A Cavan man, the late Rev Dr William Fleming, a former Moderator of the General Assembly, was largely responsible for founding the Irish Evangelical Fellowship (IEF). Dr Fleming was born and brought up in Cavan and, after study in preparation for the ministry of the Presbyterian Church in Trinity College Dublin and the Presbyterian College (Union Theological College), Belfast, he was minister in Ahoghill, Co Antrim, and Abbots Cross, near Belfast.
On his retirement, Dr Fleming, with the intention of encouraging prayer and evangelism, with others founded the IEF. Fleming, in his lifetime, was convinced that prayer was absolutely necessary if there was to be spiritual prosperity and religious revival in the land. Around about 1995 he had the vision of IEF and in 1996, after talks with people of all denominations (IEF is non-denominational), the Fellowship came about.
Its aims are brought about through the publication of a prayer letter three times every year. Covering matters concerning prayer and prayer fellowships, the letter is sent on request to individuals, groups and churches. As well, a Prayer Seminar Video - How to Develop a Praying Church, by Dr Fleming, is for hire or may be bought.
Evangelism is encouraged through grants to suitable candidates for full-time ministry; to any engaged in evangelical outreach; and to assist in buying suitable evangelical literature. Acknowledging that suitable Christian books for study can be expensive (Bible commentaries, for example), the Fellowship provides a Book List of volumes to be bought at half-price by those involved in leadership in evangelism or seeking training in this work.
The IEF may be joined with a subscription of £5 each year. Donations are welcomed. The Fellowship for tax purposes is regarded as a Charitable Trust. The Secretary is contacted at 28A Pearse Street, Dublin 2.
A number of prominent Presbyterians have gone to Australia this summer - the Moderator of the General Assembly, for example. Rev Terence McCaughey and his wife, Oona, are there just now on a visit to Terence's eldest brother, Rev Professor Emeritus Davis McCaughey.
Davis is one of Ulster Presbyterianism's most distinguished expatriate sons. He is remembered from many years ago as a Travelling Secretary of the Student Christian Movement and he greatly influenced students in the several universities here. After that he went out to teach New Testament in Ormond College, University of Melbourne, and eventually, as a recognised New Testament scholar of high reputation, he became the Master of Ormond.
He was to become the President of the Uniting Church in Australia, an office in which he has been followed, some years later, by another Ulster man, the Rev Professor James Haire, this year's President. Davis also became one of the most distinguished Governors of Victoria.
No one who is sufficiently interested and can afford stg£8.99 should any longer be without a copy of Celebrating Life - Finding Happiness. Written by Dr Jonathan Sacks (192pp, paperback, a Fount Imprint of Harper Collins). Dr Sacks is the Chief Rabbi of Britain and the Commonwealth and is sometimes found writing in association with the popular Rabbi Lionel Blue.
Celebrating Life contains 58 short but profound and humorous pieces on Happiness; Finding God; Faith and Friendship; Faith in the Family. There are also many other topics, all relevant, challenging and in the best traditions of Judaeo-Christian spirituality and morality. These are for people of all faiths and none, some of them first found in essence in Dr Sacks's column in the London Times.
Those who find themselves much criticised in life will gain a new perspective from one of Dr Sacks's many wise comments. He writes that justified criticism is a learning experience. Through it you grow. Unjustified criticism is someone else's problem, not yours. It may be due to . . . envy or simple negativity, but its cause is something else, not you.