Michael Carey is the pastor of the Clonmel Bible Church. He and his wife Kristine have been married for over 30 years and have five children, Elisabeth, Joel, Stephen, Anna and Jonathan.
Personal TestimonyI would like to share with you a little of my background and why I am the pastor of this fellowship.
My parents, PJ and Cathy Carey, met in England and returned to Ireland when I was a young boy. Most of my childhood memories come from experiences in Clonmel where worked in the family shop and attended St. Mary's Primary School and the Christian Brother's High school. In my teens, I participated in athletics and squash, both of which I enjoy to the present.
There was little work in Ireland in the early 80’s and so I immigrated to Boston after college where I found employment with my uncle Pat as a roofer (I hate heights!). An engineering job north of the city eventually came my way and this entailed working with a more senior engineer, Jack Airey. We took tea breaks together and in time he shared his faith in Christ. Though skeptical of the Bible I was challenged by his quiet confidence and the evident peace in his life. Jack invited me to study the Bible with him and I accepted.
In time, he also invited me to Christian meetings where people shared some of their life experiences. These stories all very different but all ended the same way. Each speaker had come to trust in Jesus Christ for something called "salvation" and claimed to have a personal relationship with God. Though I enjoyed these meetings (the stories were often interesting) they had no real impact on life. I had not desire to consider "salvation" or change my life.
I was also invited to church. The pastor was an older man who taught directly from the Bible. I grasped little of the message but was profoundly struck by one thing; he was utterly convinced that he held the very Words of God in his hands. I was deeply challenged by this and began to read the Bible for myself. I came across the following verses from the book of Proverbs:
“My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you; So that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; Yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift your voice for understanding; If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth comes knowledge and understanding.” (Proverbs 2:1-5).
These words told me that it was possible to know God. I took the message seriously and made the verses personal. I repeatedly prayed them back to God. I wanted to know Him. I was desperate to to know the truth.
The months that followed were life changing. I found that the Bible pointed to Jesus. He died to pay for my sins and took the punishment I deserved.
“Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3)
And what was required of me? Surely there was something I had to do. Surely I had to do penance of some kind! Did I have to give money? Yet, I found there was nothing I could do. No demand was made other than to turn from my sin and turn to Jesus and accept the free gift of salvation. I had to believe in Him, the One who gave Himself for me. Believe that He is indeed the very Son of God. Believe in the One who took my place and receive Him as my Lord and Savior. I found the following passage (John 3:16) and made it personal.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16)
I took the word “whoever” and I replaced it with my own name and spoke these words back to God. I claimed His promise and found Him true to His Word. The confidence and peace that Jack experienced became mine. I gratefully trusted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour in the summer of 1986.
Shortly thereafter I found I had a burden to teach the Bible. It was a burden that made NO sense whatsoever as I am by nature somewhat introverted and thought of speaking in public would have been utterly terrifying!!!. Yet, I found an irresistibly passion to communicate the truths of the Bible. I wanted others to understand it and so I devoted time its study and attended a number of institutions that prepare men for the ministry.