GO Teams 2010 for dummies (and Peter)

Try as I might, I can’t avoid beginning this post with the words “it’s that time of year again”. However, it most assuredly is that time of year. The GO team forms have been out for the best part of 2 months, and yet, most of us have got no further than taking one from the church vestibule and and promptly losing it. So after a desperate plea from Philip McCollum at Wednesday’s Shaftesbury Fellowship, it struck me that a GO team preview post might be a good idea, if only to keep James off my back. Presumably I’m preaching to the proverbial choir here, and so I don’t need to wax lyrical about how great GO teams are (pretty great, in case you didn’t know). So without further ado, here’s a preview of the teams happening this summer, to help you decide where to go, and to inform your prayers.

Nantes – 27th March – 5th April (10 people)

The team for Francophiles. Seems to be mostly literature distribution, although there is a soirée for Renaissance men/women. The application date has passed, so save any notions of Gallic outreach for next Easter.

Worked out well for Andy Mo

Airdrie – 31st March – 5th April (10)

Everyone has these dates off school or college, so there really is no excuse for not going on this or Antrim. A chance to be schooled by SAQ, and see what’s become of Steelo.

Rumours of his death have been greatly exaggerated

Antrim – 6th – 9th April (10)

Antrim is “a Larne of a place”, consequently there have been no applicants so far. However, despite its obvious drawbacks as a town, the team itself is a good one to go on, especially if you need to study or some such nonsense, as it all finishes up about half 6 or so (or at least it did last year). Mostly lit dist. They really need people, so do think about going.

Glenmanus – 19th – 26th June (6)

Don’t know much about this one, but if you like the setting of the CY summer conference, maybe this is the team for you…

Bailiesmills – 21st – 24th June (8)

Ideal for those with doubts about potentially missing too many World Cup games, or indeed those with actual jobs, this is an evening only team, they need helpers for their Holiday Bible Club.

Knockbracken – 26th June – 3rd July (10)

They’ll show you a good time.

Just like Jamie Oliver

Galway – 10th – 17th July (6)

The most exotic of the summer teams, a chance to serve God in a city where there is much spiritual darkness. And now, in accordance with protocol…

...the stock photo of Galway

Enniskillen – 2nd – 7th August (8)

The superlatives spewing forth on this here blog after last year’s team would make anyone naturally suspicious, and any team with a nickname should be treated with utmost caution. Not to mention the flagrant disregard shown for an age-old sporting tradition last summer, which resulted in several grown men being reduced to tears. Also, it’s in Fermanagh. Since I can’t think of anything good to say, a photo will have to do.

Actually, didn’t GO Team Pete go one year? In that case, if it’s good enough for Pete…

Cloughmills – 9th – 13th August (8)

Worked out well for James. Handily positioned in a week where nothing else is happening.

Convoy and Stranorlar – 14th – 21st August (6)

Without wanting to be sound biased, SRSLY EVERYONE SHOULD COME TO C&S!!1!!!! We invented the GO team house, we also have a camper van, and generally Donegal is pretty rad. All joking aside (although I wasn’t joking), this is a great team to go on if you want to expand your horizons, serve God in a different country without having to speak French, and meet my dog. I mean, just look at how happy these people are:

Bun approves

There’s only six spaces available so apply soon to make sure you can say “I was there”, when they speak, in hushed tones, of Convoy & Stranorlar 2010.

Newry – 14th – 21st August (8)

Who could pass up the opportunity to spend a week with Simon Sweeney?

Milford – 22nd – 28th August (6)

Pure beaut

Stranraer – 4th September (8)

A one-day team for any part-timers/people with jobs.

So there you have it. While actually not very informative, or indeed factual, hopefully that will get you thinking about where you could go to proclaim Christ this summer. Also, Airdrie and Antrim really do need people pretty urgently, so get those forms in sharpish. The closing date for the summer teams is 19th April, and the sooner you apply the better, so that the congregations will know who’s coming and can start to plan accordingly.

Enniskillen GO Team – What we Learned.

Greetings Readers!

Me and James decided that we would do 2 Blog Reports for the ‘Skills’ GO Team this year, for 2 reasons,

1. It was an absolutely beast team.

2. We always hear what goes on during a GO Team but only occasionally we hear of what the team learned from it.

So we at Another King decided we’d give our readers a bit of insight into what all the team learnt from their week down in Co. Fermanagh and try and share it with others. This is to try and give people insight on the spiritual benefits that can be had from going on GO Teams, but also encouragement of seeing our Brothers and Sisters in Christ grow from weeks like this.

Now this is some of the stuff you don’t get in Messenger reports! And yes…I did dig through the archives for some of the photo’s!

Alistair Rolleston:

Best GO Team ever. Fact. Being set to lead a group of unruly teenagers proved far easier than I thought, as time and time again, they showed personal strength and spiritual maturity, far beyond their years. The Devotions in the evening were really some thing, seeing this group of people grow close by worshipping God through our bond with Christ.

Brenna McEwen:

The Go Teamwas a great blessing to me. It was amazing to see friends who I have known from a young age now completely focused on Christ, dedicating their lives to serving him. The strength of their faith has been such challenge to me but also an encouragement to know that I can come to anyone of them for spiritual help. One of the main things I have learnt from the week is that the time we have on earth with people is short and this time should be used talking to them about God. This is a week I will never forget, some great memories

James McCullough:

God really used this team to encourage and spiritually refresh me. I learnt that we must talk more about our Saviour withour fellow believers to learn more and encourage each other. I am grateful to the rest of my team members for being so open and teaching me so much. Getting to know the other GO teamers better has made me really excited about the future of the RP church and taught me that now is the time we need to push on in our faith to become really effective servants of God

Rachel Weatherup:

Enniskillen GO Team 09 – an absolutely amazing week. Some mighty craic. Psalm Sing and Devotions on the last night were brilliant!! Really such a great blessing to be part of an immense team. Such an encouragement to see God answering prayers throughout the week and the work progressing in Enniskillen. Has really encouraged me to live life more fully and to make the most of every opportunity

Elise Allen:

The most amazing week of my life, I found the psalm singing, morning and evening devotions the most amazing ones ever. The team was such a blessing and the fellowship we enjoyed together. It was so wonderful. It was a privilege to have been a part of this GO Team and I will remember it always.

Joel Cromie:

Definitely up there with one of the best weeks of my life. Really enjoyed each night’s deovtions and it was particularly good to have such fellowship with Christians my age, I really enjoyed getting to know the Fellowship in Enniskillen and thoroughly enjoyed getting schooled by William Armstrong in the art of deception!

Hannah Drennan:

Truly brilliant week! Fellowship was fantastic, particularly the late night craic! Spilling and slagging was cracker. I was really blessed by the excitement on the team for Christ and for the work we were doing. The prayers during evening devotions were incredible and a great idea. Such a GO Team!

Alastair McCollum:

Some thing I was challenged with right before we had left for Enniskillen, “you’re not going on holiday, you’re going to serve.” A fantastic challenge that I resolved that I would try and carry out all throughout the week, and I must say, I found it a pleasure and privelege to be serving Christ and His church down in Enniskillen, taking opportunities to show love of Christ to the elderly in the Nursing Homes and talk to fellow team members of spiritual things and learning from them. In all the various ministries we carried out, I recieved so much from them, especially the show, was challenged by so many lost souls drifting past me, mindlessly rejecting what I had to say to them, it was a good reminder of why we were there. Phenomenal week with many great memories.

Mary-Lynn Cromie:

Most emotional psalm-sing/prayer time, ever! Really encouraging week; it was such a blessing to be part of (unofficially) a team that really shone for Christ.

Tim McCollum:

I was astonished at hearing Robert Robb shout out his car window, “GO ON TIM!” Some thing I thought i’d never hear. Any way, I really enjoyed the morning Bible Studies, as Robert was speaking about different articles of furniture in the Tabernacle, particularly the Ark of the Covenant, how they all point forward to Christ. Also a great reminder in the week to be like shining stars in dark places, with our attitude and the things that we say.

Heather McMullan:

A really great week, I am really blessed to have been on this team where every one was working for the glory of God. It had some amazing prayer times where I learned so much and I really loved the psalm sing that brought in my Birthday in the early hours of Saturday!

Rebecca McCullough:

I don’t really think that I can sum this week up. The bant was amazing and getting to know my brothers and sisters in Christ even better was fantastic. The evening devotions were incrediable, looking around the room seeing and hearing my brothers and sisters in Christ praising the almighty God.  I was challenged spiritually so much this week. Our time on earth is short. We have to tell people about God now, we have to live for him now, we have to start serving him now. Also that this God we serve and worship is the real and the living God, this week reminded me of that. It was an amazing week.

So I hope you have learned from the experiences and memories of the team.

Psalm 72 vs. 16

‘And blessed be his glorious name,

to all eternity.

O may His glory, fill the earth.

Amen, so let it be.’

Enniskillen Leaflet Distribution

Last Saturday morning there was extensive literature distribution in Enniskillen to coincide with the RP church holding their first services in the Clinton Centre on Sunday.

Setting out from Dromore at some unearthly hour (9 ish)

Jimmy F just before we zipped past the Geoff-mobile

The eager crowd descend upon Tesco

Lieutenant Allen and Commander Robb organise the troops

Our assigned areas including the interestingly named “Lovers Lane”. Imagine having to give that as your address. How embarrassing.

It turns out “Lovers Lane” is up near Portora

There was a house with this as its back garden. So I just had to stop and take a photo. This probably made me look a bit weird and possibly has made the occupants think RPs are weirdos so I thought I’d better at least use it. 

Men on a mission. S.Wilson, D.McCullough, M.Patterson, J.Frazer.

Location of the Clinton Centre, so-called because it was opened by President Bill Clinton in 2002.

Enniskillen Reformed Presbyterian Church Website

 

Enniskillen Go Team 2008

Some photos from Enniskillen. Seems such a long time ago now…

During the week, we gave out about 6000 of these:

Which were leading up to this:

Our stand at the show

...and the craft bit.

Some wagon

:)

I am still mystified how he didn't fall off..

Seriously

There was lots and lots of this..

Ian, Philip, Margaret, Vera, Elyse, David, Peter, Stephen, Ruth, Carla, Heather, Robert, Harry, Balaclava, Robert, Betty and Catherine.

More photos

As advertised on the leaflet, there is a website about Enniskillen here. Read all about it.