Compelled to move West
Laura Whitcroft tells her story of following God’s call from Belfast to Sligo.
“The Lord said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your relatives and your father’s family and go to the land I will show you’ …So Abram left Haran as the Lord had told him … At this time Abram was 75 years old” (Genesis 12:1-4).
On 15 January 2020, God called me and my husband Derek out of ‘your country’, (which was north Belfast), to ‘the land I will show you’ which was Co Sligo in the west of Ireland – not quite Abram’s age but not spring chickens either!
Our move to Sligo was the culmination of a long journey which goes back 28 years when we were married and honeymooned in the south; to holidaying in Ireland; to our daughter Carrie attending University College, Dublin; to eventually hearing the Lord speak very clearly to us both at PCI’s Special Assembly in 2010. Rev David Bruce’s challenging talk asked, to what extent did we see Ireland as our home, our mission? A map showed the location of the Presbyterian churches throughout Ireland and the stark reality that the shift and pattern was north and east rather than south and west. That really spoke to us both. It started us on many visits to churches in the south, tentatively trying to get a clearer vision of God’s call.
We always felt, and still do, that we were simply to join the local church, do ordinary jobs, get involved in our local community, build relationships and with God’s help share our faith. Articles by Rev Stephen Lockington: ‘Come help grow the church in the Irish Republic’ and Rev Molly Deatherage: ‘A call to come to Mayo,’ contributed to our sense of calling.
On holiday in 2017 in Sligo, we wondered if we could see ourselves there. Again, more visits, this time to Sligo Presbyterian where we got to know Rev David Clarke and people from the congregation, ending in our move in January 2020.
We had been just eight short weeks living in a rented house in Cliffoney, County Sligo, when the pandemic hit and we were plummeted into the hugely different world of Covid, severe lockdowns, vaccines, ‘R’ numbers, daily updates of cases and sadly, deaths. In church, Zoom Bible studies and online services became the norm. The pandemic has been a terrible ordeal for so many people and we have known friends who have lost loved ones. But we definitely had a sense that God had brought us here and would keep us in his care.
We have been renting for just over two years and have seen God’s guidance and care in so many ways. Recently we became communicant members of Sligo Presbyterian (on transfer from our ‘home’ congregation, Ballysillan Presbyterian, north Belfast). We enjoy helping with the music in church on Sundays. Derek has been asked to join the preaching rota in Ballina, Killala and Grainnemore Presbyterian churches during their vacancy. This has given us an idea of what it is like when ministers are called to more than one charge as it involves an early start on a Sunday morning!
We have both found temporary employment. Derek has had some subbing as a teacher but more recently administrative work in the Civil Service which he has enjoyed after 30 years as a primary school teacher. Myself, in a small university where I do two days a week in administration. We have gotten to know our neighbours and been able to have conversations about prayer and faith issues.
So, that is our story, our journey so far. We are as excited about the next steps as we were when we first arrived. Before we moved, Derek often said that all the ducks will not be in a row before we go – they weren’t and still aren’t! Being an administrator and an ex-midwife, I like order and planning so ducks not in a row does not sit comfortably with me! But isn’t that the nature of calling and having to rely on God for the next steps? We have no idea what God might be asking you as you read this. Maybe it’s only across the road, or it’s from the south to the north! We are so glad we took the first steps. We have had to rely on God for housing and jobs perhaps like we never have before. The pandemic turned everything upside down. But we are so glad we are here and trusting God for the next part of our journey. Trust God for yours.
This article first appeared in the Presbyterian Herald, March 2022. Republished with kind permission by the editor.
