If anyone had ever asked us if we would one day be missionaries, we probably would have thought it just about as likely that we one day might be astronauts — completely outside the realm of anything we ever thought God might do with us. But in mid-2007, a retired Presbyterian pastor challenged us to lay down our lives and relinquish all restrictions on our life of ministry – to go anywhere, at any time, at any cost for the sake of the Gospel. A history with Sonship and a series of providential encounters rocked our world and brought us to World Harvest Mission (WHM), where the mission, vision, and core values deeply align with our understanding of scripture, our life experiences, and our philosophy of ministry. Now, after spending our entire lifetimes in the Birmingham (Alabama) area (with Steve serving as associate pastor of our home church since his ordination in November 2005), we are excitedly preparing to join the Church Resources Team (CRT) of WHM in Dublin, Ireland.
What would you be doing in Ireland?
The mission of the CRT in Ireland is: “Laying down our lives to facilitate church planting in Ireland by coming alongside church leaders and their spouses to strengthen and encourage them in their lives and ministries.”
We’re keenly aware of the Kingdom battle being fought by our brothers and sisters in Ireland, and we feel an urgency to join them. Irish church leaders are bereft of spiritual community and encouragement beyond their own congregations. They need believers who will join and undergird them in the Kingdom battle for the hearts and souls of Ireland. This is what we aim to do through our formal ministry to Irish church planters.
Our informal ministry, on the other hand, will be to the individuals we come in contact with every day (most of whom will be unbelievers). We’re anxious to be amongst the Irish, and — as they see us wrestle with the struggles of life ourselves — “give account for the hope that’s within us.”
The field director for WHM in Ireland, Eric Brauer, has written a great article about what God is doing in Ireland. Please check it out on the “Lion of Judah” tab above to get an idea of what our ministry in Ireland will involve.
