May Pictures

Some Pictures from West Cork.

May Update

I have found my last couple of months here in Ireland to be quite full and busy. This last weekend we had a church retreat at West Cork, and this next weekend I am helping lead music at the DV8 weekend away. I am also looking forward to a one day youth event that I have been helping to plan which will take place on the 14^th of June. As I look to my last full month of living here in Ireland, I find myself both excited to get home and sad to leave. You never realize the relationships you build until it is time to leave them behind. God is good.

This past weekend was a wonderful time of fellowship as we took a trip down to West Cork as a congregation. Although some people were unable to attend, those that did go had a truly blessed time. God is good and the Holy Spirit was moving in people’s hearts this weekend. It is always so wonderful to get away and spend time with others in fellowship that glorifies the Lord. I always enjoy getting out of the city and into a more country type atmosphere. The weather was absolutely wonderful, and I just praise the Lord for the time we had.

Something God really refreshed in my heart this weekend was to remind me that we are created in His image. God in the trinity is a relational God, and being in His image we are a relational people. We need it. We need that relationship with God and with others. It’s imbedded in how we were formed. We know this to be true because the most important commandment is to love the Lord your God, and the second is to love your neighbor. Relationships are what are important, not the busy things we do in our day.

God reminded me that through following Christ, I can now reflect God’s character in my own life. It is not about the things we do or do not do, but it is all about loving our God and loving those around us through relationships. I really love the concept of taking what Christ has done for me and reflecting it onto those around me. Christ forgave me even when I was a sinner; therefore, I should love and forgive those around me even if they have wronged me. Christ shows me grace and mercy. I should reflect that character in my own life and show grace and mercy to those around me. In all things we should take what God has done for us and bounce it back to those around us. We should be a reflection of God’s character. We were created in God’s image and we should reflect God’s image.

I know that some of this may seem basic, but it is so easy to slip into this idea that I have to be a Christian by doing "stuff." We are not trying to be Christians; we are Christians. We are only made righteous in Christ. Rather than trying so hard to be a good person and a good Christian, I believe we should be focusing on what really matters: relationships. That’s what God wants. He wants a relationship with you, and to reflect what He gives you onto others.

Kevin and I have both been helping to plan a youth event with other Methodist youth workers in the Dublin area. The event is going to be called “Ultimate,” and is hopefully going to be a consecutive event. The plan is to have this youth day in June, and to begin to plan for another event in December. We have a few kids from our congregation we will be taking, and our minister Bill is going to be taking some kids from our neighbor church in Lucan. I am looking forward to seeing how God uses this event, and the events to come, to impact the lives of our youth. Please keep this event in your prayers.

As I look to what is going to happen in July after I return to the States, I find myself really uncertain. I don’t have much of an idea what God has in store for me. I have continued to do my best to worry about today and let tomorrow worry about itself. However, tomorrow seems to be rapidly approaching! I have applied for the music director job at First Denver Friends Church, and am still just trusting that the Spirit will lead accordingly. Please keep me in your prayers as I seek the Lord’s will for the next step in my life. I want nothing more than to be obedient to Him.

Thank you all for being so faithful and supportive of the ministry happening here in Ireland. The things happening here would not be possible without you. His grace, peace, and unspeakable joy be with you always.

April Pictures

Leading Music at Avoca

April Update

This past month I had the opportunity to go to a leadership conference in the UK. I traveled down with Kevin and a few other friends really not sure what to expect. Although my Friends background combated the charismatic approach, the Lord was really able to use the teaching to speak to me. The three day conference was packed full of speakers who would each speak for about an hour. After a speaker was finished, we would have about a ten minute break before the next session would begin. Needless to say, here I am a couple weeks later still trying to process all that was said.

The line that ran through the entire conference was the importance of relying on the Holy
Spirit for everything. So often we can find ourselves looking at a problem in front of us and trying to do all we can to solve it on our own. I think we sometimes forget that God knows what is going on and knows what the needs are. Furthermore, God knows the answers to these needs. We need to constantly be developing our relationship with God in order to be able to hear His voice and follow His leading.

I also had the opportunity to serve at a kid’s camp this last month. What a blessing that was. I was responsible for the music as well as being a leader for the weekend. It is always a blessing when you get to teach kids about whom Christ is, and it is even better when you have the opportunity to pray with kids about making a decision to follow Christ.

Just before the weekend came, I became sick with the flu. I could hardly move on Thursday, and often wondered how I was going to be able to do the weekend which started the next day. Although I wondered how I was going to do it, I never considered not going. I have been excited about this camp and was looking forward to serving at it.

The leadership was very nice to me and made sure to give me some slack as far as being up for the early meetings and even giving me an opportunity to rest in the afternoon. However, when I was resting I found the Lord really drawing me to his word and to spend time with Him. I thought to myself how much I wanted to just take a nap, but the Spirit kept drawing me to just rest in Him. I have to tell you that this was a remarkable experience. As I came to the word, and simply spent time with the Lord, I physically became more rested and rejuvenated. It was incredible. I did not receive some great revelation from the Lord, but God through His Holy Spirit filled me up. It was incredible!

Often times I find myself going to the word and making it about discovering something new, or having some grand revelation. I was reminded from this weekend that it is not all about getting some great new insight, but is simply about spending time with our God. It is about having a relationship with Him. That’s what He wants. He just wants us to spend time with Him so that He can fill us and give us the strength we need to carry on. When we turn to Him He gives us all that we need.

A fourteen year old boy from Jobstown who used to be in Kevin’s youth club was hit by lightning on Saturday and killed. Ireland hardly ever has lighting and it was quite surprising to me to hear that somebody was actually struck. Please pray for this situation, and pray that God will somehow be able to use it to direct people to Himself.

I want to thank you all for your continued support in all that is happening here. Please continue to pray for the church and for the city of Tallaght. May the Lord be with you in all that you do.

March Update: Refreshed

In the book of Ecclesiastes we read that in our life there is a time for everything and we will often go through seasons:

1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:

2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

- Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

I must admit that these past couple of months has been a bit rough for me, but praise the Lord that He is faithful and pulls us through even when we struggle. I am a human, and just like all of us can get easily distracted from doing God’s will. Satan is so cleaver and so subtle, that often we do not even see what is happening around us until if feels like it is too late. The good news is it’s not too late! Praise the Lord! It’s funny to me because I have been obedient to come here to Ireland, but following God’s will does not stop there. I must be obedient to what He tells me to do here as well. He does not want part of me, but all of me. In order for me to be affective in the ministry He has me in, I must be fully devoted with all my heart to the work that He is doing today. What does God want me to do today?

25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”- M@ 6:25-34

It is too easy to get wrapped up in the future. It is too easy to make plans that may or may not happen. It’s hard to say, ok Lord you worry about my future, I’ll worry about what today. However, that is what we are called to do.

I have been reminded, and want to share with all of you, about the importance of spending time with our Lord on a daily basis. We are not to do it out of duty, but need to do it in order to function as a follower of Christ. The Holy Spirit fills us and will continue to fill us, but if we don’t remain in Christ then how do we expect to function?

“4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” – John 15:4

It is impossible to live out our live with Christ if we don’t spend time with him in prayer. If we can learn to strip away the formalities of prayer and learn how to just speak with God how wonderful it would be. How beautiful it would be to be able to sit down and have conversations with our God through His Spirit. But this can never happen if we do not set aside time to meet with Him. If we fail to do this we will quickly become depressed and stagnate in our relationship with Him. But when we remain in Him we are filled with joy unspeakable, and assured with a peace that brings hope for the future!

Things have been rather busy for me this last week, but it has been really good. I have really enjoyed some of the different opportunities that God is providing for me here. Last Tuesday I met with other youth workers from the Dublin Methodist circuit. The purpose for the meeting was to try and start creating some events for the youth to attend. One idea proposed was to have an annual summer camp, along with other smaller weekend events throughout the year. The conclusion of the meeting was to first of all begin with a day event that we are hoping will take place in June. We have a new couple attending the church that I mentioned last month found our church through my blog. They have two children ages 11 and 13 who I hope to be able to bring to this even in June. The youth workers plan on getting together a couple more times in order to plan this event. Please be praying with us as we seek the Lord’s wisdom on how this weekend should happen.

I have mentioned the need for a full time youth worker here at the church and the need just seems to keep growing. I have spoken with Bill about the idea of meeting up with youth from the Lucan church in order to do a joint Tallaght/Lucan youth group. Apparently they have about five or six youth who are around the same age and do not have anything for them other than on a Sunday morning. I would really like to see something develop that is for them.

I have mentioned before that we have many young kids who will soon be old enough to attend a youth group. It would be wonderful to have something stable set up for them to go to when they are old enough. Please pray with me for God to raise up someone who could come and do full time youth work here. It would be easy enough for someone from the States to come and do what I am doing now. The church is more than happy to have somebody from the States to come over and live in this house and work with the church. That is such a huge blessing as it truly cuts how much money is needed to be raised in order to live here. However, God knows what he is doing and will bring the right person here from wherever that person comes from.

I am a bit nervous about our Easter morning choir performance, but am excited about it as well. We have had trouble being able to practice every week because of other things that are happening in the church. We will get to meet once more before we sing at Lucan on Easter morning. Hopefully it will be a blessing for both those involved and those listening.

When I first arrived in Ireland we had a couple at church who ended up moving to a different church. They called me recently and asked if I could help them lead music at a kids camp that they are doing the first weekend in April. I was able to go to a meeting last night and meet with many of the other leaders that will be involved in this camp. It was such a blessed time. I am really looking forward to this camp and seeing God move in these kids lives. I once again had the chance to meet new people who have a passion for following Christ and want to see His will done. I will be meeting with some of them again in order to practice for the weekend, and am really looking forward to the opportunity to serve with them.

Kevin and I are going with some other people at the end of this month to a leadership convention in England. I have been looking forward to this for a long time and we are finally getting close to actually going. Kevin had the opportunity to go to this convention last year and said that it was very good. I don’t really know what to expect, but am anxious to see what the Lord has to teach me.

As always, God is a work here in Ireland. It is a privilege to be called by the Lord and I am thankful for all He does for me. Thank you all for your prayers and your support. You play such a huge role in impacting Ireland for Christ! Hallelujah! May He fill you all with peace, comfort, and joy that is beyond description!

February Update

How are we all doing? I hope and pray that this letter finds you all well, and that the Lord is continuing to work in mighty ways in all of your lives. We serve an amazing God who is truly always moving. What a blessing it is to be called children of God!

Many of us can still recall when the group from Ireland came over and visited Denver a few years ago. Phil was one of the two men that came a week after the bigger group arrived. Phil works in Dublin’s city center at a homeless shelter run by the Salvation Army. Often times in Phil’s work he comes across men who are struggling with drug addiction. Recently Phil was able to link up with an organization call Teen Challenge, and has been able to send a few of the people he has been in contact with through this program. The trouble has been that Teen Challenge does not have a men’s home based here in Ireland. The closest one was in Glasgow, Scotland; and so Phil has had to send these men out of the country in order to go through the program.

For a while now Phil, along with other friends from DV8, have had a vision of getting a Teen Challenge men’s home up and running here in Ireland. A lot of thought and prayer has already gone into the project, but it still needs more. Please pray for the Lord to grant these men with His wisdom.

The reason I mention all of this to you is because I am here to update you on what I see God is doing in Ireland. Keith Flynn, Kevin, and Shirley are also involved in the project and I am certain that all of you are interested in their lives as well. I am telling you thing because this project needs your prayers. God is doing amazing things; however, this is by no means going to be an easy ministry for anybody. I am thankful for this ministry, and am thankful that there will be a place in Ireland for drug addicts to go. This will be a place that not only helps them to get off drugs, but also teaches them the truth of who Jesus Christ is and how he can transform their lives. Please pray for this ministry and for all the leaders involved.

We have officially started a choir at the Methodist church and things seem to be going quite well. I originally had about 12 people come up to me and say they would like to participate, but have only had about 7 actually come to practice. However, this is a start. We are practicing an arrangement of the Easter Hymn “Christ the Lord is Risen Today,” in order to be able to sing it at the Lucan Methodist church on Easter Sunday. It has been a bit of a stretch both for me and some of the members singing, but it has been a fun challenge. Please pray that we will not simply do a good job, but that it will build fellowship through being able to sing together.

I continue to be amazed with what happens here at the Friday night youth club. It seems that every Friday I feel discouraged before I leave to go play soccer with the kids. There always seems to be something whispering in my ear that it is not worth it. However, every Friday after all is said and done I come home uplifted and encouraged. God is doing something with these kids and I believe that Satan does not like it. I believe that he will continue to do all he can to discourage me from this ministry. Please pray for me to be protected from these spiritual attacks. Please pray that God will give me the strength to persevere every week to meet with these kids. Like I said, I know that God is doing incredible things in their hearts.

We have decided to only bring the same kids back to the church every week. At first this may seem kind of harsh, but it has actually been a tremendous blessing. We are able to meet with the same kids every week, and they have actually calmed down a lot. We have a curriculum that we are using and, although the kids would not admit it, the kids seem to enjoy it. Every week I am worried that they will get board and want to leave. However, last Friday they worked on their worksheets for close to 40 minutes without a complaint. They were asking me questions, and anxious to fill out the correct answers. It was so cool to see it. It is also quite humorous to watch them as they all swear quite a lot. You are never really prepared to hear both the “F” word and “Jesus” used in the same sentence when “Jesus” is used in the correct context.

Please continue to pray for these kids as well. Pray that their hearts will be softened and prepared each week to hear what the Lord wants to teach them. Pray that they will be protected from the harsh environment they live in. Pray they will be protected from getting involved in gangs, drugs, or alcohol. There is so much trouble available to them, and is quite frightening. They need your prayers.

I have been speaking to our minister Bill about the future, and have seen a need here at the church for a full time youth worker. The church has a lot of kids between the ages of 8-12 who are soon going to be teenagers. While I have been here they have always been under the care of the children’s ministry, but they are quickly going to be growing out of that. The church is open to having somebody come from the States to do full time youth work under the same arrangement they had with me; however, that is not the only place a youth worker could come from.

I ask that you will pray with me for God to raise somebody up who will be able to be affective here in Tallaght doing youth work. I desire for God to raise up someone who will be able to tackle both church and un-churched kids. Again, I know God is working in the hearts of the kids who come on a Friday night and I would love for someone to come who would be willing to invest in them as well.

As always God’s work is continuing to take place here in Ireland. Please continue to pray for me as I seek the Lord’s will for my own life. I thank you all so much for your prayers and support. You are such a large part to the ministry that is happening here. Thank you all so much for being obedient to our wonderful Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May He bless and keep you all.

RTE' Television Service

Preparing for the RTE' Television Service.

January Pictures

Jake Fox

Cairistiona at the Cliffs of Moher.

The entrance to Bunratty Castle.Cairistiona at Bunratty Castle.

Slippery at Bunratty Castle! :)

January Update

I hope and pray that the new year is treating you all well. I want to apologize for being so late with this month’s update. It seems that this past month has really flown by. It was a very nice Christmas this year, and I was privileged to have Cairistiona here with me over the Holidays. The Lord is truly good and continues to poor out His blessings on me.

We had our carol service here at the church on the 19^th of December. I believe that everything went very smoothly with this service. We had the opportunity to get people outside of the church involved by doing some readings. During the week the church is also used as a community center, and this was a chance to reach out to those who work here in the building. We are in contact with many of these people almost every day, and I am not sure how many of them are claiming Christ to be there Savior. Please pray for the people who work here that they will come to know Jesus as their own personal Savior. Pray also for us to be attentive to what God is doing here and that we would be ready speak when the Spirit leads.

Cairistiona sang a duet with me at the carol service, and that night was asked if we could both sing the song on Sunday at the RTE televised service. When we got to the studio on that Sunday, one of our normal singers was unable to attend because she had gotten sick. As a result, Cairistiona ended up singing throughout the entire service. It was very unexpected to have Cairistiona come to Ireland and help with the televised service, but it was a blessing to have her.

I believe that the RTE televised service went pretty well. It is much harder to be free to move in the Spirit when everything is rehearsed and on a timed schedule, however that is what needed to happen for the service to be aired on live television. Being able to look back at the service now, I believe that everything went pretty well. I pray that God was, and is, able to use that service for His glory. If he was able to speak to even one person that Sunday morning, than I believe it was worth it.

I asked for prayer last year that the Lord would bring fellowship to this place. God is so good. Almost every night it seemed that Cairistiona was here we found ourselves going to somebody’s house for dinner. Through her being here, God showed me how many people I actually know and have become close with here. Praise the Lord! God hears our prayers and answers them! I believe He is answering our prayers right now. Is the Tallaght Methodist church perfect? No, but what church is? I believe that God is working in this place. We need to be aware of what He is doing and serve Him in His plan. My friend Keith and I were talking last night about how we should not simply present our plans to God looking for approval, but rather seek God’s plan and see how we can serve Him in it.

I am hoping to start a small choir or ensemble at the church. Last year Easter virtually went by and I hardly knew that it had come around. That just doesn’t seem right to me when the resurrection of Christ has got to be one of the most important things to celebrate. We serve a risen God! The plan is to take this small choir and perhaps do some dramas as well. Please pray that as I begin this that I will stride out with confidence from Christ. Pray that people will want to get involved and that it won’t just become something we do, but that the Lord will be able to use it to minister to His people.

In case you have not heard the news, I proposed to Cairistiona while she was here. I am very excited about this new step in life; however that does not change or relieve me from where God has called me now. I will still remain in Ireland until July, and will continue to seek God’s face to know His plans for my life. When I think about the future, the only answer I hear from God at the moment is to wait. Not to go and try to make my own plans, but simply to wait on Him, and rest in Him. God is good and already knows the plans He has for us. Please pray for me as it will be hard to be away from Cairistiona for the next six months. However, I do not want that longing to be with her to be a distraction from what God is doing here and now. Nor do I want to be a distraction to her and where God has placed her at the moment. We long to seek God’s face together and to put our trust in Him, even if at this particular moment we have to do it apart. Again I say praise the Lord for He is good. He truly is my all.

Thank you once again for all of your prayers. You are a vital part to God’s ministry here in Ireland, and I thank you for your dedication and service to the Kingdom of Heaven. May the Lord bless you richly in all that you do.

December Pictures

Banners that Natalie from FDFC made.

December Update

Merry Christmas!

I pray that this letter finds you all well this holiday season. God is good! What a joy it is to be called to His service. I pray that we never forget that it is pure joy to serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I have been distressed to hear about the YWAM shooting, and the shooting at the church in Colorado Springs that happened yesterday. If you are reading this I ask that you take a few moments to lift up our brothers and sisters in Christ up in prayer. I have been challenged recently by a friend to be quick to prayer. Often I think to pray, but not near as much as is needed. I long for prayer to be an automatic reaction, and no longer something that I plan to do. If I hear anything that needs prayer, than it is my desire to be quick to drop everything and pray. I believe that we will all quickly agree to the power of prayer and its necessity.

The RTE Television service is now only two weeks away. It has been busy trying to get everything squared away, but I believe everything should be in order now. Although a lot of the preparation has been additional work, I pray that this service will be a benefit to those who see it. We lift the service up in prayer asking that the Lord will be able to use it to share Christ with people this Christmas. I believe that if Christ is able to reach even one person through this service, than the work to prepare will be irrelevant.

In my last update I mentioned that I did not believe God was calling me to be the leader of the Friday night youth club this year. What can I say, God is so good. One of the men who started the club, Dave, has really taken charge of Friday nights. It has been really incredible. Dave is from this area of Tallaght and can relate with the kids very easily. He attends the West Tallaght Fellowship, and has invited his pastor along to help on Friday nights. Everything has been well organized and the experience has been a drastic change from last year. I have really enjoyed being with the kids and have had many more opportunities to share the Bible and the Gospel with the kids. We are trying to get them to do memory verses; however, I don’t know how well that is going yet. I do know that the word will never return empty (Isaiah 55:11)!

I wanted to be sure to mention that God bringing Steo into the house is an answer to prayer that I long to give glory to God for. Last year I was praying desperately for God to not return me to Ireland alone. While I was traveling around the States, a few people mentioned to me that they felt led to pray for me to have someone in the house with me. I keep saying it, but God is good. He has answered that prayer faithfully! I believe that it is important to rejoice together when God answers our prayers. And He does!

Our church in Tallaght is connected with another Methodist church in Lucan. Bill, our minister, is also the minister of the church in Lucan. A couple of weeks ago we had a cultural night with the Lucan church where people brought food from their native culture (I brought hot dogs) and sang songs in their native tongue. This was a very wonderful time of fellowship. Many of the people in our congregation, as well as the Lucan congregation, are from Africa. I would say that about three fourths of the people that came that night were African. It was very enjoyable to watch as they got up and sang praises to God in their own language. It was a very blessed time that I thank the Lord for.

Natalie Williams from FDFC was kind enough to make us banners to hang up at the church. I think that they are absolutely phenomenal and am very grateful to her and everyone that helped her sew. We finally got the new projector up, and while we had scaffolding here were able to put up the banners. God has given us all different gifts, and can use them for His will and purpose as long as we submit to Him. I am thankful for Natalie’s obedience to use her gifts and talents for the ministry of the Lord.

While I was home I began to date a lovely young woman named Cairistiona. Again, God is good. I am anxious as she is going to be able to come to Ireland during her Christmas break. She will be leaving Denver on December 14, and returning in January. Please pray for her as this is her first time to travel internationally, and she is going at it alone. Please pray for God’s protection over her as she flies, and for the Lord to bless her time while she is here.

Kevin and Shirley are continuing to pursue the vision that God has given Kevin. They both believe that God is calling them to move into a new house apart from the Methodist church in order to get this new ministry underway. The house they are moving into is rather expensive as all housing is here in Ireland. They have run across much opposition from fellow believers that do not believe God will provide the money. However, they are confident that this is what God is calling them to do. Luke 16:10 says that he whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much. Kevin believes this is his next step of faith. Please pray that God will provide. I know Kevin and Shirley love the Lord and long to be obedient to Him. Pray that He will carry through in providing the finances needed to buy this house.

Thank you once again for your continued prayer and financial support. I pray again that you have a blessed Christmas. His grace and peace that surpasses all understanding be with you all.

November Pictures

This is me in Lahinch getting ready to surf. The Lahinch surf school.

Billy, Andy, and Phil.

November Update

I have been back in Ireland for about a month, and God has been really good at helping me to transition back into life over here. God has blessed me with a house mate. Steo has made day to day living incredibly different, but amazingly wonderful. We get along very well, and it has already been a tremendous help in keeping me from feeling lonely. I had hoped to be able to really invest in his life, and this has made that possibility become very easy. Please pray with me that our living together will be a benefit to Steo’s spiritual growth as well as my own.
God has already helped me to make new connections with new people. The Methodist church hired a new lady to run the center on a daily basis. I began talking with her and discovered that her daughter had just taken a missions trip to Greensburg KS in order to help with the rebuilding of the town. How incredible is that!? It turns out that she knows Tim Garrett who used to live here and work as a youth worker for the Lucan Presbyterian Church. Tim then went on to be a Youth Ministries professor at Barclay College. It was Tim who brought Tyler and Chris Bousman to Ireland, and it was through that trip that they became acquainted with Kevin and Shirley. It is truly amazing to see God working.
I went on a surfing trip with a friend named Phil Thomson. Some of you may remember him. He was one of the two guys that came over to America to meet the group that was already here. Phil is an active leader of DV8 which is a Christian gathering that happens once a month. Last year I had the privilege of helping with the worship team. I believe God is calling me to a bigger role in that team this year, and I am hoping to get more involved in the leadership of DV8. I was able to talk to Phil about it extensively on our trip, and he is excited to help be do just that. I am excited to see how God uses this ministry this year.
Everything went well with my visa, and I am officially able to stay in the country for another year. However, I discovered that they base it off of my original visa date, and I only have legal status here until August 3. I spoke to Bill about this and my future plans and it is a possibility that I will only be here through July. We spoke about the continued process of investing in people and helping to raise and train others who can lead the music after I am gone. Please be praying with me that God will not only lead me, but others to step up into this leadership role. My prayer is that I will not be leaving a gap when I leave.
The Friday night soccer club has been put on hold through at least Christmas. I am having trouble getting people to be committed again to this ministry, and it is something that I cannot tackle alone. Again, I am fearful to be the main leader of this ministry because I do not want to leave a gap behind. I really long to see an Irish person step up into this role so that the ministry started can continue and the kids will not feel abandoned. I am more than willing to help and support this ministry; I just do not believe God is calling me to be the leader of it this year.
Kevin and Shirley believe that they will only be at the Methodist Church for another six to twelve months. Kevin has been active in working on starting his own church which will be called Shine Ministries. He believe that this is the direction God is calling him, and believes that he is being called away from the Methodist Church.
A local TV station televises church services from around Ireland regularly. The Tallaght Methodist Church has been asked to be a part of this and have been offered the chance to lead the service on December 23. This is a very exciting opportunity that we are all looking forward to. Please pray that God will help us to be affective as we prepare for this service.
I am also working quickly to help put together a carol service that will be held on December 17. We are hoping to get a local choir to come and sing some carols as well as having some of our local congregation to share their talents that God has blessed them with. I am excited to be able to take of an active role in this service as I did not do much for it last year.
The men’s and women’s groups that were started are continuing to go very well. The men’s group meets here at my house every Tuesday evening. God has really been emphasizing to me the need to be submissive and serve on another. A huge problem that I have seen amongst Christians here in Tallaght (not only the Methodist Church) is their lack of unity. Everybody thinks that they know best and nobody wants to listen to one another. I often feel that everyone is going in there own direction and causing nobody to go anywhere. This is a huge prayer concern. I believe that if these people would submit to one another and consider others better than themselves (Phil 2:3) that unity would come to this place. Please think of us in your prayers as we strive to follow Christ’s example of servant hood (Phil 2:6).
I was surprised at how quickly my money was running out since I have been back in Ireland, and quickly learned that the exchange rate was $1.45 to €1. God has been very good to provide me with all that I need even though I was not expecting the decrease of the value of the dollar. I do ask that you will pray that God will continue to provide me with what I need, and will lead me to be wise with the money that He provides.
Thank you all very much for your constant prayer and support. May God bless and keep you in all that you do.

June Pictures

I loved this tree and the stairs.

I like the dew on this flower.

"Does the rain have a father? Who fathers the drops of dew?"

- Job 38:28

It was a cold and rainy weekend.

Nadine and Steo in Newcastle

More of Nadine and Steo in Newcastle

June Update

Faithful prayer partners,
We are now into the month of June, and I am quickly seeing my first year in Ireland fade away. This past month has been very exciting. God is continuing to stir the hearts of people and it is obvious that His hand is moving. It is exciting to me that many of the events that have happened began just after I chose to submit to God’s will, and committed to stay longer here in Ireland. What a mighty God we serve! “My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.” – Psalm 62:7
As some of you may know, Kevin used to be the youth pastor here at the Tallaght Methodist Church. When I came over last July, Kevin left that role and stepped into the Senior Pastor position. As a result, many of the young adults that were in Kevin’s group began to slip away. God has been laying these kids on Kevin’s heart, and Kevin soon discovered that there are not many places anywhere that focuses on a young adult ministry. We decided that on Thursday nights we would begin such a ministry.
About four weeks ago we opened our doors on a Thursday night praying that the Lord would bring this age group in. We invited everyone we knew in that age group, and as a result fifteen guys came into the building. It was incredible. We barely had to lift a finger and God brought these young men into the church. Most of them were not Christians, and very few of them actually had anything to do with Kevin’s previous youth club. However, I believe that through this program we will be able to attract those from his previous club back to the church.
A couple weeks ago we asked a couple of these young men to come help us with a project we needed to do at the church. Many of them were excited and willing to help. The time I was able to spend with them during this project was ground breaking. God is on the move! I was able to develop relationships with them and begin to gain their trust. We have yet to see any of them commit to following Christ, but I know that we are moments away from seeing a break through. Please be praying for the salvation of these young men. Pray that they will see Christ for who He truly is: their Savior.
I took Steo and his girlfriend Nadine with me on a weekend away last weekend. We went up to Newcastle which is located in Northern Ireland. I have mentioned that I attend a service called DV8, and that is who was hosting this weekend. God really refreshed me. It was a wonderful time of fellowship with other believes. I have struggled to get to know many people outside of Tallaght, and through the weekend I was able develop my relationships with other Christians. It was also a good chance to hang out with Steo more. We have been able to spend quite a lot of time together these past few months. His heart is changing as well as God continues to draw Steo closer to Himself. It is a blessing to be able to encourage him in his walk with Christ.
Although I still struggle with the Friday night club, I am slowly becoming more comfortable with what is happening. It is a slow process, but I again trust that God’s hand is moving. It is important for all of us to remember that it is not us who do anything, but Christ who lives in us. It is only through Him that we have the power to do anything. Please pray that I will be bold to share Christ with these kids. It is not our job to make them accept Christ, but it is our job to tell them who Christ is. I often find myself very nervous when I attempt to share the gospel with them. That is not right. God did not give us a timid spirit, but a spirit of power (2 Tim. 1:7)! Pray that all the leaders on a Friday night will receive an anointing from the Holy Spirit, and be able to move in His power.
Kevin has decided to change the format of Bible study. We are no longer going to meet on a Wednesday as a large group. Right now, we are splitting into two groups: a men’s group and a women’s group. What these are essentially going to be are small groups. We hope that by doing this we can begin having small groups in the church. I am very excited about this change and look forward to meeting with the men! Kevin and I have already brainstormed some different things that we can do with the group. We will be able to continue to study the Bible, but then put it into practice as a group. I look forward to the opportunity to serve each other and others around us as a group. I am anxious to lift each other up in prayer as is needed. I know that God is going to be able to move through this group, teaching us and growing us in our relationship with Him.
On June 23, the leaders of the Church are going away for the day in order to discuss the vision of the church. “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” – Proverbs 29:18a. I do not know what all will come of this meeting, but I pray that it will be productive. Please be thinking of us on this day as we desire to know God’s will for the church. We desire to move forward and to make a difference for the Kingdom of God. We need vision.
My ticket to fly back home is on July 23rd. I ask that you will continue to pray as seek the Lord to know if you should continue to support me financially in this ministry. I know this is where God is calling me to be, and trust that He will provide the financial support I need. Thank you for all your continued support this past year, both financial and prayer. I look forward to seeing you all soon. Gods grace be with you all.

May Update: Decision to Stay

I want to first thank you all for your prayers. I mentioned last month that I was earnestly seeking God in the direction He would have me go regarding staying here in Ireland or coming back home. Although I denied His answer for a while, eventually I have come to embrace His call for me at this time. These past couples of months have been an interesting experience, but I am now %100 confident in the decision I have made through the leading of the Holy Spirit.
When I wrote my update last month I had begun the process of applying to Friends University in order to get my Masters Degree. I spoke with some people about living situations and was in the process of looking for a job. It has been hard being so far from home and I was very excited about the opportunity to move back to the States in order to be closer to friends and family. The more I made plans to come home, the harder it became to focus on the ministry that was happening here.
As everything was happening, I continued to pray that God would lead me to do His will and not my own. Something that I have learned in my short life is that God always speaks the loudest when He tells you something you don’t want to hear. As I was praying for God to show me His will, I continued to focus on what I wanted rather then what He wanted. As a result, I was miserable. I felt confused about His will, pulled in two different directions, and unclear about what I should do regarding this next year. God does not always speak to us in a loud boom, but is a soft whisper. He pricks us and pulls us until we submit to His will.
God’s first whisper came to me a couple of months ago when God reminded me about the story of Jonah. Jonah was displeased with the city of Nineveh and when asked to preach to them he ran away from God. I can very easily relate to this story. God has called me to minister here in Ireland, but in my heart I have been running from God looking for an excuse to come home.
God then proceeded to speak to me saying that he does not always ask us to do what we want, but to surrender to His will. We can see that even Jesus experienced this in the garden before he was arrested. He prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” God does not always call us to do something that we will, but as His children we must submit to His will and not our own. Even though it was clearly God speaking to me, I quickly wrote it off as my imagination. The truth is that I was denying that God actually wanted me to stay here.
I told Kevin about my plans and he kept kidding with me telling me that I was abandoning a sinking ship. He of course was just joking with me and trusted that I was doing all I could to discern God’s will. A few weeks later I purchased a CD by an artist called Waking Ashland. Interestingly enough, God was able to use one of the songs called “On Hands on Deck” to speak to me again. The lyrics to this song say, “All hands on deck, don’t abandon the ship. You’ll never know what this could have been. All hands on deck, my ship is sinking. Don’t let me go, don’t let me drown.”
When I heard the lyrics to this song I was immediately taken back. Not too long after that, God whispered to me again. He told me, “Jared, I have only begun my work here. If you leave now, you will be extremely disappointed when you hear about what is happening. You will wish that you were a part of it.” Although it was clearly God, I once again convinced myself that it was only my imagination and that I was still unclear about God’s will for me. I continued on my plan for a Masters Degree, and continued on in the turmoil that I was creating for myself.
God continued to speak to me through scripture and through people. There are many other stories that I can tell you about what God did to speak to me. However, the final prick from God that pushed me into this decision came from a pastor at a Baptist church we visited two Sunday’s ago. He was speaking about how God will tell you clearly what he wants you to do with you life, but that He will not bend your arm behind you back and force you to do it. It was that night that I finally gave in to God and surrendered to His will for the next step in my life. It is clear that God wants me in Ireland.
Ever since I decided to make plans to stay, the confusion and indecisiveness has left me. I no longer feel pulled in two directions, but am confident that this is what God wants me to do. I believe that this first year was important to help me get my feet wet, but God has bigger things planned for Tallaght. I am excited to see what God does, and am doing everything to embrace His call on my life rather than fighting it. I feel blessed that He has called me to a troubled area and desires to use me in this place. I understand that it will still not be easy, but I have confidence that He who is in me is greater that He who is in Tallaght or the world!
I also take encouragement from the book of Jonah. When Jonah submitted to God, He did amazing things in the city of Nineveh. And as we look to Christ, it also brings up an interesting question: what would have happened if Christ decided to do his will rather than his Fathers will in heaven? God sometimes calls us to do things that are in His will and not our own. We are called to be obedient.
I have already discussed my staying with the church here, and they are delighted to keep me for another year. As far as I know, right now it is going to be alright for me to continue living in the house. As far as the rest of my financial needs, I will need to raise support again for the next year. I ask that you please be praying about this and support me again if God leads you to do so. I will still be coming home at the end of July and look forward to seeing as many of you as I can. The church here would like for me to return to Ireland by the middle of September. I trust that the Lord will provide the means for this to happen.
Thank you again. God is already beginning to do great things here changing hearts and minds. I would love to tell you more about all that, but I will wait to do so in my next letter. May His grace and peace be with you all.

April Pictures

Visiting the YWAM bass in Northern Ireland.
The group visiting Glendelough.

A burning Car. A common sight.

This is where I took my Spiritual Retreat.

The Bousmans with Dublin behind them.

April Update

Friends and Family,
The weather has been incredible this past month in Ireland. It has been amazing to watch people come out of their homes with the sun. As soon as the sun came out, people were outside enjoying it. It’s been wonderful.
I am sorry that I never followed up on what happened with the break in here a couple of months ago. We did call the police, and they came and spoke with me. A couple of detectives came to my house about a week later as well in order to get an official report. As I described one of the guys that broke in, one detective recognized who I was speaking of and went and got a picture from back at the police station. He showed me the picture and it was in fact the same guy. I do not know what all happened after that. I have not heard from the police since then.
The Lord can turn every bad situation into something good. We know that He does this. The same was true with this incident. While the detectives were at my house, they saw my Bible and began to ask questions about whom I was and why I was here. I ended up being able to share the gospel with the two men. They did not accept Christ at this point, but at least a seed was planted. I pray that the Holy Spirit will bring more people into their lives to help them come to a personal relationship with Christ.
I have been slow to write this month’s update because I have been waiting on the Lord to reveal his plan for me for the future. I have been seeking the Lord for him to show me His will on whether or not I should return to Ireland. During this time, I have also been thinking about the possibility of going back to school and getting my Masters Degree. As of right now, I have applied to Friends University, and it is looking like that is a plausible option for next year. However, I desire to follow God’s plan and not my own. Please continue to pray with me as I seek Him on this decision. Pray that I will be more concerned with God’s will rather than my own. Pray also that I will be more concerned with God’s will than the will of others around me. I am scheduled right now to return to the States on July 23rd.
I have been giving an African lady from the church named Mary music lessons on Saturdays. She loves to sing, but cannot read music. It has been a fun experience for both of us as we dive into the world of music together. There is a lot to learn, and she is very busy with her job and kids. Please pray that God will grace her with grace to understand, and pray that I will be able to affectively teach her. It has been a blessing for me to spend Saturday’s with her and her family. They have been in Tallaght for only a few moths, and it is a true blessing that they are here.
I have recently had the opportunity to get to know a Polish family from the church who is now living in Tallaght as well. This last Sunday, I was able to go with the family to a park and play tennis with the father Michael. I have had wonderful times of fellowship with this family, and they are teaching me many things about the Polish culture and how blessed we really are here in Ireland and back in America. They grew up in Poland during the time of communism, and it has been interesting to learn their perspective on the world, and to learn about how they began to have a relationship with Christ. Again, the Lord has blessed me with the chance to meet with this family.
Friday nights are continuing to go well. We are doing all we can to reward good behavior in hopes that it will help the kids learn to be respectful. The Bousman’s were able to visit in this last month and Tyler and Jordan had the opportunity to come on a Friday night. They were able to see first hand what all happens on a Friday. Tyler mentioned to me that it would be hard to explain how the kids really are. It is definitely different working with kids here in Tallaght than it would be working with kids in America. The struggle I am finding out is this: how do we reach the kids where they are? Christ met people where they were at and applied the gospel to them in their particular situation. How do we affectively do the same thing here? This is a hard code to crack, but I put my faith and trust in the Spirit to reveal himself to both me and these kids.
Kevin and Shirley are planning on coming out to Colorado for a visit around the same time I am coming back. They plan on being in the States from July 19th, to August 10th. I am not positive on the dates, but that is approximately the right time. They are looking forward to seeing many friends and faces. If you would be interested in doing anything special with them, please let me know so that the can begin to organize their time while in America. They are planning on having a week to be by themselves in order to relax as a family, but that leaves two weeks open. They are excited to see you and to be able to introduce you to their son Jake.
Thank you all for your continued support and prayers. May the Lord bless all of you in all you do to further His kingdom. Praise be to the Lord!
His grace and peace be with you,
Jared

March Pictures

My parents in Kilkenny.

Monk Ruins in Killkenny

Some familiar faces for some of you.

Loida visited from Paris.

Malahide Castle.

Amy and Eliana got along well!

David

Dean and Dan.

Dillon grabbed the bag without touching the ground.

Peter trying to pick up the bag with his mouth.

March Update

This past month has been quite interesting. I went to Scotland for a weekend, then I went on the OM weekend with some youth, I got robbed, and then my parents came to visit. At the end of this week the Bousman’s are also visiting. Some things have been good and others bad, however it has all ventured away from what had been normal. I am baffled at how the Lord has not only been using me here, but also how He has been growing me here. I find myself holding onto the promise given in Luke 18: “I tell you the truth," Jesus said to them, "no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life.” God is good. I am continually leaning more and more what it means for Christ to be sufficient for me.
Thank you all for your encouraging words after you read about the break in. I am sorry that I could not get all of you written back, but know that I appreciate everything that all of you said. It was encouraging to hear from you and know your support and prayers are with me.
God is surely at work here. Bill went on a minister’s retreat and came back believing that something was not right with the church. He and Kevin have been talking and praying about the direction the church should go. A new plan of action they believe the Lord is leading them in is changing the entire structure of the church. They are looking at turning the church into a cell church. That is the church will still be meeting once a week to have a celebratory praise service, but the core of the church will meet in small groups each week. The focus of the church would be directed more to what happens in the small groups rather then on the bigger service. The process of switching to this structure would be very gradual and would take some time. However, the wonderful thing is that people are starting to understand that something needs to change. We are not growing, and they understand that we are doing something wrong. Please join us in prayer for the direction of the church here in Tallaght. Pray that the Lord’s will be done. Pray that the leaders of this church will desire only what the Lord desires for this place.
Presenting the gospel to the kids seems to have gone fairly well. Many of the kids are always asking me, “Why are you here?” Hopefully they are beginning to understand that I am here because I want them to know Christ personally. Having my parents visit revealed to me how many kids I have actually gotten to know since I arrived. My small leadership team has decided we are going to simply play games with the kids on Friday nights, and then give a 30 sec word backed up with scripture. Our prayer is that they will see Christ in us, and that the Holy Spirit will drive the small messages home. I trust that as we continue to seek the Lord, He will give us the right things to say in these small messages so that He can draw the kids to Him.
One of the kids asked me on Friday night if I was going to be coming back to Ireland after August. At this particular point I honestly have no idea. Please be praying for me that the Lord will lead me according to His will. I desire to be in a place that I will be affective for His kingdom; no matter where that is.
“But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” – 1 Peter 3:14-16
Thank you for all your support and prayers. His grace and peace be with you all.