“You will learn a lot,” I was told. I was on my first trip to America. It was 1999, and I had just finished my studies at the Irish RP seminary. I had been accepted for a three-month internship with the Syracuse congregation of the RPCNA to broaden my experience and learn more about the practical side of the ministry. And I certainly did learn a lot. It exceeded my wildest expectations.

I was brought up in the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland. I had always assumed that our two churches were the same. And they are very similar. But when I experienced the RPCNA firsthand through its short-term mission teams and that internship I realized that, although we believe the same things, the way we put those beliefs into practice can be quite different.

I am guessing, then, that some of you may not be very familiar with the RP Church in Ireland. I am sure that many of you will never even have heard of our short-term mission teams, called GO Teams. The main purpose of this article is to explain our GO Team ministry. Hopefully it will give you a bit more information on what GO Teams are, what their aims are, and what they do.

What Are GO Teams?

GO Teams are short-term mission teams organized under the authority of the Mission Committee of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland. GO Teams are not a new venture. The RP Church in Ireland has been sending out short-term mission teams since before I was born!

What Is the Aim of GO Teams?

The aim of GO Teams is to provide a structure that enables people to “go and make disciples” (Matt. 28:19). The reason we send teams is to help spread the gospel.

What Do GO Teams Do?

Firstly, GO Teams go. They go to existing works that the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland and its sister churches are involved in. This year we are sending teams to Scotland and France as well as to many parts of Ireland. The teams work under the oversight of the elders in the congregation they are helping.

Secondly, GO Teams make disciples. They work alongside the local congregations and carry out a variety of evangelistic work: for example, vacation Bible schools, literature distribution, door-to-door work, questionnaires, open-air meetings, and youth meetings.

Basically, GO Teams just provide people to help the local churches with their work. This means that all the teams are free. You just have to give of your time and effort, and get yourself to the congregation that the team is visiting. Of course, that’s a bit more complicated when you are coming from your side of the Atlantic! But if you can get yourself to Ireland, we will work out the rest.

We have had the privilege of having several different Americans take part in our teams over the past few years. This is something we would love to see continue. There is so much that we can learn from each other. I realized that while I was in America.

Personal Thoughts on GO Teams

I have learned much from being on GO Teams myself. It is amazing just to stand back and see God at work. I have seen very clear answers to prayer.

There was the time we had a very boisterous group of young people at a vacation Bible school, and yet, each night as the talk was just about to start, they all settled down and listened quietly as God’s Word was taught. A definite answer to prayer.

Here is what some others have said of the experience.

I personally found the GO week a challenge and a faith builder. The only way to learn is to do it. Please don’t sit at home and simply say. “I could never do that.” No, you couldn’t—it is only through God’s help and strength that you can do anything, and God will give you the strength you need (Phil. 4:13).

—Clair Millar, Wishaw GO Team

Before I went on the Kilraughts GO Team I was a little nervous. I now know that being on a GO Team is a fantastic way to spend a week of the summer and to get to know a congregation.

—Brian Lockington, Kilraughts GO Team

Over the course of the week we distributed 7,000 copies of The Word Today—a publication explaining the gospel and giving an introduction to Faughan church and its program. This provided a natural conversation opener for us as we completed door-to-door work in the evenings. I found the week a great learning experience and would thoroughly recommend you go next summer, even if you do feel a little apprehensive!

—Claire McCausland, Faughan GO Team

We had enormous help from an eight-­strong GO team who went out on door-­to-door work through the village in the mornings. This was a valuable way of meeting new people, and we hope (in the autumn) to maintain contact requested by many of these families and also send out another team from the congregation.

—Jane Caldwell, Member of Cloughmills RPC

I would encourage all of you to consider helping us in this work. Please pray for these teams. Here are some ways you could pray:

Pray that God would call people to serve on these teams. “Ask the lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field” (Luke 10:2).

Pray that God would give the team members opportunities to share the gospel. “Pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message. so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ” (Col.4:3).

Pray that God would give boldness and the words to say, “Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given to me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel” (Eph. 6:19).

Pray that people would be saved and added to the church. “More and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number” (Acts 5:14).

“Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored” (2 Thess, 3:1).

If you feel God is leading you to participate on a GO Team, or if you would like more information about GO Teams, please contact us. www.rpc.org/go

Stephen Wright is a member of Ballylaggan RPC in Ireland, and a licentiate of the Northern Presbytery. He has been participating in GO Teams since 1995 and is now on the organizing committee for them.