Bray Methodist Church
southern district
Over the past year, Bray Methodist Church has welcomed many new families from overseas into their congregation.
The Ojebiyi family from Nigeria
It started with a trickle of people from a local Asylum centre who were associated with the Methodist Church in Nigeria. They responded to this by inviting them to a coffee morning to get to know them better.
The next step was for the minister to visit the centre and ask for permission to visit the new members, which was granted. In time, this led to permission to hold a Bible Study on the same premises, which they have ran most Fridays for the past eight months. It draws people from Nigeria, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Swaziland. Bray Methodist have been blessed by their insights on Scripture passages, and how fervent they are in faith, in prayer and in fasting.
The Ojebiyi family from Nigeria shared that they, “enjoy the in-depth teaching of God’s Word in Bray Methodist Church and also our experience of Christ’s love among its members”.
In recent years, baptisms have been few and far between in Bray Methodist Church. However, there were three baptisms earlier this year of children from the IPAS centre, and these have been a great cause for celebration.
David from Angola said, “it’s a pleasure attending the Bray Methodist church mainly to be a member of the body of Christ, as we share our faith and embrace diversity and inclusion. The teachings of the word of God are conveyed and shared with great love, and the fellowship is wonderful.”
The church has also been blessed by the involvement of the adults in the Service – reading Scripture and Praying, and also by the children, who have enlarged and enriched our Sunday School.
There have also been practical matters to address.
David from Angola
Bray Methodist Church
Many of these families are awaiting decisions on their asylum applications, and this is a huge source of anxiety and uncertainty for them. References are often sought to help support their case for international protection. Some have permission to work, others do not. Some are moved to other centres with little notice. Some have received permission to stay in Ireland, other have been refused. There is a regular need for pastoral support – to hear their stories, to walk alongside them and to pray for them.
Bray Methodist are thankful to God for the privilege of worshipping and ministering alongside these new families. Please pray for God’s guidance and blessing on their future.