The First Elim Church

IRELAND

In 1914 – the year of the outbreak of the First World War – Christian Convention was held in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The organisers agreed to invite young George Jeffreys to attend. He was then 24 years of age.

At this convention were two leading men of Monaghan, named Alan Kerr and George Allen. Having heard of God’s blessing on the ministry of young George Jeffreys, and now having met him, they decided to invite him to their town to conduct a crusade. This was arranged for the next year – 1915

It was in Monaghan, in Jan 1915, that they discussed their plans, and make provision for the purchase of a marquee in which to hold their meetings. It was from this meeting that the Elim Four Square Gospel Alliance was birthed. The first church was purchased on Hunter Street in the Donegal Road area of Belfast, in June 1915. Through God's grace, the movement grew in number greatly in Northern Ireland, and the U.K. However, sadly its impact within the Republic took a little longer to bear fruit.

NORTHERN IRELAND

The work spread rapidly against great odds and personal hardships experienced by George Jeffreys and his evangelistic team. In some places persecution was fierce because of the direct message that was being preached. It came to be known as the Foursquare Gospel Campaign, because George Jeffreys concentrated his message on the four fundamental truths of the faith: Jesus Christ as the Saviour, Healer, Baptiser in the Holy Spirit, and Coming King.

As a result of all this, Elim was named the Elim Foursquare Gospel Alliance. Later it was to be known and the Elim Pentecostal Church. Throughout Northern Ireland some of the largest halls were used for very successful campaigns and in almost every instance an Elim Church was established.

THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

It was not until 1957 that Pastor Gordon Hills brought the movement to Dublin. It was in the building in Thomas Street that Elim roots in Dublin took root. It was also from Dublin that many of the other churches in the Republic were planted. The first of these was Westport. Westport is, as its name suggests the most westerly port in Europe. It was in this pictureesque village that the Gospel was preached by members of the Dublin church in the years of 1976-7. As a result of these outreaches a church was planted in 1977. Since 1977 the number of churches has grown, and there are now 10 churches in the Republic. These are located in Sligo, Mayo, Leitrim, Limerick, Tipperary, Cavan, Monaghan, Meath, and Dublin (click on map for details).

Elim Ministries in Dublin

In 1991 Pastor John McEvoy recieived a word from the Lord that He was to return to Ballyfermot, after serving nearly 11 years as pastor in the fellowship in Westport. It took over a year for John to settle things in Westport. With the church, he purchased a building in Castlebar, but the Lord had told him he would never preach in it. Indeed, he never did because as the first meeting was taking place John, Vicky and the children were on their way back to Dublin. In 1992 John held six meetings in the West County Hotel, and the fellowship was born. After the initial Mettings in the West County, premises were sought in Ballyfermot. They came in the form of rooms above a florist. This was a less than auspicious beginning, but the Lord was with the church and it prospered.