Rev Albert Baxter’s long and fruitful ministry at First Portglenone Church has come to an end after 40 years.
A native of Castlewellan, Albert was ‘installed’ in Portglenone on 1st March 1985 having served his ‘assistantship’ in Ballyclare under Rev. Harold Allen, as well as two summer assistantships in Ballycastle.
Over the past four decades, Albert was able to recall many highlights from this ministry in the area.
He began by saying: “For me, one of the big things has been the interest in and influence of prayer. When I came there was a prayer meeting with the same dozen people meeting each week. We encouraged them to bring other people along until we had to make an on-the-spot decision to move into a bigger room. Eventually, we moved into the Minor Hall, and we recently had to transfer one of our prayer gatherings into the Main Hall. Seeing people take prayer seriously has been a real highlight for me.”
Albert has also been blessed by what he describes as the ‘great spread of ages’ across the congregation:
“We are not heavily-weighted in any direction”, said Albert. “We have senior citizens, middle-aged people, and families as well as young people. Numerical growth has also occurred as new people have moved into the area while others have been converted and given their lives to Christ.”
Nurturing young people has always been a crucial part of Albert’s ministry both in First Portglenone or further afield.
Over the years, he has led numerous events aimed at both children and teenagers. A regular speaker at school assemblies, Albert also captained the Boys’ Brigade company at First Portglenone for a time.
He smiles: “It has been interesting to see many people who were not even born when I came to Portglenone now leading their own families to Church. Others, who were in Primary Seven when I arrived are now parents or even grandparents!”
Undoubtedly, Albert has experienced his fair share of challenges as he has ministered in Portglenone. These difficulties have centred around dealing with bereavements or supporting people who have endured terminal illnesses or been involved in accidents.
Recalling some of the issues created by the COVID-19 pandemic, Albert said: “The very first Sunday of lockdown, we recorded the Sunday service from my study and that continued for quite some time until eventually we were allowed back into the church building with a maximum of eight people. We did the service there and filmed it with eight people present, including myself and two guys in the sound desk and up to five in the Praise Group.”
“In time, we were permitted to return to the building, maintaining social distancing, with everyone assigned a specific seat. That was all extremely hard; but I have to say I feel we have recovered 100% from that and if anything, it has done us more good than harm. We have got all our people back again and we see no ill effects of COVID now.”
Although Albert has now entered retirement from full-time ministry, he plans to keep himself busy. Albert has been appointed as Vacancy Convenor in Wellington Presbyterian and also plans to be busy with church work near Coleraine, where he has now gone to live.
Occasionally, he will also be behind the wheel for coach tours organised by Logans of Dunloy.