There has been much change within LMI in recent times, particularly in regard to our staff team. Since September 2023, three members of the LMI family have left the ministry to begin new chapters, and four new people have joined (three staff and one mission candidate).
While time marches past so quickly, it is important to take time to pause and reflect. In particular, we want to take this opportunity to thank Lucy McAllister, Alison Kernohan and Alan Dourish for their service and to welcome our most recent recruits…
Lucy McAllister
Lucy began working with LMI in 2019 as our very first intern. During her internship, she felt the Lord call her to join the ministry longer term, and so she began the process of raising her support.
For four years, Lucy served in our Youth & Schools Outreach (YSO) Team, speaking to thousands of young people about the goodness of God. As a gifted youth communicator, she was a tremendous asset, sharing God’s word in schools, SU groups and church youth groups throughout Northern Ireland. Lucy also brought a unique, creative flair to every aspect of her work, employing her skills in art and design to take the YSO programmes to new heights.
Thank you, Lucy, for giving your time and talents for the kingdom.
Alison Kernohan
After twelve years with the mission, in December 2023 Alison said farewell to her LMI colleagues to begin a new chapter in another sphere of Christian service. Throughout her time with the mission, Alison took on a number of roles. Initially, in 2011, she was recruited to join LMI’s Youth & Schools Outreach (YSO), where she excelled at communicating with young people. Then, just a few years later, she progressed to the role of department coordinator, employing her leadership and organisational skills to great effect. In more recent years, she took up the position of Bible Teaching Ministry (BTM) Coordinator, and she was instrumental in serving our BTM students.
Furthermore, Alison participated in a couple of LMI ministry teams to Hungary and Serbia, wherein she used her diverse skillset to share God’s word and connect with believers further afield. Closer to home, she represented the ministry in various meetings and exhibitions around the country.
In each of these roles, Alison gave her utmost to the Lord and to the work. Thank you for serving so well, Alison.
Alan Dourish
During his decade of service, Alan contributed greatly to many aspects of LMI. He initially came to the mission in 2014 to work in the Communications Department, of which he became manager in 2020. He worked faithfully and ably, ensuring that our supporters and prayer partners were kept up to date with our work and highlighting our overseas partners and projects through our mission literature and social media. He also effectively raised awareness of LMI in churches and events across Northern Ireland.
In addition to this, Alan participated in various overseas programmes, including trips to Serbia, Hungary, the Philippines, Burundi, and Rwanda. He even worked within our YSO Department for a time! We give glory to God for all that was achieved for the Kingdom throughout Alan’s time in LMI.
Thank you for your servant heart, Alan and the blessing you have been to the ministry.
A massive thank you!
Lucy, Alison and Alan are greatly missed. We wish them God’s richest blessing in the various endeavours to which the Lord has now led them. We have no doubt that He will continue to use each for the furtherance of the Gospel and His glory in the months and years to come.
However, we not only wish to thank them as individuals, but also those who stood behind them faithfully throughout their LMI journeys. Your prayerful and financial partnership has been invaluable, both to the service of these individuals and that of the wider mission. None of what was accomplished could have been done without this precious Gospel partnership - Thank you!
Welcome to the family!
New Youth & Schools Outreach Workers
As you will have read in previous LMI updates, we are delighted that Bethany Sanderson (née Pierce) and Josh Brown have become staff members. Both began their LMI journey as volunteers during their time at Bible college (Belfast School of Theology and Irish Baptist College, respectively). It has been wonderful to see their call to mission develop and to witness them taking the step of faith into long-term Christian service.
Communication Continues
Molly Fairclough joined the Communications Department in September 2024. Having worked in various communication related roles since leaving university, Molly comes to the mission with much experience and skill. She is already proving to be invaluable to what is a vital aspect of the work.
The Communications Department serves each of LMI’s main areas of focus: Mission Awareness Programme, Youth & School Outreach, Bible Teaching Ministry, and Overseas Ministry Programme. It does this by highlighting the various endeavours undertaken for the purposes of generating prayerful and financial support to sustain these undertakings, both online and in print.
We take our responsibility of being accountable to our supporters very seriously. As such, developing the quality of our communications to better update and further equip our prayer partners and, in turn, achieve more in Christ’s name, is of great priority for us. We know that Molly will play a key role in this aim going forward.
Please pray for Molly as she settles into LMI and learns more about the extensive and varied aspects of the work. Pray for her as she hones her skills to share about the wonderful things God is doing around the world.
LMI’s Latest Recruit
It was during his time studying Applied Theology at Irish Bible Institute, Dublin, that Phillip Orr first began working with LMI as a volunteer. Then, in July 2024, once his studies were complete, Philip was interviewed and accepted by LMI’s Executive Committee for the dual role of Mission Awareness Worker and Mission Administrator. He is currently a mission candidate, working hard to raise support so that he can officially begin his work.
As a Mission Awareness Worker, Philip will be responsible for developing links with churches, promoting the work of LMI and challenging Christians to consider God’s call on their lives regarding mission. He will also be fulfilling key administrative needs within our Bible Teaching Ministry and Finance Departments. In anticipation of taking up his role, Philip says,
“I am deeply motivated to inspire Christians into a deeper relationship with God, helping them see more of what He has for them, particularly with regards to mission. As a Mission Awareness Worker, I will have many opportunities to share from God’s word, which is something I am really passionate about... I believe in the mission, its values, ethos and purposes, and am excited to promote the work in the coming years.”
We are very grateful to God for calling Philip to join LMI, and we are looking forward to him starting his service as a staff member as soon as he has sufficient support in place.
Partnership
It is truly wonderful to see the LMI team grow! Each of the staff members who have joined us in recent times are at various stages of their support-raising journey. However, as yet, none have acquired sufficient, regular support. As such, they are to unable to serve for the number of hours they would wish to be employed by the mission on a long-term basis.
Please pray for Bethany, Josh, Molly and Philip, that they would see the gracious provision of our Lord to underwrite their posts. If you are in a position to support them, please go to our staff page on the website: www.lmi-org.net/support-lmi-staff
Equally, you can sign up to receive their prayer letters and invest in their service with LMI in a very practical and powerful way by praying for them regularly. Mission is all about working together, and Bethany, Josh, Molly and Philip are dependent on God’s people to stand with them in the days ahead.
Thank you.