Forgotten suitcase in dusty church storeroom reveals full 90-year history of Northern Ireland movement
When a forgotten suitcase was discovered in a church storeroom, it unlocked decades of hidden history. A compelling new book reveals how a simple seaside movement in Northern Ireland grew to impact lives across the globe for nearly a century.
In When God Plants Acorns, author Rebecca McConnell tells the story behind 90 years of the Bangor Worldwide Missionary Convention.
From quiet acts of local faithfulness to life-changing callings, the book shares how ordinary people from all walks of life have been transformed by God’s love and faithfulness.
“The ninety-year celebration provides us with an opportunity to look back with gratitude for those who laid the foundations and charted the course and, in doing so, inspired us to join them in sowing, planting, watering, and watching as God makes things grow. We best serve their memory by looking forward in the awareness that the task is still unfinished and in recognising that this is a day of ‘good news’ and we dare not keep it to ourselves.”
Alistair Begg, from the foreword
Buy the book from Christian bookshops or online via Amazon Kindle.
Read more about the writing process over on the blog
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- Bangor Worldwide Secretary Lesley Stewart with Dr Chris Wright, author Rebecca McConnell and Worldwide Chairman Tom Clarke at the ‘When God Plants Acorns’ book launch held as part of the 90th Convention celebrations in Hamilton Road Baptist church. Chris’s father Rev Joe Wright was one of the speakers at the first Convention in 1937.
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- Speaking to the group of guests and retired missionaries during Bangor Worldwide
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- Cutting the beautiful book cake at the launch, which was made by Sweetbites in Rathfriland
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- On stage at Hamilton Road Baptist Church
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- Evie Craig, who served with OMF in Thailand, tells her story in the book
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- Meet & greet at Hamilton Road Baptist Church
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- Books are available in Christian bookshops as well as on Amazon and on Kindle
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- David Gordon who contributed his story to the book in relation to Amy Carmichael & Dohnavur Fellowship in India
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- It was lovely to meet and chat with those who bought the book
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- Signing books at the Elim Church in Bangor
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- Full house for the ladies event in Bangor Parish
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- Wilma Flannigan was a speaker in 1967, 1981 and 2008 & her story is included in chapter 3
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- Speaking at the ladies event in Bangor Parish
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- Speaking at the ladies event in Bangor Parish
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- Rebecca with Conrad Mbewe from Zambia, one of the international speakers at Worldwide 2026
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- With Rev David Johnston, Dr Chris Wright and his wife Liz, and Presbyterian Moderator Dr Richard Kerr and his wife, Brenda
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- With publishing consultant, Eleanor Trotter
