On the last Sunday of October 2022, Michael Grant preached his last sermon for Midleton Baptist Church on the south coast of Ireland.
He preached on Jesus’ words about the last days, and on the importance of putting our trust in the Lord. Towards the end of the sermon he shared a quote encouraging the congregation to live life ‘as if Christ died yesterday, rose again today, and is coming again tomorrow.’
These were not simply words for Michael Grant. The message he preached that day was a description of the way he lived his own life, until his death on 31 December 2022 at the age of 81.
Michael hadn’t always lived his life for Christ. He heard and responded to the gospel as a young man in Somerset, England, after establishing himself in a successful career as the manager of a butcher’s shop. His personal encounter with the living God dramatically changed the course of his life. He and his wife Rosemary set out in a new direction: Michael gave up his career and they sold their lovely home so that Michael would have the money to get a theological education. He felt certain that God wanted him to be a preacher and share the good news of the love and salvation of God with others. He considered this a privilege, whatever it cost him.
In 1972, Michael and Rosemary moved their family to Ireland so that Michael could become the pastor of Waterford Baptist Church, where he served faithfully for 25 years. Michael and Rosemary then moved to Bangor, County Down, and finally to Killeagh, County Cork. Wherever they lived, Michael’s passion was to share the wonderful truth that had changed his own life with the people around him.
Michael was a gifted preacher who gave his life in service to small churches in Ireland in contexts that were difficult, where opposition was strong and fruit came slowly. He was a gifted pastor, and today there are people all over Ireland who tell stories of the impact of his visits, encouragements, exhortations, and the legendary hospitality of Michael and Rosemary’s home.
Michael Grant’s life was not lived on a large scale, or on a large platform. It was lived simply and faithfully, relentlessly focused on his Saviour. He loved his family, his church, and the communities he lived in well. The message of his life was the same as the message he preached, encouraging us all to live ‘as if Christ died yesterday, rose again today, and is coming again tomorrow’.
