Men on a Mission

Two local churches reaching out to help schools in one of the world's poorest nations.

19 March 2009

 Men on a Mission

She took his hand, opened it and traced the lines on his palm, before looking at her own upturned hand and doing the same.  It was a connection he would never forget.  She was a 12 year old deaf girl from Ethiopia, he a 62 year old electrician from Northern Ireland.  There could be no going back; they simply had to set up this school…  

It's one of the poorest nations on the face of our globe and now two local Churches are taking up the call to help the children of Ethiopia. 'Men on a Mission' is a group within 1st Comber Presbyterian Church who, after a 2 year engagement with the country of Ethiopia, felt compelled to establish a school there.  One of their members James Russell takes up the story: "We'd been to visit a special school, which was within this vast mainstream school and in this unit kids with disabilities were being taught in awful conditions.  So we thought that we simply have to build a school for these guys."  

So this group of men, fired up by this newly birthed vision, set about fund-raising to meet the £125 thousand target needed to build this school.  Their latest initiative is a beautifully illustrated Christmas recipe book endorsed by Jenny Bristow, which is full of stories and photos from their Ethiopian experiences and available in all Spar and Vivo stories here.  Contributors to the cook book include well known media personalities such as Donna Traynor and Lynda Bryans, as well as Naomi Long and Arlene Foster from the world of politics, and many other household names.            

Even to flick through the book is an emotional experience, as smiling young faces peer out at you.  James says they're determined to push on and see this special school established as soon as possible:  "It's hard not to be moved by this and sometimes you have to remember when you look at a classroom of smiling faces, that these kids are all orphans."            

Jim McClelland is a Belfast man impassioned by a similar burden for the children of Ethiopia.  Through his Church, the Metropolitan Tabernacle in Belfast, two schools, a clinic and food centre have been set up in the country. Over a thousand young people on two school campuses are now being provided with education, food, uniforms and a chance of finding dignity.            

According to Jim there's no point in teaching the Bible story of Jesus feeding the 5000 if they then are not willing to provide the kids with food.  And so this church project team oversees the production of over three thousand loaves a week to supply the school kids with a lunch.            

 For 63 year old Jim it's been quite a journey.  He only found himself in the country after being unable to shake this strong belief that he had just to go there.  So he booked a flight to Ethiopia, only telling his family he was going three days before he was due to travel.  On his first night there he recalls his impressions of the place: "I was taken to this mud hut, there was no electricity, no water and there was this severe thunder and lightening storm.  I found myself suffering from pains in my chest, there was no 999 to call and I felt so vulnerable.  So I got down in my knees in that mud hut and I found God.  And that night I made a covenant with Him that I would help the Ethiopian people."            

And so this country, which so famously got under Bob Geldof's skin in the 1980s has become the focus of attention for these local men and their Churches.  They're determined to answer the question that Geldof posed in that renowned festive anthem and ensure that as many of the country's children as possible will get to experience the Christmas spirit all year round.