Ireland: A Nation That Changed the Landscape of the World

I have been in several meetings and conferences since being here in the United States where speakers have referenced the uniqueness of the Christian roots in its formation, the influence globally it has had in since its inception, and prayer for the return of this nation to being a God-centered light to the nations. In the twenty-something nations I traveled, I have seen a glimpse of the God-ordained redemptive qualities amongst the people of every nation I have been. It reminds of the verses in the book of Revelation that describes the heart of God for there in heaven to be a representation of every tribe, nation, and tongue (Revelation 7:9-10).

People have assumed that I would naturally return to the United States since Rachel passed away (her being Irish and me being of American roots). As I am in this in between state here in the United States, leaning into God for His purposes and direction for the next phase of life, I have been reflecting on the love I have for a nation and people with such an incredible history and heritage…something I believe wholeheartedly God wants to redeem, opening the wells of revival once again.

Around 430 AD, a once kidnapped slave of the Irish who received miraculous guidance for his escape after praying “around a hundred prayers a day,” St. Patrick returned as a missionary to convert the barbarous Irish. By his death on March 17th, 460 AD, Patrick was credited with forming over 300 churches and baptizing over 100,000 Irish. It was said that he was humble and pious, and devoted to God and his mission. He had a deep personal relationship with God, fearless, and lived in constant danger of martyrdom. His faith and the churches he planted were not of a ceremonial religious type faith that many depict or believe, but from His own writings, were deep in their commitment to a personal relationship with God and experiential in nature.

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If to live as an apostle of revival and reform was not enough, the real legacy of the life of Patrick is not in what he saw during his own lifetime, but the effects he had on the culture and the way that it transformed a people, sparking a discipleship missionary movement that changed the landscaped of the world for hundreds of years.

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Let me take a moment to describe one of those investments St. Patrick and his companions made in their lifetime. When they came upon a valley in County Down, Ireland, which we now know as Bangor, it is said that they, “Beheld a valley flooded with a heavenly light, and with a multitude of the host of heaven they heard, as it changed forth from the voices of angels, the psalmody of the celestial choir.” Patrick called it the “Valley of Angels.” What happened in that place was nothing short of miraculous!

In 555 AD, Bangor Monstery was founded by Abbot Comgall. Patrick had prophesied his brith and the monetary sixty years earlier. What was birthed through Comgall developed over the years into one of the longest 24/7 continual worship and prayer meetings. Ever.

I have done some research with different ideas expressed to its length, but conservative figures relate that 1000 monks were organized into three rotations of continual prayer and praise, lasting around 200 years! It is also reported that through the thousands of monks that were trained through the monetary, many took the gospel into Europe, demonstrating the power of the gospel in signs and wonders, and regularly even seeing the dead raised! Patrick himself saw many miracles throughout his ministry!

In my first year as a struggling missionary in Ireland, twenty-five years ago, I read several books, and I was amazed at the significant influence this small rugged island and humble people have had on the world stage. At the time I was also reading a book on the incredible revival that has been developing over the past 100 years in China, and their mission to take the gospel along the Silk Road all the way to Jerusalem. One of the books I read about Ireland had a map of the disciples of Patrick, and I saw that from Ireland, not only did they take the gospel to Europe, but all the way to Jerusalem. Everywhere they went, they not only preached Jesus, but established discipleship centers that created food supplies and schools that educated the poor, as well as the general population. They were the western missionary launch of the similar Back to Jerusalem project we are seeing today, but over a thousand years ago!

Some of you reading this may have read or heard of the Thomas Cahill book, “How the Irish Saved Civilization.” In his book, Thomas historically documents how without Patrick’s investment in bringing the gospel and instilling literacy and learning in the Irish, Europe would not have survived the transition from classical Rome to the medieval era. They copied manuscripts and preserved Scripture when Europe was being plundered and pillaged. Probably the greatest living example is the Book of Kells. This beautiful ornate and artistic masterpiece of the Scriptures handwritten is preserved and visible on display at Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.

No people group (ethnic group) has sent out as many missionaries per capita as the Irish have. The land of ‘saints and scholars,’ secular as much of Europe and the western world today, still has those seeds of revival within her bosom. I remember in the early 2000’s, taking four teenage girls with my wife on a mission’s trip out to the villages of Romania. The American Missionary host commented that he had received teams all summer, but there was a ruggedness, adaptability, and tenacity in this small team that he had not seen all summer.

While the Republic of Ireland, according to stats, claims around 1.5% evangelical Christian, there is a fire within the heart of the people and the growing church, that echoes the passion of the Celtic saints of old. As a nation, Ireland is extremely generous on the world front, fighting for injustice and against poverty. As many foreigners have flooded into Ireland over the past twenty-five years, I believe the well of world missions and heart to reach the nations is being stirred again! There are the complications of integration and unrest in the society with all the social changes. I believe there needs to be regulation in the process, but even in that, there is a prophetic call and stirring with all these foreigners beckoning for missionary wells to spring up again.

With the spiritual vacuum that exists, and a rise of paganism and witchcraft within society (something Ireland is also known for), there is a rise in the desire of the church, even if just within a remnant at this stage, to see the supernatural as regular occurrence within the church as in the days of Patrick and beyond with his disciples (and as in the book of Acts). And it is happening! Miracles are occurring not just in churches, but also on the streets!

As I sit in a coffee shop overlooking the majestic mountains of Colorado, I think back to home. To Ireland. What God wants to do, and the incredible heritage that God wants to renew and unleash, not just within Ireland, but to be an overflow once again to the nations. The call of God has never left the shores of the beautiful Emerald Isle. The way forward is not simple, but as history tells us, it only takes one person who has the passion and complete surrender to God as St. Patrick to transform a nation and nations, for hundreds and hundreds of years!

I want to continue to get back to the simplicity, passion, and belief of these early fire starters of the gospel. I have seen God move in ways beyond what I thought possible over the twenty-five years I have served in Ireland. There is so much more! The work will never end!

“God, awaken once again as we dig the wells of revival, to see a powerful harvest in this present day, and in our children and children’s children generations!”