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Rural Chaplain - Kenny Hanna, Newry (2026)

06/06/2026

Winner of British Grassland Society Farmer of the Year - Growing Grass

James Henderson won the British Grassland Society Farmer of the Year 2025, in partnership with his wife Brenda and son Scott. ⭐️

I spent a very enjoyable and informative Wednesday morning on the Henderson family farm, along the shore, near Kilkeel. Where the family hosted a farm walk, with farmers coming from across the UK. ✅

The farm consists of two main enterprises. Dairy-bred heifers (Angus and Blue), bought as dropped calves, and finished as beef. As well as Rouge x Texel ewe flock. 🐑

As we toured the farm, James’ grasp of a variety of mixes, to get the most out of their grass production, and his keen attention to detail, was very evident. 💯

The family’s thoughtful grassland management has led to a significant reduction in their costs. Lambs finished off grass without expensive meal, and a huge reduction in concentrates fed to the cattle for finishing. 🐮

The morning ended with a tasty lunch. 🍔

Mind you, the Hendersons are not only interested in growing grass. They are actually more interested in nurturing and growing disciples - followers of Jesus. 👍

As the apostle Paul put it, they want to see Jesus’ followers, “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation” (1 Peter 2:2). 📈

So, as a family, they are involved in Christian work with pre-school, children and young people. And James is an elder in Mourne. ✝️

On a personal note, as a young man in my early 20s, I will never forget the monthly Bible studies at the Henderson’s home for young Christian men. 😊

God had just brought me to trust in Jesus and I found the Bible study, led by Rev William Bingham, and our learning from one another, such a blessing. The group really helped establish me in the Christian faith. 📖

Whatever you study, work at, or if you’re retired - what is your heart’s desire? What gets you out of bed in the morning? 🛏️

Have you come to see that life is all about following Jesus? If not, start here. 🌈

And if you have, who can you point to Jesus? Or think of another Christian you can invest time in and encourage to grow. 🤔

God bless 🙂

03/06/2026

Want a Lift Wednesday 🆙

What Made a Special Night So Special?

Saturday evening, at Rathfriland Farmers Co-operative Society Ltd - Rathfriland Mart - (kindly granted by Jim McCrum and Kenny Dodds), was so special. Partnering with Dromara Connect, whose idea this was, suggested by Louise Skelly, we held our first ever "Lambing Thanksgiving Service". To thank God for this year’s crop of lambs. 🐑

What was special? ☀️

Attendance - some 450 people, from across the community! A packed ring and people in the pens at the back and outside. 😮

Our help - thank you to everyone: 💛

Planning and preparation - Jacqueline Cromie and Louise Skelly did so much over these months. ☀️

Publicity - many kind newspapers and shares on socials. 📰📱

Car parkers, including Rathfriland YFC. Helpers with the food and with everything else that had to be done. Kenny Dodds (Mart Deputy Manager) was an amazing help.👍

Kind people - ABP gave us double the burgers we asked for! The Milestone, Rathfriland, donated hundreds of baps. Ballydown Milk supplied delicious milkshakes for free. 🍔

Farm support organisation friends engaged with lots of people - Health and Safety Executive, National Sheep Association, Northern Ireland Agricultural Producers' Association, Rural Support, Ulster Farmers' Union, Young Farmers' Clubs of Ulster. 🤝

Before the service, Pat McKay, former Chairman of the UFU Beef and Lamb Committee, helpfully “set the scene”, interviewed by Louise Skelly. 🤔

Help with the Thanksgiving Service - Andrew Skelly on audio-visuals. David began the service with prayer for farmers, led the service, and Simon shared his shepherd’s story as a follower of the Good Shepherd (both from our team). Kristina Fleming, President of YFCU, read from the Bible. 📖

Praise - thoughtfully led by Andy, Ruth and Matthew, while Bronte Primary School (pictured with permission) sang 2 very appropriate songs. 🎵

Fun afterwards - Darren Mortiboy’s balloon modelling was enjoyed by India and Sky (pic used by permission). 🎈

Air Ambulance - a terrific £1,445.66 raised. ✅

All this was wonderful. But, What Made a Special Night Special was God’s blessing behind it all. Thank you to everyone who prayed for that. Your prayers were answered! All glory to God for His abundant blessing that evening. 🙏

People have mentioned the “lovely atmosphere”. That “atmosphere” was God Himself among us. 🆙

But, how can we experience God with us, not just on nights like this, but ALL the time? Answer - you need God's Son, Jesus, living in your heart. For Jesus is, "Immanuel (which means, God with us).” (Matthew 1:23). 🌟

So, will you ask Jesus...
To forgive your sin, by His sin-forgiving death for you?
To help you in all your ups and downs?
And to take you to His home in heaven?
For Jesus is the way, the ONLY WAY, to a life that is truly special, now and forever. ✝️

God bless 🙂

01/06/2026

Jim, Simon, or I, plan, God willing, to attend the following sales and events this week.

Serving farmers, farming families and the rural community.

You are welcome to speak to us in confidence 🤝

Happy to help anyone we can 💙

We’d really appreciate your prayers 🙏

God bless 🙂

📍 Monday 1st June
Markethill Livestock and Farm Sales – sheep
⏰ Evening sale

📍 Tuesday 2nd June
Rathfriland Co-op – sheep
⏰ Evening sale

📍 Saturday 6th June
Stand at Lurgan Show – Lurgan Park
⏰ Daytime

📍 Saturday 6th June
Crossmaglen Livestock Sales - cattle
⏰ Daytime sale

jesus ruralchaplain

30/05/2026

Making Round Bales While the Sun Shines and the Machinery Works!

A lot of the silage and round bales will be brought in over the next handful of months. Like this field, outside Rathfriland, this sunny week. 🚜

With plenty of sun, but not too much heat, lots of good quality silage was brought in this week. ☀️

Every farmer knows, when the window of weather is open, we, wisely and carefully, “go for it”. ✅

However, harvest time is far from plain sailing! Many of us have had the frustrating experience, of the right weather, the crop ripe and ready … but there’s a breakdown. 😣

I have seen us lose hours and hours, with a breakdowns at silage time. All farmers will be well-able to identify with the frustration of this. ⏰

We might only lose a few hours, but, at the time, it feels like days! Especially if the weather is about to break. 🌧️

Bringing in the crop needs both good weather and machinery running well. Have you had any breakdowns this season? (Maybe I shouldn’t ask!)❓

In farming life, and all of life, things do not always run smoothly. An unexpected illness for ourselves or a loved one... A business, or job, that is not as secure as we’d like it to be... Exam time for young people at the moment, which brings stress and pressure... ☹️

I’m so glad, not so much THAT I HAVE GOD, but rather, that GOD HAS ME! Paul, Jesus’ follower, who seemed to have more ups and downs than I’ve had hot dinners, explained how, when our trust is in Jesus, GOD HAS US: “your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). 👍

When we have our trust in Jesus, it’s like Jesus holds onto us, while Jesus is held onto as part of the three-in-one God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I like to call it God’s double-locking system. Jesus hold onto me. God holds onto Jesus. 🔒🔒

So, when the sun is not shining on you, when the machinery of your life is not working, do you have the joyful security of God’s double-locking system?❓

If you have, then come to God right now, and praise Him. 🙏

If you haven’t, ask Jesus for His salvation security. It comes, as we trust in Jesus’ death to forgive and fix our lives that are broken by sin. ✝️

God bless 🙂

29/05/2026

⭐️ Lambing Thanksgiving Service and Family BBQ ⭐️
📍TOMORROW NIGHT - SATURDAY 30th MAY!!!

🌈 If it rains, we have plenty of room inside for everyone!

An evening to thank God for this year’s crop of lambs
Joint event between Dromara Connect and Rural Chaplaincy

🐮 Venue - Rathfriland Farmers Co-operative Society Ltd (Rathfriland Co-op Livestock Market, kindly granted)

⏰ 7pm - Setting the Scene - before the service begins, Louise Skelly will interview immediate past Chairman of Ulster Farmers’ Union Beef and Lamb Committee, Pat McKay, about challenges and opportunities for farmers, especially sheep farmers

🙏 Thanksgiving service then begins with prayer for our farmers

🎵 Singing from Brontë Primary School

🐑 A shepherd’s story
📖 And the story of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, presented in a simple, clear way

🍔 Free BBQ follows Thanksgiving Service - if it rains, we have plenty of room inside for everyone 😊

🤝 Farm Support Organisations attending

🥤Ballydown Milk stand

🎈Balloon modelling for children

🚁 Voluntary donations to Air Ambulance

👍 A relaxed evening to enjoy farming and country life

✅ Everyone welcome - please spread the word and bring your friends. Thank you

God bless 🙂

jesus ruralchaplain

27/05/2026

Want a Lift Wednesday

Good News for Town and Country Children … and For All of Us

The photos today were taken of two Primary Schools, in very different settings: Hamiltonsbawn, a rural school, and Dungannon, set is a large, provincial town. 📸

Thank you so much to both schools for your warm welcome to us and for allowing us to use these photos. Thank you too to Simon for the initial contact and to David for bringing the tractor and doing the talks with me. 🤝

Despite their differences, both schools had real similarities. In both, the staff made us feel so at home. Also, in both schools, the pupils engaged really well with us. 😊

Well done to the boys and girls. You are a credit to your schools. 👏

Our message had relevance for BOTH town and country children. The keeping safe on the farm aspect - important for whenever they visit (or if they live on) a farm. While the be safe forever aspect that flows from it, is relevant to ALL of us. 💯

After all, didn’t I read somewhere that Jesus wants children to be safe and well cared for? That comes across when Jesus’ disciples tell some children’s parents not to have their children bother Jesus. But notice Jesus’ reaction: ❌

“But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the children come to me; do not hinder them…’ ” (Mark 10:14). ✅

In fact, Jesus continues, the only way to enter Jesus’ kingdom, and be safe forever, is with child-like faith in Jesus: 1️⃣

“ ‘Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.’ And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them. (Mark 10:15-16). 👍

This is good news for ALL of us - town and country, and from all backgrounds. That we don’t need to be clever, or sophisticated, or to have cleaned up our lives, before we come to God. No. We can only come to God, by trusting our lives to Jesus, simply and completely, just like a child would trust a good mum or dad. 🙏

Now THAT is good news for town and country children, and for ALL of us. What a wonderful encouragement to trust your life to Jesus, in simple child-like faith. Jesus who on the cross died to forgive your straying away from God, your sin. ✝️

God bless 🙂

26/05/2026

⭐️ Lambing Thanksgiving Service and Family BBQ ⭐️
📍This Saturday 30th May

An evening to thank God for this year’s crop of lambs
Joint event between Dromara Connect and Rural Chaplaincy

🐮 Venue - Rathfriland Farmers Co-operative Society Ltd (Rathfriland Co-op Livestock Market, kindly granted)

⏰ 7pm - Setting the Scene - before the service begins, Louise Skelly will interview immediate past President of Ulster Farmers’ Union Beef and Lamb Committee, Pat McKay, about challenges and opportunities for farmers, especially sheep farmers

🙏 Thanksgiving service then begins with prayer for our farmers

🎵 Singing from Brontë Primary School

🐑 A shepherd’s story
📖 And the story of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, presented in a simple, clear way

🍔 Free BBQ follows Thanksgiving Service

🤝 Farm Support Organisations attending

🥤Ballydown Milk stand

🎈Balloon modelling for children

🚁 Voluntary donations to Air Ambulance

👍 A relaxed evening to enjoy farming and country life

✅ Everyone welcome - please spread the word and bring your friends. Thank you

God bless 🙂

jesus ruralchaplain

25/05/2026

Jim, Simon, or I, plan, God willing, to attend the following sales and events this week.

Serving farmers, farming families and the rural community.

You are welcome to speak to us in confidence 🤝

Happy to help anyone we can 💙

We’d really appreciate your prayers 🙏

God bless 🙂

📍 Monday 25th May
Downpatrick Co-op – cattle
⏰ Evening sale

📍 Tuesday 26th May
Dungannon Primary School
✅ Farm safety and wellbeing talks

📍 Tuesday 26th May
Rathfriland Co-op – sheep
⏰ Evening sale

📍 Thursday 28th May
Hilltown Farmers’ Attested Sales – sheep
⏰ Evening sale

📍 Saturday 30th May
🐑 Lambing Thanksgiving Service and Family BBQ
An evening to thank God for this year’s crop of lambs
Joint event between Dromara Connect and Rural Chaplaincy

🐮 Venue - Rathfriland Co-op Livestock Mart (kindly granted)

⏰ 7pm - Setting the Scene - before the service begins, Louise Skelly will interview immediate past President of Ulster Farmers’ Union Beef and Lamb Committee, Pat McKay, about challenges and opportunities for farmers, especially sheep farmers

🙏 Thanksgiving service then begins with prayer for our farmers

🎵 Singing from Brontë Primary School

📖 A shepherd’s story
And the story of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, presented in a simple, clear way

🍔 Free BBQ follows Thanksgiving Service

🤝 Farm Support Organisations attending

🥤Ballydown Milk stand

🎈Balloon modelling for children

🚁 Voluntary donations to Air Ambulance

👍 A relaxed evening to enjoy farming and country life

✅ Everyone welcome - spread the word and bring your friends

jesus ruralchaplain

23/05/2026

The Tonic of Rest

For many of us, life is lived at full-pelt. Our days are but a blur. It’s no time from morning, till night! ☀️🌙

On farms, Saturdays are not much different to Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, or Fridays! If, like half of us, you are a part-time farmer, Saturday can be the busiest day of the week! As you try to cram into one day a week’s-worth of chores. 😓

The photo today, taken by my son Matthew, carries a message that we all (me very much included) need to her and to heed. That is - The Tonic of Rest. 😌

It shows a glass-still Lough Shannagh, with Doan resting in the background. ⛰️

Now, I haven’t always valued the importance of rest. But, in more recent years, I have come to see the vital importance of building into my life, regular time away from work. ✅

For me, that “time out” comes in a half-hour walk around 5 times a week. A physical and mental tonic I always feel the better for. 🚶‍♂️

What works for me probably won’t suit you, but can you build into your life some times of refreshing rest? 🤔

I have also come to know, and experience, the blessing of rest - even in time of great busyness and pressure! 😊

How? Well, not through any kind of special techniques. But, rather, through a unique Person - God’s Son, Jesus. 1️⃣

Hundreds of years before He was born into the world, a prophet predicted that Jesus would be, “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). 👑

Jesus, the “Prince of Peace”, brings His peace, not through meditation, but through His sacrifice of Himself, to bless us. ✝️

You might well ask, “How does that work?”❓

Well, what we need to get is that our lack of peace comes from the fact that we have wandered away from God, our Maker. God has made us for relationship with Himself. So, by being cut off from God, we are cut off from the roots of peace. ❌

But, Jesus died to reconcile us to God, by “making peace by the blood of his cross” (Colossians 1:20). 🌈

I would simply encourage you to consider trusting in Jesus. The tonic of peace, real peace, is only found in Him. 👍

If you have found it, is there someone you could point in the direction of Jesus, the “Prince of Peace.” 🤝

God bless 🙂

22/05/2026

⭐️ Message at the Mart - Social & BBQ ⭐️
🎉 Monthly night for young people (2nd Friday each month)
👍 At Markethill Livestock Market

🎈Our next night is a SOCIAL & BBQ!!!
📆 Friday 12th June
⏰ Starts with BBQ at 8pm
💯 Totally free

🤝 Joint event between Markethill Livestock & Farm Sales and Rural Chaplaincy
✝️ Event has a Christian ethos - epilogue, with Sam Scott

☕️ Lots of time to chat and socialise
✅ All young people 17+ welcome (no under 17s please)
📱Please share and spread the word

Rural Chaplain - Kenny Hanna

06/06/2026

03/06/2026

01/06/2026

30/05/2026

29/05/2026

27/05/2026

26/05/2026

25/05/2026

23/05/2026

22/05/2026

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