Andrew returns to support clergy in Nigeria

Wednesday September 24th 2025

The Rev Andrew Irwin, left, pictured during his visit to Nigeria with Crosslinks in 2024.

The Rev Andrew Irwin, minister-in-charge of St Paul and St Barnabas, Belfast, will travel to Nigeria next month with Crosslinks to work with the Diocese of Kubwa and the Diocese of Zaria.

This is a return trip for Andrew, who last year joined the Rev Richard Balmer, Director of Crosslinks in Ireland, and David Gibbs from Grace Church, Wanstead, on a mission trip to the two dioceses to establish a new School of Biblical Training, aiming to support clergy and Lay leaders in their engagement with God’s word and its application.

Andrew will once again travel with Richard and David to continue the work they began with the same group of clergy from both dioceses.

Andrew said: “This time, we will be opening Philippians together to wrestle with Paul’s vision of God, life, and ministry. Additionally, for their encouragement, we will also be spending time in my favourite pastoral epistle – Titus.

“The hope is not just to repeat what we did, but to build on it; to strengthen friendships, deepen skills, and walk with our Nigerian brothers and sisters as they lead the Church in contexts far more demanding than ours.”

Andrew added: “I’m excited to dive into the second year of this three-year cycle. We’ll be with them for one more year after this. Pray that this three-year training cycle will equip leaders for a lifetime of ministry. Please pray that these sessions would encourage, challenge, and resource them for the work ahead.”

You can learn more about Andrew’s mission and read about last year’s visit to Nigeria at this LINK, where there is also an opportunity to support the work of the School of Biblical Training in Nigeria.