Men’s Breakfast Saturday 8th March 2025
The invited speaker was Alan Dodds, travelling from Portadown, but born in Omagh. In introducing Alan, John Buchanan said that Alan was 20% of a Praise Band “Free 2 Fly” which plays once a month at the Hope Central Church on the Gortin Road, but for the morning he came with his guitar and for his closing song was able to call upon a backing track.
Life for Alan began in Dergmoney Hights, Omagh which he says in his early days seemed to be about two miles out of the town centre – however the town has expanded to include it. Alan spoke of his early days at Omagh High School, how he then attended a work program run by the council where he met Mark McAleer, and they have been best friends since, both in the five-piece band.
On leaving school Alan felt drawn to serving full-time in the Army. Alan is a twin and both boys joined the army together at the age of 16. Alan recounted a particular army exercise in the Greencastle / Carrickmore area where the vehicle he was in with 11 others went off the road and rolled down a long hill – he though at first that it was an explosion but in fact the driver lost control of the vehicle on a tight bend. He was left with broken legs, arms and his pelvis. He spent time in Musgrave Hospital recovering. As he rolled over and over down the hill, he called out to God saying that if he brought him through this, he would change his ways.
Shortly afterwards his younger brother came home to say he had become a Christian and this caused him to think more deeply. One day he sat down and prayed a prayer inviting Jesus into his life. Alan spoke of the positive change in his life that came from that prayer. On completing 10years in the Army, Alan felt called to serve with YWAM (Youth with a Mission) based at Plymouth and volunteered for initially for 1 year, going on outreach to the Balkans where he developed his skills as a worship leader. He remained full time with YWAM for another 5 years before returning to Omagh to run the Army Cadet Force detachment in the town.
Alan served for many years in the praise band at Omagh Community Church before starting “Free 2 Fly” with Mark, he continues to be thankful that Jesus touched his life. His talk went down so well there have been requests for him to come back sometime.
Below Picture: “Free to Fly” From Left: Mark McAleer, Ross Buchanan, Jonny Buchanan, Jed McAleer and Alan Dodds.
The Alan Dodds Band “Free 2 Fly”