Mickey and Kathleen Walker: Ireland

Country Profile

Mickey and Kathleen Walker

OM International

Mickey and Kathleen Walker write: Our family of eight arrived in Ireland in September 1984. We had been planning to begin work in Sri Lanka. Ten days prior to our arrival there a telex from Columbo unexpectedly suggested that we postpone our coming because of escalating violence between the Tamil Tigers and government troops.

What we thought would be a brief hiatus has turned into 23 years of preaching in Dublin city centre and seeing our six children and 12 grandkids scatter to the four corners of the globe. We were recently given Irish citizenship!

Though I'd like to think our open airs and tracts have helped to grow and encourage the Irish church, I honestly believe the lives and witness of our children have contributed most. Mr. Gale, a veteran missionary we worked with in Lebanon, encouraged us to focus on the family.

When it comes to street preaching, I can honestly say I've enjoyed sharing Jesus with hundreds of locals and tourists on the corner of North Earl and O'Connell St, and have appreciated all those who have preached with me...Madeline, Larry, Dave, Kirk, Rob, Sean, Neil, Pat, Billy, Sam and others.

Sam Lindsay has been my sidekick for many years, and when it was recently suggested that I think about mentoring some new folks, I replied that Sam is just getting up to speed and the thought of starting again with some young upstarts sounds too daunting!

We appreciate all the believers who have stopped to make up the crowd and encourage us with their presence, smiles and kind words. Coffee, cold drinks and sausage rolls are also appreciated!

The word of God, "our labour is never in vain in the Lord" has proven itself over and over again as people have stopped to listen, asked personal questions, taken away gospels and tracts in various languages, showed up at church the following Sunday, prayed for salvation and even returned days, weeks, months and years later to share that our brief encounter helped point them to Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.

And because God is so gracious, even those who have turned away in indifference or anger have had yet another opportunity to know the love of God.