WHO is involved?
SPARK began in 2007 when a group of Christians got together to dream about what God could do in Ballymena and beyond. It has grown since then and on average 300 – 350 volunteers from several church denominations get involved with SPARK each year. It has now spread to other towns and villages including Newtownabbey who are having their first SPARK this year. Several local churches are used as bases during the week where catering teams provide meals for the volunteers. The youngest volunteers will just have finished Year 9 and there is no upper age bracket! Application details here.
WHAT happens?
It’s an action-packed week and a bit! Each morning all the volunteers meet up for a time of worship, teaching and prayer. Everyone then gets lunch and splits into their mini-teams before heading out to their specific areas to get some work done. This can be anything from picking up litter, doing people’s gardens, helping at community fun days, running holiday Bible Clubs, etc. There’s then a break for dinner and the evenings are spent taking part in other community based events like pampering evenings, drop-in events, team building games and so on.
WHEN & WHERE is SPARK held?
SPARK Ballymena runs from 2nd – 10th August. The areas they will be working in are – Ballee, Ballykeel, Broughshane, Doury Road, Dunclug, Fisherwick, Glenarm, Harryville, Kells, Portglenone, Randalstown, Toome, Town Centre 1 (Smithfield), Town Centre 2 (Bandstand & Demense) & Tullygarley
SPARK Garvagh & Newtownabbey run from 9th – 17th August
WHY?
The aim has always been to UNITE Christians together for worship, teaching & prayer. Then going out into the various communities to show God’s LOVE in a very practical way.
We at The Church Page pray that everyone involved in SPARK will have a safe and enjoyable time, that God’s love will been seen and understood by many, many people. That both the volunteers and those benefitting from what they do will know the presence of God in their lives.
