Diocesan News24 Jun 13

Mayor Launches ‘Spark Garvagh 2013’

In one of his first duties as first citizen of the Borough of Coleraine, Mayor David Harding was guest of honour at the media launch of SPARK Garvagh 2013 at Cornerstone Youth Centre on Friday 21 June.

He was welcomed by local Rector, the Revd Paul Whittaker, who explained that SPARK is a Christian service initiative by St Paul’s Church of Ireland parish, but is open to all Year 9 and older young people as part of the Derry & Raphoe mission Transforming Community– Radiating Christ. SPARK week will run from 5th to 9th August and every Garvagh household will get a flyer advertising the programme. Morning daily devotions at 10am in St Paul’s will be conducted by Crown Jesus Ministries and are open to all.

Rev Paul Whittaker continued, ‘SPARK gathers local Christians together in the Garvagh area to practically serve God and radiate Christ’s love in a variety of ways, offering service such as free gardening, car washes, litterpicks and late night youth events such as the Cornerstone acoustic café.’

Mayor David Harding congratulated the Garvagh churches on their unity of purpose and their positive action in promoting good community relations.
He concluded. ‘It gives me great pleasure to formally launch the first SPARK mission west of the Bann. It is so refreshing to see practical Christianity in action, and I look forward to following the adventures of Garvagh’s good Samaritans on Facebook.’