The Hub Belfast, is the base for the work of the Methodist and Church of Ireland chaplaincies at Queen’s University comprising a student residency, the Hub Cafe and the Church of the Resurrection. As a community we say we are committed to the values of prayer, unity and mission for this campus: for students and staff, for the community around us and for the city. Of course, saying you are committed to something and doing it, can often be two different things! So we feel challenged, to pray more together, to relate more to those around us and to serve more… why not join us,

here are some issues you can pray for:

big changes in higher education funding affecting students and staff.
increasing student debt.

major redundancy rounds taking place in QUB at the moment affecting student support services in particular.

the alcohol, drug, sex culture

the late night street ministries being run by ourselves and other churches in the locality

the ability to speak up as people of faith in a context where most are skeptical!

the possibility of developing a work with the homeless living on the streets around the university campus.

relationships being built up with University departments and services.
4 full-time chaplains and their teams working on Elmwood Avenue
the student led Christian Union and in particular their weekly meetings on a Monday and their planned outreach in mid February

24 hours of prayer coming up in The Hub on 16th-17th February
preparations for mission teams being sent from the Hub to Sligo at Easter, Ibiza and Argentina in June, and Summer Madness in July

John Alderdice, Methodist Chaplin at Queens university Belfast

Kingdom come February schools and university focus!

As I stood in church the other Sunday during worship my mind was drawn to reflect on the breath of activity within 24-7 Ireland. As a movement we orientate ourselves around the core practices of prayer, mission & justice. I smiled as I thought about some of the amazing people that show the life and vitality that is within 24-7 and the commitment to build the Kingdom.

On that day, Alain Emerson was off on one of his adventures to Uganda, a country that holds a special place in his heart, He went to share at a conference of Head teachers about the exciting potential of prayer spaces in schools and came away after one of the sessions with over 70 schools committing to a year of prayer! Full article here

On the same day David & Jill Hines and their four children (all under 9) were being commissioned at their home church (City Church Belfast) as they prepared to leave to work in Southern India amongst the Muslim population. David has been a member of the 24-7 Ireland leadership team for many years and his move shows the synergy that exists between prayer & mission. It reminded me of how prayer propels us to be present in the world. Follow their journey at http://thechimneyswift.wordpress.com

And then I was drawn to remember that Sundays is the day that Laura Brown & Rebekah Anderson along with some other committed folks gather to pray for the area of West Belfast. A part of the city that, experiences some of the highest rates of social deprivation and suicide within Europe. There they meet to pray into issues of justice, that the existing social and economic norms might be challenged and flipped on their head, a prayer to set the captives free.

So there it was, three reminders of the amazing commitment of ordinary folks to prayer, mission & justice. Thank you all for what you give to this movement, to the everyday and the unique, to those who travel and those who stay. We are so looking forward to hearing what God is going to do in 2012. Kingdom come

We would love to hear what else is going on within the movement, drop us a email at
tash@24-7prayerireland.com

Adrian Eagleson