‘A man sent from God’
Thursday, 2 February 2012
Lord Bannside pictured where he loves to be - the pulpit.
MANY Ballymoney members of the Free Presbyterian Church attended the special farewell service at the Martyrs Memorial Church in Belfast on Friday January 27 to honour Dr Ian R K Paisley (Lord Bannside) and mark his retirement after 65 years of ministry.
The Rev Alan Smylie (Ballygowan), Interim Moderator and Deputy Moderator of Presbytery, presided and welcomed Lord Bannside and Baroness Paisley and also their many friends, colleagues and well wishers who packed the church to capacity for this historic occasion.
Moving tributes charting the life and exemplary ministry of the founder father and former moderator of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster were paid by many of his fellow ministers including his son Rev Kyle Paisley Minister of Oulton Broad.
The congregation joined in the hearty celebratory praise of two of Dr Paisleys favorite hymns, 'Psalm 124' and the great Gospel hymn, 'Tis old, yet ever new'.
The closing message was delivered by Dr Ron Johnstone, Moderator of Presbytery who explained that the term powerful, in a spiritual sense, can be applied to relatively few men and those who have had the honour and privilege of knowing and working alongside Dr Ian Paisley recognise him to be a man upon whom the power of God has rested in an unusual manner.
Quoting from John 1v6 which introduces John the Baptist, 'There was a man sent from God whose name was John', Dr Johnstone said, "Linguists tell us that the Ulster Scots equivalent of John is Ian.
“As a denomination, we can rejoice that there was a man sent from God whose name was Ian Paisley. Under his leadership the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster commenced, continued and was consolidated. Like John the Baptist, he was a true prophet, exercising a powerful and pertinent ministry in his generation. His preaching, like John's, was powerful.
“With John the Baptist he called people to repentance, and delighted to point them to the Lamb of God as the only redeemer of men. Only eternity will quantify the souls who were led to the Savior through the ministry of Dr. Paisley."
Presentations were made to Lord Bannside and Baroness Paisley and both responded with thanks and gratitude.
Supper was served afterwards in the Jubilee Complex.
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