March 7, 2007

Do you ever need encouragement?  David did...just read Psalm 42!  Do you ever feel the plans and purposes God has called you to are either impossible or have been hijacked?

Pastors, leaders, and young people across Ireland are confronted with these types of issues on a daily basis.  There are many Irish people with a call of God on their lives to reach their nation but have either become isolated and discouraged or overwhelmed with the size of the task to reach their community, town, city, and nation with the truth of Jesus.

This is where Larry & Ann Diamond, Assemblies of God World Missions personnel, enter the picture.  They are privileged to come alongside pastors and leaders to help them fulfill the vision God has given them for their communities.  This has only been possible because RELATIONSHIP is priority.  This is the "Celtic Way" of evangelism.  Ministry has to be relationship-based in Ireland.  Because of relationship, the Dimonds are able to serve pastors and leaders where they need help.  Some need support, some need training, some need mentoring, and some just need to know someone is there to listen and walk with them through challenges that ministry brings.

What does this look like in a practical sense?  This ministry cannot be categorized into neat little boxes and there are no photo ops for this "in the trenches" ministry.  This ministry often happens in the Dimonds' living room, crying and praying with pastors and leaders.  It also happens at coffee shops, strategizing and planning.  This happens through daily text messaging, emails, and blogs.  The Dimonds serve churches without pastors or whose pastors are on vacation.  They minister at church retreats and leadership retreats.  They counsel singles, young couples, and seasoned couples alike.  They support leaders through training seminars, teaching, preaching, and worship leading.  They pray for the sick and lead the lost to Jesus.

And all because of relationships that have been built since the Dimonds first went to Ireland in 1993.