Galway GO Team

(An American Perspective)

The Galway GO Team began for me in early March when I noticed an advertisement for the GO Teams in the Covenanter Witness of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America. As an American I was not over-familiar with the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Ireland, and I had never heard of GO Teams. But the ad. caught my attention and I contacted Sarah McCollum and so began the process that brought me to Galway.

The team first met together on Saturday evening (21st July) at Pastor Raymond Blair's house. At this time we were saddened to hear that team member Helen McFarland (from France) had become sick on arrival and would not be able to participate. This left Andrew Blackburn (our able team leader) Timothy and Mary Davis (and baby Peter), Stephen Davis, Brian Finch, Helen McMahon, fellow-Pennsylvanian Sarah More and me to make up the team.

On Sunday morning we gathered for worship with the Galway Fellowship in a small building behind Billy Hamilton's house. It was very crowded with the regular congregation, recent refugees from Nigeria, the GO Team and other visitors. It was a joy to worship together with people from other races and nationalities, and a reminder of God's grace to every nation, tongue and tribe. The rest of Sunday was spent at the Blair and Hamilton homes where we got to know each other and were able to relax and to prepare for the week ahead.

Monday morning began with a brief orientation time. Then we settled into what was to be our daily schedule. In the mornings there was a time of prayer and Bible study followed by a short time of literature distribution. After lunch we were arranged in pairs and did door-to-door evangelism. In the evenings the team would head into downtown Galway. Raymond and Billy did sketchboard evangelism and the team helped to form a crowd. When the preaching was completed we would try to initiate a discussion with others in the crowd or at least hand out some pamphlets.

On Wednesday we kept to the usual morning schedule but took a break for the rest of the day. In the afternoon the GO Team took on the locals in a soccer match (I hate to say we lost by 7 goals to 5.) and later we all got together with the locals at Raymond and Carole's house for a time of feasting and fellowship.

On Friday night, we had a closing meeting in which we reflected on the week, and offered suggestions for improvements. It was a bittersweet time of saying goodbye after our week together but also of giving thanks to God for His grace displayed. The Lord had answered our prayers by giving us many opportunities to share our faith and a number of people said that they would be open to further contact. The long-term results remain to be seen but it seems that the Spirit is moving in Galway. Pray that this would be so and also pray for Billy and Raymond as they do all of the follow-up work.

Finally, a big thank-you to Raymond and Carole Blair, Billy and Mary Hamilton and the other families for housing and feeding us. And special thanks from us two Americans for making us feel so much at home. God's grace and peace be with you all.

Steve Morian (Pennsylvania, USA)