Ballymena native Keith McIlroy has received the ‘call’ to his first solo charge at First Dromore Presbyterian Church in County Down.
Married to Hayley, Keith is the proud father of a little girl called Harley and is currently serving as the Assistant Minister at Ballyweaney Presbyterian Church near Cloughmills, Co Antrim.
Although he made a commitment to Christ as a young boy, Keith recalls that he came to genuine saving faith in the Lord while working in the movie Industry in California.
Upon his return to the UK, Keith initially settled in Wales where he met Hayley, who is originally from England. Eventually, the couple made their home in Northern Ireland. A spell as Youth and Family Worker beckoned for Keith before he had the opportunity to work with ex-offenders at Thompson House for seven years. In tandem with this, Keith completed a Masters and PhD in Theology.
His passion for Ministry really flourished during a four-year spell as the Associate for Discipleship and Mission at High Kirk Presbyterian Church in Ballymena.
Keith believes that Hayley, his parents and two brothers have been instrumental in his walk with God to date. He is also quick to mention the impact of High Kirk Elder, Philip McCartney and Rev Gareth McFadden, a former Associate Minister at the Thomas Street congregation, had on his life.
Looking to the future, Keith told The Church Page: “I was humbled to receive an invitation from the congregation of First Dromore to be their new minister. God is truly gracious and we’re so thankful to have been brought to this point.
“We have been so blessed by our time in Ballyweaney and we’ll never forget the lovely people who welcomed us into their church family. The next couple of months with them will be a sad departing.
A friend recently sent me this appropriate quote from the great Puritan Richard Baxter – ‘I preached as never sure to preach again, and as a dying man to dying men.’”
