David and Wilma Murphy
Evangelism & church ministry in the West of Ireland
Tell us a little about the Church situation the West of Ireland
In the West of Ireland there are 30 towns with a population of between 5,000 and 10,000, and 84 towns with a population between 10,000 and 25,000, with no evangelical witness.
Traditionally the West of Ireland has had a higher proportion of religiously devout people than the rest of Ireland. Charlestown is close to the popular pilgrimage destination of Knock. But disillusionment with the Catholic Church and increasing secularism mean many have no interest in spiritual things. Church planting and growth here therefore is notoriously slow and building friendships and overcoming natural suspicion also takes time.
Why are you working in Ireland?
God challenged us a few years ago about the number of people in Ireland who had not heard the gospel. There are only a small number of evangelical churches in the West of Ireland.
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Rom 10:14-15)
These verses in Romans chapter 10 really spoke to us, and we believed God was calling us to bring the gospel and plant churches in the West of Ireland.
What are your aims?
Our aim is to share the good news that Jesus died for us and that in Christ we can have life everlasting and abundant. As people respond and are saved, we aim to plant churches and disciple believers so that they may be equipped for all God has for them to do.
David spends much of his time on pastoral duties: teaching God’s Word on Sunday and midweek. He also pastors the small group of believers in Charlestown. David goes with them as they reach out with the gospel in a variety of ways; first in Charlestown, and then the surrounding towns and villages. It is a very rural area so building relationships where we live is very important, because people in rural communities are often missed by evangelistic campaigns.
Finally, tell us a little about you?
We are both originally from Northern Ireland: David is from Belfast and Wilma is from County Tyrone. We have both been believers in Jesus for over 40 years and David has served as a pastor for 20 years. We have four grown up children, and three grandchildren with another on the way.
