It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas

It’s November already and everything is starting to head in one direction…Christmas. The brown, red and yellow warm colours of Autumn are already giving way to leafless trees and frost tipped grass. We are absolutely loving it. We love the cold, and this will be our very first full Winter in the Northern hemisphere. Needless to say, we are delighted.

Firstly, a quick look back over the last month or so…

October was a more difficult month for us than we expected. With Halloween having its origin here in Northern Ireland, we experienced a darkness that we weren’t completely geared for. Everywhere we went and everything we listened to was filled with eerie creatures, sounds and stories. The spiritual atmosphere was heavy and dark. We realised just how much of what we take in through our senses have an impact on how we act and perceive things.

We struggled with sickness in our family, sleepless nights, some trouble at school etc. All in all it was just a more intense battle than we’ve faced here before.

I have to say thank you to each and every one of you that prayed for us and sent messages of encouragement. We felt carried and protected. Even though things were tough, we never felt alone. Even though I paint a dark picture, God always reassured us of His promises, His presence and His protection. We are thankful for a loving Father.

Saying all of that, it left almost as quickly as it came. On November 1st it was as if Halloween never existed. There was not one piece of Halloween sweet, Halloween clothing or mask etc to be seen anywhere. It all seemed to be magically (said in jest) replaced by reindeer, christmas trees and carols in one night.

Relationally we are doing well. We are making friends and building strong relationships here. God has placed us in a very loving family!

The church is growing and we are seeing a very strong move of God and clear direction from Him. He gave Johann a vision of a battlefield with a medic tent setup in the centre. EN Belfast is that medic tent in the battle that is raging in our city. He has called the church to look more like a hospital that a museum. God is sending us a lot of people with hurt and brokenness. Sometimes people who might get turned away by other churches. He has called us to walk a road with these people. Showing them the love of Christ and that there is healing and restoration by His blood.

Danica is doing so well with the Global Cafe. It has been an end to a very good season since the Global Cafe started and this ministry stands at the beginning of a new chapter. A chapter of broadening and deepening. They are still busy helping new comers to Belfast integrate. They are still providing food parcels to those in need. But God is calling them into more. Please pray for her and the team as they seek God on the next steps in the growth of this valuable ministry.

Noah and Zoë are doing well in school. Both of them have been awarded student of the month in the past 2 months. We are so proud of them. We had parent-teacher interviews this past week and the teachers are very happy with their progress and integration. They are absolute superheroes. They are making friends and giving this new country everything they’ve got!

I’m so excited about the music ministry here at EN Belfast. God is raising people up and adding to the team. He is busy digging a well of worship here and we are thankful to be a part of that. I’m looking forward to starting some writing groups in the beginning of the year as well. There is a musical gift on this Island, and I believe that God wants to redeem it for His glory!

Again, I would just like to say from the O’Neill family, thank you so much for walking this road with us. I know we might be quiet, and I am not the best at keeping this blog updated, but Danica and I talk about you all often and pray for you. We could absolutely not do any of this without your love, support, investments and prayers. We cherish every one of you!

We pray that this Christmas season will hold a sense of God’s nearness. Of Immanuel, God with us. May you all experience the richness of His love and the liberty of His presence.

I will send out another update before the end of the year!

Bless you all!

Brian, Danica, Noah and Zoë