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“Back to the cross” was more than a theme for the 50 people who took part in OM Ireland’s “Impact Ireland” programme this summer.   The message of the cross made an impact in the lives of participants from 11 different nations as well as the people they met in Ireland.

Four days of teaching and preparation on board Logos Hope in Cork launched the two-week outreach.  Bible studies with Peter Mead helped participants gain a deeper understanding of what the cross of Jesus means to each one of us.  And opportunities for prayer, team building and outreach in Cork city centre set the tone for the rest of the programme.

Six teams left the ship on Saturday 11 July; travelling to Athlone, Athenry, Tullamore, Sligo and Navan to work alongside local churches.  The seventh team, led by OM Ireland director Mike Mullins stayed on board the ship until Monday 13 July when they set off on foot to walk from Cork to Rahara (home of OM Ireland’s headquarters Lacken House) carrying a 12 foot wooden cross.

Running children’s clubs and youth programmes, cleaning up litter and painting walls, handing out literature and sharing their faith on the streets, through laughter and tears, enduring sickness and blisters, the teams took every opportunity to demonstrate and share the message of the cross.

OM Ireland’s Big Red Bus travelled to four of the towns, joining the teams to reach out in shopping centres, parks and housing estates.

At the end of the outreach, reunited at Lacken House, the teams shared and celebrated all that God had done in and through their lives – it was more than anyone could have thought or even imagined!!