In a day of declension from spiritual values in Ireland it is encouraging to learn of our fellow Baptists in the Cork/Kerry region marking their steady growth in their annual celebration which took place the other day. From small beginnings with a couple of churches the work has progressed to neighbouring towns till we now have eight churches, each standing on its own two feet, with its leadership in place.
There appears to be a New Testament principle that new churches are created pregnant! That is they have the makings of another church within their ranks. Certainly the principle has been seen in practice over the last 20 or so years in Munster.
What makes it all the more extraordinary is the background against which this has taken place. The upsurge of materialism created during the Celtic Tiger years produced tiger cubs that rapidly became addicted to the “good life”. The god Mammon became increasingly intolerant of anything that stood in his way, so family life suffered as work took precedence over domestic relationships. Marriage became largely replaced by promiscuity and, when it took place, the advent of “DINKS” (double income no kids) became more attractive than rearing a family.
Secularism, aided by church scandals, became attractive to many. To placate the inherent desire for the transcendent new spiritualities sprang up and produced the New Age culture which, although muted, is still with us.
So what was the preaching that made a difference in the Cork/Kerry region? It was simply people who believed the A,B,C of the Gospel.
A. All have sinned – Romans Chapter 3 verse 23.
B. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved – Acts Chapter 16 verse 31.
C. Commit your life to Him in prayer – St John Chapter 1 verse 12.
The prayer? In your own words simply confess your sins and your wish to turn from them. Recognise that Jesus died taking (your) the sinners place and rose again to ensure the sinners welcome into His family as a forgiven and changed person relying on Jesus’s promise never to leave you.