The Poth Family

The Poth Family: Kirk and Sandlin

Location: Sligo, Ireland

Local Time:

Missionary Agency: WorldVenture

The Poths’ mission focus is church planting, evangelism, and leadership development. The Lord directed them to Post Christian Catholic Europe back in 1984—first to Austria and then to Ireland. Both countries have a very low evangelical presence. Ireland has the distinction of being the least-evangelized English-speaking country in the world, which translated means that the opportunities are great for Gospel witness and advancement there.

August 2008 marks the date when Kirk and Sandlin came to Ireland. After five years of pastoral/church-planting ministry in Galway at Galway City Church, the Lord directed them to Sligo in October 2012. In May 2014, Sligo Baptist Church called Kirk to be the pastor.

As church-planters, they both love the local church. It is their passion to reach out to many with the message of the Gospel and to see many more New Testament churches starting and multiplying in the west of Ireland. They believe their marching orders are to help the church in the west of Ireland to reach its full redemptive potential.

Kirk and Sandlin married in Scottsdale, Arizona on December 22, 1979. They are the parents of five children and the grandparents of 18 grandkids. Sandlin, born in Kansas City, Kansas, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education from Arizona State University. Kirk, born in Fort Collins, Colorado, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education from Arizona State University; a Masters of Divinity degree from Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon; a Masters of Theology degree from London School of Theology; and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Phoenix Seminary.

More About Kirk & Sandlin:

• How we met: We were acquaintances while attending High School in Scottsdale, Arizona. Our first date was as a freshman and sophomore at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona.
• Meals we can’t resist:
  • Sandlin—Kaerntner Nudel (large noodle stuffed with ricotta-like cheese, cooked potato, and mint) with a green salad.
  • Kirk—Ritter Platte (Knights meal; a platter of different grilled meats and steamed veggies).
• Hot drinks we can’t resist:
  • Sandlin—Peppermint hot chocolate with whipped cream.
  • Kirk—Medium coffee with two added shots of espresso and no room.
• Prized possession:
  • Sandlin—Redwood hope chest that Kirk built for me while we were dating.
  • Kirk—My Trek road bike, and running a close second would be my Titelist golf clubs.
• If God put me in charge of Heaven, I’d make sure it included:
  • Sandlin—A great library with cozy bay window seats.
  • Kirk—Mexican food, golf courses, and bike lanes.
• My most irrational act:
  • Sandlin—Performing a Christian rap in public.
  • Kirk—Mountain biking as a novice, with two experienced riders, down a very steep Alpine mountain and barely surviving to tell about it.
• Books that have influenced me:
  • Sandlin—What Happens When Women Pray and Behold Your God.
  • Kirk—The Best of E.M. Bounds and The Biography of George Mueller.
• Spiritual gifts:
  • Sandlin—Teaching, giving, and serving.
  • Kirk—Evangelism, leading, faith, and pastor-teaching.
• What I can’t wait to ask Jesus face-to-face:
  • Sandlin—What it was like to speak a word and create.
  • Kirk—Why He chose me.

Hobbies & Interests: When it comes to doing puzzles, reading biographies and history, and eating Mexican food, Kirk and Sandlin are in. They also love all types of games! Their family has a running game marathon that they compete in every year.

Kirk spends lots of time reading and meditating on the book of Psalms and Luke’s writings (Luke­–Acts). His main hobby is being a father and grandfather to the clan, as well as cycling and golf. Sandlin’s favorite book in the Bible is the book of Jonah. She loves to read, quilt, do handcrafts, teach young children to love and follow Jesus, and love her grandchildren.

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