Ireland, Missions
Another great day! Today, we drove up to Northern Ireland and spent time visiting and praying with local pastors. It was great to hear their hearts and share their burden in prayer! We were able to give one of them, a church planter, a new laptop computer. What an honor to bless the work of God in Ireland!
While we were with them, we visited Nendrum Monastery, Bangor Abbey, and the First Presbyterian Church on High Street where the 1859 revival broke out. What a privilidge to stand where God moved so powerfully!
Enjoy a couple of videos and some pictures…
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_vCVsarQrc]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WrFvzek1Sc]
Pastors Calvin, Lee, Scott, and David
Remains of Nendrum Monastary
First Presbyterian Church on High Street
Ruins of Bangor Abbey
Chinese Food Irish Style
Old factory Travis found
Ireland, Missions, prayer
Today was great! We visited Monasterboice to see some of the most amazing Celtic crosses anywhere. That wasn’t the highlight of the day though. The best part was going to Drogheda to lead a Furnace prayer meeting. It was so amazing! The people here are hungry for a move of God. They long to see the fires of prayer burn bright! What a blessing to get to play a small part of that! We even met in a coffee shop just like back home. Another cool part of our day was meeting with Rachael, a young lady who’s very interested in joining the Furnace Midwest internship in the fall. It’s a long way to come, but totally worth it!
Enjoy the video and pictures!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9gHAL3KYds]
Vanessa made a new friend
Monasterboice. Ruins of 6th century monastary.
Estate near Monasterboice
The crew in front of a beautiful cross
Kirsty and Shannon, our praise team for the night
Lots of prayers and hugs at the Furnace prayer meeting
Ireland, Missions
Today was great! Tomorrow begins a very busy ministry schedule so today we filled up our collective batteries visiting some significant ruins from Ireland’s great history.
We visited Kells, one of Ireland’s oldest monasteries, then headed over to Trim to visit Trim Castle. Lastly, we stopped at Bective Abbey, a 12th century monastary, and spent some time praying. What an amazing place to seek God!
Check out the video and pictures below. More great stuff coming tomorrow!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JsXwEWbd0E]
Apparently digging up graves was a problem in Kells
Steeple entryway in Kells
The team near Trim Castle
Bective Abbey
Tree at Bective. Reminds me of Psalm 1:1-3.
Ireland, Missions
Sometimes people ask me why I have such a burden for the country of Ireland. I don’t have any Irish blood in me, that I know of. No relatives who came to America during the potato blight. The truth is, I owe much of my spiritual heritage to the Irish. It was the Irish who kept Christianity alive during the Dark Ages (not to mention literacy and art). It was the Irish who had a very large part in bringing Christianity to America. Most of what we call the “Bible Belt” today was originally settled by Irish immigrants.
Without launching into a history lesson, I’ll just say things have changed tremendously in the last 1,200 years or so. Western Europe is post Christian. The cathedrals are all but empty and very few evangelical churches can afford land. Most pastors there work a full-time job elsewhere because churches are woefully under-funded.
My heart is to support and lift up the arms of Irish pastors. That’s why I continue to go back. Ireland was once the primary missionary sending force in the world! I owe them. I want to see their effectiveness and influence restored.
I’m in the process of raising money to take a group of interns to Ireland to serve local Irish churches. You can be a part of that by clicking here.
From a ninth-century Irish hymn…
Blessing and brightness,
Wisdom, thanksgiving,
Great power and might
To the King who rules over all.
Glory and honor and goodwill,
Praise and the sublime song of minstrels,
Overflowing love from every heart
to the King of heaven and Earth.
To the chosen Trinity has been joined
Before all, after all, universal
Blessing and everlasting blessing,
Blessing everlasting and blessing.
