Teething Problems

We are having some pretty cool issues to get through these past days. We have been praying for our teens to get tighter as a group and for them to desire to be together and encourage each other when they are together. The reality is that our prayers are being answered, but we have some work ahead of us to get things worked out. Things were made clear on Monday nights, which is our night for the primary school kids. Steadily over the past month we have seen the teens growing in number to want to come and help out with the class. This is a dream to see them want to be there for a third night in the week. They come faithfully on Friday and Wednesday nights and now Mondays! I said we have to work through some things and here is why. There were 15 teens there to "help out" on Monday night. And for the most part they were a great help. However it became clear during the games part of the class, which is the last half hour, that the teens presence was overpowering and some tended to forget that the class is for the little ones. I am hugely encouraged by their enthusiasm to be together and to be with us at the church building, but we need to adjust things a little so that Monday's stays very much a primary school age focused class. Tonight in my class we will try to work through the process.


On the whole things are brilliant with the kids! Things continue to grow in numbers, but more importantly the group are growing in faith. Since Thomas' baptism he is showing good signs of growing. He has started to help out at Crimond school with our football after school club and is a fantastic influence with the kids. Rachel, Thomas' girlfriend is doing really well too. Rachel is growing in faith and is having a real influence on her friends. Two of Rachel's friends have started coming over the past couple of weeks. I was hugely encouraged to see evidence of growth when I see Rachel and Jessica now really good friends. Only two months ago they were arch enemies and could hardly stand to b in the same room as each other, but have allowed godly character to lead their lives and the result is obvious.


We are in full swing with our prep for this years campaign with the Harding students. I am excited at what we have planned for this year. God wiling, our vision will be in keeping with His will and the opportunity for growth and focus will become reality. Alex and I have been working with the teens to get the active things worked out and I have to say that this years scavenger hunt looks like it will be brilliant! We still have to polish the school assembly program a bit, but the skeleton is there and again we are excited that the kids will be blessed!

Just a couple of things about this past week. Our Friday night class was magic! We didn't have the numbers we usually have, but the class was special! The lesson was on transformation. I talked about a persons value in God's eyes. Everyone has the same value at all times, but it is our destination that changes when we accept Jesus and commit to follow Him.

I was preaching on Sunday night and we had the meeting in the youth hall and had a cup of tea and fellowship afterward. I asked the question "Are you a Spender or a Saver?" People who spend their life in debt to Satan, or do you spend your live laying up treasure in heaven? It was a good night.

We have had some great assemblies this week! Clerkhill is a big school and we were able to teach the P1-3's Yesterday. We talked about being moulded and the importance of not letting the right things and the right people, ultimately God and His goodness, mould us. It was fun!

I continue to enjoy my "Coffee Times" and all who come and talk have the kingdom at heart and want to see it strengthened and growing.

Enough for now - please continue to pray for the growth we are seeing and that balance can be found. God bless!

Led by the Spirit or Dragged by the World?

I have been pretty rubbish at keeping this blog up to date these past weeks. The weird thing is that there has been so much to keep up with that I could probably write a book. This truly is a good time for the church here in Peterhead as far as growth and hope. On the other hand the evidence is also unavoidable that we are a church that is changing too. This past 3 months we have witnessed the passing of three faithful and influential followers of Christ. Yesterday we said goodbye to Ella Brown. Ella was certainly one of the most active of women in the service of God. I can remember when she used to hold a class in her house for boys when I was around 10-12 years old. I have some great childhood memories sitting around Ella's kitchen table making models and rocking chairs from clothes pegs. Ella will be missed!

The truth that faces us here in Peterhead is that we are likely to be witnessing, over the next few years, a number of our elderly passing on to their reward. Only God knows the plans He has for His church here in Peterhead. Although we have a number of elderly brethren who have passed on, or who are on the final part of their earthly journey, we have huge reason to be confident and hopeful that God's Spirit is living and active here. There is a feeling of expectancy and I believe God is active in many lives who are searching and finding purpose amongst us.

We are committed to promoting and encouraging Fellowship! In the past we have neglected this area of rich blessing to our detriment as a church and it is essential for us to get back to the basic foundations that the church needs to be built upon. John and Michelle Campbell had an open house a couple of Saturdays ago and it was good. We had a good mix of the young and old there which is so needed if we are to get a close knit family. We sang for a while and Alex Swango led a devotional thought. One of the great results from that evening was the start of Rachel's journey. Rachel is Thomas' girlfriend and she is very open and close to the kingdom. We talked for a while that evening and set up a time to study further.

When I met with Rachel it was so obvious she was allowing the seed to room to grow. She commented a few times how that before she would say "I just have different beliefs," but now she sees what Christ offers and wants to follow Him. We talked for a couple of hours and I have no doubt that she is giving her life over to God's influence and, God willing, in the very near future we will have a new sister in Christ. We love Rachel's openness and her desire to be with and to be like us "Christians."

Last night when I turned the corner into the building car park I was blown away with what I saw. There was a gathering of about 12 teenagers at the entrance to the Building! It is strange how every now and again we get signs. Last night I got the sign! We have an amazing group coming to Wednesday nights now. I love how they want to be there and be connected with godliness. It's amazing how things turn around. It was not that long ago, maybe 6-8 months ago, that I had concerns about the health of our Wednesday night class. Those concerns have now been set aside and in there place there is praise to God!

Monday night was fantastic. I was feeling very run down and exhausted on Monday. We had a pretty busy weekend (read further to see why). All day Monday I was struggling to get my head together and get focused, but upon arriving at the building and seeing the energy and life that the kids bring I was refreshed and we had a great class. Again I have to mention the desire of the teens here. There were 9 teens there to help out and I am thrilled there is an outlet like Monday nights for them to influence and get involved.

This past weekend we travelled down to Kircaldy. I had been invited to speak at their annual "Social" on the Saturday and also teach and preach on the Sunday. The Social was good. There are brothers and sisters from congregations all over the country get together for a time of fellowship and encouragement. My lesson was titled "Are you being Led by the Spirit or being Dragged by the World." My personal journey in study and prep for this talk was priceless and timely. I know how much I was blessed in preparing and by the comments afterward it seems like we all needed to be reminded to "Strengthen the Stakes and Let out the Cords." We focused on Spirit and Truth. Having our lives anchored in the Truth, but at the same time allowing the Spirit room in our lives to lead us and to advance the kingdom.

On the Sunday we had a great time too and when it was time to leave I knew God had used me and that lives had been brought close to Him. Throughout the weekend I felt weak, but always found the strength when it was needed. God is our Strength! I must say a huge thank you to Tony and Joan Clark who showed my family true hospitality. We were blessed!

Have not mentioned anything about our school ministry, but that will have to wait for another time. Just know that God continues to throw doors open and we are more than willing to walk on through in His name.

In closing please keep us in your prayers. We feel that the harvest is plentiful! I have to be honest with you all and share that we are struggling. There is so much good and at the same time as I mentioned earlier so many changes that they are taking their toll. Fenella is flat out and we feel as if were on our knees. Please keep our family in your prayers. We have the campaign coming up and although the plans and prep are taking shape I fear we will not have the energy to keep on going.

God bless.