Faith matters Religious Affairs Correspondent: William Scholestel: 028 9033 7544 email: w.scholes@irishnews.com24 THURSDAY JUNE 3 2010

South African evangelist farmerto plough new furrow in TyroneMaize N’ Grace will beone of the largestChristian events of theyear – butwhy is SouthAfricanfarmer AngusBuchan,pictured, coming allthe way to Co Tyroneto speak at it?Faith matters findsout more

“IAM a man of thewide-open spaces and Ifeel too boxed-in in apulpit,” says AngusBuchan. Maybe not such

a remarkable statement for a SouthAfrican farmer.It is certainly intriguing if you alsohappen to be an internationalevangelist who recently spoke to acrowd of 350,000 and has addressedgatherings that included JacobZuma, now President of SouthAfrica. Angus Buchan will be inthe north next week to speak at anevent called Maize N’ Grace.The event will take place from June10 to 12 in the EcclesvilleEquestrian Centre in Fintona,Co Tyrone each evening at 8pm.It is free and open to everyone.It will be one of the largestnon-denominational events in thenorth this year.

It was the brainchild of a group ofpeople who have been inspired byBuchan’s speaking and believe hehas something relevant for peoplefrom every part of the community.The organisers include everyonefrom pig farmers, business peopleand an accountant.There is no doubt that AngusBuchan is an evangelist with aninternational ministry.However, the reputation ofhigh-profile evangelists has beentarnished by money in the past.This is something Buchan hasmanaged to avoid.His farm funds 90 per cent of hisministry and he will travel fromSouth Africa with just a party offour people. He does not charge afee and only asks that his travel andaccommodation be covered.“I am a farmer and my occupationsupports me so that I don’t have toask God’s faithful people to give memoney,” he says.So who is thisfarmer-cum-evangelist?With Irish and Scottish roots hewill be able to connect withevery part of the community in thenorth. His life story is the subjectof both the book and filmFaith Like Potatoes.It tells of his roots building a farmfrom difficult beginnings. Part of hisappeal is that he has lived with thesame struggles as the people hespeaks to.“I am a man of the soil, an ordinaryman who knows what it is to do along day’s hard manual labour,” hesays.Faith Like Potatoes tells the story ofhard work to make his farm a goingconcern. It also tells of a question

he asked himself – one that mostpeople will be able to identify with.“The harder I worked the more Iwondered what I was doing it allfor?” he says.He also describes being in “a stateof mind, quick to anger, suspiciousof everyone and ready to beviolent... I was close to breakingpoint”.It was shortly after this point in hislife that he became a Christian.The most poignant incident inBuchan’s life is the death of hisbrother’s four-year-old son Alistairin a tractor accident on his farm.He honestly describes the terribleanguish he felt after the accident.As he talks of finding faith thatcould sustain him through suchpain he reflected: “God neverpromised us a life free of trouble,only that he would walk usthrough it”.His nephew’s father continues to beone of the key organisers inBuchan’s ministry.It is not only the fact that Buchantalks about Christian faith in a way

that makes it relevant to whateverlife can throw at us. Nor is it just hisdown to earth style that will makeMaize N’ Grace such an interestingevent to come to.It is also that the organisers aremaking such an effort to make it anevent that every part of thecommunity will feel welcome to.Basil O’Malley, one of theorganisers, says: “We want themessage of Maize N’ Grace to begood news for every section of ourcommunity. It doesn’t matterwhether you are a churchgoer ornot, we believe Angus has a way ofsaying something relevant to everyone of us.”St Francis of Assisi is reputed tohave said “Preach the Gospel atall times and when necessaryuse words”. Meeting human needsis a part of what Buchan, his familyas well as his team, feel called to doon their farm in South Africa.After becoming a Christian he says:“We kept coming across otherpeople who had problems – who

were underprivileged, homeless orlonely – and we would take theminto our home.”One of the latest initiatives hasbeen the building of a home forchildren affected by HIV or Aids.The organisers of Maize N’ Gracehad to find a venue that would beeasily accessible from all parts ofNorthern Ireland but also hold up to3,000 people.That is why the have chosen theEcclesville Equestrian Centre InFintona. There have been up to100 enquiries about campingfacilities at the centre.The organisers of Maize N’ Gracehave gone to great lengths to ensurethat this non-denominational eventis one that every section of thecommunity will feel warmlywelcome.■ Maize N’ Grace runs from June10 to 12 at 8pm daily, at theEcclesville Equestrian Centre inFintona, Co Tyrone. Moreinformation atwww.maizengrace.com.

Evening eventsorganised forgeneral assemblyTHE Presbyterian generalassembly begins on Monday,with Dr Norman Hamiltontaking over as Moderatorfrom Dr Stafford Carson.The annual meeting ofclergy and lay people runsat Church House,Fisherwick Place, Belfastuntil next Thursday.In addition to the daytimebusiness sessions twospecial evening events have

been planned that are opento anyone to join in.On Tuesday June 8 at7.45pm ‘Talk Policing andJustice’ will give theaudience and an invitedpanel the opportunity todiscuss this controversialtopic.The audience will have theopportunity to ask questionsand put their point of viewto a panel that includesdeputy chief constableJudith Gillespie, the actingchair of the NorthernIreland Policing BoardBrian Rea, director ofprobation Brian McCaugheyand newly appointed justiceminister David Ford.The evening, hosted by theincoming Moderator, will bechaired by Jim Fitzpatrick.While policing and justice isvery important some mayask why should a Churchgeneral assembly devote somuch time to it.

Dr Hamilton has no doubtswhy: “These are importantissues that affect everyparish and person withinour Church,” he said.“As part of our Christianresponsibility we undertaketo uphold the authorities inprayer and in order to dothat we must understand theissues and dilemmasinvolved and face up to therealities involved.“This evening provides anopportunity to meet and

engage with those who haveto make the difficultdecisions that affect all ourlives.”Another evening event thatis open to everyone is theassembly celebration onWednesday June 9 at7.45pm. The incomingmoderator has planned thisevent as “the equivalent ofan MoT for our souls”.Providing some answers willbe a panel including theChurch of Ireland Bishop of

Down and Dromore,Harold Miller, formerBaptist pastor DavidMcMillan, the director ofScripture Union in NorthernIreland, Helen Warnock andRoz Stirling, thePresbyterian Church’sdirector of youth andchildren’s ministry, alongwith worship led by theBallysillan Praise Group.“The health of our soulsmatters,” Dr Hamilton said.“And yet it is not something

we talk about very much.“At a time when there isdiminishing trust inanything and confidence,even among Christians, is ata low point, this event isdesigned to help give somedirection to building up thespiritual health of bothcongregations andindividuals and to showthat our faith gives usthe strength to face thefuture and make adifference for good.”

■ TESTING TIMES:The scene yesterday atthe Presbyterian generalassembly in Belfast. Thisyear special eveningevents have been added.Included is theassembly celebration onWednesday June 9 at7.45pm. The incomingmoderator hasdescribed this eventas “the equivalent of anMoT for our souls”

PICTURE: Hugh Russell

“This event isdesigned to helpgive somedirection tobuilding up thespiritual health ofcongregationsand individuals”

Dr Norman Hamilton

■ CROWD-PULLER: Up to 350,000 people attended one of Buchan’s recent events

“We want themessage of MaizeN’ Grace to be goodnews for everysection of ourcommunity. It doesn’tmatter whether youare a churchgoer ornot, of us”

Basil O’Malley