Farewell event ‘was vintage Doc’
MODERATOR of the Free Presbyterian Church the Rev Ron Johnstone has told how it was one the greatest honours of his life to speak at last month’s farewell service for Ian Paisley at the Martyrs Memorial Church in Belfast.
“There were definitely 3,500 people in attendance,” the Rev Johnstone said of the January 27 event.
“Dr Paisley said it was the biggest attendance he had ever seen in the church. The meeting lasted two-and-a-half hours and many people stood for the whole thing.
“I escorted him and Eileen into the service and he was given a spontaneous standing ovation.
“I didn’t realise until later that some ladies in their sixties stood for the entire meeting. There was not a space in the church that was free.
“Every room was filled with people listening to the service and people were sitting on the stairs.
“People were queuing until midnight to get Dr Paisley’s signature on the programme, to greet him and to shake his hand.
“As we say in the Free Presbyterian Church, ‘it was vintage Doc’.
“There was a great love shown to him that night. We have 60 churches in Northern Ireland and we started 27 churches in the USA.
“Most of those who attended that night were from our own churches but there were many from other denominations too.
“Three people came up to me after the service and identified themselves to me as Roman Catholics. They said they knew him and had great respect for him.”
The Rev Johnstone told a story at the farewell service to illustrate the power of Dr Paisley in prayer.
“Years ago Doc was preaching in the open air beside Belfast City Hall on a Friday, as he often did.
“A young teenage boy shouted at him, ‘Go home Paisley – you are just a troublemaker’.
“Dr Paisley called him over and put his hand on his shoulder and prayed, ‘Lord make him a preacher’.
“Today that young man is a pastor in another denomination in Belfast – he was sitting on the stairs of Martyrs Memorial Church for the entire farewell service.”
Another highlight of the service for the Rev Johnstone was the tribute from Dr Bill Woods, who was a leprosy missionary to Brazil with the church.
“He is now in his seventies but he spoke on behalf of the church missionaries. He said that he knows of over 40 missionaries who were either converted under Dr Paisley’s ministry or were challenged to go to the mission field by him, including himself.”
The Rev Johnstone said that he and his wife had also been inspired to go to the mission field by Dr Paisley and his wife, both of whom he described as being “very gracious” in their dealings with the young missionary couple.
“The overall highlight of the evening was Dr Paisley himself speaking for some 40 minutes,” he said.
“He gave glory to God for what had been achieved through his life and ministry.
“People I meet and who have been calling me regarding Dr Paisley’s condition have commented on the tremendous service. It was like a family celebration they would not have missed for anything. People have spoken of the great love displayed towards Dr Paisley.
“Personally, I was thrilled and count it one of the greatest honours of my life to have been asked to be the closing speaker and to pay tribute the Doc and Mrs Paisley and to glorify God for His grace in them.
“I know that in that final meeting he said these words: ‘I know not how long I am for this world. I know however there are souls in this meeting who need the Saviour. Come to Him now. In quietness of the meeting, call to Christ. He will save you’.”
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
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