Believing in a Better Belfast

Monday, November 2, 2009

Believing in a Better Belfast

Naomi Long is buzzing.  It’s the day of Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s visit to Belfast and she has back-to-back meetings and engagements.  But she’s not complaining: “I entered politics to get involved.  I could see what was wrong out there and I want to make a difference.  I love this city… I love what I [...]

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When Faceless Enemies Become Friends

Friday, October 16, 2009

When Faceless Enemies Become Friends

For almost forty days now his feet have stood on ‘divided’ ground, his eyes have peered upon the comings and goings of two separate communities, and yet it seems that the longer he watches the more those divides seem to melt away.
Gripping a stark wooden cross Pastor Jack McKee, of New Life City Church has [...]

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A Special Kind of Superhero

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

A Special Kind of Superhero

The Clark Kents and Spidermans of our childhood may well define our idea of what it means to be a superhero. Whether it be flying, climbing or saving the world from evil these characters have captured the minds of children for generations. But what would we think of a superhero with a disability? 
“Not Disabled, Differently [...]

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Loving Belfast…at Summer Madness

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Loving Belfast…at Summer Madness

Ideas ranged from Doorsteps sandwich chain, to the Belfast Wheel, to the Northern Irish sense of humour; just some of the responses scrawled on the Tell It In Colour ‘Love Belfast’ wall at this year’s Summer Madness festival.
TIIC went along to Ireland’s largest youth festival at the King’s Hall in Belfast from the 3rd to [...]

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The Good News Lady

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

The Good News Lady

She was a little old lady from Sheffield with thoughts of retiring, but then life redirected her to Belfast where she found a passion for good news in a city more familiar with the bad…
Margaret Walker, now 83, was contemplating life after retirement when she felt God call her to west Belfast.  She was watching [...]

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Finding Hope Beyond the Question Marks

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Finding Hope Beyond the Question Marks

The kids gather on the starting line, parents lean forward ready to cheer them on, the starter’s gun slices the air …and they’re off.  There they go, galloping up the school sports field…except that is for one child back on the starting line.  He stands watching, waiting until the winner breaks through the tape and [...]

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Being A Mum’s A Bit Like Being An Octopus

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Being A Mum’s A Bit Like Being An Octopus

So many of our children have a very negative picture of a Mum and there are many scars there. They need to know that they are loved and cared for, that they are precious. Having a positive mother figure helps them move in their relationships with others…

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Dreaming Beyond Divides

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Dreaming Beyond Divides

Father Paul Symonds was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours List for his tireless community work.  We have been chatting to him to find out how an English priest has ended up becoming such a key figure amid changing times in Ballymena…
Words seemed only capable of falling to the ground, but gestures [...]

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The Snow Dodgers

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

The Snow Dodgers

While most of us will be guzzling Easter eggs over the holiday weekend two intrepid young guys from Fermanagh will be embarking on a 4000 mile charity adventure which will end in one of the poorest countries in Europe…
Gareth Wallace, 29, from Church Hill and James Johnson, 29, from Kiladeas are part of a team [...]

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A People’s Person

Friday, April 10, 2009

A People’s Person

We’re so quick to categorise people, whether they are single mums, drugs addicts…and yet behind the headlines there is a real desperate need in each one to be loved and to be forgiven.

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