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Thank you for coming
My dear American missionary friends, of all types and organizations: Thank you for: • Coming to Ireland in the first place. That first day when you stepped off the plane, Ireland wasn’t quite like it is today, was it? • Patiently answering the question, “how were your holidays?”, when you have just come back from… Read more
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Racing to St Patrick’s Day
In my teens I read the old tomes of biographies that told tales of missionary doctors like David Livingstone. Maybe I should be a doctor and get serious about the biological sciences (after all I had attempted to breed newts, found in a nearby quarry, in a makeshift aquarium under my bed). But it was… Read more
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I’m sure it’s illegal
You may not have heard of Shagufta Kiran, who has been a Christian nurse in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. I wouldn’t have heard of her either except that her case is being featured by Church in Chains this month. Shagufta has been kept in custody since July 2021 when she was arrested for blasphemy.… Read more
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I’m trying to mind my language
A couple of weeks ago I emailed some supporters reminding them that our goal is ‘the fulfilment of the Great Commission’. But after I had pushed the send button, I had second thoughts. Would they know what I’m talking about using such time-worn phraseology? Maybe it would have a soporific familiarity. And anyway, what did… Read more
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Hello – I’m with the church
I think enough time has been spent explaining away the church. It is a shallow approach that only says, ‘I just emphasise Jesus’. That’s nice. And what do you say Jesus taught? ‘We should love one another.’ That’s nice too. And would you like to live this way with Jesus’ people? ‘Of course’. Well then,… Read more
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The girl, the pomegranate and the artist
It was in mountain country where 20-year-old Annie attended her first Bible study. Soon she discovered that they had a local habit of everybody reading one verse each as they went around the circle. She decided to cooperate and was understandably keen to say her verse right and was hoping for a good one. As… Read more
the electrician's children 