Sharing God's Love in the UK

Charis Bible College instructor, Dr. Delron Shirley (left) and the eight member CBC Colorado mission team visiting the United Kingdom. They ministered in Ireland, Scotland and England. (Click to enlarge)A missionary team from Charis Bible College-Colorado (CBC-CO) recently returned from a bustling adventure to the United Kingdom, which included stops in Ireland, Scotland and England. The team was made up of eight second-year students and was led by Dr. Delron Shirley.

The first stop was in Belfast, Ireland, where the team ministered at Charis Bible College-Belfast, which is directed by CBC-CO graduates Grady and Yvonne O’Brien. The team members were given opportunities to share their testimonies, teachings and prayer ministry with the Belfast students. The Colorado team also participated in an in-home fellowship just outside the city, and in a campus ministry in the heart of Belfast.

CBC-Colorado student missionary, Lydia Schneider, teaching at CBC-England.
(Click to enlarge)When their time in Belfast came to an end, the Colorado team crossed the Irish Sea by ferry to Scotland where they were met by John and Susan Donnelly, pastors of Glen Aros Church in the town of Dumfries. The team members stayed in the homes of various host families while ministering in Scotland.

The student’s adventure with the Donnellys began with a traditional ceilidh (pronounced kay-lay), which is a social gathering complete with bagpipes, kilts, and Scottish dancing. The highlight of their evening was the meal, which was complete with haggis, a Scottish delicacy of sheep heart, liver, and lungs mixed with onions, oatmeal, and spices cooked inside the sheep’s stomach. Yum.

The first day of ministry in Dumfries took place in an open-air meeting on a downtown public street. The students were invited to stand on the park bench and share their testimonies and whatever message was on their hearts. When anyone showed interest, they were offered free literature and a prayer. The following day, the students ministered at a church during both the Sunday morning and evening services. Colorado student, Doug Bishop teaching. (Click to enlarge)Students took turns sharing a testimony or short message in the church service, and then spent time ministering individually to the people as they fellowshipped after the service. A number of individuals received healings and a woman received a dramatic deliverance from a spirit that had been tormenting her severely. One man who had been suffering from serious knee problems was totally healed and began running up and down the stairs proclaiming his healing.

At the Sunday evening church service, Colorado team member, Caroline Walton had the opportunity to minister to the large Scottish family with whom she was staying. During the conclusion of the service, as Delron invited people forward for prayer, Many witnessed the love and miraculous power of God flowing through CBC-Colorado student, Caroline Walton (right) as she ministered. (Click to enlarge) the eldest daughter of Caroline's host family indicated that her friend needed prayer but was too shy to go forward. As Caroline approached him, she remembered being told that he had not previously received Jesus. Caroline asked him if he needed to be healed, and he explained that he had chronic pain in his lower back. Caroline then asked if she could pray for him and he agreed. She proceeded to evaluate his legs and saw that one leg was shorter than the other by approximately an inch. Standing on God's word, Caroline commanded his leg to grow in the name of Jesus Christ—and it did. After prayer for his back, hips and spine, all the pain left his body.

As Caroline made her way back to her seat, she heard the Lord say, "He is ready." Caroline knew this young man was ready to receive Jesus as his Lord and Savior. She looked over and saw him sitting with his face in his hands. Caroline knelt down beside him and asked if he would like to make Jesus his Lord and Savior. The young man looked up with tears streaming down his face and answered, yes. "I placed my hand on his shoulder and introduced him to the God who had just healed him, and then led him in a prayer of salvation. What a wonderful way to meet the Lord, knowing what a mighty God He is,” said Caroline.

The CBC-Colorado team included Doug Bishop, Tennie Goen, Jim Schneider, Lydia Schneider, Jay & Karen Smith, Trish Sinclair, Caroline Walton and team leader Delron Shirley. (Click to enlarge)For the final leg of the journey, the students were guests of Charis Bible College-England, directed by Paul and Sue Fong Flanagan. Just as they had in Ireland, the Colorado team shared their testimonies and taught in the classes and in small groups. A highlight of the ministry in England was a communion service in which the Colorado team served the local students and then prayed with them. Many students from both campuses testified to receiving physical and emotional healings that day.

As time in the UK drew to a close, the Colorado team gathered for fellowship with a number of the local college students and staff, as well as members of the community for a home fellowship at the farm of Carol and Barrie Dupree. In that closing meeting, students offered prayer and ministry one last time. “It was beautiful to see how so many kept coming to various members of the team for prayer before we finally loaded the bus and headed back to the hotel in preparation for our departure,” said Delron.

Are You Waiting on God?

Yvonne and Grady O'Brien, Directors of Charis Bible College Belfast, Ireland.
(Click to enlarge)What do you get when you cross a restaurateur from South Bend, Indiana with a professional stylist from Dublin, Ireland? A grand opportunity to watch God's plan unfold...

Grady O'Brien, born in South Bend, was operating a restaurant in Dallas, Texas when he met Yvonne, who was working as an Art Director for Toni & Guy Salons in the same city. The two were married and began their family in the early nineties.

In November of 2000, friends of the O'Briens invited them to a church in Oak Cliff, a community in Dallas, to hear Andrew teach. After Andrew shared his message, the O'Briens had the opportunity to speak with him. During their conversation, Yvonne's Irish roots were mentioned and Andrew recalled seeing amazing signs and wonders during a visit to Dublin. The O'Briens went on to share that they had a desire to minister to the people of Ireland. Andrew's response to their statement radically changed the O'Brien's lives. Andrew looked at them and asked, "Are you waiting on God?" Grady replied, "Yes." Andrew said, "Maybe God is waiting on you." Grady described the moment as if an arrow had pierced his heart, and in that moment he knew that through Andrew's words, God was confirming to him a call to
the ministry.

CBC Belfast, one of Grady's classes (Click to enlarge) Over the course of the following year the family left Dallas, and by faith relocated to Colorado Springs, where the pair enrolled in Charis Bible College (CBC). Grady attended on a full-time basis, while Yvonne home-schooled their three children, and completed the CBC first year Correspondence curriculum.

After Grady completed the two year program the couple met with Andrew to discuss their next step. With the goal of ministering to the people of Ireland still in mind, Andrew suggested that they move to England where Grady could further prepare for his role as a minister by completing a third year apprenticeship through CBC in Coventry, England. Yvonne graduated from CBC and Grady completed his apprentice program in 2004. They were ready to impact
the world!

Part of the experience at any CBC is the required foreign missions trip. Here, Yvonne and several students pray for a woman in a market in Malinalco, Mexico.Intending to open a CBC extension school, the O'Briens, and their four children moved to Galway, located on the western coast of Ireland. They made the most of every ministry opportunity; however, after a year's time they had not seen the response they were looking for as they sought to position the school. Another move was eminent.

In the Spring of 2005 Andrew visited Ireland and held meetings in both Dublin and Belfast. After attending both, it was clear to the O'Briens, that Belfast would be a much better location from which to launch the college. While at the Belfast meeting, Andrew asked Grady and Yvonne if they were sure they wanted to launch a school. After assuring him of their commitment to do so, Andrew announced their intent to open the CBC extension. Two months later the O'Briens moved to Antrim, just north of Belfast and began holding classes. In 2006 they moved into the school's current location within the city limits of Belfast.

Yvonne and students minister to a young boy in Mexico. (Click to enlarge)Now, after answering the Lord's call to ministry, and five years after the launch of CBC Belfast, the O'Briens are beginning to see the fruits of their efforts multiplied. They recently performed their first ordination ceremonies for several of their past graduates (2 Timothy 2:2).

Understanding from first-hand experience how powerful the message of God's unconditional love is, it is exciting for Grady and Yvonne to see the school growing. The college is filling up with students of varying ages and backgrounds, all coming together with a hunger for God's word. There are 19 students currently enrolled in CBC Belfast, and the O'Briens are anticipating that number will double over the course of the coming months.

Not everyone is called to full-time ministry or to open a Bible college like the O'Briens did, but if you find yourself waiting on the Lord, it could be that HE is waiting on you.

To learn more about the O'Briens and their ministry to the people of Ireland, visit the Charis Bible College-Belfast website.