The year 2016 marks the 150th year of a work of compassion for Presbyterian children and families in need. Originally The Presbyterian Orphan Society and recently The Presbyterian Orphan and Children’s Society, its name has changed again this year to The Presbyterian Children’s Society.
This reflects the fact that children may not be orphans and yet have great need. Parents may find it hard to make ends meet, and often one parent, usually the father, is missing from family life and support.
Over 150 years the Society has helped 43,000 children in 17,500 families. It celebrated its 150 years by holding local events – three of them in the Republic, in Monaghan, Donegal and Dublin. Currently the Society is helping a total of 51 families and 109 children in 25 congregations in the Republic.
More than 13 per cent of the children helped by the Society are in the Republic. In 2016, the Society will give an estimated €85,000 in grants for children in the Republic, an average of just over €780 per child helped.
The Society helps through regular grants and exceptional grants, and all applications come through Presbyterian ministers, who find the society a very helpful resource, prompt to respond to a situation of need brought to its notice.
St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Blackrock is holding an organ recital, followed by light refreshments, on Thursday, August 18th, at 7.30pm, with voluntary donations for Christian Aid. The church building is also open to visitors during Heritage Week, noon to 2pm, Monday, August 22nd, to Friday, August 26th.
A South African farmer and evangelist who has spoken to gatherings of up to 200,000 people will speak at The Hub, Cillin Hill in Kilkenny, on Wednesday, August 24th, at 6.45pm.
The organisers, who want to reach out to farmers, church leaders, husbands, wives, children in a unique nondenominational event, believe that Angus Buchan’s background as a farmer in South Africa will allow him to relate to those who attend this event.
His first book, also a movie, Faith Like Potatoes, tells how God transformed his life. It describes his journey of faith through personal and family challenges. Buchan does not financially benefit from his ministry, which he funds from farming activities.
He says that generations of people in Africa have been blessed by the “good seed” planted by missionaries from Ireland over the centuries. Buchan now wants to return to Ireland with this “good seed” and plant it back into what he feels is fertile soil.
Organising committee member, Kilkenny farmer and businessman Robert Harper, who is a member of Kilkenny Presbyterian Church, says that Buchan is an ordinary Christian man whom God has used mightily in sharing his word around the world.
A total of 1,600 seats are available for this, and early booking is advised. Free tickets may be booked online at togetherforireland.com or by telephoning Geraldine on 086 -575124.