While growing up in Roman Britain, Patrick (ca. 389-461) was captured by raiders at the age of 16 and taken to Ireland where he was sold as a slave. There he was held captive for six years, serving as a shepherd. Eventually he managed to escape to France and, later, to return to his home in Britain.

But it was during his captivity that his Christian faith began or was strengthened. After returning home to his native Britain, he had an increasing longing to take the good news of Jesus Christ to Ireland. In a dream he heard the Irish calling to him: "We beseech you to come and walk among us once more" (Dowley 1977:211).

Patrick did return to Ireland in 432 and spent the rest of his life evangelizing the people. Upon his arrival, the island was thoroughly heathen; by his death, it was largely Christian. Though himself not well educated, he was a proponent of education. Under his influence, the monastery became the basic unit of the church in Ireland. Patrick was also an advocate of the importance of cross-cultural evangelism. It was largely through the influence of Irish monks that Christianity was spread to the British Isles and the northern parts of Europe in the sixth and seventh centuries.

So this St. Patrick’s Day, when your "wearin’ the green" and listening to some Celtic music, remember and honor the missionary to Ireland for taking the good news of Christ and instilling in the church there the importance of evangelizing others.

by Ronald W. Waters

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Learn more about St. Patrick's methods of evangelism and outreach in George G. Hunter III's book, The Celtic Way of Evangelism: How Christianity Can Reach the West . . . Again.

Find other St. Patrick's Day resources at ChristianityToday.com .

From "The Breastplate of St. Patrick"

translated by 
Cecil F. Alexander

Christ be with me,
Christ within me,
Christ behind me,
Christ before me.

Christ beside me,
Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort
   and restore me.

Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ in quiet,
Christ in danger.

Dowley, Tim, ed. Eerdman’s Handbook to the History of Christianity. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1977, p. 211.

Neill, Stephen. A History of Christian Missions. 2^nd ed. New York: Penguin Books, 1986, pp. 49-50, 59ff.

Towns, Elmer L., gen. ed. Evangelism and Church Growth: A Practical Encyclopedia. Ventura: Regal Books, 1995, p. 318.