Injecting new life into the missional spirit of pastors and church members across the Irish Mission, evangelistic and outreach events took place in eight locations across the nation, under the banner of the General Conference (GC) Christ for Europe initiative. In the context of the Irish Mission, the name for the project was “Reflecting Hope.” From Cork, Ennis, Limerick, and Tralee in the west and southwest to Baltinglass, Drogheda, Dublin, and Portlaoise in the east, the focus of these events was to build relational bridges with the community.

The meetings in southwestern Ireland were led by a team from the Central California Conference, USA. In Ennis, the county town of Clare, Norwegian pastor and evangelist Daniel Pel presented the seminar “Religion – What Went Wrong?” Both members and community guests want the seminars and talks to be regularly repeated because during this current initiative, eight people committed their lives to God through baptism.

Over in Dublin and other eastern locations, the main focus of the outreach events centered on family matters, with seminars led by Dr. Jeffrey Brown, GC associate Ministerial secretary and a family specialist, and Karen Holford, Trans-European Division Family Ministries director and a family therapist.

Further Christ for Europe and Reflecting Hope initiatives are planned for the autumn in Northern Ireland, with Pastor Shawn Boonstra, director of Voice of Prophecy, USA. Plans are underway for an evangelistic series in Belfast.

Impact Limerick, Cork, and Tralee

From April 15–22, 2023, a team of six people from the United States joined local pastors in western and southwestern Ireland by supporting the mission of their church communities through public meetings, health expos, and literature distribution.

On Sunday, April 16, in the heart of Limerick, city members from multiple churches in western Ireland came together to distribute books on health and hope. With books such as The Power of Hope, Health and Wellness, invitations were also given for a series of health seminars at the Limerick Church, focusing on mental health and well-being.

Meanwhile, in downtown Cork, local members made themselves visible by distributing flyers for a series of meetings titled “Facing the Giants in Your Life.” The series focused on the reality of these metaphorical giants and how they can only be conquered through Christ, with Him constantly at one’s side.

In Tralee, a group also went out on the streets with booklets and flyers for the series focusing on the family. These meetings were a great opportunity to strengthen family relationships and be living an example of God’s instruments of grace.

When Pentecostal Members Learned About the Sabbath

While organizing the series “Religion – What Went Wrong?” the big surprise was when a group of Pentecostal members in Ennis attended the meetings and were moved by the message of the Sabbath, including the pastor, who canceled his church’s programs so they could attend the meetings. In addition, another church leader streamed the seminar to thousands of his social media followers.

When asked how they found out about this seminar, the pastor replied, “We received a Celtic Connection book during the St. Patrick’s parade in Ennis, and then we saw the advert on the front page of the local newspaper by the same group. We knew that through attending your meetings, we knew that we would hear the truth.”

“It was such joy to know that the Lord had blessed all the work that we had done,” said Daniel Wilson, member of both the Newmarket-on-Fergus Church and the organizing team. “Handing out pamphlets and free books months earlier, as well as the local newspaper advertisement, helped it all come together for the Lord to use, praise God!”

Family Matters in Dublin Ranelagh, Baltinglass, Drogheda, and Portlaoise

With the aim of serving the local communities and helping families to experience holistic relationships, as part of the Reflecting Hope project, “Relationships & Family” seminars were held at several venues from May 20–26 in the Greater Dublin Area. At the Cuisle Centre (Dublin’s Centre of Influence), Solid Rock Church (Drogheda), the Parish Centre (Portlaoise), and Germaine’s restaurant (Baltinglass), Dr. Brown and Holford shared their knowledge and experience with members and visitors alike. A huge blessing to everyone attending the meetings, the presenters made a positive impact on the listeners.

To round off this teaching ministry week, three young people (Richard, August, and Michael) made their decision to follow Jesus and have been baptized.

Instagram Talks for Youth

Adventist Youth Ireland has introduced an Instagram live Christian podcast, hosted by youth sponsor Pastor Jefferson Melki, featuring Holford and Brown. This dynamic podcast focuses on the significance of a healthy multiethnic church and addresses the health of young people in a multiethnic community. Presented with genuine passion and purpose, this Christian podcast has become a guiding light for young individuals in search of spiritual nourishment and guidance. Holford and Brown deliver engaging content with an authentic approach, resulting in a dedicated following and making a profound impact on the lives of its young listeners.

Reflecting on her experience, Holford commented, “We experienced the tangible power of God in every meeting, and I enjoyed the one-to-one conversations after the presentations, as we expanded people’s perceptions and experiences of God’s love or helped them to find new and inspiring ways to think about their relationships.”

Through thought-provoking discussions, inspiring testimonies, and insightful teachings of guest speakers, this podcast has established a sacred space where faith is cherished, questions are explored, and lives are transformed. With two episodes dedicated to addressing multiethnic issues, this extraordinary podcast continues to resonate deeply, offering hope, encouragement, and a sense of belonging to all who tune in. The team hopes to have more talks with outstanding speakers in the future.

Mobile/Cell Phone Evangelism

The Mobile/Cell Phone Evangelism project is an initiative developed by Adventist World Radio (AWR) and also part of the Reflecting Hope initiative. Introduced to the Irish Mission by Gideon Pelser, training took place in Belfast and Dublin and then was introduced to the members of Cork and Tralee. Each of these locations has its own local project emphasis with a campaign team:

• The campaign name for Dublin, for example, is “pray4dub.”

• Each campaign is made up of a team.

• The team is made up of subgroups: promotional team, question handler, prayer team, and cell phone evangelists (CPEs).

• CPEs work directly on the Digital Missionary app, which they use to contact members of the general public who send in prayer requests.

• CPEs can share the Gospel with others and also pray for members of the general public. Through this ministry, people’s requests are being heard, and as people feel heard, they are open to learning more about God’s Word.

The team has already connected with a man who was facing some difficulties in his life and very anxious. Through prayers that were sent through the app by a CPE, the CPE linked him with the Discover Truth website, and he was able to receive a free Bible, The Desire of Ages, and The Great Controversy.

Commenting on this Irish Mission report, Catherine Anthony Boldeau, Reflecting Hope coordinator for the British Union Conference, said, “We praise God for the outreach and evangelistic initiatives in the Irish Mission over the last few months to fulfill the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church through this unique initiative.”

The original version of this story was posted on the Trans-European Division website.