A Craigavon Bible story
In December, St Saviour’s Craigavon held a Christmas Tree Festival as a means of building connections with the community around us and reminding people about the incredible true story of the Incarnation of Jesus. We invited the P5-7 children from Drumgor Primary to come and visit, and with the help of Millie Bellew, we led them through a special Christingle Service.
Afterwards, one boy found a beautiful Bible which sits on display on the communion table and asked, “Can I take this home?” I explained why he couldn’t have that one but told him I’d find him another to take home. Unfortunately, the only Bibles we had were old, water-damaged pew Bibles.
“I’m sorry little dude, this is all I have. I’ll buy you a new Bible and bring it to school and your teacher can give it to you.”
“I really want one now.”
“Okay, you take this one now, and I’ll still buy you a new one and bring it to school for you.”
The boy went away delighted. Moments later another child came wanting a Bible. Then another. And another. We ended up giving away 40 Bibles that morning! There was such a hunger for the Word of God that we needed to do something, and so I talked to the principal, got the okay, and made a promise to the kids that we would buy a new Children’s Bible for every child in the school.
Fast forward a couple months through some prayer and planning, the generous gifts of faithful saints, and some very generous discounts from ICM Books, and as part of a special assembly in the last day before Easter holidays, we were able to present Drumgor Primary with 274 beautifully presented gift Bibles!
Many of these families are generations removed from faith in Jesus, and many have never had a Bible in their homes before. And now God has made a way for His Word to go forth across the community, and our prayer is that, in the words of Isaiah, His Word will not return void!
The Word of God is living and active. It is powerful, and through it, the Holy Spirit opens hearts to the Gospel, draws people to faith in Jesus, and transforms lives for the glory of God! Please pray for a stirring of holy curiosity amongst these kids and their families, and that God would draw many to Himself through the reading and receiving of His Word.
Revd Stu Armstrong
Curate-in-Charge