Congregation prays for ‘very seriously ill’ Paisley
Ian Paisley
IAN Paisley’s congregation yesterday stayed after church to pray for the 85-year-old, whose condition in hospital they were told remains “very serious”.
Worshippers at the Martyrs’ Memorial Free Presbyterian Church in east Belfast remained after their morning service to pray for the church’s founder and the man who until weeks ago was the church’s minister.
Prayers were also said for the former First Minister at Free Presbyterian churches across the Province yesterday.
At the request of the Paisley family there have been no official updates from the Ulster Hospital on Dr Paisley’s unspecified illness, meaning that journalists cannot conclusively confirm or deny rumours about the former First Minister’s health.
However, it is widely believed that Dr Paisley is suffering from a serious heart condition and that he was admitted to the Ulster Hospital’s intensive care unit last Sunday night after taking unwell.
Yesterday, at his east Belfast church – where Dr Paisley was centre stage just a fortnight ago with a crowd of more than 3,000 gathering for his retirement service – the congregation was urged to pray for the Free Presbyterian founder.
Veteran Free Presbyterian minister the Rev Alan Smylie, who led and preached at the morning worship service, told those present that the denomination’s founder was very seriously ill.
“His condition is still very serious in the hospital but we trust that you will continue to pray for him that the Lord’s hand will be upon him. He is the great physician, the one who can touch and heal and restore,” he said.
Rev Smylie, who is minister of Ballygowan Free Presbyterian Church, said that the Paisley family have been grateful for the support which they have received in the last week.
“The family deeply appreciate the prayers of God’s people here at Martyrs and of course the prayers of God’s people everywhere at this time,” he said.
Rev Smylie said that the Paisley family are “very conscious that there are so many others in the same position as themselves, who need prayer support”.
During the service, the Rev Smylie prayed: “We think of those who are in particular need; we think of Dr Paisley today in his particular need. We thank thee, Oh God, that thou art the great physician and that thou hast ministered to him even throughout the past seven days.
“And Lord, we pray that thou would continue to do that, even as we pray this morning.
“Oh God, draw near to that sickroom; come alongside that sickbed and pour in that balm of healing if it is thy holy will to restore him and grant him strength because we know that thou art able to do it.”
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light showers
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