Team member Jordan Evans sharing the devotional at the Shankill Bible Church's mid-week prayer meeting.

Ireland Welcomes the Queen! How about the Team?

The TnT Team arrived in Ireland to begin almost 4 weeks of outreach this past Tuesday, the very same day Queen Elizabeth II arrived to spend 4 days visiting the Emerald Isle.

(The photo shows the queen being shown the Book of Kells at Trinity College, Dublin which is a 1200 year old ornately illustrated Celtic copy of the the four gospels)

The arrival of the queen was momentous as this was the first visit of a reigning British monarch to Ireland in 100 years. While this queen has spanned the globe over her 85 years, it has never been considered possible for her to set foot in this country just off the west coast of Britain. Even now, her visit has resulted in the largest security operation ever seen on this island.

For some 800 years until this past century Ireland was under the rule of the British monarch and there has never been an acceptance of that fact on the part of the large majority of the Irish. 800 years of unrest and rebellion culminated in the regular sounds of bombs and bullets from the 1960s until this past decade. The effect of this queen's visit is already making a difference in Ireland. She announced that the Irish and the British are now "firm friends and equal partners". Significantly the queen also frankly offered, "With the benefit of historical hindsight we can all see things which we would wish had been done differently -- or not at all." The reality of a lasting peace is now sensed by many in Ireland and the UK.

How about the 2011 arrival of the TnT Team? While not on the level of the welcome received by a visiting monarch, first the saints in Shankill, Co Dublin and now in Newcastle West, Co Limerick have warmly welcomed the following team members: Tim Hood (BC); Heidi Koppen (IA); Art Cavenagh (MB); Ernie Imken (NY); Stephanie Perkins (GA); Katie Doolan (MB); Noelle Cottom (OH); Elisa Cooper (IA); Trinity Yarish (MB); and Jordan Evans (MB).

Paul the apostle quoted in Romans 10:15, "How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" PLEASE PRAY that as a result of the team's visit to Ireland there will many who are reconciled to God, who will experience peace with God, through trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul then goes on to say in verse 17, "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." There will be much sowing of God's Word over the next three weeks: 30,000 4YOU.ie gospel magazines, hundreds of other tracts, scores of New Testaments, not to mention the public preaching that will take place in buildings, on the streets and in parks across the south of Ireland.

Whatever the impact of the queen's visit, we know the team's visit will have an eternal one!