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March 13, 2025
Dear Trinity Family,
I want to share a remarkable story with you that you may think you already know but will likely be new truth to you. This is the story of Patrick, the missionary to Ireland. He was raised in church and rebelled against the faith of his parents. You may be surprised to learn that Patrick grew up in Scotland! From there he was captured and enslaved in Ireland. Listen to Patrick’s own words as he tells about his rebellion, slavery, and conversion to Jesus Christ:
“I am Patrick, a sinner, most unlearned, the least of all the faithful, and utterly despised by many. My father was Calpornius, a deacon, son of Potitus, a priest, of the village Bannavem Taburniæ; he had a country seat nearby, and there I was taken captive.”
“I was then about sixteen years of age. I did not know the true God. I was taken into captivity to Ireland with many thousands of people---and deservedly so, because we turned away from God, and did not keep His commandments, and did not obey our priests, who used to remind us of our salvation. And the Lord brought over us the wrath of his anger and scattered us among many nations, even unto the utmost part of the earth, where now my littleness is placed among strangers.”
“And there the Lord opened the sense of my unbelief that I might at last remember my sins and be converted with all my heart to the Lord my God, who had regard for my abjection, and mercy on my youth and ignorance, and watched over me before I knew Him, and before I was able to distinguish between good and evil, and guarded me, and comforted me as would a father his son.”
Patrick eventually escaped from slavery and made it home to Scotland. While in Ireland, he discovered that no one had yet heard and believed in the Christian gospel. Remarkably, God gave Patrick compassion for the Irish people and called him to return and share the message of Jesus with them. Patrick had opportunity to return to Scotland, but gave the rest of his life to see countless Irish people saved and many churches started. Listen again to his love for the lost:
In the light, therefore, of our faith in the Trinity I must make this choice, regardless of danger I must make known the gift of God and everlasting consolation, without fear and frankly I must spread everywhere the name of God so that after my decease I may leave a bequest to my brethren and sons whom I have baptized in the Lord---so many thousands of people.
Maybe you think your life can’t make too much of a difference for Christ. Well, Patrick thought he was a terrible sinner, an uneducated former slave, and a foreigner – but God used him in historic ways! What is God asking you to do?
Perhaps, instead of wearing green and celebrating leprechauns, we should follow Patrick’s example by simply sharing the gospel.
Grace and Peace to You,
Pastor Zach
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