So, 2026 is the year I published my first book! However, like many journeys and paths of life, it started many years ago. For this book, its story is exactly 90 years old! Bangor Worldwide Missionary Convention is an annual Christian festival that has been running in the County Down seaside town since 1937.
From October 2024, I have been tasked with writing a book to mark Worldwide’s incredible 90 year history. This has been a totally new experience for me and a great learning curve. I am grateful for the help of Eleanor Trotter who, as an experienced publishing consultant, guided the Chairman, Tom Clarke, and I through the process of finding a publisher. Eleanor also came up with the title of the book, When God Plants Acorns, as the book was going to tell peoples stories of how Worldwide had impacted their lives.
These stories came from video testimonies and written reports that had already been gathered in for general promotion by Worldwide. Some leads were followed up to get new accounts in and I am grateful to all those who let their story be used.
As we pitched to various companies, the book took a life of its own on the discovery in a church storeroom of an old suitcase that belonged to the founding member, Herbie Mateer. In the suitcase was a host of memorabilia dating back to the first Convention in 1937 including glass plate photographs.
By September 2025, we had a contract with Malcolm Down Publishing to print the book, and then I had a deadline of 16 February to provide the final, proofed manuscript. The winter period was intense and I set myself my own targets and as each chapter was put together, a small proof reading team of Worldwide committee members – Tom, Mawreath, Lesley and Ivan – kindly checked my work. Some stories fell naturally into chapters as prayer, worship and raising finance have been key aspects of the Convention from day one.
By mid February, I had the ten chapters ready to go – after one final, in-depth proof reading session with my good friend and copywriter, Arlene Pattison. I am pleased to say we met the publishing deadline and I want to pay tribute to those who were praying for me and the book that we would be ready in time.
In March and April, I spent more time with the suitcase to gather the right images for the photo section and by June, we had a cover thanks to Sarah and the team at Malcolm Down Publishing. The anniversary project was finally a book and it was signed off to print on 15th July, exactly a month until the proposed launch at the opening evening of Bangor Worldwide 2026.
There is much to reflect on and it was a great week in Bangor meeting people whose stories were included in the book as I had not met them before. It was lovely (and somewhat surreal) to be signing books but I am so grateful to everyone who purchased a copy.
Thanks to everyone for their support! You can buy the book from Christian bookshops or online via Amazon Kindle.
You can find more images from the week here with thanks to Peter Thompson, Observation Photos, for the great pics!
Rebecca