Amazing Grace and Alpha

The Alpha course is starting tomorrow. Please be in prayer for the team and for Mike especially, as he will be teaching the course. Pray that many people would come, they would truly experience God, and they will be eager to come back and bring others with them.

The Amazing Grace movie opened last Friday. If you haven't seen it yet, please do. Continue to pray for the prescreening in Buncrana that is happening Monday, the 5th (the movie opens in the UK Mar 23) . You can read more about Amazing Grace, John Newton, and Lough Swilly at www.amazinggrace.ie, a site setup by the OM team. Also, here's some excerpts from a letter sent to all the churches in the County Donegal letting them know about the screening:

An AMAZING Connection
The hymn "Amazing Grace" is known and loved across the world, but few realise that Donegal played a significant role in the life of hymn writer John Newton. In 1748, John Newton was a foul-mouthed slave trader. He faced death during a violent storm in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and cried out to God for mercy.

Finally, after four weeks at sea the wind changed. Newton wrote, "We saw the island of Tory and the next day anchored in Lough Swilly in Ireland. This was the 8th day of April (1748) and before we had been there two hours, the wind began to blow with great violence. If we had continued at sea that night in our shattered condition, we must have gone to the bottom. About this time I began to know that there is a God that hears and answers prayer."
From that moment, John Newton’s life began to change as he came to realise that God’s grace could save even a ‘wretch’ like him! The crew received a warm welcome from the local villagers on the shores of Lough Swilly in County Donegal. Carpenters went to work repairing the ship. Meanwhile, John Newton visited the city of Derry where he attended church.
Later, John Newton became a clergyman and a prolific hymn writer. He went on to play a significant role in the fight against the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. Newton mentored evangelical politician William Wilberforce and saw the first anti-slavery legislation passed in the British parliament before his death in 1807.

An AMAZING Coincidence?
When OM Ireland was launched in 2002, many questioned why the ministry chose to focus on Donegal. Most Christian agencies are based in Dublin and although OM Ireland opened an office in the capital, Director Mike Mullins (who was living in Buncrana) believed it was right to remain in the North West.
Mike was the first to widely publicise Lough Swilly’s connection with John Newton and Amazing Grace. As a result God is opening doors of opportunity to share the story with politicians, business leaders, community leaders and many more. Local and even national media have publicised the story. As one politician put it – "there is so much bad news in the world; it’s unusual to have some good news to share for once".
We believe it is no coincidence that Mike Mullins and OM Ireland are based in Donegal at this time. Our prayer is that Christians across the region will unite to embrace this historic connection with John Newton as part of their heritage and as a God-given opportunity to share good news.

This March sees the release of a movie called "Amazing Grace" which charts the history of William Wilberforce and his fight against slavery. The movie also shows the key role John Newton played in mentoring Wilberforce. Coinciding with the film and the 200th anniversary of the first anti-slavery legislation, many are continuing the work of Wilberforce and Newton by campaigning for the abolition of modern day slavery. This provides an opportunity for Christians to stand up for Christ-like values and oppose injustice and oppression.

Senior politicians from many different political parties and from both sides of the border have already agreed to attend the Buncrana pre-screening at the beginning of March. We are sure you can sense the significance of this opportunity – will you pray with us for God to work through this film in the lives of those who attend the screening?
From March 23, the film will be on general release. Please encourage all your church members to go to see the film and to take friends to see it. Check out www.amazinggracemovie.com for a trailer and more info.

AMAZING GRACE SUNDAY - Sunday 8 April
We would like to see Christians and churches across Ireland celebrating "Amazing Grace" Sunday on the anniversary of John Newton’s arrival in Lough Swilly (April 8). Below are a few suggestions of how you could mark this significant date, however, we would also like to extend a special invitation to all churches in Donegal.
On the afternoon of Sunday 8 April (Easter Day) we are arranging an "Amazing Grace" celebration in Buncrana, on the shores of Lough Swilly. This event will bring together Christians in the area with many local people to sing "Amazing Grace" and to hear the story of John Newton as well as testimonies of people whose lives have been changed by God’s grace. Will you join us?

Other ways your church could celebrate Amazing Grace Sunday
Raise your voice
-Why not sing "Amazing Grace" as part of your Easter Day Sunday service, paying special attention to the meaning of the words?
- Why not encourage people in your church to share testimonies of what God’s amazing grace means to them?
-One church in Donegal is hoping to ring Amazing Grace on their church bells on Easter Day.
Raise awareness
- Why not share the story of John Newton and its connection with Ireland? It is a powerful illustration of how the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus can change lives.
-Why not raise awareness of modern day slavery using Newton and Wilberforce as examples of Christians who made a difference?
- OM Ireland can provide stories, information and resources about the Dalit people in India who have suffered for centuries under the oppressive caste system. Today, thousands remain in slavery. In India, OM is playing a vital role as part of the Dalit Freedom Network (www.dalitfreedom.com) and providing education for thousands of Dalit children who have been denied this basic human right.
Raise money
-Why not take up a special collection to help those suffering from slavery or oppression?

Thanks again for all your prayers! I should have updates soon about the TeenStreet/Beyond 48 conference from last week.