Stephen and Nikki Childs
Building up the church in the West of Ireland
Ireland is probably the least-churched English-speaking country in the world, with figures indicating less than 1% bible-believing Christians.
Stephen & Nikki Childs lead a church planting team in Castlebar, Co. Mayo, in the West of Ireland. Calvary Church Castlebar had its first Sunday meeting in 2013 and regularly welcomes people from six nationalities.
Returning home with a vision
Stephen & Nikki both grew up in the West of Ireland and know first-hand the challenges of living for Jesus in the Republic of Ireland – probably the least evangelical country in the English-speaking world. After leaving to pursue studies in Dublin and the UK, and having received excellent, life-changing Bible teaching elsewhere, they wanted to return home to help the Irish church. Now Stephen pastors Calvary Church Castlebar and also trains students for ministry in Ireland.
They long to see men and women in Ireland rooted and established in God’s truth, participating fully in healthy local churches, and reaching their communities with the good news of Jesus.
We are convinced that every town in Ireland needs a church that shares the good news of Jesus as found in the Bible.
Church planting network
After completing studies at Oak Hill College in London, Stephen & Nikki returned to Ireland in 2012 to lead a team planting a new church in Castlebar, Co. Mayo. They are part of the Calvary Mission church-planting network – a group of nine churches cooperating to establish healthy churches in Ireland.
A hard place to be a Christian
There are around 20,000 people in the wider Castlebar area, with maybe just 100 evangelical Christians. Although religious rites of passage are still observed, very few people have ever read the Bible for themselves and most have no concept of the grace that Jesus offers. While the persecution suffered by previous generations is largely gone, this is still a hard place to be a Christian. People confuse Christians with cults, and believers are usually on their own in their schools and workplaces. Deep roots in God’s word are essential if people are to survive, let alone thrive.
Battling the winds of false teaching
Ephesians 4:1-6 sums up their goal: winds of false teaching blow many converts off course and there is a huge need for Christians to speak God’s truth to each other so that people grow to maturity.
We have seen first-hand the great need, not just for evangelism, but for discipleship.
They aim to teach the Bible in a way that connects with everyday life, helping children and adults alike to live every minute through faith in Jesus. The team also reaches out by distributing gospel calendars and magazines and follows up with door -to-door visits. Stephen & Nikki work hard at being involved in community life through toddler groups, orchestra, book group, craft evenings, and garden-fence chats.
Speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the head, that is, Christ. (Eph 4v15)
