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Ireland's Church Planter--St. Patrick
by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson
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Who was St. Patrick? You scratch your head. He drove the snakes
out of Ireland? Wrong! He won a shamrock-plucking contest? Come
on! He wore green before it was fashionable? Give me a break!
Would the real St. Patrick please stand up?
Patrick was born on the west coast of Britain about 360 A.D. At
the age of 16 he was kidnapped by Irish pirates and sold as a
slave into the service of a local king. On a rainy hillside tending
sheep, he met the Lord and his faith was nurtured over the next
several months. He escaped, but God called him to return to the
emerald isle as a missionary.
At that time druid priests, deep into black magic and the occult,
held the island's inhabitants in a lockgrip. Patrick challenged
this demonic stronghold and won, but the victory was neither quick
nor cheap. He was imprisoned for months at a time, his only respite
from the stress of constant travel and hardship. Yet one after
another, tiny kingdoms would finally allow Patrick to declare
the good news of Jesus within their borders. He baptized tens
of thousands. Hundreds of chapels were erected for the worship
of Jesus all over Ireland.
Who was Patrick? A saint of God who gave his life to help people
know Jesus by starting mission churches. St. Patrick might feel
more comfortable at newly-planted church than even St. Peter's
Basilica. After all, he was partial to the challenge and excitement
of new churches.
You'll not find a drop of Irish whiskey after church, only punch
and coffee, and no leprechauns magically set up the chairs on
Sunday mornings, but if you love St. Patrick's Jesus, you're welcome
to worship with fellow Christians in church this Sunday.
More on St.
Patrick's Life, Prayers, and Legacy
Copyright © 1985-2009 Ralph F. Wilson. <pastor
joyfulheart.com> All rights reserved. A single copy of this article is free. Do not put this on a website. See legal, copyright, and reprint information.
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