Producer Mike for the Alex McFarlane Show, listen to this. Alex is the Christian voice we need right now. I love listening to him, and the guests he has on the show are just amazing. I highly recommend his podcast. Great words, Alex.
Well, we give God the glory. We thank the listeners for kind sentiments like that, but we give God all the glory. But folks, please listen in, spread the word. You're spreading the gospel. Tell others about our programming, and we sincerely thank you.
Uh The Spiritual Condition of America, Politics, Culture, and Current Events Analyzed Through the Lens of Scripture. Welcome to the Alex McFarland Show. You know, the Bible talks about a time in the book of Habakkuk when the knowledge of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. Hi, Alex McFarland here. And this is one of those special times of year that we are at a convention that we do every year called National Religious Broadcasters.
So you'll probably hear some background noise, some ambient noise in the background. Whenever we're at NRB, we always meet so many just fascinating people from around the world, and today is no exception. And I'll sort of cue this up. Two gentlemen I want you to meet. And I'll ask you, the listeners, this.
Do you know who Palladius is? You don't know who Palladius is? How about St. Patrick?
Well, around 433 in the fifth century onward, Christianity was established in Ireland. And we have two dear brothers that are being used by God in a mighty way to bring Jesus to Ireland, Dave Durbin and Robbie Frawley from United Christian Broadcasters of Ireland. Gentlemen, I want to say thank you for your time. Welcome to America, and it is a profound honor to speak with you today. And we want to hear all about the state of Christianity in Ireland.
But Dave and Robbie, welcome. Thank you. Thank you so much. Good to see you. Appreciate it.
It's good to be with you both. And I want you to tell people about your work. And UCB Ireland, what is that? And bring us up to speed, if you would.
Okay, so UCB Ireland is United Christian Broadcasters in Ireland. UCB is an affiliation across the world. We are all autonomous in our own right because we conform to the national Broadcasting regulations, charity regulations. And for UCB Ireland, we are a small but national. reaching Ministry, we're radio, we're publication, we're prayer line, and we're web and social media.
100% Christian in terms of no mixed format radio, and it is. delivering the gospel. to the nation of Ireland uh in any way possible. As best we can. How do you do that, people say?
Well, with the radio station, three radio stations. UCB Ireland as a radio station is our central, our core station. UCB I worship 24-7, 365, just praise and worship. And then a year old this week, UCB and our full access radio station, which is Gen Z. It's for a generation by a generation.
It is just them, it's their music, it's their voice. A Gen Z delivery. Yeah. mid-teens to mid-20s. Wow, wow.
Now, Robbie, you've been in Christian broadcasting for a number of decades. Thank you. We put it in the middle. Do I look that whole?
Well, hey, you know, time just flies, doesn't it? Yeah. But with all the technology, and I mean, just think, you and I, 20 years ago, we couldn't have imagined the podcasting and all that. How excited or not, but how excited are you for the opportunities for the Great Commission in this era of digital content? I love the fact that you mentioned the Great Commission.
You know, the most important words that we ever heard out of the Great Commission was not Jesus trying to justify what happened to him. His last words to his disciples were, go. That was it. He gave us a mandate in his final sentence to go and reach the world.
Well I started in radio, it was either AM or FM. Man, if you're on FM, you're on a bad FM signal, and you got maybe, I don't know. 10 miles. That's what I was going to say. 10 miles, maybe.
We played albums, you know, vinyl, wiki, wiki, wiki. And you played all it, and then we went to cassette and we went to that. I think technology frightens people. But actually, if you embrace it and you understand what it can do, today, We're in a situation where we broadcast from our studios in Dublin. to the world.
Like every other organization who is digital, they broadcast to the world. We have listeners in China, in Africa, in Japan, in America, in Canada, in the UK, across Europe, Ireland. You couldn't do that 30 years ago. That was impossible. You know what, Robbie, I give God the glory.
Shortly before Christmas, several months ago, we got an email from a German man living in Romania with his job. He had been attending the mosque for two years. Had pretty much converted to Islam, but he found me on YouTube. Right. About the evidence for the New Testament, the resurrection of Christ.
And he emailed me and I said, Well, look, let's talk on the phone if you don't mind an international cell phone call. I sent him my number. We had two 90-minute conversations. He gloriously accepted Christ. I mean, it was incredible.
And we've stayed in touch via email, but you know, just a short number of years ago, that wouldn't have been possible. He finds an evangelistic YouTube channel and comes to Jesus. I mean, the opportunities are just beyond description, aren't they? Oh, it is incredible. And this is the beauty of technology as we embrace it for the kingdom of God.
We can say, what can we now do that we couldn't do? beforehand. We were limited by scope.
Now we're not. Yes. You know, in Ireland alone, I don't know what the stats are here in the States, but 87% of the population in Ireland have a smartphone. Wow. That means if we're not on smartphone technology and an app for your smartphone, we are not connecting with 87% of our nation.
So we need to embrace what technology does and allow it. To take the message of hope in Christ Jesus. Romans 10:14 says this: How will they know unless someone tells them?
So we have the opportunity with the technology today to tell people, not only locally and at home, but around the world. Indeed.
Well, also with us, Robbie's colleague, Dave Durbin. And Dave Durbin, you're with UCB Ireland as well. You've got a long history in Christian media. I want to say welcome, Dave. Thank you.
I've got to ask you: there was an actress and singer named Deanna Durbin. That's right, from Canada. Is that a relative? No. Really?
That I'm aware of. That you're aware of, yeah. But it's good to have you. And I'm thrilled to hear of the work you guys are doing. And now you tell us about your background, not only in broadcasting, but in Christian music.
Right, yeah.
So my background with Christian music is really indirectly touching the second chapter of Acts, which was a pioneering group back in the day. And particularly, Matthew Ward, the tenor of the group. We know them. Yes, and I've been managing him and his band for the last 16 years. Yeah.
Yeah, all over the world. Yeah. So have you guys been to NRB before, national business? My first time. I have multiple times, yeah.
Yeah, national religious broadcasters. For those just tuning in, that's where we're coming to you from, the floor of NRB. Just saw Erwin Lutzer and Star Parker and some people from the Billy Graham Ministry, a lot of things going on. We've got a break coming up in just a moment, but before we go too far, your website, your app, guys, where can people find you on the World Wide Web? Yes, here in America it is www.ucbireland.com.
You can also download our app, UCB Ireland. You'll find it there in your app store. I think that's it, and most social media platforms. We have the two websites, one for America, one for the rest of the world.
Okay.
So it's.com for America. Yeah, how cool is this, folks? We've got to take a brief break. The gospel that you grew up in church hearing, but listening to it from Ireland. That's pretty good.
Stay tuned. We've got a break. We're going to come back and talk more about not only God's work in and through Ireland, but for the whole wide world, because Jesus is the name above all names. Stay tuned. We're going to be back right after this.
Fox News and CNN call Alex McFarland, a religion and culture expert. Stay tuned for more of his teaching and commentary after this. Mike Segovi here, producer of the Alex McFarlane Show. Here's Alex talking about prayer. You know, folks, our nation needs a spiritual awakening so desperately.
We need the Holy Spirit of God to sweep across this nation, and prayer is the key. Please, if you would go to alexmacfarland.com/slash united in prayer, we'll send you a weekly devotional. We'll help your family, your church start praying with power. AlexMcFarland.com/slash United in Prayer. Do you have a desire to deepen your faith, better understand Christian apologetics, or to get a biblical perspective on current events?
Well, I've tried to make it simple for you to do just that. On my website, alexmacfarlane.com, there's a new section called Ask Alex Online. It's simple, it's clean, and you can read my answers to common questions about God, faith, and the Bible.
So visit the website, alexmacfarlane.com and look for the section that says Ask Alex Online. He's been called trusted, truthful, and timely. Welcome back to the Alex McFarlane Show. Yeah. Welcome back to the program, folks.
You know, what a joy. We're talking about Jesus and the Great Commission. And if you've, first of all, ever wondered, how can I really know that I have God in my life? We want to say this, and I know Dave and Robbie would concur. Jesus loves you so much, and his arms are open.
One of my favorite verses is John 6, 37, where the Lord Jesus says this, and listeners, this is for you. Jesus said, the one who comes to me, I will in no way reject.
Now, maybe you've felt rejection. Maybe you've never kind of really figured out where you belong. You belong in a relationship with Jesus Christ. And we often say this, and Jesus is as close by as a prayer. And on my own website, which is alexmacfarland.com, there's a tab under resources.
AlexMcFarland.com resources. There's a tab that says, What does God say about my relationship with Him? And we've given away the printed version of this, probably half million copies. But online, you can read about how to come to Christ, how to come back to Christ. And it's on there, and that's why we're doing what we're doing, isn't it?
Yeah. Because I became a Christian when I was 21.
Somebody told somebody, and somebody told me. And really, you know, psychologists tell us that people want a purpose. Guys, isn't it life's greatest purpose to know the Lord, but then for the rest of our life to be an ambassador to help others find the Lord? What better thing could we do? Amen.
I think that's the most important thing, to understand what God calls you to do. And then to just get on and do it. Yeah. Because people, when I'm qualified, no. He calls the unqualified and then equips us as we go through that process.
Because what he's after is our heart. You mentioned Saint Patrick right at the very beginning of this.
Well, the beautiful thing about Saint Patrick was he wasn't a saint. We forget that he was just Patrick. He was just command. And he put his hand up and said, Here I am, Lord. What do you want me to do?
And he says, I want you to go back to the land of your captors, and I want you to tell them of my love.
Now that's pretty cool. And he wanders around the whole of Ireland and many people, not only because of him, but because of others like him, become Christians and suddenly this little dark island begins to affect the world. Because somebody said, Here I am, Lord, send me. And whoever's listening today, you might think, I don't know what to do with my life. The first thing you need to do is to find out what God has for you.
Find people you trust and get them to pray with you, but when you know what that is, Then do it. Just put your hand up and go. And that becomes the greatest honor that we could ever do, what he has called us to do. Guys, one of my favorite verses, 1 Corinthians 15, 58 says that our labor in the Lord is not in vain. I mean, isn't it amazing that we would be here in the 21st century talking about things God did in the lives of unknown people a millennia and a half ago?
And, Robbie and Dave, both, let me throw this out to you. How aware are Are people today in Ireland of the great millennia and a half plus history Ireland has in Christianity? Or the average citizen, do they really know the rich Christian impact that nation has had? I don't think they do. I think.
I think like anything, life gets in the way. And you get to a point where you go, that's something that I was raised to be.
So I go to Mass as A good Catholic person that you might be, and you go to Mass at christenings and funerals and weddings, and maybe at Christmas or Easter. Mm. But then it just gets in the way. Because actually It's religion, not relationship. And the difference comes when we end up with a relationship with God.
That allows us to understand that these normal people a millennia and a half ago were just normal people. Yeah. That's all they did. Bridget, we talk about St. Bridget, she was just a girl who ministered to people who could not read or write, and the way she declared the gospel was she wove a cross out of straw.
It's a very famous cross now in Ireland called St. Bridget's Cross. And she would weave this and show them the gospel. That's just innovation. You know, 1,500 years ago, that says we're going to change a world.
Or Patrick used a simple clover to explain the Trinity. Indeed.
And the Celtic cross that you see is the same. They would just bring people to these crosses and explain the gospel to them. I think, unfortunately, like any nation, you get to a stage where, you know. You're doing all right. Financially, you're fine.
You're doing okay. Life's good, and I'm the master of my own destiny. And we lose sight of. the true meaning of who God is. There is an awareness.
I don't think Per se, there's a full relationship in the majority of people. on the island of Ireland. But the church is growing, and the church is doing some great stuff. Praise God. Praise God.
You know, Dave, you mentioned the Celtic Cross. What does Celtic mean? Because, you know, here in America in the States, Celtic. Is kind of hot. I mean, there have been the Celtic tenors and the river dance.
I mean, I really do, I see this everywhere of mugs and bumper stickers and music CDs.
So I think the American people have a real fascination. Because we think of Ireland as the beautiful countryside, and it is, but a lot of people I talk to want to vacation there, because they think it's this paradise on earth. What is Celtic? Bring us up to speed on the things about Ireland that we may not know.
Well the f The ancient Celts were there predating the Vikings and they prayed to the seasons and to the earth and all of that and the Irish language that is still spoken in what they call the Gaeltak there, Connemara, up in Donegal, actually predates. the Celts.
So Patrick came along and everything changed. We actually do a tour every April called the Christian Heritage Tour where we bring Americans over to see Ireland. We start in Dublin and then we'll go north to the hill of Slain where Patrick defied the king on the hill of Tara.
So we bring them there, we actually bring them to Down Patrick in the north of Ireland to his grave where he's also buried with Bridget. Purportedly.
So, yeah, everybody's Irish on St. Patrick's Day, right?
So, instantly Irish. But it has such a deeper meaning and such a rich, rich tradition and history beyond the hills dotted with little lambs and clover and all of that. Sure. For the Christian Heritage Tours of Ireland, is there a website for that? Yeah, you would go to our website at ucbireland.com.
That would be awesome. Yeah, our next one is coming up here April 15th through the 25th, and we run them every year in April. First it beats the tourist season, which really kicks in on May 1st. And the weather's really nice when we're there. Most of the time.
We bring about 30 to 40 people there. And every morning we have a publication called Word for Today that we'll read and pray in the morning before we start out on the bus, and away we go. You see all the cool sites. But you also learned of what UCB Ireland is doing for the furtherance of the gospel there. Robbie, before we take a break here, the word for today, fantastic devotional magazine, is this online?
It is available online through the website, yeah, and on the app as well. You can get it online and on our app. Wonderful. Hey, we got to take a break. Do not go away.
We've got more to come. We're coming to you live from the fairly noisy floor of national religious broadcasters. Hey, folks, God is on the move, and it's exciting to hear about. Stay tuned. We've got a brief break, and we're back.
Fox News and CNN call Alex McFarland, a religion and culture expert. Stay tuned for more of his teaching and commentary after this. Hi, Alex McFarland here. You know, I was at a college speaking, and I guess we ministers get too wordy.
Somebody said, Can you describe Christianity in only two words? And instantly, this came to me, and I said it: loving substitution. And students raised their hand. They said, What does that mean? Loving substitution.
Here's the thing: because Jesus Christ loves you, He was our substitute on Calvary's cross. The appropriate measure of God's wrath that you and I deserved was put onto Jesus. You don't have to die and suffer for your sins because He was the substitute who died for you.
So, if you call out to Christ, He will save you, He will forgive you. I urge you to do that today because Jesus Christ has a plan for your life, and it begins with you putting your faith in Him. Thank you for listening. Thank you for your support. Learn more about this at alexmacfarland.com.
Uh He's been called trusted, truthful, and timely. Welcome back to the Alex McFarlane Show. Welcome back to the program. We're going to resume our conversations with Dave Durbin and Robbie Frawley. But I do want to remind everybody that we will be in Western North Carolina at the Cove, the Billy Graham Training Center near Asheville, twice this summer, and it's going to be fantastic.
July 17 through 19, I'll be at the Cove teaching the book of Revelation, Bible Prophecy, our brand new book on 100 questions on prophecy in the end times. But then, and folks, this is a rare opportunity. July 27 through 31, I'll be back at the Cove with Gary Habermas, quite literally the world expert on the resurrection of Christ, ancient evidence for the life of Christ. The website is thecove.org, T-H-E-C-O-V-E, theCOVE.org. If you've been, you know what I'm talking about, but if you've never been.
Into the Cove, you will truly sense the presence of God. Before it was built, Billy and Ruth Graham prayer walked over those hillsides. And we get into God's Word, we fellowship with people literally from around the world. It will be simply a visit you'll never forget. I'd love to see you at the Cove this summer.
And I ask for your prayers. We've got our youth camps. We're in seven states doing youth camps, plus a big youth event later this year, and several of our Worldview and Apologetics conferences. And so if you go to alexmacfarland.com. Number one, pray for us because we are online on air seven days a week, but then we're on the road in our conferences.
Every year here in the States, we average about 7,500 people come into Christ, mostly teenagers. But we need your support. And if you would go to the Donate Now button, your tax-deductible contribution will help us even do more to evangelize the lost and equip the saved. And we sincerely, sincerely thank you. And two brothers that I'm just thrilled to be visiting with, they're doing that very thing: Robbie and Dave from Ireland, United Christian Broadcasters of Ireland.
Guys, so much that I want to talk with you about not only the work you're doing, but your Christian Heritage Tour in Ireland, and maybe next year. I might come, but You guys want to increase your broadcast and your presence in the States as well, and I'm thrilled to hear that. Yeah, we want to get to a stage where people realize there are so many people connected with Ireland, okay, we're only talking about this off-air about your name, your family name, and such a small little island. Has had such a major impact. And here in America, we're connecting with so many people who are going, My granddad was Irish, or my grandparents, or you know, I have a cousin who's, I really want to go there.
St. Patrick's Day is huge. Everybody is Irish. It's huge on St. Patty's Day here in America.
Everybody's Irish. That as an Irishman, born and raised in Ireland, that's something that kind of really moves me. that people would want to connect with our little island. But the more I've looked into it and the more I serve what God has called us to do, the more I realize that actually we have a big part to play. And unashamedly Ireland's a small nation.
It's only 5.6 million people in the Republic of Ireland. The whole island is about 7.6. Thereabouts. But we're reaching out to people over here saying, hey, Do you want to go mission? Oh, but I can't go.
No, but you can through the work of UCB Ireland. Together we can make a difference changing an island that your grandparents came from. and making sure that this island, Ireland, hears the gospel. Robbie, I've got to ask you because, you know, family and genealogy is very important, especially with the. 2,000 young people we interface with, family is really big, and I'm thrilled because there is this growing sense to reconnect with the family that I've kind of forgotten.
But I've got to ask you this: when people come to Ireland, maybe for the first time, and their grandparents, and they're of Irish extract. How do they react when they first set foot on the soil of the motherland? When they arrive. Different people arrive in different ways. And we've had one or two people over the past four years come through the arrivals doors at Dublin Airport crying.
And I'm thinking there's a problem. The airline's done something wrong. They've lost the tour. Yeah. They haven't even.
And It's no, when you ask the question, their response is, I'm finally here. I've waited all my life. and I'm finally here. And that then puts an onus on Dave and myself to make sure that actually their finally here moment is a moment they'll never forget.
So we care for them, we look after them, we encourage them, we laugh with them, we cry with them. We pray with them. But more than anything else, we take them around this little island that shows them. Just what happens when somebody puts their hand up and says, Here I am, Lord, send me. I know I'm quoting that a lot, but it's so important.
And We do on day eight, we talk about day eight, it's the most special day of the tour.
Okay.
People say, why? because we go to a place called Derry Nam Beach.
Okay.
Okay, and the first time we did this, Dave, you you can take over this because you you talk about this, Gloria. Yeah, so on day eight we're at a place called Darien Ann Beach, like Robbie said, and it's the closest landmass to uh America.
So we actually will pray for America. We walk out to this beautiful Beautiful beach, and we all get together in a little worship service, and we just praise God, and we thank. We thank him for America and please help America.
So, in our little group, we're pointing and facing America, and that's off the ring of Kerry, which is just a beautiful, stunning drive. But I wanted to say also, we don't necessarily have church people that come on the trip. And if any of your listeners are going, wow, a Christian Heritage Tour, maybe I have to be a Christian. No, you can join us. And I'll tell you something, Alex.
We had my my cousin. Who was in a A vowed agnostic, and he said to me before the trip: He said, Will you take agnostics on the trip? I said, Absolutely, God, I'll take agnostics on the trip. And so we went to Darienan Beach the very first time, and actually our friend Matthew Ward was singing worship songs. and he was visibly shaking and crying and he got back on the bus and he said, I don't know what it is, I'm not going to admit it yet, but there's something happening to me here.
So they hear the gospel. We don't bang them over the head with the gospel. We just share Jesus. And show them this beautiful island. Amen.
I've got to ask if you would do this. In a traditional Irish dialect, could one of you share a verse? You mentioned the.
Some of the older language, if you could. John 3:16, for God so loved the world. We've done this on many shows. We had people around the world in the you know, not 21st century English, but The Irish dialect of old. Could you share a scripture for us?
I lived in the UK for 30 years, so I'm trying to get my Irish back. I wouldn't be able to translate John 3:16 as much as it would be great, but the Lord's Prayer.
Okay.
The Lord's Prayer starts in Irish. Aranaha. A tourniac. Good day for Donham. Goodonock the Riyak.
And it goes on to talk about thy kingdom come, which I won't, I will offend somebody. But our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be your name. And it doesn't matter what language you speak that in: French, German, English, Irish. It's our Father. Amen.
Our Father and the mission of Alex and his programs, the mission of NRB, the mission of UCB Ireland is to declare our Father who art in heaven. Hallowed be your name. Whoever listens, wherever you're listening for, If you understand that phrase, then you'll understand the mission that we're all on. we're all called to, but Aranaha, the Tonya. G'day for Domin.
Good Donna could react. Amen. Let's launch. Guys, we're almost out of time. First of all, I want to thank you both for being with us, but even more importantly, thank you for the work you're doing for the gospel.
And listeners, let me say God loves you. We've always known this, but ponder on that for a moment, if you would. God loves you. And you know, Ireland, I'm looking at pictures here, and everybody knows it's just one of the most beautiful places on earth. But there's a place even more beautiful, and that's the place Christ has gone to prepare for you.
And Jesus said that He has gone to prepare a place, and your place in God's family begins the day that you open your heart to Jesus. I simply do not have the vocabulary to adequately convey how much the Lord Jesus loves you. He's as close by as a prayer. And right now, you can say, Lord Jesus, I need you. You can say, Lord, I do believe you died on the cross for me, and Lord, I accept you as my forgiver.
And my Lord. And so, again, if you need spiritual help, my website, alexmcfarlane.com, the website of United Christian Broadcasters of Ireland, you can go there. But, gentlemen, thank you. We're almost out of time. Again, folks, life's greatest adventure and life's highest purpose and calling is to know Christ and to make Him known.
May the Lord bless you as you go forth doing just that. Alex McFarland Ministries are made possible through the prayers and financial support of partners like you. For over 20 years, this ministry has been bringing individuals into a personal relationship with Christ and has been equipping people to stand strong for truth. Learn more and donate securely online at alexmacfarland.com. You may also reach us by calling 1-877-YESGOD and the number 1.
That's 1-877-YESGOD1. Thanks for joining us. We'll see you again on the next edition of the Alex McFarlane Show.
