Day Eight: County Wicklow
Friday 8 May
The annual VOX magazine Finding Faith Tour looks very different this year. Instead of a 7-day road trip around the island, this year VOX editor Ruth Garvey-Williams brings you highlights from all 32 counties (one per day plus one for each of the 31 days in May). Contact Ruth if you have a story to share.
Day Eight: A church that helps people!
One of the advantages of a “virtual” tour is that distance is no longer such problem and I’m able to criss-cross the country. In Wicklow, I met town planner Solomon and schoolteacher Patricia Aroboto who lead Christian Community Church in Arklow.
This thriving congregation started as a small prayer group in the couple’s home in 2003 but has grown and become an integral part of the community but it took time.
Solomon, who is originally from Nigeria and Tricia, from Tipperary found that initially people were quite sceptical. “Tricia is not from the town and I’m one of the few black faces here. People need to get to know you,” Solomon said. Relationships were forged slowly over cups of coffee and as people began to realise the new church was here to stay.
“They don’t care how much you know, they want to know how much you care.”
“One of the things God laid on my heart was to preach the Word of God in such a way that Jesus would become real to the every day life of local people,” Solomon added.
Six years ago, the church began to invite local groups to visit during a Sunday service, to share about their work and to receive a blessing. From Meals on Wheels to Suicide or Survive, the church has given out dozens of gifts to key community groups and charities. “Our members took ownership of the vision and we became known as a church that helps people. People saw our hearts through our hands and began to feel comfortable with us.”
On the point of completing the purchase of a building (a former convent chapel), the church’s plans have been delayed by COVID-19 but they are still hopeful of being able to move in by Christmas.
Instead the focus of recent weeks has shifted to supporting Meals on Wheels and a local resource centre to be able to increase the number of hot meals they are able to deliver. And they’ve been able to provide food for 300 families in the church that Solomon established in Nigeria before he moved to Ireland.
We will bring you more of Solomon and Tricia’s story this summer in VOX magazine!
