Eric Reece
We celebrated St Patrick’s Day on Friday.
While seen as a celebration of all things Irish, Patrick was not Irish and he was born Magonus Sucatus.
One great thing to celebrate is St. Patrick is an example of how to do evangelism right.
Patrick was born of British parents and his father was a Roman official. When Patrick was 16 years old, Irish pirates raided his village, killed, robbed and took Patrick and others as slaves.
He ended up working, caring for his master’s sheep. He was often hungry and lonely. He spent time praying. His master was not kind to him. During this time, he learned the language and culture of Ireland. Later, this would work to his advantage.
When he was 20 years old, Patrick had a dream. He was told to go to the coast and a ship would be waiting there to take him home. He left the sheep and walked.
Hungry, he arrived at the coast and there was the ship that took him home. His family rejoiced to see him. He moved to France to study at a monastery. As he prayed for God’s will for his life one night, he had a dream.
In the dream, he heard the Irish people calling out for him to return to the land of his captivity. His Bishop shared Patrick’s vision with others. Eventually, the former slave was appointed to be the first bishop of Ireland. He was 40 years old when he arrived back to share the Gospel.
Because of Patrick, many in Ireland believed in the Lord Jesus Christ.
I heard Dr. George Hunter speak on Patrick’s way of evangelism. He said, “As far as we know nobody in history had ever escaped from slavery and voluntarily returned to those who still owned him at great personal risk, loving them and telling them of the high God whom they only dimly know. He loved them, he cared for them and he redeemed them.”
How he did it is an example for all Christians.
“Patrick built on everything that he could,” said Dr. Hunter.
Knowing the language, Patrick spoke and preached in Gaelic, the language of the people. Knowing the culture, he would preach at their sacred sites and the sacred stone pillars were soon carved into crosses by new believers.
Many legends surround Patrick. He preached in a village and the people had trouble understanding how God could be 3-in-1. He held up a shamrock and said just as in the beauty of the one plant, there are three leaves; in the beauty of God, there are Father, Son and Holy Spirit. When a chieftain once wanted Patrick and his companions killed, warned of the danger he prayed and was able to pass through undetected and to safety. His prayer is called “St. Patrick’s Breastplate.”
Patrick knew you had to go to where the people are, speak their language and offer them Christ. He returned good for evil and the love of Christ won many hearts.
Make it so, today.
Eric Reece is the faith columnist for The Graham Star. He is pastor of Robbinsville United Methodist Church and can be reached via email, ereece@wnccumc.net.