Austin Roberts has been serving since 2016 at An Cuan, an intentional community in Rostrevor affiliated with Youth With A Mission (YWAM). Meaning “the harbour” in Irish (Gaeilge), An Cuan provides a space for discipleship training and reconciliation in a region where these ministries carry deep resonance. The full blog is on his website.
Alongside my ministry here, I recently completed a Doctor of Intercultural Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary. My dissertation explored how a theology of reconciliation can be meaningfully integrated into discipleship training for emerging adults — a topic that feels very close to my heart and daily work at An Cuan. I’m grateful to have finished the program debt-free, and I especially want to thank Mennonite Mission Network for a grant that covered a significant portion of my fees.
A season of change at An Cuan
An Cuan is meant to be a harbour — a space where people can find restoration, be resupplied, and then be sent out again to participate in God’s work in the world. Right now, our harbour is in a season of transition. Several key leaders and volunteers have recently moved on, leaving real gaps in staffing and leadership. After finishing my doctorate, I took a short sabbatical but returned early to help carry the extra weight during this time.
One immediate result is that we will not be running our usual September discipleship training program this year. This creates both a ministry gap and a financial challenge for the community. In its place, we are planning a series of shorter events and seminars throughout the autumn that will still offer meaningful formation while helping us navigate the current realities.
Looking further ahead, I am in the early stages of discernment about developing a three-month biblical studies course for emerging adults, with the hope of piloting it in early 2027. It feels like a natural next step for An Cuan and aligns closely with the kind of formation work I am called to.
We stand at a real threshold. The transition is challenging, but I hold it with hope. A harbour that is being renewed can send out even more ships. I would be grateful for your prayers for wisdom, for the right new people to join our team, and for God to open a fresh season for An Cuan.
My road ahead
Having stepped away from running our commercial kitchen, I am entering a new chapter with openness. In the near term, I remain committed to helping An Cuan navigate this transition. Longer term, I am in a patient process of discernment about what role fits me best going forward. I am very open to staying long-term at An Cuan and in Rostrevor, while also holding space for whatever new possibilities God may have.
What is clear to me is my calling to equip young adults with meaningful frameworks for living as Christian disciples and participating fully in God’s work in the world. The doctoral years stretched me in many ways, and I find myself entering this new season with a sense of openness — vocationally, relationally, and in daily patterns — that is both exciting and a little daunting. Your prayers for clear discernment and courage would mean a great deal.
Praying for Northern Ireland
For those less familiar with our context, Northern Ireland carries a long history of division between Protestant and Catholic communities. Although the 1990s peace process brought significant change, social tensions remain a lived reality. Recent violence, particularly within Protestant areas and sometimes directed toward migrants, has been a sober reminder that these fault lines are still present.
We feel relatively safe in Rostrevor, and I am encouraged by the practical support my church in Belfast is providing to affected migrant communities. Please pray for calm in the short term, and for the longer, deeper work of equipping a new generation with the posture and skills needed for lasting peace and reconciliation.
A note on support
In recent months, my monthly support has faced some challenges. One faithful partner church stepped back due to their own financial pressures, and rising living costs have added to the strain. I am thankful for timely one-time gifts that have helped bridge the gaps.
As I look toward this new season of ministry, I am praying for new regular supporters to come alongside me — both to meet monthly needs and, longer term, toward the possibility of purchasing a home with a guest bedroom for continued hospitality and ministry.
Prayer requests
- Wisdom and discernment for An Cuan’s leadership transition, and God’s provision of the right new team members.
- Clear direction and courage for me as I discern my vocational next steps.
- Continued calm in Northern Ireland and progress in the work of peacebuilding and reconciliation.
- New monthly supporters to join me in this next season of ministry.
Thank you for walking with me and with An Cuan through this season of transition and hope. We believe that God is at work renewing the harbour so it can send out workers refreshed for His purposes.
