| New Leader for CCR in Scotland |
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Ged Farrell, leader in the Diocese of Aberdeen, has taken up office as the new leader of CCR in Scotland. We caught up with him to find out about him and his vision.
The first question has to be how do you feel having been elected unopposed to this position?
Honoured, humble and totally inadequate! I’m simply glad that over the years I’ve learned to trust God more and more and I know that I’ll have to trust Him in this too. If people have felt led by the Spirit to choose me then I suppose I will be able to rely on them to support me with their prayers.
You may like to tell us something about yourself; your background, how you came into Renewal etc.
I was born and brought up in Lochee, Dundee attending St. Mary’s Lochee R.C. Primary School and then Lawside R.C. Academy. From there I went to Craiglockhart Teacher Training College where I met my better half, Margaret. After we married, we lived and taught in London for almost 7 years before we moved to the beautiful area of Moray. We now live and work in Keith, birthplace of St. John Ogilvie, where I am head of St. Thomas’, one of only three Catholic primaries in the area and Margaret is P.T. Guidance at our local secondary. I came into Renewal about 14 years ago after attending the Life in the Spirit Seminars which had been organized by two friends of ours, Tony and Clare Milnes.
Do you have a specific ministry? Or is there one charism you seem to exercise more than the others?
I can only say I try to let the Holy Spirit work through me in all situations. I enjoy being part of the music and worship ministry in our prayer group, and at diocesan events, and the Lord has often
blessed me with prophetic words for groups and individuals. Similarly, working in prayer teams, I have witnessed many healings by the Lord over the years, Above all, I think the Lord has given me the gift to encourage others in their own giftedness..
Who have been the major influences on your Christian life particularly within Renewal?
First and foremost, my parents Jim and Hannah, whose strong faith helped them over come many trials, and they were a huge influence on me. After my father’s sudden death in 1975, my mother found great comfort in the Renewal, and was constantly trying to get me along to the prayer groups in Dundee. As a teenager, I resisted strongly! In 1994, a year after my mother died, I was invited to attend Life in the Spirit Seminars in our parish, and felt called to do so. These were led by Jamus and Helen
Smith (Papa and Mama Aberdeen) who became my major influence in Renewal. Their constancy in faith is an example to
us all. The evening of the fifth seminar was a real eye-opener, when Sr. Josephine Walsh DHS joined Helen and Jamus to pray over us for the Baptism in the Spirit, and I was well and truly zapped! Of course, I could not neglect to mention Margaret, and the great blessing it has been for us to be in Renewal together.
Over the last two or three years we have had a close look at where Renewal is in Scotland. In what areas do you feel
we are failing or that need developed?
Now that we have passed our 40th birthday, we need to be able to relate to one another with that maturity which comes with age. As we read in Hebrews 5, it’s time we were taking solid food! Yes,
mistakes have been made and there have been hurts but we need to be able to repent, forgive and move on.
In what areas do you see success?
I have been delighted to see more “home grown talent” being used for Days of Renewal. The Lord speaks and works through each one of us, not just headline, famous names, and we need to nurture our future teachers and leaders now.
In the time you have been involved in CCR is there one moment that stands out for you?
It is hard to pick out one moment but just knowing that God is alive and active and working in our lives at all times. However,
being in Rome & Fuiggi for Pentecost week in June 2006 was very special indeed and I’m still living with that experience.
What is your vision for Renewal over the next few years?
I want to see CCR moving forward to help everyone to make use of each person’s giftedness. We are at the heart of the Church and have been challenged by both Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI to spread the spirituality of Pentecost to
the whole world. We are not only an Easter People we are also a Pentecost People, if we are to renew the whole Church then we need to be totally open to the movement of the Holy Spirit, listening to His voice as he leads us on.
How did your own prayer group react when you told them about your appointment?
I didn’t actually make an announcement as such but the news has spread and everyone has been very supportive especially in promising to pray for me, which I will need constantly.
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