A Lighthouse in Ireland
J.P. Walsh and his wife, Fidelma, are Irish church-planters with a vision and heart for lost souls. The church-plant is in Listowel, located in Kerry County in the southwest part of Ireland . The Listowel Christian Fellowship is the first evangelical church to be built in Kerry County for over one hundred years! The Walshes have faithfully reached out to the lost souls of this region and today a solid group of believers are meeting in a rented facility. Since 2001 the Walshes and the church members purchased land and have begun constructing a church building, which they have done to do debt-free. EuroTeam has partnered with them several times to help them accomplish this ambitious building project.
Irish pastor, "J.P." (R) shaking hands with a team member.
This last Fall 2006 EuroTeam sent their most recent team of 11 adults from a church in Tempe , AZ. The Walshes and a few other Irish church people, such as Stephen, Donal and Ann, got in and helped the team. During this two-week project, they tiled the floor of the church sanctuary, and floors and walls of the kitchen and three bathrooms. They also painted pretty much the entire church, and also did a few other minor finishing tasks. Quite a transformation took place!
The highlight of the week was the Appreciation Banquet on the very last evening. It was held in the newly tiled and painted auditorium. After the banquet for the team the whole church was invited for dessert. There were many exclamations of wonder as the Irish Believers came through the doors and saw the work that had been done. That special meeting was actually the first time to use this room and an impromptu worship celebration took place.
Though they haven't officially began Sunday worship services in this new building, when they do inaugurate this new church building, which should be in the coming months, they plan to rename the church, using the Gaelic word for Lighthouse, because this church has been exactly that: a spiritual lighthouse for the people of Kerry County, Ireland.
Quote from a team member: “My perspective on Christianity in Ireland has changed. I had previously thought it was already reached.”
The Irish accent is beautiful to listen to. Donal spoke with such a strong
accent that a few Irish said they even have a hard time understanding.
Listowell Update:
Pastor Walsh sent us some recent photos to let us see the fruits of our labor.
Here is a photo of the Listowel Church finished and ready to use in December of 2006.
Believers are now worshipping in the newly tiled auditorium.
Editor's Note: EuroTeam has worked with Irish Pastor J.P. over the last 3 years. First, the EuroTeam Design Group visited the project site so we could draw up the blue prints for the building renovations. Then EuroTeam supervised three separate work teams: 1) a team to do the Roof/rafters/roof tiles, 2) a team to do sheet rock and insulate the interior of the church, and 3) a team to do the tiles on the floors of the auditorium and the floors and walls of the WC and kitchen area. We praise God that EuroTeam can partner up with European churches to help them advance in this way, for His glory.
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