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Maghaberry Elim puts best foot forward for Africa

MAGHABERRY Elim ChurchMAGHABERRY Elim Church members and friends will be showing their physical fitness this evening (Friday) when they stage a sponsored Walk For Africa around the village roads. Church elder, Mr Roy Irwin, said the aim is to raise much-needed funds to build a new operating theatre for The Elim Hospital in Katerere in Zimbabwe.

Mr Irwin added: "We are hoping and praying for good weather and safety as we walk the roads. The sponsored walk will be followed by a baked potato supper in the church hall. "Last year our sponsored Walk For Africa raised cash to build houses for the elderly in Zambia. We were just one of 12 Elim churches who took part in this project, but we raised £25,000 between us. This year's project is very worthwhile. The Elim Hospital in Zimbabwe is a 75-bed hospital which caters for medical and maternity needs with up to 65 babies born there each month. An operating theatre would upgrade the hospital and make a real difference as they seek to serve a population of 30,000 in that district. The site where the hospital is has the Elim Mission Church, a 900-pupil primary school and a 650-pupil boarding school.

"The church reaches out to many orphans in the region, with the hospital and its staff playing a vital role'" said Mr Irwin. Maghaberry Elim also recently hosted a very successful Church Away Weekend, when almost 40 members and friends attended a weekend of Bible study and social activities at White Park Bay in north Antrim. The activities included beach games, a hotly contested Bible table quiz, an enthusiastic Gospel singing session, while the football fans watched some World Cup games.

The Sunday morning service was taken by church elder, Mr John Magowan, with the devotional music provided by worship team leaders Mrs Sharon Hodgins and Mr Morley
Bradford. During the summer months, while the church organisations take a break, the worship team will be putting the finishing touches to its first CD album of inspirational Gospel songs. It is hoped this will be officially launched later this year.

Ulster Star
26/06/2010