CEF of Ireland
Easter Conference
3—6 APR 2026
Portrush Presbyterian Church
Why come to conference?
Whether you’re a CEF volunteer, someone involved or interested in children’s ministry, or someone wanting to hear great Bible teaching, CEF Easter Conference has something for you! We have a great lineup of speakers who will be teaching from the Bible, reporting on mission work and leading seminars on topics relevant to both children’s ministry and to living the Christian life. You’ll be able to browse the CEF Resources Shop, meet CEF workers and make new friends over a cup of coffee.
If you’re a young person or young adult we also have Meltdown events for you in the evenings.
Easter Conference is free, has a very relaxed atmosphere, and you’ll be made very welcome— we look forward to meeting you over the weekend!
Bible Studies
Mission Updates & Reports
CEF Resources Bookstall
‘Wild faith’ Kids’ Club
Junior Teens’ Programme
Meltdown Youth Events
Youth & young adult house parties
The Young Peoples’ and Young Adults’ House provides accommodation while attending the conference.
Each evening there is Meltdown for those in their teens and twenties with great food and mission focused interviews. There’s a special Meltdown on Sunday night in Portrush Town Hall.
Speakers
We have a great lineup of speakers from near and far who will be pointing us to Christ and His Word through our theme: ‘Fix Your Eyes’.
Andrew Faulkner
Andrew grew up in Durham in the North East of England before emigrating to Northern Ireland by marrying Jessica from Portadown. He worked as a PE teacher for nine years before training for Presbyterian ministry, being called to the Sloan Street congregation in Lisburn in 2012.
Andrew will be bringing the main Bible teaching and missionary challenges over the conference weekend.
Andrew & Beulah McMullan
Andrew and Beulah are grateful to have grown up in Christian homes and to have trusted in Jesus early in life. God has blessed their family with five wonderful children, two lovely daughters-in-law, and a precious granddaughter. In 2012 they stepped out of secular work to follow God’s call with CEF. From Co. Monaghan to Southwest Europe, He has faithfully led them, and they are excited to share more—especially about Spain—at the conference.
Andrew and Beulah will be sharing on the work in South West Europe on Saturday evening.
Helen Valero
Helen is the CEF worker in charge of the province of Tarragona, Spain. A psychologist by profession and missionary by calling, she leads the expansion of children’s evangelism in her province. Currently, she directs seven clubs and coordinates over 50 volunteers, and is dedicated to training new generations and mobilizing the local church.
Helen will be sharing on the work in Spain on Saturday evening.
Sarah Wagner
Sarah is part of the European Multimedia team. Her main role is to co-ordinate the steps involved in producing the Bible lessons and missionary lessons. She is so thankful for her husband Andi’s help with solving any computer problems and keeping her home office well stocked. They live in Switzerland, and Andi is the chairman of the National Board of CEF Switzerland.
Sarah will be sharing, and will be interviewed about her work in the European Multimedia team on Sunday evening.
Gareth Burke
Gareth retired from the ministry of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in November 2024. During his ministry of forty years he pastored three congregations—Stranmillis (Belfast) being his most recent charge. He is married to Ruth, and they have been blessed with four children—now grown up—and twelve grandchildren. By way of relaxation he enjoys watching the Parliament channel and supporting Leeds United.
Gareth will be taking our Saturday morning seminar: Fixing your eyes for the long run.
James & Jenny McAuley
James and Jenny have been married for four years and have a daughter, Lila. They attend Emmanuel Baptist Church, Lisburn, where James serves as an elder. James is a final-year student at the Irish Baptist College, and Jenny is a SEN teacher at Parkview Special School, Lisburn. Together, they have a heart for reaching children and younger people including those with special educational needs.
James and Jenny will be taking our Monday morning seminar: The gospel for every child: supporting children with behavioural needs.
Seminars
Fixing your eyes for the long run
Sat, 11.30 am
Gareth Burke
Life as a Christian is filled with much blessing, but we are not strangers to times of dryness, times of temptation and times when we ask, “how will I last as a Christian?” Sometimes the finish line just seems too far away, with too many challenges in between, and it can be discouraging to see so many others fall by the wayside. Come along and hear biblical, practical advice on “fixing your eyes for the long run”.
They fixed their eyes! Rejoicing in a summer of reaching out
Mon, 11.30 am
Youth Challenge
A key aim of Youth Challenge is encouraging young people to ‘Fix their eyes’ on the mission field and the need for children to hear the gospel both locally and further afield. Come and hear how God has been using young people to share the good news in other countries through the Momentum programme as a number share reports from last summer.
The gospel for every child: supporting children with behavioural needs
Mon, 3.30 pm
James & Jenny McAuley
This seminar will give you practical ideas and the ‘know how’ to help support children with behavioural needs in your church, club or children’s organisation.
Programme
3–6 APR 2026
Fri
Welcome evening
- Portrush Town Hall
Light refreshments are provided
All welcome!
Sat
Bible Study
- Andrew Faulkner
- Portrush Presbyterian Church
Followed by tea and coffee
Sat
Seminar
- Gareth Burke
- Portrush Presbyterian Church
‘Fixing your eyes for the long run’
Sat
Seminar
- Youth Challenge Team
- Portrush Presbyterian Church
‘They fixed their eyes! Rejoicing in a summer of reaching out’
Sat
Focus on Europe
- Andrew & Beulah McMullan, with closing message by Andrew Faulkner
- Portrush Presbyterian Church
Come and hear how God is working through the ministry of CEF across Europe
Sat
Meltdown
- Portrush Presbyterian Halls
For teens and twenties
Sun
Focus on European Multimedia
- Sarah Wagner, with closing message by Andrew Faulkner
- Portrush Presbyterian Church
Come and hear how God is working through the ministry of the Multimedia team in Europe
SUN
Meltdown Youth Night
- Benji McKay
- Portrush Town Hall
For teens and twenties
Mon
Bible Study
- Andrew Faulkner
- Portrush Presbyterian Church
Followed by tea and coffee
Mon
Seminar
- James & Jenny McAuley
- Portrush Presbyterian Church
‘The gospel for every child: supporting children with behavioural needs’
Mon
Focus on Ireland
- Closing message by Andrew Faulkner
- Portrush Presbyterian Church
Come and hear how God is working through the ministry of CEF across Ireland
Mon
Meltdown
- Portrush Presbyterian Halls
For teens and twenties
“…and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith“
Hebrews 12:1–2 (NIV)