Many have read the stories of the great Welsh Revival of 1904–1905, when “God worked in mighty ways” in the small country that abuts England’s southwest border.
But most young Wales residents now see the church as only a part of their country’s rich, but sometimes boring, history. Far too many have never been led to realize that a personal, life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ is possible, missionaries Tom and Ann Espy explained.
And that’s exactly why the Espys have spent more than a decade serving in Wales — to help lessen the number of Welsh who don’t know Christ yet.
They are completing their second International Mission Board (IMB) assignment, returning to the United States March 28. The couple will be on stateside assignment through the rest of the year before retiring from missionary work.
But for now, the Espys are wrapping up their work. “We are striving to complete clearing and packing a little early so that we can spend our last days visiting with friends … and those who still do not understand the truth,” Ann Espy said.
The Espys’ work there has shifted its focus several times over the years.
They first served in Wales as International Service Corps (ISC) missionaries with the IMB from 1994 until 1996.
The first year, Tom Espy worked primarily in the Baptist Union of Wales office while also serving as associate pastor of Pantygwydr Baptist Church in Swansea. He later served as pastor of Pantygwydr Baptist.
It was work that was right up his alley.
He had previously served 10 years as a pastor in Mississippi; seven years in ministerial counseling at Ridgecrest Baptist Church, Birmingham, in Birmingham Baptist Association; and nine years as pastor of Sulphur Springs Baptist Church, Trussville, in St. Clair Baptist Association.
During her husband’s first Welsh pastorate, Ann Espy worked with Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and ladies’ groups.
“We were thrilled to see 27 baptized into that fellowship while most Welsh churches had trouble remembering their last baptismal service,” Tom Espy said.
At the end of that assignment, the Espys — both Gadsden natives — moved to Anniston and were active in Meadowbrook Baptist Church, Oxford, in Calhoun Baptist Association, where Ann Espy’s mother, Claudia Leslie, is still an active member at 93.
But after the wedding of their daughter Amy, they felt “eager” to return to Wales in the late 1990s.
So they did — this time on a second ISC assignment to work with three small Welsh churches. The couple next worked in an area known as the Welsh Valley, where poverty is prevalent in communities that were built around coal mines that are now closed.
Then when the Espys received their latest challenge — to work with international people moving to the cities from Middle Eastern and north African countries to escape war, poverty or oppression — Tom Espy said he and his wife questioned whether it was time to return to the United States or take on the new work.
“We were retirement age and not sure about ‘old dogs learning new tricks,’” he said.
After asking God for clear direction, they said they felt Him speaking to them in that morning’s devotional reading, Mark 14:13, “And He sent out two of His disciples and said to them, ‘Go to the city … .’”
The couple moved to the capital city of Cardiff, next door to a family from Pakistan. This was “the starting point of our learning and developing friendships with the international community,” Tom Espy said.
The Espys also have been able to minister through a ladies’ sewing class, a men’s recreation time and teaching English as a Second Language, all at Tredegarville Baptist Church in Cardiff.
Individuals from 80 different countries have come to the church for activities.
And as a result, “a number of … folks have come to faith in Christ, were baptized and are continuing in Bible study and growing in their Christian faith,” Tom Espy said.
The Espys will continue to pray for the hundreds of people they will be leaving behind, that they “will know the truth in the days ahead.”
While on stateside assignment, the Espys will live first in a missionary home of Bellevue Baptist Church, Cordova, Tenn.
After that, they hope to complete the year in a missionary home belonging to St. Clair Association.
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