Cross Vigil

40 Day Cross Vigil at the Dividing Wall in Belfast (= 7 Weeks, excluding Sundays)

 

Starting Wednesday 9 September until Saturday 24 October

 

In December 2006 Pastor Jack's New Life City Church purchased a warehouse on the dividing line between the Protestant Shankill and the Catholic Falls communities, with half of the building on one side of the dividing line and half on the other side, but although the New Life Church and Stadium Youth Projects paid out £1.1 million to purchase the building they have been refused funding from the European Peace III Fund, and from the Department of Social Development (DSD) for the refurbishment of the warehouse into a major community facility called City LIFE Centre.

 

Pastor Jack feels he has no other option but to raise the profile of his work to the people of Northern Ireland, Ireland and beyond. Several years ago he walked with a cross for 40 days around the Shankill and the Falls communities. He even stopped off at the Sinn Fein office on the Falls Road and left them the gift of a mirror. On the mirror was a Celtic Cross along with the words of a Bible verse printed in Gaelic, which was John 3:16. 

 

Pastor Jack now plans to stand for 40 days on the dividing line between the Protestant Shankill and the Catholic Falls. This will be between the dividing gates in Northumberland Street, which are attached to the warehouse he plans to turn into City LIFE Centre. He will be there every day from 12 noon until 3 pm for 40 days (except Sundays = 7 weeks) from Wednesday 9 September until Saturday 24 October. During this 40 Day/7 Week Cross Vigil Pastor Jack intends to hold high the same cross he had carried for 40 days and to do so again as a symbol of peace, but this time while standing alone in the centre of the wall that represents division.

 

The 40 days will conclude with a special concert in the warehouse/City LIFE Centre. Special guests will be the Waterford and Omagh Peace Choir. The event will be attended by Political Dignitaries and will be open to the general public. The event will be free, but an opportunity during the event will be given to enable those present to make donations towards the refurbishment of the warehouse. 

 

Pastor Jack says he does not have bonfires to sell, or murals to sell, or weapons to sell, but he has integrity and a passion, which are not for sale, to see this building used by people on both sides of the divide.

 

CT Studd said, "Some wish to live within the sound of church or chapel bell; I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell".

 

City LIFE Centre is where dreams will become reality; where people will be encouraged to reach high; to seek to go far; to look beyond the shallow and to dream big dreams. For "Only as high as I reach can I grow, only as far as I seek can I go, only as deep as I look can I see, only as much as I dream can I be."  Karen Ravn

 

For further information please contact pastorjack@btinternet.com