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One of the things that captures our attention in March is St. Patrick's
Day on March 17th. Patrick was born in Scotland, but when he was
sixteen years old, he was captured by some Irishmen who took him to
Ireland and sold him as a slave. He served as a slave in Ireland
until he was able to escape and catch a ride as a stow-a-way in a boat
back to Scotland as a young man. Although his parents were wealthy
and he was an only child, he felt a calling into the gospel ministry.
After several years of studies for the ministry, he was called by God to
return to Ireland to preach the gospel of Christ. He took the
gospel to those who had imprisoned him. Ireland became a
Christianized nation. He established missionary training schools
that provided Christian missionaries for many nations in Europe during
the middle ages. To read more of the details of this wonderful true
story, google St. Patrick and log onto the Catholic site.
With Patrick's example in mind, consider the following commands of
Christ.
"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has
disbelieved shall be condemned." Mark 16:15-16
"Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I also send
you." John 20:21
"...you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you;
and you shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and
Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."
Acts 1:8 |