The burnt out caravan
AN EVANGELIST involved in religious group Faith Mission has forgiven those who destroyed a mobile home used for prayer meetings in Roslea.
In the early hours of Sunday, February 21 at around 3.21am the caravan, situated at the Dernawilt Road area of Roslea was completely destroyed in a suspected arson attack.
The Faith Mission, conducted by Robert Little and Ronnie Kinlops helps provide spiritual support in rural areas. In the past six months their missions have targeted the Fermanagh/Monaghan border and in September through to October they were based at Cooneen, before then moving on to Dernawilt and conducting a mission before Christmas. At the time of the attack the group had since moved on to a vacant shop premises on Main Street, Newtownbutler.
The caravan, used for lunch breaks and prayer meetings was completely destroyed in the arson attack, with the neighbouring portable hall used for meetings suffering minor scorch damage to the paint. The only thing that remained from the caravan was a piece of scripture attached to the back of plywood sheet, which was leaning up against the caravan. Miraculously it wasn’t burnt as Mr Little explained:
“The verse was from Romans 6:23 – ‘For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord’. It just reminds us all that even those that carried out the arson attack the gift of salvation is available to them to turn from their sin and put their faith in Christ.”
Robert Little pictured with the caravan before it was burnt to the ground
Despite the attack which completely gutted the caravan causing thousands of pounds worth of damage Mr Little has forgiven those responsible for the deplorable act.
“Absolutely (I forgive them) and more importantly there’s forgiveness on the cross for them to repent and put their faith in Christ.”
Mr Little first learnt of the arson attack on Sunday afternoon and admits it came as a shock given the fact the group have worked closely with those in the local community.
“We were upset because we had a tremendous mission in Dernawilt, a mission and meetings that were attended by the Protestant and Roman Catholic communities, which is what we are there for, we want to reach both sections of the community and we have tremendous times on the doors. We visited approximately 650 homes in the Dernawilt area and everybody basically bar one or two allowed us to present the Gospel on the door step, they were all very courteous and took our literature.
“We had a great time on the doors, they are lovely people in the area and were very shocked to discover what happened, but of course we’re not pointing the finger at anyone, we’re not blaming anyone, it could have been someone passing through.”
Former councillor and local resident Harold Andrews said it was unclear whether the attack was pure vandalism or a more sinister hate crime. “It’s just not acceptable in this day and age. It is a shock, people don’t expect something like this to happen nowadays. I think all sides have condemned it. Faith Mission are not out to give offence to anybody. Twenty years ago this sort of thing would have been happening , but now this something which is out of the ordinary.”
Police are investigating the suspected arson in the Dernawilt Road area of Roslea and are appealing to anyone who noticed anything suspicious in and around the area to contact them.
To read more.. Subscribe to current edition
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere