Hazel set for First Broughshane appointment

A former nurse, Hazel has just completed her training, which ended with a period as a probationary Deaconess at Kells Presbyterian.

She is married to Alan, a school bus driver and is mum to David, (21) and Joanna, (19)

Hazel’s testimony is a very simple one. She grew up in a Christian home and went to Sunday school as well as lots of meetings for little children.

“I say that when I was a wee girl I came to know the Lord as my Saviour but when I was 16 I made him Lord of my life”, she remarked.

After leaving school, Hazel entered nursing training and worked until her children were born.

After a ‘career break’ Hazel did a degree in Nursing and through that process was given the opportunity to spend some time overseas.

Taking up the story, Hazel continued: “We spent a summer in Malawi at Ekwendeni hospital. Then we really got the mission bug and went back for a couple of years from November 2002 until June 2004 we went to Niger in West Africa.”

Because she really enjoyed her time in Africa, Hazel found it difficult to settle back into life in Northern Ireland.

Emotional healing and opportunities to serve God at home emerged through the Women’s Study Fellowship at Belfast Bible College:

“Eventually, my own Minister, Rev. Mark Neilly, said to me: ‘What about training to be a Deaconess?”, remembered Hazel.

“He planted the seed and several other people mentioned it to me as well. So I sought the Lord’s face and I remember one Sunday night at home I picked up, of all things, the Presbyterian Herald, and at the back was the advert for Deaconesses to see if anyone would be interested in applying. I thought; ‘Well, I am going to push the door - the Lord said: ‘Just push the door and let me do the rest.’ And, do you know something? If that door had slammed in my face I would have been quite happy thinking I will just get ready to go back overseas again at some stage whenever my family were older”, added Hazel.

As she went through various interviews, the doors continued to open for Hazel as the Lord confirmed that this was the path He has set her on:

“Even now I do not feel like a Deaconess”, she smiled, “But the Lord does enable, He gives you strength and leads you, faithfully and gently.”

Hazel really enjoyed her time as a Probationary Deaconess in Kells Presbyterian and learned so much from her time there.

Looking back, she says: “Kells is already a very prayerful Church and they are trying to promote this even more through opening the prayer room after services, e-mail prayer requests and all of that. That is where my heart would be as I believe that the work of the Church is done through prayer.”

Taking part in the Thursday morning Ladies Bible Study has been another highlight of Hazel’s time in Kells.

She remarks: “We have learned together and enjoyed some really, really good times through that. The Church is the people you meet and sometimes it’s not the ones who are upfront but those who serve God quietly in the background have a real shining faith – it is unbelievable and it is lovely to see.”

As she looks ahead to the next stage of her Christian service, Hazel says: “It is hard for me to say why I feel called to First Broughshane just a sense that God could use me there- though I know He can use us anywhere! When I knew they were looking for a Deaconess I just KNEW that it was right for me to apply.”

“In that whole community there are many people who need to know the Lord but who don’t know Him. I just want to be part of what God can do through that Church by reaching out into the community of Broughshane”, she concludes.