Bangor Worldwide Missionary Convention set to celebrate its 90th year with string of events
Organisers of Bangor Worldwide missionary convention will celebrate their 90th annual convention in the North Down borough from Friday, August 14, to Sunday, August 23.
Convention chairman Tom Clarke confirms: “For 90 years, Bangor Worldwide has been a place where God stirs hearts - to pray, to give, and to go. It’s offered a space to listen and learn, to be challenged and changed and ultimately to answer Jesus’ call to make disciples of all nations.
"On Saturday August 15, we will launch our specially commissioned anniversary book, 'When God Plants Acorns', telling the story of the impact of the convention down through the decades.
“Our main celebration evening will be held in the Waterfront Hall, Belfast on Saturday August 22. This will be in partnership with New Irish Arts group and Alistair Begg, from 'Truth for Life', will be main speaker.
"In the tradition of open-air services, we will host a seafront gathering at Pickie Arena, Bangor on Sunday August 23."
International missionary speakers making the journey to Northern Ireland that week will include Timothy Cho, a two-time escapee who endured imprisonment in China and North Korea, and David Gordon, director of Dohnavur Fellowship in India, which is the ongoing ministry of late Ulster-born missionary Amy Carmichael.
Bible teaching is an integral part of Bangor Worldwide and this year evangelist Conrad Mbewemakes a return to lead these. The Bible studies start each morning at 11.30am and run Monday to Friday August 17-21.
“A major change this year is where our events are being held. Our normal convention venue is not available so we would just ask people to double check the programme venues online.
"The morning prayer time and Bible study will be held in Hamilton Road Baptist church whilst the weekday evenings will be moved to Bangor Elim.
"A wide range of mission agencies will also be with us in our ever popular 'Global Village' allowing people to go deeper in their missional experience," said Mr Clarke.
The Missionary Convention can be traced back to 1936 when Herbie Mateer, a bank manager, proposed that the Christian Workers’ Union should hold an annual missionary convention in Bangor where he lived.
Previous to this, the Union had held house–to–house collections for missions. The idea of a convention took off and various speakers came to the north Down town from around the world, giving first hand information on their work.
The initial target was £100, to match what was normally brought via door–to–door. After the first convention was held in Bangor’s King’s Hall in September 1937, £298 was raised, a considerable sum at the time. Many thousands of pounds have been raised for worldwide missions since.
Founders of many missionary agencies have spoken at Bangor including Brother Andrew (Open Doors), Ernest Allen (Every Home Crusade), Dr Andrew Gih (Evangelise China Fellowship), and George Verwer (OM). Other significant mission speakers have also included Watchman Nee, Georgi Vins, Elisabeth Elliot and Gladys Aylward.
Supportive events for the Bangor Mission this year will take place in other towns and cities including Portstewart, Magherafelt, Portrush, Dollingstown, Dublin and Drogheda.
As part of Bangor mission, Faith Mission will have their gospel truck at Lisnabreen Presbyterian church, Bangor with a children’s club on week-day mornings.