Serving Members
Members of our congregation who are involved in full time Christian service
Serving Members
Sonya McCullagh
Updated: 17th September 2007
Sonya was commissioned as a deaconess on Sunday 16th September in Shore Street Presbyterian Church, Donaghadee. She has commenced service as a deaconess to this congregation and will be involved in various areas of service within congregational life. Visit again for further information on how Sonya is getting on. Please continue to pray for her as she settles in and adapts to her new responsibilities.
Updated: 4th May 2006
Only a week and a half of college left - I can't wait to be finished! Only one assignment left to be completed! College life this past year has been great; I have met some wonderful people, enjoyed some great classes and savoured most of the coffees on offer in Starbucks!! I will miss the constant contact with my friends - especially my other deaconess-in-training friend, Larissa. Change is always a bit difficult but it is inevitable.
I now move on to my probationary year which is full time in Abbey Church (Monkstown, outside of Belfast) under the supervision of Rev. John Seawright. I have already started this placement on a part time basis and have visited some of the members and participated in most of the Sunday morning services. It has been good and I do look forward to it beginning full time. I am unsure of my precise role, but know that visitation will be a large part of it. I would like to be involved in some outreach to the estate and surrounding area, so am praying for direction in that. Also, the church has recently added on an extension and it would be great to use this new space - I am praying that God would show us who He wants in there.
-
Please pray for me in this. I am nervous and fearful, I know that I have little to offer in myself and I need to trust that God will work through me.
-
Please pray that John and I would be able to work well together and be a blessing to the congregation. Pray that God would give us wisdom and direction in all that is undertaken.
Thank you so much for your time and your friendship.
Much love and blessings, Sonya
Update: 10th November 2005
I have started a placement in Woodvale Presbyterian church (at the top end of the Shankill road) and will be there for 10 weeks. It is primarily a shadowing placement in which I will learn from the deaconess in the church (Gillian Martin) and also from the minister (Ken Doherty). I am really excited about this placement because of its location and the fact that it is so different from working in a rural setting. The placement entails 2 sessions during the week and then participation during the Sunday services. I will accompany either Ken or Gillian on visitations, visit a number of the groups in the church and then have a role in the Sunday services.
-
Please pray that I will be open to learning and trying new things and that I will be stretched and challenged
-
Pray that I would be a blessing and a witness among the people in the area
-
I would also ask for prayer as I continue to study at Union College
Sonya McCullagh is beginning her deaconess training at Union College, Belfast in September 2005. She will complete one years study at the college with some placements within congregations and then do a probationary year (2006-2007) as a deaconess within a Presbyterian church for a year.
Sonya has felt lead toward full-time church work since completing her a-levels and so, went on to study Theology at Prairie Bible College (1998-2002). God has recently opened this door to become a deaconess and minister through that avenue.
She would appreciate your support and prayers as she is following God’s leading for this new phase in her life. Some specific requests are:
-
For a mind and heart that will hear and obey God, especially in personal devotions.
-
For commitment to study and assignments.
-
For courage and reliance upon God during placements.
-
For wisdom with finances