Our Ministry
Patrick’s burden for Newfoundland and Labrador began in 2004 when he had the opportunity for a missions internship in Deer Lake, NL with missionary pastor Mark Alcock. During this time he was able to see the great need for more Gospel preaching churches on the island. At the time, there were only six mission works and one established Independent Fundamental Baptist Church on the Island. As Patrick’s internship was coming to a close the Lord made it very evident that he was calling him to return as a missionary to Western Newfoundland. From that point, Patrick began his preparation to return to NL permanently.
In 2005 Patrick and Emily were married. They spent two and a half years assisting in a church plant in Tennessee. After that they began their deputation ministry out of Berean Baptist Church in Macon, GA. In June of 2012, they arrived in Stephenville NL to continue the work of planting New Hope Baptist Church, as the previous missionary had left due to health reasons.
The year 2017 presented the O’Briens with another ministry opportunity in Corner Brook, a city about an hour away. An older missionary couple, that had begun planting a church there a couple years earlier, were unable to continue that ministry. By faith, the O’Briens took on this ministry along with New Hope Baptist in Stephenville. Patrick pastored these two churches simultaneously.
Many things have changed at New Hope since the pandemic began. New Hope has had to change meeting place several times and is currently meeting at the O’Brien’s home. New Hope is currently looking for a permanent place to meet since the O’Brien’s home is at capacity every Sunday. The O’Brien’s continue to faithfully serve the Lord and seek his continued direction of new Hope and the community of Stephenville and surrounding areas.
Since arriving in NL the O’Briens have laboured to become a part of the community and to reach the people of Stephenville and the surrounding area for Christ. The greatest battle has been the people’s dependence on a false religion and their own good works.
In 2019, the Lord sent the Northcutt family to join the O’Briens as co-workers. These two families jointly worked to grow both ministries in Western NL. By July of 2021, Grace Baptist Church of Corner Brook was formally charted with 13 people joining as official members. With both ministries needing undivided, full-time attention, God led the Northcutts to move to Corner Brook to pastor Grace Baptist while the O’Briens remained in Stephenville at New Hope Baptist.
