The Need: Ireland is a land of breathtaking beauty and deep cultural richness, yet many here are quietly wrestling with spiritual emptiness and a growing sense of hopelessness. Though the Irish are famously warm and hospitable, the nation has rapidly shifted from its Christian heritage toward secularism and disbelief. Today, Ireland is considered one of the least reached regions in the English-speaking world. In this context, our ministry is strategically placed to share the hope of the gospel with both the Irish and the increasingly diverse international community calling Ireland home. Our longing is to see God glorified as lives are renewed, faith is awakened, and His Kingdom takes root again in this land.
Our Focus: Our ministry exists to strengthen and support a church planting movement in Ireland—not by planting churches ourselves, but by equipping and empowering the hub that does. We invest in leadership development, spiritual formation, writing, worship leading, pastoral care, preaching, evangelism, discipleship, Bible studies, neighboring, and ministries that strengthen men, women, and families. We serve from Galway City Baptist Church (GCBC), a healthy, multicultural congregation that functions as a strategic sending hub for new church plants across the West of Ireland. Our vision is to help GCBC remain a vibrant, well-resourced center from which new gospel communities can take root and flourish throughout the region.
Prayer Needs: Pray that our lives would shine with the light of Christ in places where hope feels dim, and that God would open doors for deep, redemptive relationships among both the Irish and the growing international community. Ask God to awaken hearts across Ireland to a living, vibrant faith in Jesus. And pray that, together with partners like you, our ministry would bring the hope of the gospel to those who feel forgotten or without hope.
About Us: Chris and Joi have three adult sons: Garrison, Gage, and Gavin and two Daughter’s in Law, Jordyn and Erin. Chris and Joi both became Christians in 1990 and have been active in church ministry through men’s and women’s ministry, youth ministry, worship, leadership, community care, and global ministry. Chris is an ordained and licensed Minister of the Gospel and Joi is a published author who writes Christian Women’s Fiction.
We felt the call to full-time global ministry in 2014. Our home is Galway, Ireland where we are working actively with Galway City Baptist Church and in conjunction with the Irish Association of Baptist Churches. In addition to preaching and worship leading, we are working to help raise up local believers who will step up to lead the church.
Our oldest and youngest sons both live in the United States. Garrison is married to Jordyn and works in government contracting. Gavin is married to Erin and is currently attending university and participating in Air Force ROTC; he plans to enter the Air Force after graduation.
Our middle son, Gage, lives with us in Galway, Ireland, where he is studying Strength and Conditioning at university. He also competes in Strongman events across Ireland and the U.K., and he hosts a gospel centered Dungeons & Dragons weekly game night in our home as a way to build meaningful relationships with young men and women in the community.
We are pursuing Irish citizenship to secure a long-term presence in Ireland and continue investing in gospel work.
Blogs and Articles on WorldVenture.com:
* WorldVenture::In Review 2023
* Finding Faith By Fighting Dragons
Connect with the Copeland Family:
– Facebook Group
– Copeland’s Instagram
