Seven Years Later

As I sit down to write this update — at a borrowed desk, with show tunes playing in the background (some things will never change) — I find myself unsure of how to begin. I have several big updates to share, and honestly, there’s probably no better way than to just pull the band-aid off:

After seven years in full-time missions, I’ll be leaving An Cuan and stepping away from YWAM.

For some of you, this may come as a surprise. For others, maybe not so much. But I imagine most people are asking the same two questions: Why? and What’s next?

So let’s get into it.

Why am I leaving YWAM?

The short answer is this: I believe God is leading me into something new, and I want to be obedient to that.

The slightly longer answer begins back in the summer of 2025, when I applied for Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK. Around that time, I had a growing sense that the two-year commitment I was making with YWAM Ireland would likely be my last. Throughout my years in YWAM, I’ve always tried to reassess at natural transition points, and although I was excited to continue serving in Rostrevor, I felt God gently preparing me for change.

Then, toward the end of 2025, several members of An Cuan’s leadership team announced they would be moving on from YWAM by the end of 2026. Naturally, that prompted me to pray and reflect more intentionally about my own timeline. As I did, it became increasingly clear that it was time for me to leave as well.

I do want to say clearly: this decision is not because those leaders are leaving. But I do think God used the situation to accelerate a process I had assumed was still a few years away.

If you’d like to hear more about this decision and process, I’d genuinely love to share more personally — over coffee, a phone call, or Zoom. Please feel free to reach out.

Exploring “What next?”

As I prayed through this decision, of course I also wrestled with what would come next.

There was a very logical voice in my head telling me I shouldn’t leave until I had complete security about the future. And to be fair — that voice was logical. But in this case, it was also deeply rooted in fear.

It felt logical to want certainty, but fearful to surrender control.

Logical to want clarity before stepping forward, but fearful to trust God one step at a time.

Logical not to leave something so good, but fearful that nothing else could compare to the life I’ve had at An Cuan.

And honestly, part of me was afraid that maybe God wouldn’t meet me in the same way outside of YWAM.

After all, it was YWAM that taught me how to recognise and listen to God’s voice. YWAM taught me how to live in community, how to intercede for nations, and how to allow God to break my heart for injustice. It was through An Cuan that I was introduced to peacebuilding ministry, and through YWAM that I had opportunities to serve in places like Lebanon and Albania.

I will always be profoundly grateful for the life and formation God has given me through YWAM An Cuan.

And I also believe God is faithful enough to lead me into this next season too.

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While I’m leaving YWAM, I’m not leaving Northern Ireland — or full-time ministry.

By the end of 2026, I’ll be moving to Belfast to join a new project called The Commons. I’m incredibly excited about this next chapter and the opportunity to continue serving in full-time ministry in a new context. More details about what that will look like are still unfolding, but I’m looking forward to sharing more as things develop.

As I transition into this new season, I’ll still be relying on the generosity and partnership of people who believe in the work God has called me to. If you would like to continue financially supporting me as I move into this next chapter of ministry, I would be deeply grateful.

At the same time, I also want to say sincerely: if this transition feels like the right point for you to stop supporting financially, for any reason at all, I completely understand and am so thankful for the ways you’ve already supported and encouraged me over the years. Your generosity has helped shape the last six years of my life and ministry more than I can express.

More than anything, I’d love your prayers as I step into this new season — for wisdom, peace, provision, and continued obedience to wherever God leads next.

Thank you for being part of this journey with me.