CIDA Launch Night

The joy of the Lord was in the air! A hundred and thirty-five people attended the launch of the Christian Irish Diaspora Association (CIDA) at St. Patrick's Church of Ireland, Ballymacarett. Launching on St. Patrick's day an organisation that gathers Irish Christians around the world to pray for the land to which St. Patrick brought the faith--how can it get better than that?

The night was full of energy from start to finish! It was fitting that the very energy that propelled St. Patrick to share Jesus with the people of Ireland seemed to have powered the exuberant singing of the Belfast Community Gospel Choir as well as the speakers, Don Howe, Brother David Jardine, Pastor David Legge, and Rev. John Cunningham. To be honest, you'd have to be there to grasp the palpable electric atmosphere because the images wouldn't do it justice. The photos below though could give you a clue of what had just happened--we have successfully launched a grace-filled cause to unite Irish Christians around the world in the name of Jesus!

Christian Irish Diaspora Association is now moving forward. CIDA is here to gather a people dispersed by conflict, immigration, and famine with the gift of St. Patrick, a pre-reformation persona beloved by any Christian denomination. After all, as Pastor David Legge said in his talk, Patrick didn't even point to himself. He pointed all of us to Jesus. That is what CIDA is after, that we all pray for the land, and most of all, live the Christian unity that our Lord wants for us.