Sinead Templeman

Joy Barlow

Jeni Ozumba

Sinead Templeman in her talk, entitled, “The Simplicity of Joy”, shared some sources of joy in her life--her career as a nurse, helping the homeless in London and Mission experiences including bringing a mini-SEP to a Romanian Orphanage. It gives you joy to bring joy to another.

Joy Barlow’s joy led from “Trials to Triumphs”, as she shared her experience of having a child with a cleft palate. She showed how important it is to love people for who they are, not how they look. Her joy came from overcoming obstacles in caring for her baby and encouraged us that when we turn to God he brings us peace and joy. She shared some of the Bible verses that strengthen, sustain and bring us joy.

Our last speaker before the break was Jeni Ozumba. She spoke of the joy in “Experiencing Cross-Cultural Connections” as she spent several years in Nigeria working with homeless people with mental illness, and with disabled children. Living with the residents in the village home for the mentally ill with chapel each morning, Jeni found joy a continuous heartbeat that lights up our life and the lives of those around us. Even though away from friends and family and the comforts of home, Jeni found joy in her work and in worship. So remember that the rainbow always comes after the storm. Phil 4:12- 13 sustained her and she found comfort in Rom. 8:28. Jeni ended with points to ponder:
1. Joy can come from unexpected sources.
2. Taking risks and stepping out of our comfort zone can lead to new sources of joy.
3. The lows are necessary to experience the joy of the highs.
4. Home is where the heart is.
5. Joy comes from trusting God and a close relationship with him.
 

Maureen Gaddes

Simone Royle

After the Coffee Break, Maureen Gaddes spoke of the “Mission Miracles” that brought her joy. We are all ‘missionaries’ with a mission of bringing that life-changing joy of the Gospel to the world, whether here at home, or like Maureen, in Togo with Mercy ships building orphan housing, working in a hospital in Honduras, or building homes for the homeless in Mexico. Open your eyes to the needs of others, reach out and share your joy as Christians working together. It is a special kind of joy helping the needy. “Work for God--the pay isn’t much, but His retirement benefits are out of this world”!

Next we heard from Simone Royle. Her talk, “Bringing Joy”, or “My Cup Runneth Over, told us how we are all children of God, but that worries and doubts may obscure our view of joy, while the Bible and Holy Spirit free us from anxieties that destroy joy. She went on to discuss several things that inhibit joy--uncertainty about the choices we make in life, fear of loving without return, and fear of our sins. God invites us to experience joy every day of our lives. Seeking to know God is a quest for joy--KNOW GOD: KNOW JOY! Next page

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