Keith began service with the Irish Mission in 1986.  For 24 years he served in Tipperary, Monaghan and Tyrone, leading children’s clubs, holding Bible studies, teaching English, going door-to-door and leading hotel gospel meetings. In 2010 he was called to start the work of International Meeting Point (IMP) on the Lisburn Road in Belfast. 

The pioneering ministry of IMP, initially, offered tea and coffee and taught English courses to migrants and asylum seekers in Belfast. Keith, with a small dedicated team of volunteers, worked tirelessly and today the ministry touches the lives of over a hundred people every day who come into the centre for help.

Keith’s work includes overseeing the ministry of IMP in north and south Belfast, as well as shaping the vision for future ministry. On Carlisle Circus the IMP OP Shop provides baby clothes and equipment at a very low price. This is a strategic way of creating a street presence in north Belfast and every day there are opportunities to witness for Jesus in the shop. A Parent and Toddler group reaches out to families and English classes are held for asylum seekers and refugees in the evenings. On the Lisburn Road the drop-in centre has over 100 people coming in each day for help. As well as offering a free hot lunch people can get help to make phone calls, fill out forms, search for employment. The pool table and table-football are incredibly popular. There are English classes throughout the week and a Bible study is held every day. All this is only possible due to the team of over 80 volunteers which Keith oversees. Keith comments ‘God is still at work in our city and it’s exciting to be a part of what He is doing.’

Keith is married with five children and 15 grandchildren.

Prayer Points

• Pray that many will come to faith in Christ through the work of IMP.
• Pray that those who have become Christians through the Bible studies will grow in their faith and share it with others.
• Give thanks for the many churches who support IMP.
• Pray for Keith and his colleagues Henry Coulter, Sharon Heron and Frances Jackson as they staff the project and for all the volunteers who make it possible.
• Pray for wisdom.

Latest Report – March 2024

A day in the life ...

The International Meeting Point (IMP) is so varied in its outreach that sometimes it's hard to describe it. Take a recent Friday as an example...

At 9am I went over to north Belfast to see Shirley McGonigle, who leads the site there, before the volunteers and mums started to arrive for Tiny Tots. After reading and praying with Shirley, I had a quick update with Rev Peter Burke, from Grace and Hope Community Church. I then hurried over to the Lisburn Road where Prof David Leach was bringing eight young apprentices to see the meeting point, but got diverted as I arrived, as PCI's property support officer wanted to show me potential alternative premises. I need not have worried because Henry Coulter gave the apprentices an excellent intoduction into what we do, before I arrived.

Thankfully the apprentices were able to stay for a couple of hours and I got a chance to talk with them. By this time, the Meeting Point was getting very busy. I talked with a Hungarian who we were able to help into employment and prayed with a Bulgarian man after locals had broken his windows for the second time since Christmas. Henry and Sharon were helping people in the office, and I was able to receive some clothes and food from individuals and churches that support our work. Two Syrian women asked if they could look at our clothes ministry upstairs; then I was able to help an Eritrean lady who needed a little financial help. We are so thankful for everyone who supports our discretionary fund, enabling us to help in these situations.

Lunchtime was particularly busy, with around 90 people there for lunch. God is so good. LifehubNI is a food ministry run by Edmund Aurofor. It supplies us with lots of food that we can share with visitors. On this day we treated everyone to Nando's chicken and rolls. Edmund visits us mostly on a Wednesday, which means we can share out food with the 70 or so who come to the morning Bible study and the similar number who come to the afternoon English class.

After lunch I spent some time around the pool table as it's often a flashpoint when the men get animated over results. While I was there, an Iranian got a phone call from the Home Office, telling him he had got status, meaning he moves from being an asylum seeker to someone entitled to live and work in the UK. 

All in a day's work!

Please pray: 

• Pray for more volunteers in the 'Op shop' in north Belfast.
• Pray for Mahmoud, a Muslim convert as we try to get him into a local church.
• Pray for Sharon and Henry as they try to help people find accommodation.
• Pray for S*, a Syrian Christian, who brought his friend M* into IMP who gave his life to Christ.

*Initials used to protect their identities.

To download a printable PDF version of this report visit the Mission Reports listing at the top.