05. Jul 2025

Belfast

Video: "Because He Lives..."
Sunday morning at Belfast Living Hope Church... it was a wonderful time together with followers of Jesus in Blefast. I had the honor of speaking in the early morning service and sharing a few life principles taken from the pilgrim path.

Photo 1: Pastor Matt Davis is actually from England, but has been serving at Living Hope Church Belfast for 25 years, having been on staff since September 2001. In 2016, he transitioned into the role of Lead Pastor.

Photo 2: I spent the afternoon together with Stewart. We had lunch together and then went on a search for a new water filter that I would certainly be needing in the days ahead. Stewart insisted on paying for everything and suggested I pass on the blessing to others I might meet somewhere on the path. What was remarkable about this, is that not so long ago Stewart had been living on the streets of Belfast for about eight years. Through Jesus and the God connection Stewart was able to make a new start in life. He is working, has a place to live and drives his own car. He also goes into the city to talk with homeless people, to share the hope he has found in Jesus.

Photo 3: "Belfast Peace Wall"
The church put me up in a room in a town house for the weekend that was right across from the Belfast Peace Wall. After a few nights in the tent and some of those with rain, it was nice to have a roof over the head and a kitchen to use for the two nights.
The Belfast Peace Walls are a series of separation barriers built in 1969 during "The Troubles" to divide predominantly Catholic/Irish nationalist and Protestant/British unionist neighborhoods. Today, over 20 miles of these walls and fences still stand, reaching up to 26 feet tall.

Photo 4: "Cupar Way"
Located in West Belfast, this is the city's longest and tallest section (about 800 meters long, reaching 8 meters high) and features dense layers of political murals, street art, and visitor messages. My room was directly across from the Cupar Way.

Photo 5: "Belfast Living Hope Church"
I was intriged by the Peace Wall and thought that often men will build walls to keep peace, kind of like the barbed wire fences I had seen in so many places to keep the peace between the sheep and the wolves. Then I thought of what Paul wrote to the Ephesians, how God removed the walls of separation through Jesus Christ to make peace between us and God and between Jewish and non Jewish believers. This is a true and living hope. When I walk through Belfast tomorrow and from North Ireland to the Republic of Ireland in this coming week, I will be praying for this healing of the land and peace from heaven.