh church. One-third of the book stock
remains for further Dublin and Irish Mission use.
In this context the question is raised regarding
reaching, connecting and baptising indigenous Dublin
born Irish.
Of the 66 persons baptised, five were Irish born.

Finley, Mark. Studying Together, A Ready- Our wish was to connect and reach more Irish. But
reference Bible Handbook.
Hart Research Centre. 1995.

VALUE FOR MONEY?

The question of value for money, needs to be
addressed. The issue is raised because it concerns
stewardship of the Lords resources, provided through
the faithfulness and generosity of members. It is also
raised in order to be accountable. It has often been
said:

at this point in time it was not to be, still a work in

progress. But we did achieve three clear results
demonstrating real value for the funds used.
1. A total of 62 people committed their lives to the
Lord and His church.
2. Dublin members now view outreach and
evangelism as not just possible, but a reality.
3. The development of the Cuisle Centre connects
and serves Dublin people every day of the week.

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There is also a fourth, more subtle result. That is the

impact on Dublin children, teens and youth. Possibly
for the first time in their lives they have seen their
church profiled in their city as never before. In
addition, it may also be the first time they have heard
the Adventist message preached, in their context, with
conviction and power. The fruits of this are yet to be
reaped over the next few years as they make the faith
of their parents, their own.

of Influence). I cite this figure without any criticism

whatsoever. Rather, it demonstrates that outreach
and evangelism in Ireland, both for the Dublin - City
of Hope and the longer term AFM model are both
expensive, and have only just scratched the surface in
beginning to impact home grown Irish.
In the wider context of reaching fast changing Ireland,
and the secular UK, no one evangelistic method has
yet resulted in the promised outpouring of Pentecost
Again. My testimony of the Dublin story is that it
provides key markers for the promise to become a
reality.

Outreach and evangelistic activity is a partnership

with the Holy Spirit

Long-term consistent sustainable work produces

long-lasting results

A church that does not believe it cannot grow, will

not grow

As the local church keeps it eyes and focus looking

THE DCOH AND AFM COMPARISON

outward, it will find those who seek

A worshipping community is only really a

Adventist Frontier Missions are a tremendous
worshipping community, when it is also a serving
supporting ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist
community
church. More specifically, since 2005, they have
partnered with the Irish Mission by leading the
work in the south coast Irish cities of Waterford and
Cork. It is due to the initiative and support of AFM
missionaries that the Irish Mission has a presence in The Dublin City of Hope Project only worked because
these two cities today.
a team of people contributed their talent, time and
treasure to making this continuing project work. To
In my experience, Adventist Frontier Mission these people I would like to give heartfelt gratitude,
missionaries are some of the most purpose driven, recognition and thanks. They are the strongest and
grace-oriented, culturally sensitive people I have ever dedicated team of people I could ever have the
had the pleasure of meeting and associating with. privilege of working with. If the following looks like
Their mission philosophy is to work a territory longa roll call at the Oscars, it is exactly that - without
term, and share the Adventist message in a culturally
apology. So thank you to
sensitive context. They commit daily to connecting
with their community. They belong to local clubs and
The 150 Dublin members who prayed for friends,
societies, run felt need seminars, and conduct weekly
invited friends, and attended the public outreach
bible studies. Not least, they are also great people of
and evangelism meetings with friends.
prayer.

GRATITUDE

For the combined districts of Waterford and Cork from Dublin members involved in leaflet and magazine
distribution, the free hugs project, face painting
2006 2015, the total number of baptisms recorded
on the streets (adults, youth, teens and children)
(including two indigenous Irish) is 14. The estimated
aimed at promoting the public meetings.
cost of supporting AFM missionaries from 2006
2015 is no less than 750,000 / 950,000 / $1,000,000
(including supporting interns and the Waterford Centre The Health Expo team and Supper Club team, for

66

providing felt-need entry points for Dublin people.

The 215 Dublin members who faithfully attended

meeting after meeting after meeting - with their
children.

The 600 Dublin people who have walked through

our doors during 2014 and 2015.

The 50 strong Dublin logistical team, who

and design team, for their work on a special Irish

Mission edition of FOCUS magazine, (40,000
magazines, 175,000 brochures) and getting them
to Dublin in a time-critical manner.

All 803 Irish Mission members, old and new. This

was your project, providing a new and revived

work in Dublin, with wider benefit for the Irish
Mission. It is your enduring faithfulness to the
Lord that made the Dublin City of Hope project
possible.

each evening during the evangelistic meetings,

stewarded, ran the multi-media desk, hosted
the bookstore, staffed the health expo, packed The Dublin Adventist diaspora and friends, who
and unpacked the storage van, led the childrens
found their passion for the work of God in Dublin
programme not forgetting the prayer ministry
reignited.
team huddled together in a corner of the hotel
concourse.
The encourager the caller (or by e-mail) who
says, Were praying for the Irish Mission, for
The Irish Mission member who personally
Dublin and the work taking place there.
sponsored the Breathe Free programme.
The Holy Spirit for continuing to hover over
The Dublin young adult - whose warm smile and
Dublin, but who went before us
engaging personality made guests at the Ancient
Discoveries meetings feel so at ease and welcome. I know your works, and behold I have set before you
a door which no man can shut.
The Dublin pastoral team / and wider Irish Mission (Revelation 3:8)
pastoral team for giving everything and working
sacrificially to make the project work. To your
spouse and children who make your ministry
their ministry.

The British Union Conference and Trans-

THE LONGER VIEW AND AN APPEAL

European administrative teams, and directors. For

Patrick Boyle
your presence, counsel, and provision of funds for
(From the Adventist Review 09/01/15 edited and
Dublin.
updated)

The Irish Mission Executive Committee for your The Dublin City of Hope project is a watershed in the
counsel and stewardship of Irish Mission resources,
particularly in relation to this project.

history of the church in Ireland.

Members and ministers had high hopes to make

Mark and Teenie Finley and the team of helpers significant in-roads with the Irish people last year.

(bible worker, health instructors, singing evangelist,

What happened may not have measured up to
computer programmer, General Conference and
expectations. Gods ways are sometimes difficult to
ASI support).
interpret. But the effect on the Dublin members has
been positive and inspiring.
The Emerald Foundation (USA) which continues
to support the Irish Mission financially, and
We have prayed to God for years that something
specifically contributed funds and people to
might happen in Dublin to move the work forward,
support the Dublin project this year.
one church member told me. We have what God has
given us. It is our duty and responsibility to support
The Stanborough Press management, editorial it as best we can and trust Him to lead us forward.

67

A little jog down memory lane may give some his presentation.
perspective to the Irish situation.
The urgent task is to make contact with all of these
My wife and I were baptized in the then-new Dublin people, a significant number of whom are native
Church in the 1950s. The baptistery was capacious Irish. It is a big job for the ministerial force of four
and made baptisms high spiritual occasions. It was pastors who have the responsibilities of caring for and
different when Pastor Desmond Murtagh and others developing existing churches and groups.
were baptized years earlier before the present church An urgent need exists to obtain an adequate place
was built. Baptism took place in a zinc tub, an of worship for the north-west side of Dublin. It may
experience lacking dignity but not significance.
appear an impossible task to obtain such facilities,
but it is not impossible. The Irish Mission needs help.
At my baptism, total church membership in Dublin There is a Macedonian call going out from Ireland
stood at around 30, with another half dozen members to the world church. Come over and help us. Help us
scattered around the country. At the time, Ireland had with your resources. Help us with your prayers. Help
less than 40 members in total.
us with encouragement. Help us bodily if you can.
Seventh-day Adventists commonly met hostility and
abuse from other Christian denominations, which
resented our emphasis on the Second Coming, the
Sabbath, and mans condition in death. In 1990, the
membership was 29, and in 2000 it was less than 25.
Many efforts were made to reach out to people, but
with little success.

Ireland is an island, but its sons and daughters have

left its shores to serve in lands distant and near. God
has opened a door of opportunity to extend the Advent
message to the Irish people. It would be a tragedy if
we failed to enter it. Today is a day of opportunity.

Pastor Bill Nicholson, who oversaw the building of

the first Belfast and Dublin churches, observed in the
Things began to change with the arrival of Ethne 1950s, The work will never be finished in the world
Amos-Nunez, an Irish woman who returned home until it is finished in Ireland.
from the United States. She took up colporteur work
and led members of her family and others to accept Today the possibility of finishing it is before us.
Christ and join the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Initially her work was in Galway, a city in the countys
west.
Over the past 15 years, a wave of immigration has
enabled the Adventist Church to grow. Today, 809
Seventh-day Adventists worship on the Lords holy
Sabbath day in Ireland. They are found in Cork in the
south, Drogheda in the north, Dublin in the east, and
Galway in the west.
God is doing wonderful things in Ireland, things that
we once only dreamed about. Dublin now has four
churches: On Sabbath, the Dublin Church cannot
hold all who come to worship. In the Coolmine
neighbourhood, more than 100 members worship in
the local school. Brazilians worship in a community
centre at Drumcondra. A large group of Romanian
believers worship in Tallaght.
With the help of Mark Finley, the church not only
gained new members in 2014 and 2015 but it also got
an interest list of 250 persons, all of whom attended

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