At the Conference, the Connexion Trustees extended their gratitude to Joe Gregory for his tremendous work as President for the past two years, ably supported by his wife Elizabeth. Huge thanks to them both!
The Trustees were also delighted to welcome Janet O'Shea, a well-known figure within the Connexion Community for her tireless work with the Sierra Leone Mission, as the new Connexion President. Congratulations Janet!
Read Janet's first President's Address below:
'I can’t believe this is really happening… my dad would have been so proud! He regularly attended the conference at Herne Bay and we often entertained ‘dignitaries’ Quinton De'Ath, Gilbert Kirby, Douglas Staplehurst and Ken Stone to name a few.
I am certainly not a preacher but I do love sharing the work that we are linked with in Sierra Leone. I would be happy to visit any of our Churches armed with a presentation. It is one subject that has become part of me especially in the past 12 years.
I would like to give you some background to my story as I take up this role. I was born in 1953 in St Ives Cornwall to Eddie and Eleanor Murt. My dad was a lifelong member of Zion Congregational Church and my mum was a Salvationist. I was dually dedicated in Zion under the Salvation Army (SA) flag.
Zion in those days was full and also boasted a choir. I remember the sermons were at least an hour long and I was fascinated when men often shouted out ‘Amen’ or ‘Hallelujah!’ during the proceedings. Everyone seemed to have a favourite hymn and on a regular basis a lone voice would start up the last verse often after already singing seven verses.
Sunday School was in the afternoon and we often boasted 100 children. My Sunday consisted of 9am SA open air, 10:45 Zion service, 2pm Zion Sunday School, 5pm SA open air, 6pm Zion service, 8pm SA Hymn singing on the slipway.
In my teens I joined the Youth for Christ choir, not my choice! However it was during one of the rallies that I came to know Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour. I was blessed with at least 30 other young people also becoming Christians: we would spontaneously hold open airs, beach mission, prayer meetings, Bible studies. A treasured period in my life.
I went away to Bristol to train as a teacher in 1971. It was a tough time. I had been cocooned in St.Ives and I found myself questioning my faith. However God had His hand on me and He didn’t let me go.
I returned to St Ives after my training and landed a job in the town at St Ives Infant School where I remained for 38 years. During that time I settled into married life and Ralph and I were blessed with two girls; Hannah and Ruth. A month after we were married Ralph injured his back which began a spiral of health issues. He had discs removed from his back, he had four heart attacks, a quadruple bi-pass, a stroke, he suffered with kidney stones, etc etc. multiple admissions to hospital and emergency episodes. Life was far from easy and as I look back I recognise that it was only through God’s grace and presence that we survived through 45 years of marriage. Ralph is healed now and enjoying the blessings of heaven.
During these years I witnessed a huge decline in numbers attending Zion. The ministry has always been faithful, following the Bible with Godly leadership. Sometimes tradition took precedence and there was a culture of ‘holding on’ instead of ‘passing on the baton.’ By 2013 we were down to five regular attenders.
It was a time to really seek God’s face for the future. One Sunday the preacher didn’t turn up and the visitors, it was summer, kept coming in. What should we do? We decided to let the Spirit lead the service and explained this to the congregation. Two ladies came to the front, they were from America. Two years earlier their daughters had visited Zion and on their return to the states had started to pray for us. The ladies produced a banner, it was made from a wedding dress and had five figures on it going into the world. A gentleman then stood up and told us that God wanted us to ‘Wait on Him’
In 2015 we offered the pastorate to Tim Dennick. The Trustees were not happy… I still have the letter. They didn’t think that we could afford a pastor, nothing against Tim!
Sometimes we have to step out in faith. We can now boast nine members however we also have 10 teenagers, five children and regular attendance of at least 25 people. Over the last three years we have worked with teams of American evangelists, run Community days, Christmas outreach, supported Beach mission and delivered thousands of leaflets. God has not finished with us, by his Grace He is using us to spread the Good news. I’d like to encourage you if you are in a small church….you are still important to God, seek His will and wait on Him. I am probably the worst offender when it comes to patience. God is building His Church and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it.
I would like to close with some verses from scripture. Ian Densham used to say always quote scripture it might be the only inspired words you speak!
"Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you, I will hold you up with my victorious right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)
"This is my command – be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9)
As Jesus ascended into Heaven, He spoke these words to disciples who were feeling deflated, tired, confused, struggling to carry on:
"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere."
Perhaps we are in that place as The Connexion - and need to ask God for a fresh infilling, overflowing of the Holy Spirit in ourselves and our Churches.'
Janet O'Shea
