Service of Licensing for Martyn Cowan
at Railway Street Presbyterian Church

Martyn Cowan was licensed as a Probationer for the Ministry by a commission of the Dromore Presbytery at a Service of Licensing in Railway Street Presbyterian Church last Sunday evening (21^st May).  The Moderator, the Rev Keith Duddy gave the call to worship and led the prayers; the Rev Andrew Thompson read the Scripture lesson and gave the sermon; the Moderator and the Clerk, the Rev John Davey, conducted the Act of Licensing. In his charge to the new licentiate which was based on a passage from 2 Timothy 1, the Rev Bob Lockhart pointed out that the message of the gospel is entrusted to those whom Christ calls. He encouraged the licentiate to preach it so that some may come to faith, teach it so that they may grow in faith and be led into useful service.  The church choir and musicians led the praise and the guest organist was Edward Craig from First Saintfield Presbyterian Church.  After the service, the ladies of the congregation served supper in the church hall.

 Martyn, who was assigned student assistant in First Saintfield Presbyterian Church in June 2005, is the son of Dr Bertha Cowan and the late George Cowan, Forthill.  He was a member of Railway Street Presbyterian Church since his youth and after leaving Friends� School in 1993 he studied Philosophy at Queen�s University, Belfast.  Subsequently, he served with the Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship (UCCF) before moving to London in order to pursue training for the Christian ministry with the Proclamation Trust. After four years of study at Oak Hill Theological College London, he has just completed his formal training for the Presbyterian ministry at Union Theological College in Belfast.  A gifted speaker, Martyn has taken Sunday services at Railway Street on a number of occasions.  Martyn and Kathy were married in Ballykelly Presbyterian Church on 20^th July 2001.  They now live in Belfast and are always most welcome visitors to Railway Street Presbyterian Church. 

 

Martyn Cowan pictured with his wife Kathy, sister Rosie (left) and mother Bertha (right) at a Service of Licensing in Railway Street Presbyterian Church last Sunday evening.

 

Martyn Cowan pictured with a commission of the Dromore Presbytery at a Service of Licensing in Railway Street Presbyterian Church last Sunday evening.  L to R: (front) Rev Bob Lockhart, Rev Andrew Thompson, Rev Keith Duddy - Moderator of Dromore Presbytery, Martyn Cowan, Rev John Davey - Clerk of Dromore Presbytery, Very Rev Dr Howard Cromie and Rev Brian Gibson.  (back row) Representative elders:  Hilary Jess - Hillsborough, Brian Magowan - Elmwood and Harold Gamble - First Dromore; Gordon Lindsay - Clerk of Session and Ken Kyle - Railway Street.