New Presbyterian Moderator Rev Dr Sam Mawhinney: We must protect young Christians who are going against the flow

He said: “I heard God call me to become a Christian in the dining hall of my primary school, which the CSSM (Children's Special Service Mission) were using as an evening venue.”

He added: “In those days it was easier to become a Christian, the anti-Christian pressure wasn’t really as strong. If you’re going to live as a Christian in this society you will very definitely be going against the flow.

“I think that is why it is important as parents that we are at least engaging with our young people about those issues and recognising that it is tough.

“In churches we really need to talk about peer pressure, that this is not going to be easy, following Jesus was never easy, but he is with us and he helps us through that.”

Dr Mawhinney and his wife Karen have three boys – Peter, Andrew and David – all in their mid-20s and all keen sportsmen like their father who could turn his hand to a number of sports, especially hockey.

Of his installation as Presbyterian moderator and the general assembly, the 61-year-old said: “I'm looking forward to it, I'm a bit daunted as well.

“I'm looking forward to seeing the church come together for us to be able to both worship God and debate issues that are important for the church.”

Discussing the 50-page report entitled ‘Radical Reconfiguration of Ministry’, he said: “I think that over many years we've been a denomination that has been in decline in terms of numbers.

“We're having to rethink what ministry will look like going forward.

“Society has changed, it is more difficult for us, but I still think the means are similar – we want to tell them about Jesus, we want to teach the Bible, we want to form communities that work. Those are the things that matter today and I still think we have the answers.

“People are lonely and churches provide – both in Jesus himself and in the community – friendships and relationships. Lives can get messed up because of all the difficulties that we’re having. We have forgiveness here as well.”

Dr Mawhinney was a qualified GP before going into the church and for a year in Kenya in the early 90s he combined both duties.

He said: “I had applied to be a Presbyterian minister and been accepted. I was qualified as a GP and had one year to wait before I could start my theological studies.

“The overseas board rang me up and said they had a vacancy in Kenya. The two dovetailed perfectly.

“I loved the church community out there. I did lots of C-sections, some surgeries – things I would never have done here in Northern Ireland.”

He added: “I don’t miss being a doctor, I felt that God wanted me to be a minister.

“I sensed the call to ministry as a late teenager but I put it off.”