*** This is the opening to a piece I am currently working on that might be published in Immerse early next fall.***
St. Patrick was a remarkable individual whose intrigue had nothing to do with leprechauns, rainbows or green bear. Though Patrick was ethnically a Celt, culturally he was a Roman, speaking Latin and growing up in a Christian home though he was what some might call a “luke warm” Christian and like so many young people today made poor choices concerning “peer involvement.1”
At the age of sixteen Patrick’s life turned upside down when a band of Celtic Pirates invaded the region, captured Patrick and sold him into slavery. During his years as a slave Patrick experienced three major changes. First, Patrick experienced the revelation of God through nature and became a devout Christian. Patrick also came to understand and accept the Celtic culture of his captors and finally even came to love them. After six years of captivity Patrick heard God speak to him in a dream, telling him to flee from his captors.2
The next 25 years or so of Patrick’s life is uncertain but at the age of 48 Patrick had another dream where God spoke to him. Patrick returned to the Celtic world as a Bishop with the mission of bringing the gospel to the Celtic world.3 Patrick’s 28 years of ministry to the Celts and the movement that followed forever changed the western world.4
- George G. Hunter III, The Celtic Way of Evangelism: How Christianity Can Reach the West…Again (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2000) pp. 13. I am by no means a Celtic Historian nor am I well versed in Celtic History. I will be referring to The Celtic Way of Evangelism solely for information regarding St. Patrick and the Celtic Evangelistic movement.
- Ibid., pp 13-14
- Ibid., pp 14-15
- Ibid., pp 22.
