This week we hear from Patrick who recently organised a Concert with his CFL support group to raise vital funds for us.
As a relatively small CFL supporters group covering all of Northern Ireland, we meet about three times a year. We have a core group of about 12 members who are very enthusiastic and on some occasions, we have a much bigger group to hear a talk from a special visitor.
In common with most other support groups, lockdown presented particular challenges in being unable to meet and difficulties with Zoom meetings. However, once we were able to meet in person, our group resumed regular meetings which are a mixture of prayer, discussion and fellowship.
Our discussion often focussed on the need to support CFL financially and in prayer. Before lockdown, we ran a very successful Charity Golf Day raising significant funds. On this occasion, a suggestion was made that we could hold a fundraising concert involving a choir in which a number of our supporters are members. The Christian choir, Peninsula Praise, was founded about 6 months ago by a number of people who felt that there was a need to celebrate and praise God in this special way.
The choir leader agreed despite the choir's short time in existence, to devise a programme suitable for a full evening's concert.
We were very blessed to have been given the free use of a magnificent new conference venue, T3 in House of Vic-Ryn, Lisburn, with a capacity for 120 people. The venue had been established by a group of Christian businessmen who wanted to thank God for their success in business in this practical way.
After much rehearsal, involving many hours and meeting two to three times a week, the concert took place on Friday 24th June to a sellout audience.
To say the evening was a success would be an understatement. The choir were magnificent under the leadership of a charismatic conductor who involved the audience enthusiastically in a number of the songs and hymns. In a very special way, there was a palpable sense of God’s presence in an evening of praise and thanksgiving.
All in all, a lot of hard work by the choir and the supporters' group, resulted in a wonderfully successful evening in which God was glorified and funds raised for Caring for Life.