Paramount Church

Project Ireland Update Pt. 1

Jun 6, 2010

Hello Paramount Family!  I miss you guys greatly!  As most of you know my name is Brian Hill.  I am currently in New Ross, Ireland working with Grace Church in New Ross.  I am going to be here until Aug. 12.  I am living with the couple that is leading the church right now as they wait for a pastor.  We are in great need of your prayers because New Ross is almost completely darkened to the Gospel.  It is very difficult to share the Gospel with those living in this town.  There is another man here in his 20’s that I have been working alongside of for the last couple weeks.  His name is Matthew Owens and he is from Nashville, Tennessee.  We have encountered many difficulties and frustrations in meeting people on the street and attempting to share the Gospel with them.  We have been told we are brainwashed, ignorant, etc.  However, we find our strength and confidence in the sovereign God of the universe and His Word.  Therefore, even when it gets difficult or discouraging, we know that the Gospel is still being proclaimed no matter what reaction we may receive. 

Although there have been difficulties with the people we were expecting to reach with the Gospel in this town, we have been able to make some great contacts with unlikely people.  One of those contacts is a group of political exiles from Africa that live in a rectory in New Ross.  Matthew has built a relationship with a believer named Abraham from Ethiopia that we have met with a couple times.  We are starting a Bible study this Tuesday night with these men.   Please pray for our relationship with these men.  Although many proclaim to be believers, we are not sure that they all have a clear understanding of the Gospel.

Another unlikely way that we have been able to meet people is at a pub in downtown New Ross.  We have been mentoring a man in his 30’s named Tom, who just recently became a believer.  We try to meet at a restaurant or pub so we can have opportunities to share the Gospel with people.  There is one place in particular that has a balcony where people go to smoke.  We sit on the balcony when mentoring Tom through the Gospel of John.  It’s amazing how many people see us with our Bibles and come over to hear what we have to say.  We have met some people that seemed interested in the Gospel and want to meet with us again. 

It is amazing to see God work in unexpected ways here in New Ross.  Please continue to pray as Grace Church seeks to reach this lost town.  The Gospel so desperately needs to be proclaimed throughout this town.  People here are tired of “religion” because of what they see occurring in the Catholic churches here.  Many are searching or have simply stopped searching for the truth.  A couple people I have talked with have mentioned Richard Dawkins (who is a well-known atheist).  While this seems like an impossible task we know that we serve in almighty God who can use the Gospel to penetrate any person’s heart.  This is what keeps us going as we proclaim the Gospel to everyone we come into contact with.

Thank you so much for all of your support and prayers!

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