Slideshows:
Below are a selection of slideshows showcasing some of our many events and activities. Please click on any of the images to see the slideshow in a larger format.
Church Departments
Catering Department
At Living Hope – Belfast, we like our food. The Catering Department plays a very important part in our Ministry. Led by Daphne Leith her team of hard working women (with the help of some men) provide food for baby dedications, funerals, special services, children’s parties, house groups, men’s and ladies evenings, outreach nights, special breakfast mornings and on and on and on...the list could go. It can be tea and cakes to sandwiches and pastries or the famous “Ulster Fry”. We really do like our food.
The Foreign Missions Department is led by Keith Ayton. Most of the Church activities are based around the Church but the Foreign Missions Department requires its members to get out of their comfort zone and step out into the unknown. We try to send a mission’s team to Kenya most years and have plans to send a team to Spain very soon. We have been able to purchase land in Nairobi, Kenya and supply the finance to build an extension to a Church we support there. We also help a school and care centre for the orphans and exceedingly poor children of the Sinai slum suburb of Nairobi.
The Source House Group is led by Dougie and Linda Masterson. It is held generally on the third Wednesday of each month September to June in the home of Pastor Roy and his wife Daphne. Every month is different and a varied program adds to the “what is it this month” feeling of excitement. Bible study, prayer, worship, discussion on topical subjects, fun, food, laughter and much more. It won’t be the same without YOU!
The Ladies Ministry is led by Daphne Leith. The main purpose of this ministry is to build relationships within Church with each other and outside Church with the woman who live in the Lower Shankill community. “Woman to Woman” meet on the first Tuesday night of each month, September to June at Living Hope Church. A varied program is available which includes Bible Study, discussion, music, fun, food and laughter. Becoming women of excellence is the motto of Woman to Woman. A monthly time of friendship not to be missed.
The Men’s Ministry is led by Stephen Francey. The core principles of the Men’s Ministry are to build relationships, develop ministries and to reach men in the community with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Men’s Ministry nights are action packed. Throughout the year on the first Wednesday of every month September to June, we have Bible studies which all the men participate in, discussions on topical subjects, fun nights, “Night at the movies” which is an outreach night, food and friendship nights and our annual draughts night. The Men’s weekend away in June to Ballylinney Cottages, Giant’s Causeway is now an annual event which is not to be missed.
The Multimedia Department is led by Jackie and Valerie Roberts. They produce a weekly DVD newscast which is shown at the Sunday Services to let everyone know visually what events are taking place each week. They video and photograph special events taking place in Living Hope, which include musical and drama events and Baby Dedication Services for parents in the local community. The parents of the babies dedicated are presented with a DVD of the service as a reminder and keep-sake of this very special event. The DVDs of musical and drama events are used to raise money for the Building Fund. They are also responsible for desk-top publishing which involves producing the layout and design of a monthly information leaflet which lets people read ‘At a Glance’ what events are on; a quarterly “Community News” information newsletter which is distributed into every home in the lower Shankill area; and also promotional leaflets, posters and invitations for special events. They have a passion for media and design and also update Living Hope’s website.
The Oasis Lunch Club is led by WIlbur and Margaret Fitzgerald and is held once a month on a Monday at 1.00 pm. The lunch club commenced approximately four years ago and has proved a great success. When it started there were between 17 to 20 people going along, and now there are 37 to 40, so that speaks for itself. At the “Oasis” there is a wonderful catering team, great bakers and helpers, and you get to make new friends and enjoy good fun and fellowship. They also have special guests each month. In the summer there is a Coach Outing and Lunch which is not to be missed. At Christmas they have a wonderful Christmas Dinner Party with special guests. To qualify for the lunch club you must be 60 years of age and over and everything is free of charge. The word ‘Oasis’ means ‘A place of refreshing’, so why not try the ‘Oasis’ Lunch Club, if you do you will surely want to go back.
Margaret Johnston is the Living Hope Church Representative for Open Doors and as such is the leader of this department.
“Don’t forget those who are suffering” Hebrews 13 v3 (CEV)
Margaret brings to the Church the prayer requests for the persecuted Christians worldwide. They suffer much for their faith and need our prayers very much. They often feel forgotten and really do appreciate our prayers. We also try to help the persecuted Church in a practical way.
Open Doors has been providing Bibles, Christian literature, training and practical support to the Persecuted Church worldwide since 1955.
Prayer is central to every part of life at living Hope – Belfast. We pray constantly for individual and corporate needs. We give thanks to God for many answered prayers, the most important of which has been seeing people, young and older coming to know Jesus as Saviour. We pray for those who are sick or struggling with personal life problems, for every department within Living Hope, and for worldwide missions as well as the suffering Church. The prayer ministry of Living Hope never ends.
The visitation team consists of David Hill (pictured in centre) who is the leader, Gordon Potts and Jim Garvan. The aim of the team is to bring comfort to those who are hurting and to let everyone know they are loved. The priority is to visit those of The Living Hope Community who are in hospital, the sick and the elderly. They endeavour to visit everyone in the Church at least once a year. On a lighter note they say “we have some great cooks in our wee Church and our stomachs can testify to that”
Living Hope Worship Team is responsible for leading the Living Hope Church in worship. Jack McCoubrey is the team leader and has gathered a great team, full of talent around him. Guitars, drums, saxophones, flute, piano, tin whistle and singers all blend together. The worship at Living Hope truly is awesome.
