An update from CVM...
CVM Northern Ireland... “Yahoo... what a ride!”
As I sit down to type this, I’m shocked to think it will be 2 years next month since I joined the CVM team and began the job of starting CVM Northern Ireland. In that time it’s been a roller-coaster of an adventure that I wouldn’t change for the world. Running all over the country, clocking up the miles & coffees - working & partnering with churches and other organisations as we seek to win as many men to Jesus as possible.
In this short time we have:
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Working with 3 Regional Groups: NI West, Mid Ulster & Ballymena. Local grass roots teams doing ordinary ‘stuff’ in their areas to reach hundreds of guys - they are the backbone and true heroes of CVM NI
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Consulted & worked with over 70 churches of each denomination and agencies throughout Ireland (North & South)
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Spoke at and networked with numerous men’s groups and their leaders.
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Roy Walker has taken on the role of Director of Ministry working closely with me and is currently in the middle of 2 ‘Cracking the Code’ tours around Ballymena and in The West. They are fantastic nights of worship, banter, grub & a straight talking challenge for men based around ‘The Code’. As well as this he also speaks regularly at various churches and events across NI.
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We have partnered with New Wine Ireland for their 2 men’s conferences; Kingdom Men. I also had the privilege at speaking at their annual Summer Conference in Sligo and also their Co-Mission conference to over 100 leaders from across Ireland.
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We’ve also consulted with What Now and their annual men’s conference and even shared the work and vision of CVM to 1800 guys at last years M12 conference.
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Since January 2013 we’ve had the huge privilege of working with Ulster Rugby in facilitating a tour of NI where some of their top players: Johann Muller, Ruan Pienaar, Paul Marshall and CEO of the club Shane Logan share their God stories and challenge men to be men and take a stand for their faith where God has put them. We give guys a night out at an Ulster match - something they invite their unsaved mates too, before following it up with the larger events. So far we have reached over 3,500 guys through this alone and seen a number of them come to faith.
I can’t emphasise enough how humbling it is to be part of something that only God could be doing - it truly is an honour.
The more I travel around and meet with ordinary blokes trying to live their lives the God way and trying to win their mates to Jesus the more and more I see the need for what we are and what we do as CVM.
The year ahead is full of more roller-coaster rides I have no doubt. We have an opportunity to engage with more men and more churches, through our local grass roots groups and through the Ulster Rugby Tour than ever before. We are still not 100% funded yet we give thanks to those who have stood with us. We need help with admin and we are hoping to take on an Intern in September. On top of that Elizabeth and I are due our 3 child in August and we are grateful to our home church UT Belfast for their support and love for us as a family.
Please keep praying for us, keep supporting us, consider supporting us, keep in contact with us and above all, keep giving Him all the glory.
“Life should not be a journey with the intention of arriving at the end of it in a well-preserved, attractive body - but rather to skid in sideways, body thoroughly used up, covered in scars and screaming: Yahoo... what a ride!” Bear Grylls (The Bear Grylls Survival Guide)
Cheers
Spud Murphy
Director, Northern Ireland
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