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Patrick of Ireland 
The Soul Winner of the Emerald Isle

He is a man whose life and work is surrounded by the mists of legend. It is rather difficult to uncover the underlying truth about his life, yet those who have discovered the real Patrick will testify that the real story is far more fascinating than the myth.

Born in what is now Great Britain, a remote province in a disintegrating Roman Empire, Patrick’s father was a deacon, and his grandfather was a pastor; however, though blessed with a godly heritage, he entered young adulthood an unbeliever.

Raised in an aristocratic family, Patrick enjoyed a large house with many servants to attend to his every need, yet he had no time to care about God and His Word. No one would ever have expected that this idle youth would become one of God’s greatest missionaries.

Patrick was only sixteen years old when Irish marauders raided his small village. He was taken hostage and subsequently sold as a slave to a farmer in Ireland. Later, Patrick would testify that his two constant companions while a slave were hunger and nakedness. He labored night and day, tending to sheep and other livestock. Remarkably, it was during this period of deep trial and deprivation that Patrick came to know Christ as His personal Saviour. In fact, God so completely changed his life that he became known to everyone who knew him as “that holy youth.”

God often allows events to occur in the course of our lives that we cannot understand, but He is always working for our good. The Lord tells us in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” In Isaiah 55:9 God moved the prophet to write, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Even though it must have seemed that all was lost, God mightily used these awful circumstances to bring Patrick to Himself.

Forced to labor for six long years, the Lord finally provided Patrick an opportunity for escape. He had to walk nearly 200 miles, wading through marshy bogs and climbing the rugged mountains. When at last he made it to the coast of Ireland, Patrick encountered a ship which took him back to Britain. Though its crew was wickedly pagan, Patrick always believed the ship had been provided by God.

When Patrick returned to his homeland, he was a changed man. His time and energy was now devoted to studying the Scriptures. His only desire was for communion with Christ. It was during this time that God began to speak to him about returning to Ireland this time as a missionary, carrying the gospel that would free the slaves of sin.

Would you willingly return to the place of your captivity to give God’s Word to those who treated you so cruelly? Patrick did just that because he understood that Christ loved those men just as He loved him. It truly was the love of Christ that constrained him to go.

Walking the length and breadth of Ireland, Patrick gave witness to the saving power of the gospel of Jesus Christ to every person he met. His life was in danger each day he remained in Ireland. He was arrested many times, but even this could not shake his resolve. His testimony was Paul’s testimony, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).

Patrick felt himself unqualified for missionary service, having never completed his education, however, God greatly blessed his faithful service. Many historians believe that as many as 120,000 people called upon Christ as Saviour as a result of Patrick’s ministry.

Patrick of Ireland died on March 17 in the year 461. So great was his impact on Ireland that legends began to circulate about his life. Such legends serve to distract men from the truth that Patrick was a powerful preacher of the Gospel and a witness for Christ. Tales of his battles against mythical and powerful Druids abound. One such famous myth tells how Patrick supposedly drove every snake out of the entire country of Ireland. No matter the story, the truth remains more incredible than any legend.

Centuries later, Patrick would become known as St. Patrick of Ireland, and the day set aside in his honor would be known as St. Patrick’s Day. While others may celebrate the legend of the shamrock, God’s people should rejoice in the true story of Patrick, the mighty soul-winner of Ireland.