Methodist Lay Evangelist Pastor John McConnell, 55, recently completed an approximately nine-mile swim from Carrybridge to the Ardhowen Theatre quay in Enniskillen to raise funds for a mission trip to Gambia. The swim, which measured 13.9 kilometres in length, is part of a fundraising effort to support the Gambian Methodist Church. "We were thinking of ways to raise funds earlier in the year and I was just thinking, wouldn’t it be lovely to swim from Carrybridge to the Ardhowen Theatre," McConnell stated. He added, "I am just glad I have hit the finish line, and when I was coming past the Killyhevlin, maybe I should have decided to finish there." Funds raised will directly support a mission trip by twelve members of the Methodist Church in Ireland, visiting their church family in Gambia from October 24 to November 4. "By giving to this fundraiser, you are supporting this mission trip," McConnell explained.
The Fundraising Swim
The nine-mile swim, which commenced at Carrybridge around 11:30, was completed by Methodist Lay Evangelist John McConnell in five hours and forty minutes. McConnell reflected on his extensive swimming background, stating, "I have been swimming all around Ireland for the last fifteen years." He recounted a significant achievement, adding, "My biggest highlight was in 2017/18 when I won the Ulster Championship in Camlough Lake near Europe." He also acknowledged a period of reduced activity, noting, "I got a bit lazy around Covid, and now I am just getting back into it."
The fundraising initiative is designed to support a mission trip to Gambia. "From October 24 to November four, twelve people from the Methodist Church in Ireland will be visiting our church family in the Gambia," McConnell explained. He detailed the objectives of the trip, stating, "We will see how clinics, schools, and agricultural projects all contribute to the Methodist Church in Gambia." McConnell also emphasized the spiritual aspect of their visit, saying, "We will also have the chance to share in worship, Bible study and Gospel outreach with our Gambian brothers and sisters." He clarified the purpose of the fundraising, asserting, "By giving to this fundraiser, you are supporting this mission trip." Any additional funds raised will be directed to the Gambian Methodist Church, with McConnell noting, "Extra funds raised will be given to the Gambian Methodist Church to support their ministry." He noted a key difference between healthcare provisions, stating, "Here we have a wonderful NHS but they don’t have anything like that in Gambia."
McConnell also discussed his and his wife Dorothy's journey into full-time ministry. "My wife Dorothy and I are both lay preachers in the Methodist Church and she is from Draperstown," he said. He described their initial expectations, "Whenever we started in 2017, we only thought we would only be preaching four or five times of the year to help our Minister on our wee circuit in Cookstown." A change in circumstances led to an expanded role, as he explained, "But then in 2020 the opportunity opened up to move into full-time ministry, and there was a vacancy in Fermanagh." He detailed his current responsibilities, "They wanted me to look after three churches in Lisbellaw, Maguiresbridge and Tempo." McConnell expressed satisfaction with their move, stating, "They are lovely churches and nice people, so we moved the family down here, and we love it." His wife also serves in a similar capacity, with McConnell adding, "My wife is working as a lay pastor on the Upper Erne circuit with churches including Brookeborough, Lisnaskea and Newtownbutler." He described the demanding nature of their work, "So, this is a full-time job as you are preaching at the weekend and doing pastoral visits during the week." Regarding their future, McConnell stated, "That question is for the Man Above but we are content as we are and we are willing to serve wherever the Lord wants us." He also shared his appreciation for nature, observing, "Water is beautiful and calming, and the lakes are great here and it’s wonderful to be out sailing in them and swimming in them." McConnell concluded with a reflection on faith and the natural world: "God created the Heaven and the earth, and sometimes people have a mentality that the only place you can encounter God is in a church." He encouraged a broader perspective, "Take a look around; God is all around us, and creation is all around us."
Gambia Mission Details
The nine-mile swim undertaken by Methodist Lay Evangelist John McConnell was intended to raise funds for a mission trip to Gambia. The mission will involve twelve individuals from the Methodist Church in Ireland traveling to the country. During their visit, the group plans to observe the operations of clinics, schools, and agricultural projects that contribute to the Methodist Church in Gambia. McConnell stated that the mission also provides an opportunity to participate in worship, Bible study, and Gospel outreach alongside their "Gambian brothers and sisters." Funds raised through initiatives like the swim directly support this mission trip. Any additional donations received beyond the immediate needs of the mission will be allocated to the Gambian Methodist Church to support its ongoing ministry. McConnell noted a significant difference in healthcare provisions between Ireland and Gambia, noting, "Here we have a wonderful NHS but they don’t have anything like that in Gambia."
McConnell and his wife, Dorothy, both serve as lay preachers within the Methodist Church. Dorothy is currently working as a lay pastor on the Upper Erne circuit, which includes churches in Brookeborough, Lisnaskea, and Newtownbutler. John McConnell explained that when they began their ministry in 2017, they anticipated preaching only a few times a year to assist their minister in the Cookstown circuit. However, an opportunity arose in 2020 for them to transition into full-time ministry when a vacancy became available in Fermanagh. He now oversees three churches located in Lisbellaw, Maguiresbridge, and Tempo. McConnell described their work as a full-time commitment, involving preaching on weekends and conducting pastoral visits throughout the week. He expressed contentment with their current roles and their family's relocation, stating, "They are lovely churches and nice people, so we moved the family down here, and we love it."
A Lifelong Swimmer and Preacher
John McConnell, a Methodist Lay Evangelist, has been swimming "all around Ireland for the last fifteen years," he stated. His extensive experience in open water swimming includes a significant achievement in 2017/18, when he won the Ulster Championship in Camlough Lake. McConnell described this as his "biggest highlight." He also noted a period of reduced activity, explaining, "I got a bit lazy around Covid, and now I am just getting back into it."
McConnell and his wife, Dorothy, both serve as lay preachers within the Methodist Church. "My wife Dorothy and I are both lay preachers in the Methodist Church and she is from Draperstown," McConnell said. He elaborated on their initial expectations for their ministry, stating, "Whenever we started in 2017, we only thought we would only be preaching four or five times of the year to help our Minister on our wee circuit in Cookstown."
However, their roles expanded significantly in 2020. "But then in 2020 the opportunity opened up to move into full-time ministry, and there was a vacancy in Fermanagh," McConnell explained. He now oversees three churches in Lisbellaw, Maguiresbridge, and Tempo, describing them as "lovely churches and nice people." McConnell added, "So, this is a full-time job as you are preaching at the weekend and doing pastoral visits during the week." His wife also works as a lay pastor on the Upper Erne circuit, covering churches including Brookeborough, Lisnaskea, and Newtownbutler.
Broader Impact and Support
The mission trip to Gambia, which the fundraising swim supports, is scheduled to take place from October 24 to November 4. This initiative follows a significant career change for Lay Evangelist John McConnell and his wife, Dorothy. The couple moved to Fermanagh in 2020 to oversee three churches in Lisbellaw, Maguiresbridge, and Tempo. McConnell now works in a full-time capacity for the Methodist Church, preaching on weekends and conducting pastoral visits during the week. His wife, Dorothy, serves as a lay pastor on the Upper Erne circuit, covering churches in Brookeborough, Lisnaskea, and Newtownbutler. This arrangement allows them to provide continuous support to their congregations while also contributing to broader church initiatives like the Gambia mission. The relocation marked an expansion of their ministry roles, which began in 2017.
