The Praying Plumber of Lisburn: Thomas Haire

The biography: The Praying Plumber of Lisburn: A Sketch of God's Work in the Life of Thomas Haire

By God's remarkable providence, this account of Tom Haire by A.W. Tozer connects two men who, though very different in many ways, share a deep connection in their spiritual devotion. Both men also share another trait: they are nonconformists, shaped by God's unique processes into individuals unlike the norm.

To understand the importance of such God-formed individuals in the twentieth-century West, we must consider the times in which they lived. In an age dominated by mass production and mass communication, where schools and churches—at least in America—focus heavily on social adaptation, the result is often mediocrity and sameness. Instead of producing true saints, we end up with spiritual "robots." The old saying, "This world is not a friend to grace," holds even more truth today, shedding light on why genuine saintly Christians are so rare.

For centuries, Catholic orders have tried to produce saints by enforcing strict rules on how people think and behave. While few Protestant groups have taken this same approach, the widespread pressure for group conformity is just as harmful. Liberals are often recognizable by their affected speech and repeated use of familiar slogans, while fundamentalists, trained in specific doctrines, tend to echo precise phrases without originality. Even "holiness" preachers have their distinctive style of expression, marking them as part of a spiritual elite.

This demand for conformity stifles the human spirit. It is a tragic misuse of freedom to turn it into a more polished form of bondage. True freedom comes through redemption in Christ and submission to Him, enabling the human spirit to flourish in the boundless expanse of eternity.

Thankfully, neither Tom Haire, the subject of this sketch, nor A.W. Tozer, its author, were shaped by convention. If either had been, this booklet would not exist. There would be no extraordinary life to record and no writer with the depth to recognize and describe it. Both were essential—Brother Haire's profoundly spiritual life and Dr. Tozer's kindred spirit and gifted pen—to bring this work to life.

The story of how a plumber from Lisburn, Ireland, and the editor of The Alliance Weekly in Chicago came to deeply understand one another is a remarkable example of God’s providence. One significant event in this divine plan was a hotel fire that nearly claimed the lives of Tom Haire and Evangelist Leonard Ravenhill. This account beautifully shows how true spiritual fellowship is possible, even between individuals of vastly different backgrounds.

Tom Haire, a layman with little formal education, and A.W. Tozer, a scholar with knowledge in many areas, are both uniquely shaped by God. Though very different, they share a common "home" in the heavenly realm, where their spirits are fully at ease.

I have been fortunate to know both the author and the subject of this story. They are united in their disdain for exaggeration, pretense, sensationalism, and superficiality. As such, this account is straightforward and honest. It has already blessed many readers of The Alliance Weekly, and I pray that God will use it to draw many of His children into a deeper fellowship with Him.

One of the rarest experiences I have ever had was praying with Tom Haire. As his hands clasped mine along with those of a distinguished churchman and theologian, he poured out his heart in prolonged intercession. Afterwards, this prelate and I agreed that such prayer—in its depth, height, breadth, and insight—was beyond any human dimensions. Tom had not learned to pray through any school of human instruction. We had been listening to a man converse with God, guided by the Spirit's teaching, attuned to the concerns of the Father's heart, and fluent in the vocabulary of the heavenlies.