We delivered just over 1,200 selection boxes this morning to Maghaberry Prison. Will you join with us in praying for all who will receive them over the next couple of weeks that they would know lasting peace and hope in Jesus.
To You Lord God our Eternal Father,
On this most precious day,
For all the people of this nation,
We are gathered here to pray.
As we bow our heads in sorrow,
We repent of all the wrong we’ve said and done,
For the agony, torture and most brutal death,
Which we caused Your Beloved Son.
As we look across our land today,
We see the destruction caused by sin,
So many people have turned away from God,
And allowed Satan to walk right in.
Even though Jesus had tried to warn us,
The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy,
Sadly this is becoming more and more evident,
As the months and years go by.
And yet despite what’s going on around us,
We gather in strength and not in fear,
For we place all our trust in Jesus,
Who is the source of our good cheer.
For this battle has already taken place,
Two thousand years ago at the cross,
It was Jesus who rose triumphantly,
Leaving Satan to suffer the loss.
So if we choose to confess that Jesus,
Is our risen Lord and King,
Then I believe that our Heavenly Father,
We give us a brand new song to sing.
It will be a song about the great revival,
That will spread to every corner of this land,
When all the people united in one belief,
That God’s Kingdom was now at hand.
A song of a God so rich in love,
Towards a people who had turned away,
Yet He waited in patience, in love and hope,
That we would come back to Him one day.
It will be a song of a nation transformed,
To one of gain instead of loss,
When all the people put their trust in Jesus,
And His finished work upon the cross.
Amen
- M.O’R
All welcome!
All welcome!
2021 has continued to be another unexpected year with continued restrictions. Despite this we have continued our work in our local community of South Derry and beyond:
Local community
We have continued to reach out to show God’s love in practical ways to those who are most vulnerable in Maghera, Draperstown and surrounding rural communities. Most of our work continues to be with the elderly, those living alone, single parent families etc. Our Community Outreach Coordinator has continued her work by connecting and befriending via phone calls and when possible in-home visits or walks. She has continued to be available for prayer support and to run errands as needed especially for those who are immobile, have no family support or have been fearful to leave their home.
In addition we have:
Continued to pray over our community and land from the summit of Slieve Gallion mountain
Delivered 623 free meals
Delivered just over 600 free bread items donated to us weekly by Ditty’s Home Bakery, Castledawson
Delivered just over 100 free turkey dinners the weekend before Christmas supplied by Ditty’s Home Bakery
Delivered 30 food hampers the week before Christmas to those in need of encouragement and support in a season that is difficult and lonely for so many.
Delivered 30 packets of pancakes on Pancake Tuesday
Assisted the Maghera Cross Community Link with a BBQ in one of the local community housing estates.
We have been able to serve practically in different ways, i.e. cutting grass, yard clean up, providing furniture, small household jobs etc.
Maghaberry Prison
Due to restrictions we have been unable to visit the prisoners in person in Maghaberry Prison since March 2020 so we have continued to connect with the men from choir via Zoom and phone calls. We have also been able to connect and visit with men who have been released to encourage them as they adapt to life on the outside and get them connected with a local bible study. Due to a generous donation for the 7th year we were also able to deliver 1,200 selection boxes for all of the prisoners and staff in Maghaberry just prior to Christmas.
Bible study
Our men’s bible study continues weekly and has been an opportunity to bring men together from various denominations and traditions around the word and prayer. We continue to see these men grow in their faith and we see God moving in each of their lives.
As we step into 2022, we are ready to go and do what He wants us to do. Please continue to pray with us that we would be obedient to His call in each of our lives. We have never let go of our vision to see Ireland healed and restored in Jesus’ name, for people to encounter Him and walk in all of His fullness.
“Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
2021 - Our year in review
This past weekend we delivered just over 100 turkey dinners throughout the South Derry community. Please keep those who are struggling or are living alone in your prayers as this can be a difficult time of year for so many. A massive thank you to Robert and his team at Ditty’s Home Bakery, Castledawson for supplying us with each of the dinners.
For many elderly in South Derry the past 11 months have been a time of extreme isolation and loneliness. We have continued our work specifically in the Maghera and Draperstown communities befriending and offering continued support in practical ways. So for Pancake Tuesday we decided that we would go into our local community and deliver packets of pancakes from Ditty’s Home Bakery and meals to some older folks who we have been working with and live alone.
Please continue to pray for those who are alone and feeling continued anxiety at this time.
2020 has been a busy and unexpected year for us at Healing the Land and we are incredibly grateful for the doors that God has opened for us. This year we have:
Hosted Mighty Men Ireland with Angus Buchan in July. If you missed it you can still watch it here: MMC Ireland Online 2020
Prayed over our community from the summit of Slieve Gallion for 111 continuous days from the end of March to July and again daily throughout December
In response to Covid, we delivered 1,287 meals to those who were shielding and isolated.
Ran errands as needed for those self isolating and shielding and made countless phone calls checking in on folks
Delivered bread donated to us by Ditty’s Bakery, Castledawson to those living alone
Provided 1,200 selection boxes for prisoners and staff at Maghaberry Prison and connected with prisoners via Zoom
Delivered 95 turkey dinners and 30 food hampers to folks in the Magherafelt, Maghera and Draperstown communities
We are ready (like many others) to step into 2021 and see what God has in store for us next year. Will you join with us in prayer for the ministry of Healing the Land that we would continue to step into the things that He wants. We have never lost our vision to see the land of Ireland (and other lands worldwide) healed in Jesus’ name, for people to encounter Jesus personally and to walk in fullness with Him.
“Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
Unfortunately due to current restrictions we were unable to host our Community Christmas Dinner in Maghera this year so instead we delivered 95 turkey dinners and selection boxes to homes in the Maghera and Draperstown communities. Please keep these folks in your prayers, like so many they will be spending Christmas alone. Please pray that even while they may not have family and friends with them this Christmas that they would know the peace and presence of Christ with them.
A special thank you to Robert Ditty from Ditty’s Bakery, Castledawson for preparing all of the meals.
We delivered 1,200 selection boxes earlier this week to Maghaberry Prison for the prisoners and staff. Will you join with us in prayer as they are distributed by Prison Chaplaincy and that each person would know the true love of Jesus in their lives.
What a morning we had with Angus Buchan on 11th July for Mighty Men Ireland! We had at least 20,000 people tune in online from around the world. Didn’t have a chance to watch? You can still watch online by clicking here.
We are delighted to partner with Angus Buchan for Mighty Men Ireland. Join us online Saturday 11th July at 10am for this free event. It is our vision at Healing the Land to see a move of God in all of Ireland and this is an opportunity for men from every background to be encouraged, inspired and transformed. Follow us on Facebook for updates.
Each Friday for the past two months during lockdown the Healing the Land team have been able to deliver free meals to folks throughout South Derry. Most of whom are living alone and had been receiving meals at the Day Centre before it had to close temporarily due to COVID-19. This past Friday we were able to deliver 70 meals bringing us to a total of 446 meals delivered so far.
We appreciate and thank Legal and General and The Honourable The Irish Society for their financial support enabling us to be able to provide these meals at this time.
Thank you to everyone who came to our 4th Community Christmas Dinner yesterday in Walsh's Hotel, Maghera on Sunday 15th December. We thoroughly enjoyed having you join us for a Christmas meal and time together. The room was packed to overflowing and we unfortunately had to turn some people away.
Thank you to John Burns and Second Chance and the Maghera Cross Community Link choir for providing musical entertainment. Thank you to Allie Mae Living, Kellys Eurospar Maghera, Bradley's Centra Maghera and Crawfords Maghera for providing free door prizes.
Thank you also to Mid Ulster District Council, The Honourable The Irish Society and Enkalon Foundation for their support.
Merry Christmas to all!
A big thank you to all who came out to our Community St. Patrick’s Celebration in Walsh's Hotel last night. An opportunity for community to come together, enjoy food, the story of St. Patrick and music from Not Safe With A Razor.
Save the date and plan on joining us St. Patrick's night from 7.30pm-9.30pm in Walsh's Hotel, Maghera for an evening of traditional folk music, the story of St. Patrick and some food. #stpatrick #maghera #community #healingtheland. Please RSVP by the 13th March to healingthelandni@gmail.com.
On Sunday 16th December we hosted our 3rd Annual free Community Christmas Dinner in Walsh’s Hotel, Maghera.
A big thank you to Sophie, Glenn and the Maghera Cross Community Link choir for singing. Thank you also to Allie Mae, The Byre, The Auction Room and Crawfords for providing some free door prizes.
Hundreds of people gathered on Saturday 8th September from 1pm-4pm, at Nutts Corner Co. Antrim, for the ‘Healing the Land’ interdenominational Day of Prayer for Ireland.
Attendees travelled from all four provinces to gather to pray for the whole island. The tone of the proceedings was very much one of contrition for the church’s failings and contribution to our troubled history.
Prayers of repentance were prayed for how those who have called themselves Christian have treated others and each other. Prayers for victims of clerical abuse and the troubles were offered. There were also acts of repentance for how the Christian message has been politicised in much of our religious expression. The gathering was called upon to submit all political and religious labels and categories to the claims of Jesus Christ. There was a huge wooden cross erected on site. Attendees were encouraged to approach the cross and leave a stone representing something they believed they should submit to God.
Speakers on the day reaffirmed that the message of Christ is beyond Catholic and Protestant labels and any ‘ism’ we might ascribe to. Also, there was a positive reaffirmation of and call to the biblical Gospel.
Various topical issues were prayed for by the crowd including Stormont (Saturday being the 600th day without government), community relations, reconciliation, suicide, addictions, abortion and the uncertainties of Brexit.
The day ended on a positive note regarding the hope of a new kind of spiritual awakening in Ireland: North, South, East and West.
Ireland, in the mighty Name of Jesus we bless you that you might prosper under the mighty hand of God. We bless you that justice and righteousness might take their proper place within your boundaries and you would know a healing of your wounds. We bless you that the favour and mercy of the Lord might rest upon you and give you peace.
Ireland, we bless you that the Father’s compassion might fall upon your people, we bless them with health and wholeness. We bless relationships in every household that there would be love, peace, healing and understanding flowing between everyone. We bless your poor and needy that they might be lifted up. We bless your schools and colleges that they may be secure, safe places for teachers and pupils alike and we bless your children’s capacity to learn and to develop good healthy relationships.
Ireland, we bless your governments, police forces and health and social services that they may serve with compassion, diligence and integrity. We bless your businesses and enterprises that they may prosper and be successful; giving much back into the community. We bless your land and fields to be fruitful. We bless the people of God in Ireland that they might rise up with servant authority and become a people of blessing.
We bless the churches in Ireland, may the Holy Spirit and the Word of God flow out through them in power and may they serve in love and humility with a heart for unity.
Ireland, we bless you that the knowledge of Jesus might come amongst the people of your land like a flood, may His presence and His Kingdom fall upon them. Ireland, we bless you that the joy of the Lord might be your strength. Amen.
Father, Lord of heaven and of every tribe, tongue and nation on Earth. We as Your church affirm that “All authority in heaven and on earth” belongs to Jesus and He has commissioned us to “Go make disciples of all nations”.
Today we speak into existence a new mindset in the heavenly realms over our land, that will allow our politicians and all our people to move forward into a peaceful and harmonious future together where there is room for all.
We declare, we will have King Jesus to rule over us, as our only Saviour and Lord, we will serve His Kingdom above all other earthly Kingdoms and we will choose to walk in His footsteps, loving and serving one another – to the glory of God the Father, in the name of Jesus the Son, and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Healing The Land, Mid Ulster Area.
