Christian worker 'touched hundreds of lives'
TRIBUTES have been paid after the death of a man who "touched the lives of hundreds of young people" through his work with a Christian organisation in Co Londonderry.
Jonny Hyndman, who lived in Castlerock in Coleraine, died suddenly on Thursday, much to the shock and sadness of the large congregation of family and friends who gathered at his funeral in First Dunboe Presbyterian Church yesterday.
The 28-year-old, who had been a part-time member of the Coleraine community policing team for the past five years, had also been involved with Christian charity Exodus since its inception 12 years ago, and had just recently conquered Kilimanjaro on one of his many fundraising expeditions.
Just this summer Mr Hyndman had posted his thoughts on a website following a trip to Russia.
He said: "In July I headed off to Russia with an amazing team of seven people and was involved in about five different types of ministry in three different places. God really honoured our months of praying. We saw God's power at work in an amazing way."
Hundreds of mourners, including Mr Hyndman's sister Jayne and his parents Bert and Barbara, heard glowing tributes from several speakers including the Rev Jim McCaughan, who led the service.
Speaking to the News Letter, Mr McCaughan, who had known Jonny since he was just one, said the young man had "contributed so much to the community" and described his passing as "heartbreaking".
He said: "Jonny was part of a very large family, who will miss him terribly.
"Our church can hold around 500 to 600 people and we couldn't fit everyone in who attended, which I think speaks volumes about what Jonny meant to people."
As part of his work with Exodus, Mr Hyndman was trustee of a school the group had helped set up in Uganda, and was also involved with a Romanian orphanage.
Mr McCaughan told the News Letter a pastor from the Ugandan school had left Africa on Friday, just so he could be there for yesterday's service.
Mr Hyndman's friend Clive McLaughlin first met the Coleraine man working as a mentor with Exodus but, such was his warmth of personality, the two soon became friends.
Speaking of the tragic loss, Mr McLaughlin said: "You just never would've thought this would happen.
"He was a constant in my life and the lives of many people around here, and he had a positive influence on so many.
"The number of lives he touched would be in the hundreds.
"He was just always loving, caring and full of fun."
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Monday 28 May 2012
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