Feature

U-Turns in Ireland

By Hal Donaldson

Michelle grew up in an abusive home. As a youth, she started using and dealing cocaine and heroin. Her boyfriend was one of Europe’s most notorious drug kingpins, so she lived in constant fear for her life. Money and drugs couldn’t bring Michelle peace and happiness. Many mornings she awakened from her drug-induced stupor and contemplated suicide. Finally she freed herself from the grasp of her boyfriend and entered a detoxification center. But that was merely the beginning of years of hiding and relapsing into destructive habits.

One afternoon while driving to purchase more drugs, she asked God to help her overcome her addiction. “I don’t want to live like this anymore,” she said. “Help me, God.” Inexplicably she made a U-turn and returned home without the drugs. Shortly thereafter God spoke to her heart and led her to Rialto Community Church, a church planted by St. Mark’s Family Worship Center, where Michelle committed her life to Christ.

“That U-turn on the road is like the U-turn that took place in my life,” Michelle says. “I don’t have hatred, shame and pain anymore. I give thanks to the Lord for what He’s done in my life. I never had hope and peace until I met the Lord and started going to a Christian church.”

Michelle is one of thousands in Ireland whose lives have taken a different course in recent years. Some can trace their salvation back to a young missionary couple, Gary and Wilma Davidson, and their decision to leave a pastorate in Oklahoma in 1980 and come to Dublin, Ireland, to share the truth of Jesus Christ.

Dublin, Ireland’s capital city of 1 million, is predominately Catholic. In 1921 Ireland was partitioned into 26 Catholic counties and six largely Protestant counties in Northern Ireland.

The Davidsons began their work in Dublin by showing The Cross and the Switchblade film in public schools and holding church services in their home. Before long the weekly meetings were moved to a hotel. In less than a year about 100 people came to Christ.

Some years earlier, a woman had a vision that Gary would lead a large fellowship on Pearse Street in Dublin. The prophetic word claimed the building would be filled and the congregation’s influence would reach far beyond the city to the entire nation. At the time, Gary hadn’t heard of Pearse Street. But in 1986, through a series of miracles, the congregation acquired St. Mark’s, a 250-year-old church located on Pearse Street in downtown Dublin.

Today St. Mark’s Family Worship Center, a congregation of 600, is touching the nation by planting churches, helping launch Christ for Ireland Training Center, establishing a Teen Challenge center, conducting large evangelism outreaches and more.

Christ for Ireland Training Center was founded by missionaries Bob and Gioia Mihuc in 1991. Graduates of the center now serve as missionaries, pastors and workers in local churches. Many have come from Roman Catholic backgrounds.

“Ministering in Ireland is great because people already have some basic knowledge of God, but they don’t know what to do with it,” says Gioia, who also serves as a Missionettes leader. “Evangelism involves learning to tap into their desire and need to know God.”

Teen Challenge has helped many overcome drug addiction and accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. Alan and Barbara Sweetman, who found Christ at St. Mark’s, direct the ministry, which has an 80 percent success rate in helping graduates remain drug free.

Evangelism is a priority at St. Mark’s. Street evangelism, food distribution and neighborhood cell group meetings take place each week. Under the leadership of associate pastor Sean Mullarkey and youth pastor Derek Switzer, a large youth outreach called “Xposure” was launched a few years ago. Young people from across Ireland descend on Dublin for Xposure’s hi-tech concerts and rallies, and hundreds have received Christ.

In addition to the English-speaking church, St. Mark’s is home to an African congregation, a Romanian fellowship and other groups. The church has helped plant churches in several communities, including Rialto, Newbridge and Derry.

St. Mark’s is also participating in an outreach called “Power to Change,” an interdenominational evangelism campaign. In September the name of Jesus will be proclaimed across Ireland through television and radio commercials, mass mailings, advertisements, the Jesus film and much more.

“Christians in Ireland, for the most part, have not done an adequate job here in presenting the gospel of Jesus Christ,” says Basil Good, chairman of the Power to Change effort. “Nothing in recent history has brought churches together like this campaign. This will mobilize the church of Jesus Christ as never before to declare that Jesus has the power to change lives. I’d like to ask believers in America to pray that thousands will come into a relationship with Jesus Christ through this campaign.”

Intercession is a centerpiece at St. Mark’s. Special prayer meetings are held five days a week. “I believe God does nothing in His church apart from prayer,” Gary says. “We just completed 40 days of fasting and prayer. Every hour was covered with fasting and prayer for a spiritual breakthrough in Ireland.”

Half of Ireland’s population is under 28 years of age, Gary says. “If you go out on the streets at 11 p.m., you’ll see thousands of young people in the city center. We must come up with ways to reach this MTV culture. I believe the young men and women that God is raising up will be given the ways to reach them.

“Ireland has become a very secular, humanistic culture. Many people have left the traditional church and are pursuing money—owning a home, driving a nice car. We must reach them with the gospel.”

“When we came here 22 years ago,” says Wilma, “90 percent of the people went to Mass on Sunday morning. Now priests in some areas say they have 8 percent attending and very few young people. I often ride the bus and hear people comment about how sad it is to see their young people leaving the church and going to pubs. They want something to turn things around.”

Preaching at St. Mark’s on a Sunday morning, Greg shared one story after another of how God is at work in Europe. One could sense the congregation’s faith building as he chronicled a series of miracles and open doors. From the outset of the service there was an atmosphere of revival—lively music and a liberty of worship.

When Gary Davidson urged the people to express their love to God, the congregation erupted into praise. Both the young and old bounced to the music as three teenagers waved flags in celebration. Businessmen and former drug addicts worshiped side by side, singing, “The church must rise up from its slumber; people are standing at the crossroad.” From the opening prayer to the closing song, the Holy Spirit was in charge.

When Greg concluded his message with an altar call, dozens pressed to the front for special prayer. Greg, Gary and others anointed them with oil. One young girl’s knees buckled as she was prayed for; another knelt gently, her tears dripping to the floor.
Meanwhile altar workers wrapped their arms around repentant young people. No one appeared in a hurry. The auditorium remained filled to capacity as people basked in the presence of the Lord.

At that moment it occurred to me that the prophecy a woman had given many years ago had indeed come to pass: There wasn’t an empty seat in the church on Pearse Street, and indeed St. Mark’s was touching the nation.

Later, wearing a wide smile, Gary passed along some heartwarming news: “Three more people found Christ today,” he said. “Praise the Lord!”

That’s three more U-turns, I thought.