Introducing Revd Ian Cruickshank
Bishop Harold has introduced Revd Ian Cruickshank as Minister in Charge at St Brendan’s Sydenham. The service took place on Monday 29 June 2015 and the preacher was Mr Alistair Bennett.
In his sermon, Alistair challenged the congregation to be people of grace who carry the presence of Jesus wherever they go. Using a bucket of sand poured out on to a large black sheet, he visually reminded his listeners of the grace Jesus showed the woman caught in adultery in John 8, and likened the ancient Jewish exhortation ‘May the dust of your Rabbi be on you’ to followers of Christ carrying his very presence.
Bishop Harold picked up on those same themes as he commissioned Ian to serve in St Brendan’s, praying for him and his wife Donna as they knelt in the sand and inviting both of them to place dust on members of the congregation as they came to the front, encouraging them to carry the presence of Jesus out into the world.
About Ian
Ian is originally from Aberdeen, Scotland. He was proposed to by ‘a lass’ from Northern Ireland, accepted, and moved to Lisburn in 1989. He and his wife have two boys, two girls, two grandchildren, two donkeys, two cats, two dogs and one Honda VTR 1000 Motorcycle – not set in any order of preference!
Ian studied Theology at Belfast Bible College (BBC) from 1993–99 and during that time developed an evangelistic ministry, especially with youth and young adults. He was a full time itinerant evangelist from 1999–2002 under the banner of Evangelical Ministries.
Ian was studied in the Church of Ireland Theological College in Dublin from 2002–2004 and since ordination has ministered in Bray south of Dublin, Kilcooley in County Tipperary and Ballygawley, County Tyrone.
Ian says:
“My church influences are from my background in the North East of Scotland which include Congregational, Salvation Army, Gospel Halls, and Pentecostal churches. I was confirmed in the Church of Ireland in 1995 in Magheralin.
“As well as a passion for evangelism and faith development, I have had significant input with groups to Kosovo working with those with greatest need after the war (from a Muslim background) and supporting the local church. Last year I made my first trip to Ethiopia, working with a school, and providing water filtration units for families. God willing it will be the first trip of many.
“The speaker at my service was my soul mate Alistair Bennett who I studied with at BBC 1996–1999. He teaches R.E. in Carrick College and for the past five years has worked developing the children’s charity Standbyme in Northern Ireland. They have projects in various countries worldwide and it was one of their projects in Dembi Dolo in Western Ethiopia that I took part in last summer.
“I’m very much looking forward to ministry in Sydenham.”