A BRIEF
HISTORY

A History of Listooder Youth Fellowship   see also: what we believe

Established in September 1964, when Fred Orr of Acre Gospel Mission in Brazil was invited to bring a missionary report, Listooder Youth Fellowship continues to meet in the same humble Mission Hall in County Down, between Saintfield, Crossgar and Ballynahinch.

The commencement of the work was the result of prayerful consideration by Listooder Prayer Union members and other interested believers following a Gospel Mission in November 1963, taken by Rev. Martin Smyth in the Mission Hall, at which a number of young people were saved, trusting the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour. The Fellowship was set up to bring together these young believers, and to provide them with Scriptural teaching and doctrine. Decades later, the fundamental purpose of Listooder Youth Fellowship remains the same.

Listooder is not directly associated with, or governed by, any church and so can be considered non-denominational. We are committed to the principles of the Word of God, seeking to faithfully proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to encourage young believers in their spiritual growth. It is our desire that by the work of the Holy Spirit, and through Biblical teaching and fellowship, each believer would grow to be more like our Lord, living to His glory, and fulfilling the command of Philippians 2:5 "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus".

We generally meet on alternate Saturday evenings, commencing at 8.00pm, with the meetings following a regular pattern. One of the young men from the Fellowship will lead the meeting as we worship the Lord in hymns and choruses. The invited speaker, men from various churches and backgrounds, will then read from the Scriptures and speak from that passage on a particular subject, pertinent to the young people. At the close of the meeting, there is always some food provided and everyone remains behind to enjoy fellowship and friendship with one another in the Lord.

Our annual programme will often include a testimony night, with the invited speaker telling what the Lord has done in their own life. We occasionally have a visit from a missionary, and regularly support Gareth and Lorelei McDowell as they work in the Philippines. A trip is often organised for the young people each September, with carol singing in December and our annual Christmas Dinner at Castlewellan Castle.

In a witness spanning well over 50 years, many Christian young people have benefited from the teaching of Listooder Youth Fellowship. We warmly invite you to become a part of our history.