Hello from Ireland,
It’s Friday afternoon on a typical week for me in Greystones, Ireland. I am sitting in my office at the Church of the Nazarene Greystones, aka the Naz where I am finalizing Sunday morning plans like who is on projection and what am I teaching in Sunday school. I’ve just arrived back from a birthday lunch with a dear friend. I can hear my colleague and his sons playing pickleball in the hall beside my office. Surprisingly, this is not at all how I pictured my life in Ireland decades ago when I initially received my call. God planned this, and I could not have planned it better myself; believe me, I tried!
Almost three years ago, I came to Greystones to partner with the Naz as a member of their pastoral staff. The type of visa that I reside in Ireland through requires a local charity sponsor. The Nazarene Church in Greystones agreed to partner with EFM to sponsor my visa. It began a unique partnership between the local Nazarene church and EFM that allows me to serve the kingdom in Ireland.
I would have never imagined having a pastoral role in Ireland; however, I am blessed to serve as the administrative pastor at the Naz. I serve alongside two local men named Luke Carrig and Tim Bowen Evans. We work together with a faithful church board to lead and guide our congregation at the Naz. My role is wide-ranging from writing the weekly e-newsletter to compassionate care visits to sick church members, teaching Sunday school and facilitating a weekly playgroup, to managing the use of our facility for community groups, and even preaching on Sunday mornings.
A special area of ministry that I could not anticipate was Peace Haven. Peace Haven Trust provides residential accommodation and support for adults with intellectual disabilities. Several of Peace Haven’s residents attend our church services at the Naz. I have been blessed to build precious friendships with these residents. One of the most precious things I get to do is accompany residents on their vacations.
One of the most fulfilling things I get to do at the Naz is facilitate short-term teams that visit us from the US. My co-pastor, Luke, has a similar partnership with a group of churches in Michigan as I do with Friends churches. We host a few visiting groups from our supporting churches each year. It’s a blessing and a privilege to show them Ireland and our little piece of it in Greystones. My experience leading teams with Azusa Pacific University for ten years is essential to the planning and coordination of these visiting teams. It reminds me of the timing of God being better than my own. If I hadn’t stayed so long in the States, I wouldn’t have the experience and knowledge I have to host our visiting teams so well at the Naz.
On a regular basis, I am thankful that God dreamed much bigger than I did and blessed me with a vibrant and growing congregation to serve and seasoned pastors to serve alongside in leadership.
In a few months, my typical week will start to look very different. After three years of on-field service with Evangelical Friends Mission, I am coming back to the US for my first deputation or furlough assignment beginning in January 2025. I am looking forward to reconnecting with family and friends all over the US. I am also really grateful to have the opportunity to meet with each of you and describe what God has been doing through me during my time in Ireland. If you’d like me to visit your church or meet up for coffee or a meal, please haga clic aquí to schedule a time.
Often, I think about the absolute miracle it is to be able to live my life and work for the Kingdom because of the generosity of so many. I am blown away by the sacrificial giving and intentional prayer that supports me each day I am on field in Ireland. Many of you may know that it took me a very long time to finally come on the field following my approval by EFM in 2015. I finally arrived for full-time on-field ministry at the end of 2021. Some of you have been supporting me since 2015, and I am so grateful for your steadfast support and ever-present prayers. Our growing congregation in Greystones is blessed with two full-time pastors, which is rare for an evangelical Christian church in Ireland. It is because of your generous giving and faithful praying that we get to serve our church full-time.
Beginning in January 2025, I will be traveling around mostly the Southwest region of the US to visit and update partner churches and individual partners. I will be in Mid America the entire month of May ending with EFM board meetings in Colorado. I will return to Ireland when I am 100% funded and have 1,000 prayer partners. I look forward to catching up with each and every one of you while I am back in the States. I am grateful for your continued support and prayers.
All my love and gratitude,
Molly Morton
| PRAYER |
I currently have 787 prayer partners and have a goal of raising it to 1,000. If you know anyone who would like to pray for my ministry, please forward this form to them.
| FINANCIAL |
I am currently at 87% of my ongoing monthly need. If you are a current monthly supporter, thank you. It is important to let EFM know that you plan to continue or increase your giving. If you are not currently giving, please prayerfully consider supporting my ministry in Ireland.
There are four ways to partner with me financially:
- Online. Visit https://catalog.friendsmission.com/morton. You’ll be given the opportunity to indicate whether you are making a recurring or one-time gift.
- Credit Card. This may be given online (as stated above) or by calling the EFM office (303-421-8100) to give your information to a live person.
- Automatic Bank Transfer. Download the form aquí and email it to Debby McElroy (EFM Bookkeeper) at debby@friendsmission.com. Please note that ACH payments are processed on the 10th or 25th of the month.
- Check. Mail a check to EFM, P.O. Box 771139, Wichita, KS 67277. Make sure to mark your check “Morton Support” and note if you will be giving on a recurring basis (monthly, quarterly, etc.). Pay to the order of “EFM.
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