The Record - April/May 2023 by Free Church of Scotland

THE

RECORD

MONTHLY MAGAZINE OF THE FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND APRIL/MAY 2023 • £2.00

Interim Editor • Sarah Robinson The Editor, Free Church Offices, 15 North Bank Street, The Mound, Edinburgh, EH1 2LS editor@freechurch.org

Mission News • David Meredith Free Church Offices, 15 North Bank Street, Edinburgh, EH1 2LS mission@freechurch.org WfM Editor • Fiona Macaskill 8 Campsie Drive, Glasgow, G61 3HY rfmacaskill@me.com Gaelic Editor • Janet MacPhail 24 North Bragar, Isle of Lewis, HS2 9DA 01851 710354 Seminary News • William Mackenzie Edinburgh Theological Seminary, 15 North Bank Street, Edinburgh EH1 2LS offices@ets.ac.uk Prayer Diary • Sarah Robinson editor@freechurch.org Design & Layout • Fin Macrae @DUFI Art www.dufi-art.com The Record • ISSN 2042-2970 Published • The Record is produced by The Free Church of Scotland, Free Church Offices, 15 North Bank Street, The Mound, Edinburgh, EH1 2LS 0131 226 5286 offices@freechurch.org Advertising • Anyone wishing to advertise in The Record should contact the editor.

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Cover: Photo byNeely Wang on Lightstock

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CONTENTS

WELCOME TO THE APRIL/MAY RECORD

elcome to this latest edition of the record.

04 IT'S ALL ABOUT JESUS Alberto de Paula

Easter is a time of reflection and thankfulness for who Jesus is, what he has done for us and how we can share the gospel message with those around us. In this edition, the message that ‘it’s all about Jesus’ rings out across the pages. Be encouraged by an article by Rev Alberto de Paula, minister of Broughty Ferry Presbyterian Church, who has spoken about the fundamentals of the Christian faith. Do take a look at the moving poem, Thy Hands Were Pierced, which was penned by Thomas Mackay, an elder of Dumbarton Free High Church, and the thought-provoking Mission Matters column by Rev David Meredith. The good news of Jesus transforms lives; it shapes who we are and how we live. Do look out for pieces throughout the edition which show what God is doing amongst us. It was an encouraging time at the first Healthy Church Gathering which focussed on what it means to be a healthy Christian and be part of a healthy Church and healthy denomination. More gatherings are being planned, so look out for a gathering near you. There are updates on church news, world news and a selection of feature pieces. In the Food for Fellowship piece, Jody Guy reflects: ‘Hosting people for a meal — or being hosted by others — is also a beautifully simple reminder of how the Lord Jesus is a humble servant.’ Finally, the Reflections piece by Rev Sean Ankers encourages us to read through John 1:19-51, and he gives some reflections around that.

FREE CHURCH NEWS

DUMISANI NEWS J.C. Whytock

WfM UPDATE Fiona Macaskill

LETTERS

WORLD NEWS U.S.A., Dem. Rep. Congo, U.K., China

REFLECTIONS Sean Ankers

OBITUARIES: HEATHER ANN BEATON, REV BRYCE TAHO

A BOWLER CONTROVERSY Norman Mackay

THE FABRIC OF A CONFLICT Sam Cunnington

FOOD FOR FELLOWSHIP

PAGES FROM ADAM'S DIARY: MARRIED TO CHRIST

A HEALTHY GOSPEL CHURCH... FEEDS THE ROOTS AND RELISHES THE FRUIT Joe Hall

BOOK REVIEWS

We hope you continue to enjoy reading The Record. If you would like to send in your church news or letters, email editor@freechurch.org •

MISSION MATTERS David Meredith

POETRY PAGE Thy Hands Were Pierced

Yours in Christ

PRAYER DIARY

FAR A BHEIL CUMHACHD Janet MacPhail

Sarah Robinson

40 POST TENEBRAS LUX Catriona Murray

That in all things he might have the pre-eminence Colossians 1:18 2023

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Who is Jesus? What is the Gospel? What is Christianity all about? These are just some of the questions that Christians may get asked by friends, family, colleagues and those we meet in our day-to-day life. In this piece we are going to dig a little deeper and explore what the fundamentals of the Christian faith are, how we can share these truths and how the local church can play its part in welcoming those who have questions about faith. REV ALBERTO DE PAULA, minister of Broughty Ferry Presbyterian Church, has spoken about sharing the fundamentals of the Christian faith with others using the Christianity Explored course (an informal Christian evangelistic teaching course developed by Rico Tice and Barry Cooper at All Souls Church, Langham Place). Also, Alberto is writing a deep dive study for his church with the aim of strengthening their Christian convictions and encouraging the congregation to get involved in church life.

It's all about

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What are the fundamental truths of Christianity? The bottom line is that it’s all about Jesus Christ. Knowing Jesus Christ is the fundamental thing about Christianity. It’s an experiential but wellinformed knowledge and fellowship with Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

of faith. It’s amazing how you can see the emotional impact and reaction and how that definitely becomes a defining moment for that person. During the pandemic, we worked in partnership with other churches (St Peter’s Free Church in Dundee and Kirkcaldy Free Church) to do an online Christianity Explored course. It wasn’t a large group. It was interesting as we had some people from Scotland, two people from London, we had a lady from Los Angeles and a lady who was Eastern European but living in the Middle East. All of these people came together for Christianity Explored.

Photo by Gift Habeshaw on Unsplash

Tell us about the Christianity Explored course. It’s all centred around Jesus Christ. The approach to Mark’s Gospel is that Jesus Christ is the good news. Rico Tice, who developed the course, uses Mark 1: 1 as an introduction: ‘The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.’ At the beginning of the gospel is Jesus Christ and so, as the course develops, it looks at the identity of Christ, and then moves onto our sinfulness, to the importance of the Cross and the resurrection. At each stage, he (Rico Tice) is asking people if they understand the message, and he is very careful and clever in a way in that he is not pressing people to make decisions, but is asking people – first of all, do you understand what Mark is saying? What is the Gospel (the good news) saying? Eventually it gets to that point where you make the decision: now that you have understood the message, now that you know who Jesus is and what he did, would you want to step in faith and believe in him? The course ends with that point of decision.

Tell us about the course you are writing for your church? The course is for our home groups. It will be eight sessions where we’ll cover the basics. It starts with Scripture, goes through the Trinity (one session for each person) and then it engages with the application of important doctrines that we believe in and subscribe to. We’ll then go through a brief understanding of the good news; a session on the new life in relation to God and the world and how things change now that we are believers in Jesus; a session on the community of believers which will be focused on the local church. This will give people an overview of church from a biblical point of view but also how they can be involved in the local church. I want to outline areas of ministry such as preaching, teaching, evangelism, administration, group door duties, outreach, music, publication, pastoral care, missionary partnerships, social events, prayer, and accountability. I’m wondering how I will fit some of the sessions into one hour! It could work as a discipleship course as a way of introducing them to reformed theology – and making it accessible to people. We’ll be looking at the God the Father, the Creator; the Son, the Saviour and Redeemer; and the Holy Spirit, who promotes growth, new life and regeneration. These sessions are not formatted for people to read, they are a guide for discussion and study.

What has been the response to the course? Generally, I would say it’s positive. You realise that people are at different stages of their walk. So, for some it’s just interesting, for others it can be compelling or inspiring. But for others it is not about saving faith. For others it’s about consolidating that initial response that people had to the Gospel via others means such as church meetings, welcoming, the friendly atmosphere and how they have perceived the local congregation. When approached to do the course, they’ve said yes. In hindsight, although some people have answered the right questions, they haven’t got it yet. Some of them are no longer in church. Others are still connected. It’s interesting – sometimes I’ve done the course with couples – I can think of one who got it and the other didn’t. It’s an interesting thing to consider. But generally speaking, it works both ways. It’s good for believers if you are fresh in your faith, just starting or an enquirer and want to know more about Christianity; if you are already a believer but would like to have a particular overview of Mark’s gospel, it’s also appropriate. I keep telling my church over and over again that I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve done it and I still love it. We’ve done it in different formats with groups as the model suggests, dinners, etc. We’ve done it in a café once, in church as part of preparation for profession

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What Scripture or topics are you preaching on at church at the moment? On Sunday mornings we are looking at 1 Corinthians, and in the evenings we are going through world religions, trying to have an understanding of other faiths, what we believe, what we can agree and learn and what differences we have in terms of the Gospel. I sometimes tell the congregation – you have more access to non-believers than I do so I’m trying to equip you with all this information in order that you know how to articulate your faith when speaking to atheists or people from other religious backgrounds. We need to speak lovingly, kindly, friendly and respectfully. •

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FREE CHURCH NEWS FINANCIAL AID FOR TURKEY AND SYRIA

he free church of scotland, through its

clothing, nourishing foods and hygiene essentials to those who cannot go back to their unsafe or destroyed homes. Tearfund has set up a specific appeal to support those affected. We thank God also for Open Doors, which serves the persecuted church, and through their partners, are able to provide food, shelter and warmth through the local churches. The financial support will enable both organisations to provide help and support to those who have been impacted by the crisis. The Mission Board want to encourage churches in Scotland to continue to pray for these countries in desperate need, and to ask for God’s protection and comfort to be known by believers across the global church. Please pray for those who are affected, whether injured, traumatised or grieving. Please pray that these organisations would be guided continually by the Lord throughout these appeals and their relief efforts, and that their work would ultimately bring glory to God’s name across the nations. •

disaster and relief fund, is sending £2,500 to tearfund and £2,500 to open doors, to support

the work being done to alleviate the suffering of those significantly impacted by the earthquake in turkey and syria.

The devastating earthquake has caused widespread destruction, leaving countless families in dire need of aid. The epicentre of the magnitude 7.8 earthquake was in the South of Turkey in the Gaziantep province. Thousands of people have been killed — the full scale of the damage and the number of victims is unfathomable. Tens of thousands of people whose homes have been destroyed are now seeking shelter and refuge in the midst of a freezing winter. As a church, we bring those affected in Turkey and Syria before the Lord in prayer and we are grateful to those offering aid and support locally. The Free Church of Scotland is grateful to God for the work of Tearfund who, through a church partner in Syria, are providing vital supplies such as warm

BURGHEAD FREE CHURCH REFURBISHMENT

food project providing free and anonymously accessed groceries to those in need. This initiative began during the Covid Pandemic and is run in partnership between the congregation and the local community council.

urghead free church is embarking on an ambitious new plan to extend and renovate their church

halls. These buildings are used widely by both the church and local community. As well as providing a venue for everything from Bible Studies, Christianity Explored courses, and coffee mornings, in recent years, work with children and young people has blossomed in these buildings, bringing many good gospel opportunities. Alongside Sunday school and creche groups, the buildings have been used to house an after-school club (with a register of 40+ Primary aged children), an outreach Youth Club (with a register of 50+ young people), a regional Moray-wide youth event, as well as frequent schools’ events, which are resourced with materials provided by Smithton church. The halls are also the home to the ‘Burghead Blessings Box’ — a community

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Youth club kids with bibles

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The buildings are extremely well used and have great potential for development but are, at present, in poor condition. They are old, damp, have a confusing layout, and lack the modern facilities needed to resource the ministry and mission of the church in the 21st Century. Having renovated the main church building approximately six years ago, church members in Burghead have seen the great benefits that such refurbishment projects can have — the congregation has experienced significant revitalisation, having previously been on the verge of closure. The congregation has considered the following: FLOW — improving movement around, through and between the different rooms (including disabled access) is key. The new enclosed entranceway, together with significant adjustment in floor heights, will make the new space flow. FLEXIBILITY — knocking through the existing hall and kitchen with a moveable partition means the space can be rearranged to suit multiple uses – everything from Sunday school to youth club, coffee mornings, to Christianity Explored courses. FOOD — a brand new kitchen means food can be prepared onsite and easily transported to any part of the building. FACILITIES — key new facilities like a church office for staff and volunteers, upgraded toilets, audio visual equipment and storage will all make a big difference. The project is complex and involves the linking together of old buildings which were constructed at different times into a coherent and useable space. The cost is projected to be more than £300,000, though the congregation have made good progress towards this goal. The first miraculous provision came in the form of the Burghead Brethren Hall — a building gifted to (and subsequently sold by) the congregation. This provided almost £90,000. Since then, the congregation have been hard at work — giving sacrificially and taking on various fundraising tasks. During the month of March nine members came

together to run 1,000 miles to raise several thousand pounds towards the project. Other members are hard at work making applications to various trust funds. The congregation has raised almost £190,000 and are looking to the Lord to supply the remainder of the need. Minister, Rev Peter Turnbull said, ‘We’re looking to God to supply our needs for this project — humanly speaking the task seems impossible, but we know the Lord can work miracles.’ ‘More than anything we would value the prayers of the people across the Free Church. Please ask the Lord to provide for this project. Pray also that these buildings – when extended and renovated – would be a venue where many people of all ages encounter Christ for the first time.’ ‘Some across the Church have expressed a willingness to give to the project — we are very grateful for these expressions of help and support. Folk can visit burgheadfreechurch.org/build for more information on how to contribute and pray — and to watch a video about the project.’ • For more details, go to: https://www.burgheadfreechurch.org/build/

Rev Peter Turnbull

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

make historic decisions that have implications for future generations. Representatives from every presbytery across the U.K. will gather to discuss church business and hear reports from various committees and boards. Over the course of the week, they will also be joined by guests of the Church and other organisations. Keep an eye on the Free Church website for more details. In the lead up to the General Assembly, reports from the Boards will be available. During the week, public viewings of the assembly are due to be streamed live on the Free Church website and you will also be able to follow proceedings on the Free Church’s social media pages using #fcga23 •

ommissioners are set to gather in may for the opening of the 2023 general assembly.

The General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland, which is now in its 180th year, will take place in St Columba’s at the top of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. The assembly, which is set to run from Monday 22nd until Thursday 25th May, will give church leaders time to discuss the work that has taken place and make decisions on the future. The General Assembly is the highest decisionmaking body within the Free Church and had its first sitting in 1843. It is during these assemblies that presbyteries discuss regular business and sometimes

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30 YEARS OF MINISTRY IN CASTLETOWN

celebration

was

held

castletown

community free church in february marking the occasion of 30 years of ministry in the

village by reverend howard stone.

Over 100 friends and family from across the country came together in the church to give thanks for the work done by Howard and his wife Christine over the past 30 years. Those attending enjoyed hearing stories from over the years, video messages from friends who couldn’t attend, a few words from Mr Stone and the singing of psalms and hymns, before enjoying some fellowship together. Howard first arrived in Castletown in February 1993 with his wife Christine and their family, having completed his studies at the Free Church college in Edinburgh. While originally inducted to the parish of Olrig, Watten & Bower, the church formally became Castletown & Community Free Church in August 2014. In recent times Howard has presided over Thurso Free Church and Helmsdale Free Church during vacancies and continues to serve as interim moderator of Wick Free Church.

Rev Howard Stone with wife Christine cutting cake

In addition to weekly services in the village the church continues to be involved in local school assemblies, youth work and a community café. At the event Howard recalled some of the most memorable moments of his time in the village, recounting the motorbike accident he had while on his way to conduct a service in Wick in 2011, which left him with a broken neck and in a ‘halo vest’ for three months. He also thanked the congregation and the wider community for their support, friendship and prayers over the years, adding that it was a blessing and delight to serve the Lord in such a lovely community. •

THURSO & NORTH COAST FREE CHURCH INDUCTION BY REV HOWARD STONE

here aren’t many inductions that take place a

The congregation had become vacant at the end of 2020 when their former minister, Rev John Marker, left to become an army chaplain. At that time, Jerry was a Church of England minister near Leicester, but in June 2022, he applied to transfer to the Free Church. Following interviews with the Board of Ministry, his application through the Edinburgh and Perth Presbytery was approved by the Commission of Assembly in October. During that time, Jerry had

week before christmas, with freezing temperature

outside and snow on the ground. But that’s how it was for the induction of Rev Jerry Taylor to Thurso and North Coast Free Church, last December. As a consequence of these factors, some friends weren’t able to attend, but that didn’t lessen the joy of the congregation as they welcomed their new minister, his wife June, and their family, to the far north.

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preached in the Thurso and North Coast congregation in person and on Zoom and the call had been signed in November. Jerry, June and the family had some prior knowledge of Thurso and the area because June is from Shetland, with some family in Orkney. Trips across the Pentland Firth always meant getting a ferry from Scrabster, just outside the town. The induction service was led by Rev Ben Fiddian (minister of Lairg and Bonar Bridge, and moderator of Northern Presbytery) who preached from 2 Timothy 1:6-7, where Paul encouraged his young friend Timothy to be courageous in his gospel work, assured of God’s gift of the Holy Spirit. Jerry then answered the questions that are addressed to new ministers and signed the Formula. He was then addressed by Rev Howard Stone (Castletown & Community), who had been interim moderator. He welcomed Jerry, encouraging him to take to heart the apostles’ commitment to prayer and the Word, as recorded in Acts 6. Then Rev Roddy Macrae (Helmsdale) spoke to the congregation with words from Romans 15. He likened the relationship between a minister and a congregation to that of a conductor and an orchestra. The conductor’s job is to lead the orchestra in making beautiful music to please the audience. In the Church, that audience is God himself.

Rev Jerry Taylor, wife June and family

Finally, gifts from the congregation were presented to Jerry and June — including vouchers for local shops to help them become familiar with the town’s businesses – and vouchers for the cinema to their three teenage sons, Magnus, Erland and Olaf. Because of the wintry weather, some folk then had to dash off home, but the rest of the gathering moved to the church hall to enjoy the rich selection of goodies provided by the congregation. • “The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy” (Psalm 126:3).

NORTH TOLSTA INDUCTION

n ordination and induction service has been held for rev donald m macleod as he has been welcomed into north tolsta free church.

Friends, family, members of the congregation, members of the wider community, and friends from all the other island denominations attended the service. At the induction, Rev Paul Murray preached a sermon on Jeremiah Chapter 6 – encouraging Rev Macleod in his duties as a Watchman in caring for the congregation. After the Formula was signed and the laying on of hands, Rev Malcolm Macdonald addressed the new minister, and Rev Iain Thomson addressed the congregation. Following the induction and ordination, the congregation and wider community organised a reception in the Tolsta Community Hall. John Murdo Macdonald, Elder, acted as MC for the night, addressing the new minister in extremely good humour. He spoke of the sadness of “closing the old book” of the previous ministry of Rev Roddy John Campbell (who was in attendance), and the joy of “opening a new book” at the start of this new season of ministry. Rev Macleod’s previous minister, Rev Iain MacRitchie, let the congregation know some honest truths about their new pastor’s music, style, and culinary choices, before encouraging both pastor and congregation in their joint gospel work. Rev Donald M Macleod thanked the congregation and community for the hard work in preparing

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Rev Donald M Macleod

the hall so beautifully. He also thanked the congregation for their warm welcome, along with thanking his family and friends for all the support over the years. North Tolsta holds weekly Sunday Services (12pm and 6pm) and prayer meetings on Thursday evenings (7pm). We look forward to hearing what the Lord is doing in North Tolsta through the congregation over the coming weeks and months. •

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MERKINCH FREE CHURCH LAUNCH

church until God dwells among his people. It’s God that makes the church home.’ Services take place at Merkinch Free Church, on Madras Street, Inverness, on Sundays (2.30pm). A café is also held there on Thursdays. A number of ministry collaborations have taken place to support the church, including support from Free North Church (mother church), 20Schemes (ministry partnership) and Acts 29 (ministry network). Following the thanksgiving and celebration service, the church community gathered for food and to spend time together. •

celebration event has been held at free north church, inverness to mark the launch of

merkinch free church. Families, friends and the congregation of Merkinch Free Church joined together to mark the occasion and Rev Chris Davidson opened with Philippians 4:4-7. Chris said: ‘We know that as a church plant, many people have been praying for us. They have visited us and supported our church plant so this service is to thank the Lord for each other, thank the Lord for his grace, that a church has been planted in the scheme of Inverness as Merkinch and South Kessock.’ During the celebration Rev Andy Prime, of Gracemount Community Church, Edinburgh, and 20Schemes, spoke from Ephesians 2:19-22. Andy said: ‘The God of heaven has a desire to make his home amongst his people…Today, in a place like Inverness, in Merkinch, where does God dwell? Where can you meet with God, today? The only Cornerstone for a healthy church is Christ Jesus himself. Christ is building people together. God uses people who are unlike us to make us more like him.’ He added: ‘Diversity in a church will always be a great challenge but diversity in a church is always a great catalyst for growth. If we are individually bricks -or stones- we are not perfectly manufactured square cut bricks. Just look at the difference between me and Chris. We’re rough rocks. We don’t fit together. But the cement that fits between our rough rocks is the grace of Jesus who saved us. It will be people who are unlike each other that God uses to make us more like him. We are being built together as a church. That will be the exciting thing as we’ll see this little church plant kick off tomorrow (Sunday).’ Andy concluded: ‘A house is not a home until the homeowner is home, and the church is not the

CHALLENGE YOURSELF TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

iona craighead, a member of dingwall free church

Nepal Fellowship in Nepal. Her husband was the Superintendent of a Leprosy Hospital and she taught English to the Nepali staff involved in report writing. Fiona said: 'I enjoy long walks such as the West Highland Way and the Great Glen Way. However, the gradient and time factor undertaking the Three Peaks will be new challenges for me. Many ascents

congregation, has signed up for blythswood

care’s three peaks challenge in the summer. Fiona will climb the highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales, scaling the heights of Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon — all in just three days. Fiona previously worked for International

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of Fyrish will be required between now and 23rd June in preparation for it! Working as a Literacy PSA in a Primary school in Inverness, I see the determination of young children to learn to read and write and I know I will have to engage my own willpower to get this challenge completed'. Elma MacKay, Area Fundraising Manager for Blythswood Care said 'We are delighted that Fiona has signed up for this challenge. Over three days our participants will get the opportunity to work together and encourage each other as they achieve their goal of conquering these three peaks. Our dedicated and committed fundraising team are ready to speak to anyone interested in taking part. The team are experienced in supporting others in their fundraising, and all our participants will have the guidance of their local fundraiser.' Would you join Fiona in this challenge? Blythswood Care would love to hear from you. You can make a positive difference and change lives in their world. Email fundraising@blythswood.org for more information. Blythswood Care is a Christian charity, with a mission to transform lives through the impact of education, community action and gospel activities. The charity, based in Evanton, works in the UK, Eastern Europe, Africa and India. For more information on the projects Blythswood are involved with, to donate or to sign up for this event, and others, visit blythswood.org •

EMILY MACLEOD — CO-AUTHOR OF NEW BOOK

former member of cornerstone free church in edinburgh has co-authored book in which she has shared about her christian faith.

Emily Macleod is one of several co-authors to feature alongside author and therapist Dr John Gray (who wrote Men are from Mars Women are from Venus) for a new book called Love and Coaching – Understanding Men & Women in Life, Love and Business. She said: ‘The publishers provided me with a platform to share how important my Christian faith is to me in the book as well as the work and faith events at the Cornerstone Church Plant I was part of.’ Emily, who is a certified Mars Venus life and business coach, has penned the chapter ‘Be the light in someone’s life’. In it she delves into various aspects of coaching and shares her views on life through the lens of her faith. She writes: ‘I believe that stories, woven into each other throughout time, make us who we are as humans. As C.S. Lewis said, “There are no ordinary people.” Everyone has a story worth telling. ‘My faith is important to me, and I wouldn’t be the person I am today without it. I have a daily morning devotional routine of reading scripture, reflection, and prayer that sets me up for my day. I’m also part of a core group of twenty people who grew a church plant, which has since grown to a congregation of over 200 with a thriving multicultural community.’ She hopes that her story of faith will be an encouragement to others. •

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REV THOMAS DAVIES BOOK LAUNCH

us see that the work of evangelism is not reserved for a few select experts — it is for everyone, even though we might feel weak and inadequate. The aim of the book is that the theology explained in each chapter will give the reader confidence for sharing their faith, a confidence that is grounded on the key truths that God is God and you are you. ETS principal Iver Martin said: ‘We are delighted to see one of our graduates publish his first book. God is God and You are You combines rich theological truth alongside the very practical realities of trying to reach out with the Gospel. It is a great reminder that theology should never be kept tucked away in the classroom. It is something that every Christian needs as we seek to share the good news of Jesus.’ •

wo events were held in edinburgh to mark the launch of rev thomas davis ’ new book , god is god and you are you .

Students, staff and friends were invited to a special lunchtime event at Edinburgh Theological Seminary and a book launch was held at St Columba’s Free Church. Thomas, who is a graduate of ETS and is now a minister at Carloway Free Church of Scotland, said: ‘It’s really exciting to be able to celebrate the book launch with the wider Church family at ETS and St Columba’s. In many ways I feel I owe a debt to so many people who have helped me over the years. It’s wonderful to be able to meet together today.’ God is God and You are You is a book on evangelism which presents key theological truths that can help

HEALTHY CHURCH GATHERINGS

Glasgow and Argyll Presbytery of the Free Church of Scotland attended the Gathering. The aim was to meet together to look at the vision for A healthy Gospel Church for Every Community in Scotland.

here was a buzz of conversation and prayer at hope church, blackwood and kirkmuirhill at the first healthy church gathering.

Around 90 people from congregations in the

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During the morning, men and women from different congregations prayed together, shared ideas and enjoyed a time of fellowship. Two main sessions were held. The first session focussed on what it means to be a healthy Christian and what a healthy Church looks like. Andrew Giffen, CEO of the Free Church of Scotland, spoke about these topics, with opportunity for discussion around tables. The second session looked at what a healthy denomination looks like. Rev David Meredith, Mission Director, spoke about church redevelopment and the need for more ministers within the denomination and Rev Neil MacMillan, Church Planting director, spoke about church planting and the vision for 30 new churches by 2030. There were opportunities

for comments and questions, and feedback. Sarah Robinson, Communications Manager, gave an update on communications. Video updates from several churches were given throughout the sessions for encouragement and sharing ideas. One participant said: “I thoroughly enjoyed the gathering as it was good to be with other Christians”, while another said it was “an encouragement to see what the Lord is doing”. Thanks goes to the team at Hope Church, Blackwood and Kirkmuirhill, for hosting the gathering and for their hospitality. More Healthy Church Gatherings will be taking place this year, so do lookout for a gathering near you. •

Dates for your diaries: • Wednesday 19th April: Western Isles Presbytery – Uist North Uist, Grimsay and Berneray Free Church (6.30pm for coffee, 7pm-9.30pm) • Thursday 20th April: Western Isles Presbytery – Harris North Harris Free Church, Scott Road, Tarbert (6.30pm for coffee, 7pm-9.30pm) • Friday 21st April: Western Isles Presbytery – Lewis Stornoway Free Church, Kenneth Street, Stornoway (6.30pm for coffee, 7pm-9.30pm) • Saturday 13th May: Inverness, Lochaber & Ross Presbytery Smithton Free Church, Murray Road, Smithton, Inverness, IV2 7YU. • Saturday 30th September: Northern Presbytery (details tbc) Book your place via the Free Church website: www.freechurch.org/healthy-church-gatherings

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RESOURCES PAGE LAUNCH OF THE FIRST NIV AUDIO BIBLE VOICED FULLY BY WOMEN FROM THE UK Her Audio Bible UK, the first NIV audio Bible voiced fully by women from across the UK, has been launched. The new freeto-access audio Bible is voiced by Christian women, with a wide range of accents, giving listeners the opportunity to engage Scripture in a fresh way. This is a project run by a group of volunteers in the UK, who all share a passion for the Bible to be freely available and widely accessible. The four Gospels and Revelation have been released with the remainder of the New Testament released on a monthly basis thereafter. An audio version makes the Bible accessible for those for whom reading is a struggle, as well as for those in situations

where Bible reading is unsafe or socially unacceptable. Each reader shares a two to three-minute testimony, and the hope is that this will encourage both those who have a Christian faith and those who might be considering Christianity. Listening to a woman’s voice can be particularly helpful for those who have experienced harm, such as domestic abuse by men, and those for whom hearing a male voice can be triggering. Her Audio Bible UK has sought to represent, as much as possible, something of the range of backgrounds and voices of women in the UK. Anna Putt, Open Word UK trustee, broadcaster and speaker, said, ‘We believe God’s Word is powerful, and want as many people as possible to have access to hearing it, whatever their background. We hope that this project enables people, who may previously have felt a barrier to listening to the Bible, to hear it for the first time, and for those who are more familiar, to hear it afresh.’ Her Audio Bible UK is the first project of the newly registered charity, Open Word UK. They are currently fundraising to record the Old Testament, which we hope to begin working on in September 2023. Open Word UK trustee Jo Swinney, an author, speaker and editor with a deep love of the Bible, says, ‘For most of its existence the Bible would have been heard rather than read - and heard in familiar voices echoing the speech patterns and inflections of the listeners. Her Audio Bible UK offers British women the chance to hear these words of life spoken in a way we can most easily hear and absorb their significance to us, here and now.’ Between 700-800 audio Bibles have been recorded across the world and only 8 have so far been recorded in women’s voices. Her Audio Bible UK will be the first NIV audio Bible voiced fully by women from across the UK. The Anglicised 2011 New International Version was chosen because of its rigorous translation process and how it flows when read aloud. Her Audio Bible UK will be available free of charge via the website www.heraudiobible.org.uk and through a variety of digital audio services such as Spotify. •

JESUS TODAY PODCAST A new podcast has been launched by two Free Church of Scotland ministers. The Jesus Today Podcast, with Rev Andy Longwe and Rev Thomas Davis, is a new fortnightly podcast looking at current events, challenges and questions faced by Christians living in an increasingly secular culture. Andy is minister at London City Presbyterian Church and Thomas is the minister of Carloway Free Church in Lewis. The pair said: “The aim of the podcast is to tackle some of the big issues and questions faced by Christians of any age and stage, and our hope is that the podcast will help build confidence for listeners following Jesus today. “We are also very excited that the podcast is sponsored by Christian Focus Publications, and each episode will include a look at new books that can help followers of Jesus in their day-to-day discipleship.” • You can listen and subscribe to the podcast at: podfollow.com/jesus-today You can also find them on Twitter: twitter.com/JesusTodayPod Or check out their website: www.jesustodaypodcast.com

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DUMISANI GRADUATION AND DEVELOPMENTS, MARCH 2023

BY J. C. WHYTOCK DUMISANI GRADUATION

as a residential in-class higher level certificate/diploma and also Dumisani works with accredited partners for the BTh and HonsBTh degrees.

On March 4th at a very joyous and celebratory ceremony, 28 students received awards at the Dumisani Graduation Ceremonies with close to 200 in attendance in King William’s Town/Qonce, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Thirteen received their Certificate of Christian Foundations (CCF), and fourteen received their Advanced Ministries Studies (AMS), plus one Dumisani student was recognised as completing their Honours BTh through SATS. Three students received the principal’s awards for distinguished work. Also, at the Graduation Exercises it was announced that two students graduating from Dumisani with the Advanced Ministry Studies were awarded full scholarships to George Whitefield College in Muizenberg, Western Cape for advanced standing for the BTh degree. Each graduating student was also presented with select Bible commentaries and also a new study Bible. We are most grateful to the partners who donated these graduation gifts. Three students spoke in response: Nakase Khanyiso, Sikolile Ndyindila, and Bukiwe Baninzi. Those participating in the ceremony were: I. Magodla, K. Barrow, P. Diniso, W. Chipenyu, S. Kim, J. Whytock, and Mrs. S. Vera and Mrs. N. Whytock. It was a very hot day with no rain, so greetings were held outside with food and refreshments. Truly it was a time of rejoicing in the Lord’s goodness. Many current students also attended the graduation exercises. Currently Dumisani has between 60 and 70 studying.

PROJECT ROOF Dumisani is now 44 years old. For the 40th anniversary (2019) a full upgrade and redevelopment of the campus was done to prepare Dumisani for the next ten years of ministry and also to help with the accreditation process. Many major changes were accomplished at that time including a new second lecture hall, new toilet facilities, an improved and extended parking area, security updates, and new floors in several buildings with all rot removed, concrete poured, and tile laid. At that time all roofs were repaired but with the plan that over the next ten years two buildings were identified needing new roofs. The first building to receive a new roof has been the Office Building late last year. The old steel was beyond repairing and was removed, and all new steel replaced it as well as several new rafters. The result is an office building with no leaks. Now the second designated building for a new roof and replacement of some rafters is the next project. Dumisani welcomes donations to Project Roof to help replace the roof on the second lecture hall complex.

GLOBAL STUDY BIBLES Recently the post office in King William’s Town/Qonce burnt. Shipping Bibles and other materials has become an issue. Dumisani uses the Global Study Bible in all its CCF certificate courses and needs these annually to be on hand. We took more in our luggage this month from a supplier in the UK. Continue to pray for this vital ministry of training future leaders in the Eastern Cape of South Africa and give thanks to the Lord for Dumisani’s residential training ministry – a truly unique ministry in the Eastern Cape Province. •

ACCREDITATION Dumisani Theological Institute has recently received official word that its two programmes of study have been accredited by the Quality Council of Trades & Occupations (QCTO) from 2023 for five years (2028). This is something for which Dumisani has been desirous for many years. We are very grateful to all who have prayed about this and worked so very hard in this application process. It was a long journey but by the Lord’s mercies has been achieved. We ask that prayer continue to be made that this new accreditation for the two programmes will prove a real blessing for training Christian workers and leaders across the Eastern Cape and be a blessing to the churches. This accreditation is at the right levels for the target grouping of students that Dumisani wants to reach. The first certificate allows both matric and nonmatrics to enter and if they complete that certificate, they can now earn an accredited certificate. The other programmes of study are more advanced academically

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Group of diploma graduates at Dumisani Graduation

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WfM UPDATE BY FIONA MACASKILL

although they served us well for a number of years, they are now very much on their last legs! We realised that we needed a few new games tables, but the cost was prohibitive, we heard about the Heart for Home WFM fund which makes small grants available to local congregations for outreach work, so we applied and were delighted to receive £500. We used this to buy a new air hockey table and table football, and to part fund a new pool table. We are also thankful to have been gifted a table tennis table that the Smithton Congregation didn’t use any more. We are thankful to WFM for this kind donation, and appreciate your prayers as we continue to reach out and provide fun, safe clubs where the kids of Harris can hear the good news of the Gospel week by week.

entative signs of spring are in the air as the crocuses and snowdrops push up from their

slumber . They have been waiting under the soil since last year, ready to appear again and lift our spirits from the long, dark winter. A symbol of hope for the warmer days to come. It can often feel like the dark days of winter as we serve wherever God has placed us, waiting for the fruit to show, but as surely as the bulbs flower in spring, our great God will use our gifts to bear fruit for Him. This month we are looking at some of the projects which have been supported by our Heart for Home fund. It is exciting to see how even a little of the money that you have raised is planting seeds of hope in communities around Scotland. North Harris Congregation tell us about how they used the funds they received:

Govan Free Church also applied for a grant to help them run an interesting local outreach teaching Gaelic! As a Church we wanted to be able to reach out to those in our local community who don’t normally attend Church. Julie McAddock, a member of the congregation, had been receiving Gaelic lessons from fellow member, and former Gaelic Medium teacher, Catriona MacDonald. Julie has two young children who attend the local Gaelic school, Bunsgoil Ghàidhlig Bhaile a’ Ghobhainn. A decision was made to offer Gaelic lessons to mums whose children attended the school. “Some of these mums are showing a genuine interest in Christianity, as well as wanting to learn the Gaelic language,” Julie said. “It is often more difficult for the mums to get to language classes as they are on in the evenings on Zoom, usually when they are trying to get the kids to bed.” “Combining my relationship building, with Catriona’s excellent teaching skills and knowledge of the Gaelic language, we decided to set up a class which was accessible to these mums,” she added. The Gaelic lessons were held in the Church on Holmfauldhead Place on a Thursday afternoon. Six mums from the Gaelic school signed up. As childcare can often be difficult for parents, we wanted to provide an opportunity for parents to bring their children along with them. A Gaelic-speaking member of Dowanvale Free Church in Partick kindly agreed to supervise the children in another part of the building during lessons. She spoke to the children in Gaelic, sang songs, read stories and played games with them. This enabled the mums to take part in the lessons knowing their children were being cared for close by. Rona Morrison (Scalpay and Aberdeen) kindly donated a set of vouchers from The Gaelic Books Council which enabled us to purchase a range of

North Harris, youth clubs

We are very blessed in the North Harris congregation to have many volunteers who help to run various kids’ outreach clubs in a Friday afternoon and evening. JaM club for P1-4, Connect for P5-7 and Rooted for S1-6, so we can have anywhere between 60-70 kids through the church each Friday. When these clubs started, various members of the congregation rooted around in their lofts and gave old pool and table-top table tennis tables. These were very well used and,

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resources to be used with the children, e.g. Gaelic story books and CDs. We received a very kind donation of £100.00 from the Women for Mission Heart for Home fund. This donation was used towards helping to purchase resources and materials for Gaelic lessons, for example a weather poster and accompanying cards. Although the Gaelic lessons are not currently running due to other commitments and parent schedules, we hope that we will be able to re-start the lessons at some point in the very near future.

for supporting people undertaking missions trips. If you need funding for your travel or other aspects of your trip then please get in touch though the website. It is nearly time for our Annual Meeting which is taking place this year in Aberdeen, in Bon Accord Free Church. The date is the 20th May and the time is 2pm. We would love to have as many people as possible along to hear about our current project and to launch the new one. Last year we were blown away by the amount we raised for Hope for the Hurting, nearly £50k. Despite the difficult economic situation just now, it is already encouraging to see the money coming in for Refuge and Strength. Please do continue to hold coffee mornings, wash cars, sell jam, sing, walk and do whatever it takes to support the amazing groups that we are raising funds for this year. Check out our website for more ideas on fundraising and do share with us what is going on so that we can share it on our social media. •

If you or your congregation have a project that would benefit from some financial support then please do look on our website womenformission.org for further information on how to apply to Heart for Home. We would love to be able to help. Remember that we also have the Support a Volunteer fund. Especially at this time of year it is good to remember that this is available

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Dear Sir/Madam The Power and the Glory is a new hardback biography of Rev John Ross (1842-1915) from Easter Ross. Twentytwo chapters chart his amazing life in 295 pages of beautifully written prose. Bitter tragedies and obstacles failed to prevent him translating the New Testament into Korean. His bilingual upbringing (in Scots Gaelic and English) probably helped him grasp Eastern languages. Korea was formerly closed to outsiders and mission teams fixed for packs of his Korean scripture to be smuggled into the out of bounds country. The missionaries aimed to develop Korean (or Manchurian) Churches which were self-supporting, self-governing and self-propagating. The results were spectacular and call to mind a Book of Revelation scene with ‘a great multitude that no one could count.’ Presbyterians in Korea are currently estimated to number nine to ten million and many groups celebrate a link to the work of Rev John Ross. The lights of the London metropolis stretch out below the wing tip as a jet prepares the final descent into Heathrow on a clear winter night. The population below is around the same size as Korean Presbyterianism. The secular media seem disinterested in this story and our churches should maybe be making more effort to share it. We are rightly keen to share the incredible testimonies of Jacob DeShazer (1912-2008) and Mitsuo Fuchida (淵田美津雄) (1902-1976). But why not make a point of sharing the size of Korean Presbyterianism with someone this week? A religious sceptic contact, who has done business trips to Korea, suggested that Rev John Ross is seen in Korea as a sort of apostolic emissary there, perhaps akin to the way the Irish view, Saint Patrick. Odd that it should take a religious sceptic to be,telling me this! James Hardy

We would love to hear from you…please write to the editor at: The Record, Free Church Offices 15 North Bank Street, The Mound Edinburgh, EH1 2LS or e-mail editor@freechurch.org

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WORLD NEWS

AMERICAS AFRICA EUROPE ASIA AUSTRALASIA REFLECTING ON ASBURY UNIVERSITY’S 16-DAY REVIVAL Christian Post/ The Gospel Coalition Asbury University in Kentucky has been at the forefront of a movement that has seen tens of thousands of people flock to the campus to engage in singing, prayer, testimony and Bible reading. What began as an hour-long chapel service turned into what many are calling a 16-day revival. On the final day, students shared their testimonies about being led by the Holy Spirit, with one student, named Nina, sharing how she saw the revival grow. “And so, the first hour, I was a part of the gospel choir. And we were just feeling led by the Spirit to just continue in song and worship and prayer,” Nina shared. “It kind of felt like 10 minutes. But then three hours later, I just felt the Spirit told me to just ‘look around,’ and the same 20 students stayed and probably skipped their 11 a.m. [class], including me.” The university observed the national Collegiate Day of Prayer on the final day of the revival, with the school administration pushing the event off-campus to allow students to focus on mid-term exams. Asbury Theological Seminary president Timothy Tennent hesitates to call this “revival.” He writes, ‘only if we see lasting transformation which shakes the comfortable foundations of the church and truly brings us all to a new and deeper place can we look back, in hindsight and say, “yes, this has been revival.”’ •

IS CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY FOR BOMBING AT PENTECOSTAL CHURCH IN EASTERN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO Associated Press At least 14 people were killed and 63 wounded in a bombing at a Pentecostal church in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo earlier this year. Islamic State (IS) have since issued a statement claiming responsibility for the attack. The group says that its militants planted an explosive device inside the church in Kadinsi and detonated it while people were praying. The injured were taken to Beni General Hospital by the United Nations peacekeeping mission MONUSCO. The region has been wracked by violence for many years, as over 120 armed groups and self-defence militias fight for land and power. Over six million people are internally displaced and hundreds of thousands are facing extreme food insecurity. Fighters with the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a rebel organisation believed to have links to IS, have carried out several attacks in Kasindi, which is located on the border with Uganda. A report by the United Nations in February revealed that ADF attacks since April 2022 had resulted in the deaths of at least 370 civilians and the abduction of several hundred more. •

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ARCHBISHOP WELBY REJECTED BY CONSERVATIVE ANGLICANS BBC Archbishops from 10 of the 42 provinces in the Anglican Communion have said they no longer consider the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, as the ‘leader of the global communion’ after the Church of England backed prayers of blessing for same-sex couples. They have also said that the Church of England was ‘disqualified’ as their historic ‘Mother Church’. The ten archbishops, plus two from breakaway conservative provinces in the US and Brazil, are opposed to same-sex marriage. They are members of a group called the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches (GSFA), which claims to represent 75% of Anglicans around the world, particularly across Asia and Africa. The signatories include the GSFA’s chair, Archbishop Justin Badi of South Sudan, along with the archbishops of Chile, the Indian Ocean, Congo, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Uganda, Sudan, Alexandria, and Melanesia. In a statement, they said they are ‘no longer able to recognise the present Archbishop of Canterbury as the first among equals leader of the global communion.’ In February, the Church of England approved prayers of blessing for gay couples for the first time, but its position on gay marriage has not changed and same-sex couples will still be unable to marry in church. A spokesperson for Lambeth Palace, the official residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, said, ‘In a world of conflict, suffering and uncertainty, we must remember that more unites us than divides us. ‘Despite our differences, we must find ways to continue walking and working together as followers of Jesus Christ to serve those in need.’ •

CHINESE CHRISTIANS REQUIRED TO COMPLETE ONLINE FORM TO ATTEND WORSHIP SERVICES China Aid Officials in China’s Henan province have required that Christians complete an online form and receive approval before attending worship services. The “Smart Religion” app, developed by the Ethnic and Religious Affairs Commission of Henan Province, requires all religious believers to make online reservations before they can attend services in churches, mosques or Buddhist temples. Applicants must provide personal information, including their name, government ID number, phone number and address, and must select the religious venue they want to attend before booking. There are fears that elderly people and those who are not well-versed in technology may struggle to use the app and therefore be excluded from church services. Those who are allowed to attend a service must also have their temperature taken. The app forms part of the government’s efforts to manage religion and gather data about believers. The government has been accused of escalating attacks on Christians and churches across China, including through sinicisation, harassment and detention. Around 6% of people living in Henan are Christian, making it one of the largest Christian populations in China. •

FIRST BIBLE TRANSLATION PROJECT IN MINORITY LANGUAGE COMPLETED IN SOUTH ASIAN COUNTRY Wycliffe Associates Wycliffe Associates, an international organisation that supports mother-tongue Bible translators and works with local churches for the advancement of Bible translation, has taken part in a New Testament dedication in an undisclosed South Asian nation. This marks the completion of the first Bible translation project in a minority language. Local Bible translators, trained by Wycliffe Associates, finished the New Testament translation late last year, a significant milestone in a country where Islam is the dominant religion and persecution of Christians is common. While a Bible exists in the nation’s official language, this project sees the first translation of a Bible into a local language, which is particularly useful for the country’s rural population. Village residents in the country can be fearful of foreigners and hence Christians from the country have been trained to teach others how to translate the Bible for their language communities. Amongst persecution and poverty for Christians in the area, Tony Tophoney, Director of Field Training for Wycliffe Associates, explains that the project aims to provide hope to the churches and communities. ‘The people are surrounded on all sides by darkness; when they come to faith in Christ, they know they will be shunned, even within their already persecuted community. The New Testament is a rare beacon of hope for these beleaguered people, penetrating the surrounding spiritual darkness.’ •

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READ THROUGH JOHN 1:19-51 The irked customer complained to her newspaper, “I ordered an air fryer from Currys — but got a printer instead… I am £180 down and have no air fryer. I want my money back.” Have you ever expected one thing but were disappointed to get something totally different, and not what you wanted at all? The priests and Levites from Jerusalem must have felt similarly in John chapter 1. John’s radical baptising work has them questioning whether he is God’s promised deliverer, but he says he’s simply a witness. We’ll see in this reflection that he is in fact the first of many witnesses, including you and me. Since that can seem daunting it helps to ask, what does witnessing look like? In our passage it is one-to-one, is by word of mouth, and uncovers the wonder of Jesus. Two of John’s disciples are with him, and when he sees Jesus he says to them, “Look, the Lamb of God!” These two men then go after Jesus, and ask to know where he is staying. “Come and see,” he replies. One of them, Andrew, finds his brother Peter and tells him they’ve found God’s messiah. Jesus in turn meets Philip, and Philip invites his friend Nathanael to meet Jesus. Do you see the one-to-one pattern here? We read in John’s introduction (verses 1-18) that Jesus was with God and was God, displaying all the glory of the Creator of the universe. How would we want people to know about someone like this? In our culture we’d say, “Make him a TikTok! This has to go viral!” We’d want to make him famous, wouldn’t we? But Jesus chooses to display his glory to one person at a time — first John, then through John to Andrew, Andrew to Peter, Philip to Nathanael. Individuals matter to Jesus, and that means you matter to Jesus. However you have been feeling about yourself this week, however low or uncared for or insignificant, Jesus wants you to get to know him, and is prepared to meet you where you are. Does this comfort you? And this is how we witness today. But you and I might well feel we’re not up to the task. We’re not John the Baptist! What if we don’t know enough, or haven’t anything to say? What if we’re asked tricky or cynical questions? See how Andrew and the other disciple ask Jesus, “Where are you staying?” Jesus just replies, “Come and see.” When Philip tells Nathanael, he is convinced he’s found the hope of Israel. He shares with Nathanael, but Nathanael’s response is a prickly one. “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Philip isn’t embarrassed into silence or annoyed at himself for not having a great response – he replies the only way he knows how. “Come and see.” He knew if he just got Nathanael to Jesus, Jesus would take care of the rest. Have you expressed your faith only to have someone shoot you down or challenge you? Do you hold back because you’re worried it might happen again? Don’t be afraid. Just reply, “Come and see!” Invite them to church! Or tell them it’s a great question that’ll take time to answer, so why not come to our Bible study! For every challenge you face, there’s a church gathering to help. Take heart — and bring a friend. But whatever our apprehensions about being witnesses to Jesus, they can be overcome as we explore the wonders of Jesus. Think back once again over the story. John the Baptist was gripped by the fact that Jesus will deal with all sin and evil, for ever. For Andrew, Jesus was the messiah, the person God had appointed to rescue his people from death and slavery to sin, to restore their hopes of life, land and freedom. Philip saw in Jesus the culmination of the Old Testament story. The whole Bible led up to this man! Nathanael, though sceptical at first, met Jesus for himself and discovered he was the Son of God and King of Israel, the man he owed his life to, and far more than just a man. He would give every day he had left on earth in service to Jesus as a witness. There was a lot they didn’t understand, but they glimpsed Jesus’ glory. Our witness isn’t to do with our own sufficiency, but with his sufficiency. It isn’t to do with how impressive you are, but with how impressive he is. With Jesus, it’s never a case of ordering an air fryer and getting a printer. It’s more like getting the top of the range, and a whole new kitchen too! Seek him out for yourself, and tell your friends, family, neighbours and colleagues what you’ve found. And may they follow him, too. • The Rev. Sean Ankers is minister of Loch Ness Free Church (Glenurquhart & Fort Augustus)

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REFLECTIONS ©Francisco Zeledon- stock.adobe.com

BY REV. SEAN ANKERS

2023

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HEATHER ANN BEATON (1928-2022) BY REV DR DONALD N MACDONALD

eather ann beaton was born to william robert beaton and margaret cecelia beaton

(nee cromarty) on 22nd january 1928 in raymond

terrace, nsw. She attended school from age seven at the oneteacher school in Bob’s Farm, and completed her secondary education at Cook’s Hill High School in Newcastle. Heather first worked as a telephonist at the Newcastle Post Office Telephone Exchange, where she was offered three months’ leave to try nursing as a career. Heather took the offer and in 1952 she began nursing training at the Royal Newcastle Hospital, graduating in 1955. After working in Maclean Hospital, she took a position at Mayo Private Hospital in Taree, where she very soon became Sister-in-charge in this busy hospital. After five years she trained as a midwife. At the same time, Heather had a sense of calling to serve the Lord using her gifts. At the beginning of 1963, she travelled to Geelong to undertake Bible training. She was accepted by the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia to work in India with the Free Church of Scotland Mission. On 2nd December 1963, Heather sailed from Sydney to Bombay. Heather began her Indian service by learning the Hindi language at Landour Language School, Mussoorie, in the north of India. She then went to work at Lakhnadon Hospital with Dr Anne Urquhart and others. The work in India at this time, and Heather’s part in it, is well described in Dr Urquhart’s book, Near India’s Heart. She and Dr Urquhart oversaw the enlargement of the hospital and the building of a bungalow in 1966. My service overlapped with Heather’s from 1973 to 1976 and in that time I came to respect her dedication to Christ, her capacity for hard work and commitment to serve all people, both through hospitality and excellent nursing care. She also took pride in caring for the buildings and was always looking for ways to improve them and their environment for staff and patients. Pradeep Kumar, elder and teacher in Chhapara, paid tribute to Heather, saying she was “well remembered for her kindness towards the orphans and the many sick and needy people in the Christian community and beyond”. In 1976, Heather went home to look after her ageing parents. Following their death she was able to return to India in 1982, but not as a nurse due to increasing government restrictions on missionaries. She served as helper and companion to Dr Helen Ramsay in Chhapara until 1986, when she was refused a further residential permit. Heather then worked as the live-in School Matron of a girls’ school in Armidale. Returning to Taree she worked as a midwife at Manning District Hospital (later Taree Base Hospital) until her retirement from nursing. Heather then moved back to Raymond Terrace. Unable to live independently due to Parkinson’s Disease, she finally moved into the Retirement Home in Greenhills, East Maitland, where she spent her remaining years, always cheerful and keeping up her interest in India.

A nursing home newsletter, found among her papers after the funeral, contained an interview with Heather. In the article, Heather talked about her life as one not wasted, but rather spent willingly in the service of her Lord, of her desire to serve Him, and finding that desire fulfilled amongst some of the poorest people on earth. Her greatest wish was that, at her death, her service and devotion should not be the focus of those who remembered her, but that the Lord whom she served would have all the glory. This was indeed the emphasis of the service, as the minister, Rev Robin Tso, preached the gospel and invited people to the Saviour whom Heather loved and served. • Based on an obituary by Rev David Kerridge, Heather’s nephew.

This photo was taken in the grounds of Chhapara Mission School. The verse on the wall is Psalm 26:1, God is our refuge and strength in Hindi. Outside the wall is the old church (since replaced and is now the manse). Beyond that is the old Mission bungalow, now occupied by grown up orphans and families. Between them runs the main street into Chhapara from the main road.

REV BRYCE TAHO BY BILLY GRAHAM

Africa and his grandfather, the highly respected Rev Zokobe Taho, was the leader of those who stayed with the Free Church after the sad division in 1900, when virtually all the structures and buildings of the Free Church among the amaXhosa were lost to those who wanted to remain in the Free Church. Bryce Taho studied for the ministry at the DeColigny

ith the passing of the rev bryce taho on 29th december 2022 the free church in south africa has lost its senior minister and a most

wise and humble christian gentleman, who gained the respect of all who knew him.

Bryce Taho came from a family whose roots went deeply into the history of the Free Church in South

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College of the Dutch Reformed Church in Umtata Transkei and also was an Honours Graduate in Theology of the University of Fort Hare. He was ordained and inducted to the Knox District of the Free Church in South Africa in 1968 and became the Moderator of the first General Assembly of the Church when it became a separate entity rather than a Presbytery of the Free Church of Scotland in 1976. With the founding of the Dimbaza Reformed Bible school in 1979, he became ‘a wonderful first colleague’ in the Bible School. He was declared ‘brilliant’ in interpretation, a meticulous translator from English into Xhosa and he knew the Xhosa people and their culture like few others. Although he was the minister of the Knox District, he threw himself into the work of the Bible School as a lecturer, translator and writer of Correspondence Courses. The hope was that he would become Principal of the Bible School one day. However, that was not to be. Rev Taho took up positions with the Ciskei Government, first of all as full-time Chaplain at a large boarding school for boys who had been through the courts. This was followed by a spell in the Xhosa language Religion Department of the South African Broadcasting Corporation, and then, ‘when a uniform was placed on my desk’, he was appointed to be a Chaplain in the Ciskei Defence Force. Following the dissolution of the various “Homelands” he was moved to Pretoria where he played a key role in the merging of the several Chaplaincies into the South African Defence Force. In all of these positions he did very well and was known as an excellent preacher of the Word of God and a man of strict Biblical principles. When he retired from the Forces, he became the Minister of the Dewar District of the Free Church and gave help as needed in the Dumisani Theological Institute (the successor of the Dimbaza Reformed Bible School.)

He did not enjoy good health for a long time. We extend our sincere sympathy to his widow Victoria, a highly trained nursing sister who was his helpmeet in all the church work in which he was involved, and to all the members of their family. It has been a privilege to have known him. • ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from the labour, for their deeds follow them!”’ (Revelation 14:13)

A STUDY IN RELATIONSHIPS BILLY GRAHAM, of St Columba’s Free Church in Edinburgh, has been going through some material of the late Prof R.A.Finlayson and has altered this short commentary on the Lord's Prayer a bit. “Our Father in Heaven, Hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into the temptation but deliver us from evil." Matthew 6:6-13 (ESV) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

A child and its Father: “our Father”; the Fatherhood of God with his children — the spirit of INTIMACY and TRUST The worshipper and his God: “Hallowed be your name” — our nearness to God but our awe in His presence — the spirit of REVERENCE The subject and his King: “Your Kingdom come” — paying homage to God — the spirit of LOYALTY The servant and his Master: “Your will be done” — (willingly and joyfully!) — the spirit of OBEDIENCE The needy and his Provider: “Give us this day…” — The daily spirit of DEPENDENCE The sinner and his Saviour: “Forgive us…” — The spirit of REPENTANCE and FORGIVENESS The traveller and his Guide: “Lead us not into …” — (because we are so easily tempted) — we have the spirit of FEAR of falling back into sin. The captive and his Deliverer: “But deliver us …” — (being delivered from evil we need) — the spirit of HOLINESS.

Next time we pray this prayer may we realise just what a precious commentary it is on the Christian life. Is it a commentary on your Christian life? •

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A Bowler Controversy BY REV NORMAN MACKAY

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he british library has a comprehensive listing of all phds awarded from UK institutions.

Impressively, over 600,000 are hosted electronically and can be downloaded by the user. As you can imagine there is something of a range of topics included, from broad issues of history to more specialised and “niche” fields of enquiry. I have a friend whose research fell into the latter category: Paragraph structure and translation: the theory and practice of paragraph and other high level structures in English and Russian narrative and the effect of the translation process upon these structures. She was telling me recently with a wry smile that only a solitary individual had downloaded her thesis. My suspicion is that it was a close relative. Not listed as a topic of research, though capable of expansive inquiry, is the history and significance of the humble ‘bowler hat.’ I recall a particular clergyman who donned what was called a ‘ministerial bowler,’ together with a dark suit and jet-black shoes. The justification for this alarming state of affairs was the somewhat bizarre claim that it ‘hid the man.’ If “hid” was intended to render him invisible in a coal mine then the explanation had some merit. However, for the most part, local people ‘gawked’ at him as if he were impersonating a villain from a Batman movie. The point is that dress codes and other identifiers convey meaning beyond themselves in any given culture. Within the study of culture these are called symbols. Semiotics — the technical term for the study of signs and symbols which convey meaning — is a fascinating area of research, and totally relevant to us as we seek to share our faith with those around us, or further afield. Any given society or social grouping is full of symbols and signs. Thus, Thomas Shelby of Peaky Blinders wears his flat cap as an identity marker, a signature hat, rather than for protection against the rain or cold. Likewise, the bowler hat communicates something of meaning and value to those who wear it — from pinstripe-suited bankers to marching Orangemen. Onlookers might have a very different perception of the chosen symbol and, unlike the wearer, respond to it in a negative or hostile manner. Yet, in and of itself the hat has no fixed meaning.

AN INTERCULTURAL COMMUNITY The worldwide Church reflects God’s cosmic and global saving purposes. He is by means of the Gospel of grace gathering and saving people who, through sin, were previously scattered and lost. Followers of Christ do not congregate under the banner of a given national identity, nor are they all required to assimilate into the culture of a single nation or social grouping within that nation. The Church is a universal and intercultural society. We have no flags, badges, bowlers or other paraphernalia that could reflect an ethnocentrism, sectarianism or racial elitism. There is, for example, no such regional deity as a God of Ulster who does not like Irish Gaelic or Irish dancing. The Church is a new heavenly outpost without borders, cultural barriers, or social strata, where the national identity of its members is subordinated to the spiritual harmony and testimony of the group. This is pivotal to our witness before a watching world.

AN EXPANSIVE THEOLOGY

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As a Christian community, we are called to be incarnational within the wider society in which we live. To be so requires a working knowledge of our local culture with its multiple signs and meanings, as well as an understanding of the trappings of our own social grouping that may render us alien in the eyes of those we are called to reach. This does not imply that we disavow aspects of our own identity that are legitimate or valuable to us. It simply means that we recognise that our ‘bowler hat’ or whatever our specific signature symbols are, might be communicating something egregious to others. In this regard, we have much to learn from cross cultural international outreach agencies who incorporate the study of culture into missionary training. Underpinning this provision is the conviction that it is not sufficient to simply understand the message of the Gospel but we must also be trained as communicators of the Gospel and this within an increasingly mobile, post-Christian and pluralistic society. Indeed, the very forces of globalisation are creating this necessity whether we like it or not. It is for this reason that Christian Intercultural Studies and Christian Cultural Anthropology (these disciplines considered within a Christian intellectual framework) ought to be a central component of any Christian leader’s preparation for ministry in these days. A congregation that can navigate its way around Calvin’s theology but is lost when it comes to understanding its local community is unlikely to do well in reaching the unsaved for Christ. Within such studies, preachers and church workers might just be furnished with illustrations that local people come alive to, since these are actually drawn from the world(s) they inhabit. •

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BY SAM CUNNINGTON

The Fabric of a Conflict Remembering the Renton ‘Cushion Case’ of 1870

‌s i drive out of glasgow towards loch lomond, and pass the sign to the village of renton, i am reminded of the curious episode of the renton ‘cushion case’, which in 1870 came before the general assembly of the free church of scotland.

The case originated when the elders of Renton Gaelic Church refused a certificate of church membership to one Miss Catherine Macmillan, on the ground that she had ‘charged certain parties in the congregation with having maliciously removed the cushion in her seat from the church.’ When I first read that line in the Assembly minutes, about the cushion having been ‘maliciously’ removed, I quietly laughed to myself in the library at ETS. In my mind’s eye I was an onlooker seated in a box-pew in Renton church, and pondered whether the ‘certain parties’ conspired to remove the soft furnishing during the week, or whether it was so malicious that the alleged thief swiped the cushion and made off with it, just as Miss Macmillan was going to sit down? Or was it all a misunderstanding? Was there even such malice enacted against her as Miss Macmillan claimed? The kirk session thought not, and considered it remiss of Miss Macmillan to make the accusation — remiss enough to deny her a membership certificate, which presumably she needed in order to transfer to a congregation in her new locality. Miss Macmillan then petitioned the Presbytery of Dumbarton, and that court decided in her favour and instructed the elders at Renton to get on and provide the certificate. Alexander Cameron, the minister of Renton, dissented from the decision and proceeded to complain to the Synod of Glasgow and Ayr. The Synod considered the matter, and instructed the Presbytery to again ask the Renton elders to comply with the request. But for some reason, presumably making sense at the time, the Presbytery then decided to refer the case to the General Assembly. And so, a humble seat cushion became the subject of debate on the floor of the (at that time very large) General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland. In the twenty pages(!) of accompanying documentation provided to commissioners, a further detail emerges — not only had the cushion been removed from the Macmillan seat, but ‘a different and worse cushion’ was put in its place. It is no wonder that in the minutes of the Assembly discussion, the clerk makes several insertions of ‘(Laughter)’ and ‘(“Oh, oh,” hisses and laughter)’ to convey the general atmosphere in the hall. Indeed, the representatives of the

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Presbytery sent to the Assembly ‘felt a sense of humiliation that they should have been occupied during the whole year in weary hours in the Presbytery, and that they should have occupied the attention of the Synod for five and a half hours during one day, and now be obliged to appear before this Assembly where matters of such importance were being transacted…’ One can only make guesses as to what prior breakdown in relations, or communication, lay behind the alleged ‘malicious’ cushion removal. In fairness to our forebears, it should also be borne in mind that the upset took place in the context of seat-renting (which included the cushions), a system of ecclesiastical revenue-raising very widespread in Britain by the second half of the nineteenth century, but entirely alien to us now. Notwithstanding that detail, it still seems astounding that such a dispute centred on the removal of a cushion could end up on the agenda of the General Assembly! Not all such localized cases of intra-congregational tension attract as much attention as the Renton Cushion Case somehow managed to attract in 1870, but, alas, comparable cases of relationship breakdown have had a tendency to occur at times in the life of the local church. The rediscovery of this unusual discussion in the Assembly of 1870 on the one hand might cause us to smile, to laugh at the goings-on in Victorian church politics. But it should also cause us to pause, and reflect on our own local settings. Are there nascent disagreements, misunderstandings, or breakdowns in communication that have the potential to develop into more serious conflict? What is your congregation’s equivalent of a perceived malicious removal of a seat cushion? Relations between believers in the local congregation are far from unimportant, and perhaps have more of an effect on the public perception of the church than some of the deliberations of General Assemblies, then as well as now. What were people in Renton talking about in 1870 — the Gaelic Free Church’s love for Christ and one another, or the quickly escalating debacle over the Macmillan family seat cushion? George Macaulay, the minister of Old Kilpatrick and one of those embarrassed members of the Dumbarton Presbytery sent to the Assembly to explain the situation, expressed concern that any delay in sorting the matter out would be ‘prolonging scandal in the district’. Real injustices do sometimes take place in the church, sadly. Such injustices must be addressed properly. But there are some conflicts that arise in churches that ought never to have been given the opportunity to develop. We are living, in the West, in what has been called by one American writer, a ‘culture of contempt’. In our age of polarized, poorly informed, and increasingly uncivil public discourse, Christians have an opportunity to show a better way of dealing with disagreement and conflict. Are our congregations known for that philadelphia love that appears in the New Testament, that brotherly and sisterly affection that should be a hallmark of our church communities — that prompts us to ‘outdo one another in showing honour’ (Rom. 12:10), that leads us to ‘live in harmony with one another’ (Rom. 12:16)? Catherine Macmillan, Alexander Cameron, and George Macaulay are just names to us. Their personalities, prejudices, and spiritual backstories, along with those of the other parties involved in this case, remain in the shadows of the past. For what it’s worth, having read the accompanying documents to the case, including letters from Catherine Macmillan herself, I am more inclined to agree with the Presbytery and be sympathetic with her clear explanations of what happened, than with the session’s continued refusal to give her a membership certificate. But that’s all in the past now. We cannot know exactly why the parties behaved in the way that they did, or why this issue of the cushion became such a sticking point. All we know is that after an interval of three years, the minutes of the 1873 General Assembly, under the heading ‘End of the Renton Cushion Case’, note that ‘the judgment of the Synod has become final’ — that is, that Catherine Macmillan ought to be granted a certificate of membership. Moses instructed the Israelites to remember the days of old, and to consider the years of many generations (Deut. 32:7). When you drive up the A82 towards Loch Lomond, remember the Renton Cushion Case. It is not wrong, 150 years later, to smile at this curious incident in our church’s past. But equally, it should be a cause of reflection on the state of the relationships in our own congregations, lest a cushion, or its equivalent, should become again the seat of an unnecessarily expanded conflict. • Sam Cunnington is an elder at Grace Church, Leith

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FOOD FOR FELLOWSHIP Tell us about yourself. My name is Jody Guy — I’m from the Isle of Lewis but I currently live in St Andrews, where I am a member of St Andrews Free Church. I am married to Matty and we have an 8-month old baby, Billy. I am on maternity leave at the moment from my job as an administrator in a GP practice, and Matty is in his final year as a Free Church ministry candidate.

people to see the real me, and similarly I have appreciated the insight into others’ lives that you get by being in their house.

What’s your favourite recipe and why? This Thai chicken & butternut squash recipe is a new favourite of ours — we only made it for the first time a few months ago but it’s a new regular in our house because it is so delicious! It’s also ideal for making for when we are hosting — it’s relatively cheap and simple to make, and can be easily prepped ahead of time for Sunday lunch. An added bonus is that it can be adapted to be vegetarian if need be. How does food play into fellowship in your church? Food plays a huge part in our church’s fellowship. There’s a big culture of eating together in each others’ homes - whether that’s Sunday lunches, quick midweek evening meals before the prayer meeting, or Friday night dinner with a big group of people. It is such a great way to welcome new people in as it allows time to get to know one another in a relaxed environment. One new couple remarked recently that they did not have to cook for themselves for nearly two weeks when they first arrived in St Andrews, as so many people had invited them round for dinner! The result was that they got to know their new church family far more quickly and deeply than they would have solely by chatting to people after church. Having people over for a meal is also a brilliant way to facilitate fellowship across the age divide — we try to have students as well as older folks round together when we can, as intergenerational mixing doesn’t happen so easily at church services. One aspect of eating together that many of us in our church really appreciate is that it allows an opportunity for us to get to know each other more personally as we are being invited into each other’s homes. On a Sunday at church, it is easy to put on a front but when you have people round to your home you are letting your guard down. Over the years I have tried to be better at not fretting about making sure the house is spotless (having a baby has definitely helped with that!) but just allowing

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Ingredients • 1 butternut squash peeled and chopped into smallish cubes (can be substituted for sweet potato if preferred) • 1 teaspoon chilli powder • 1 teaspoon curry powder • ½ teaspoon turmeric • 6 cloves garlic, crushed • 2 inches fresh ginger, peeled and chopped finely • 4 chicken breasts, diced • 1 can coconut milk • 1 can chopped tomatoes • 3 tablespoons peanut butter — crunchy or smooth • 3 tablespoons Thai red curry paste • 1 tablespoon honey • Small bunch of fresh coriander • Handful of peanuts, finely chopped • Yoghurt (optional) • Poppadoms (optional)

NB: This recipe can be made vegetarian by swapping the chicken for chickpeas. The recipe is from www.scrummylane.com

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What kind of things has being in fellowship taught you about the Lord? Sharing fellowship over a meal is a beautiful reminder of how we are united in the Lord. Our church family in St Andrews is made up of people from all over the world, so sharing a meal and hearing about the Lord’s work in so many people’s lives has been a huge blessing over the years. Our God is universal, not confined to our little local area or our country, and to hear how he has brought people from so many different countries, cultures and backgrounds into his family has broadened my understanding of his greatness, goodness and sovereignty. Hosting people for a meal — or being hosted by others — is also a beautifully simple reminder of how the Lord Jesus is a humble servant. As a church we are not putting on fancy dinner parties for each other, we are simply serving family by feeding each other and spending time together. It’s a privilege to model that servant heartedness in even a small way to others, and to be served in this way too. •

THAI CHICKEN & BUTTERNUT SQUASH SATAY CURRY

Method • Toss the butternut squash in a large bowl with the chili powder, curry powder, and turmeric, and set aside. • Heat up a big drizzle of oil in a large cast iron pan or saucepan, then cook the garlic and ginger together for a couple of minutes. Add the chicken and cook for another five minutes or so or until white. • Add the coconut milk, then stir in the peanut butter, Thai curry paste and honey. Then add the tomatoes and butternut squash/spices. (If using sweet potato rather than butternut squash, add in a little later to keep the sweet potato from going mushy.) • Simmer for about 30 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the squash is tender. Squish about half of the squash into the curry to thicken it. • Serve over rice, garnished with the coriander and peanuts, and with yoghurt and poppadoms on the side (if you like).

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PAGES FROM ADAM’S DIARY Married to Christ

A brother, known to some of us as Dr Adam, has served the Lord among his suffering church for many years. Dr Adam has also ministered in various parts of the world among refugees. We have asked his permission to print some of the stories of his life and service for the encouragement of readers of The Record. For well understood reasons, the names of people and places have usually been changed or omitted.

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“The one with whom you have fallen in love is not me. It is the person who lives in me — the Holy Spirit. God is showing you grace, Oscar.”

everal years ago , i met a man in germany

the stolen passports brought to him. He found something very unusual about the picture on the passport — something radiating innocence, purity, godlikeness — all that his own life lacked. He set out to find the owner of the passport. With the aid of his gypsy friends, he traced her to a small village where she was working as a nurse. When he met her, he found an overwhelming power emanating from within her which made an otherwise ordinary woman exceedingly attractive. He said, when he handed her the passport, she did not say a word. She took it, looked at him kindly, but it was as though her gaze burned a hole through him. He felt like she could see all the pollution and corruption concealed under his skin. In her presence, a profound sense of shame had come upon him. As time went on, he began to find excuses to go see her and she welcomed his visits. He went to great pains to point out that it was not a physical attraction — it was a spiritual magnetism, the source of which was within her — something exceptionally beautiful emanating from her innermost being. On one occasion, he marshalled up the courage and said to her that he was in love with her. In turn, she graciously acknowledged his feelings but said to him that she was already married — married to Jesus Christ, her Saviour. She then exhorted him, ‘The one with whom you have fallen in love is not me. It is the person who lives in me — the Holy Spirit. God is showing you grace, Oscar. Leave your servitude to sin. Put your gifts and talents into the service of righteousness. Go and serve Jesus Christ.’ Tearfully he told me that as she spoke to him, he felt as though he was standing before her naked and exposed. He was confused about her statements. How did she know about his criminal life? What did she mean when she said she was married to Christ? Who was this person called the Holy Spirit living in her? Sometime later he had gone back to see her again only to discover she had vanished. There was no sign of her and no one knew where she had gone. He was mystified. He began to search for her all over Eastern Europe. After a while, he assumed she might have gone back to Germany. So, he decided to go to Germany. In Germany, his search proved futile. One day, he went into a church and sought help. In the providence of God, the pastor referred him to someone who is a dear Christian friend of mine who serves our Lord in Germany. In turn,

who was brought to one of our bible study

He was known among those who were acquainted with him as Asghar Giss (pronounced like Oscar Giss). Giss was his nickname, and it is a Persian word usually in reference to the beautiful long hair of a woman. He was called Giss because of his long, soft, silky hair which came down to his waist and an equally long, silky mustache to complement it. He was a soft-spoken, thin delicate man with a romantic streak. However, that innocuous exterior was perilously misleading. It was a camouflage behind which was a clever and cunning individual who was able to outfox the fox himself, outrun Usain Bolt, and was as lethal as Bruce Lee if cornered. When I first met him, he looked like someone who had jumped out of a 1960s catalogue of Who Is Who Among the Hippies. But that impression was corrected by one of his friends who described him as a mythological figure who had stepped out of the pages of Omar Khayyam poetry and a novel about the Mafia bosses. He was truly an exceptionally gifted artist with a brilliant mind. However, until his conversion, he had been putting his God-given talents to the service of crime. 20 years earlier, as a 17-year-old boy from a destitute family, he had decided to leave home and venture out seeking a better future in Europe. On his way to France, in Bulgaria, he had run into the Bulgarian police and border guards who had beaten and robbed him of everything he had and left him in a field for dead. According to Asghar himself, that incident sealed his fate. After exacting revenge on the Bulgarian police and border guards by setting their cars and station on fire, he had escaped to Romania. In Bucharest, he had set up a newspaper kiosk in the city centre and had put to use his only assets: his extraordinary mind and artistic genius. He had begun to forge passports and visas. It was not long before he had a network of gypsies working for him, stealing tourists’ passports across Europe which he then would alter and sell for thousands of Euros to prospective buyers in eastern Europe, across the Middle East, Africa and Asia. He proudly noted that he used the vast sums of money he earned like Robin Hood. Hundreds of poor gypsies were on his payroll. He told me he had government officials among his clients. Eventually, he had decided to move to New York, but one day, a German passport of a young woman was among

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...the intense attraction he felt was similar to what I had encountered — it was the beauty and purity of the Lord Himself which draws us like an irresistible magnet. he contacted me and told me about Asghar and asked if I could meet both of them when I went to Germany. I did. When I first saw Asghar, he looked perplexed and depressed. He could not make sense of his encounter with this mystery woman. He yearned to find her. I explained to him what I thought she had meant by being married to Christ and impressed upon him not to pursue her any longer. Even if he could find her, which I doubted, what awaited him was more intense heartache. She was indeed spiritually married. She was too pure to engage in a relationship with a man, and she had already said she had given herself to the Lord. I reminded him of her words — ‘The one you have fallen in love with is not me.’ She was simply a visible vessel for the invisible beautiful Holy Spirit who lived in her. However, I explained to Asghar that the Holy Spirit is not restricted to her. He dwells in the hearts of all those who have given their hearts to the Lord Jesus, are washed in His cleansing blood, and clothed in His righteousness. I told Asghar Giss a story of an encounter which happened to me nearly 41 years earlier as a young Christian. Princeton University was celebrating the 100th birthday of one of its graduates, a boy from Kentucky, by the name of William Miller. He had served our Lord in Persia as a scholar missionary for nearly seventy years. A friend of mine was invited to attend, and he asked me to go with him. We drove from Chicago to New Jersey. In Princeton, I saw a frail 100-year-old man in whom the presence of Christ burned like the sun. I was too young of a Christian to appreciate the significance of the mystery of the presence of God in a person who was so emptied of himself and so full of the Spirit of God making an old man exceedingly beautiful. On the second day of the event, after lunch he was strolling to his room. I ran to him and said, “Dr. Miller, I really, really like you.” He stopped and reached for my hand and in the most gracious manner, he responded in a flawless, classical Persian, ‘It is not me whom you like — it is He who lives in me you really love.’ 40+ years have passed since that meeting. I have never forgotten his words. As I grew in my Christian faith, I understood what he meant and how true it was. Behind the frail, stooped body and wrinkled skin of that dear 100-year-old saint of God, there was something so mightily attractive and beautiful, glowing like a nuclear fusion out of his inner-most being — it was none other than the Holy Spirit within him.

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I explained to Asghar that the intense attraction he felt was similar to what I had encountered — it was the beauty and purity of the Lord Himself which draws us like an irresistible magnet (Ephesians 3:17-19; Luke 24:32). The gravity of the Holy Spirit had pulled Asghar and driven him across Europe in pursuit of something so alluring inside that German missionary nurse. That same power had moved a young woman with a promising future to leave her comfortable life in Germany, to abandon her desires and ambitions, to go to a destitute Eastern European village to serve the Saviour among gypsies. This is what the love of God does to us: everything fades into insignificance, nothing else matters — future aspirations, being poor or rich, being famous or unknown, the admiration or disdain of others — nothing matters when we see the Lord and fall in love with the beauty of holiness. Asghar Giss had met one of those rare species of human beings who are so emptied of themselves and so filled with the Spirit of the Living God that they become the embodiment of Christ — in their presence, it seems we stand in the presence of God Himself. She was emptied of herself and her desires for what the world could offer her; the Lord had filled that emptiness. She had found the treasure of which our Lord speaks (Matthew 13:44-46). What Asghar found so attractive was none other than the blessed Lord Himself! As I spoke to my friend, tears were streaming over his long, silky mustache. To make a long story short, Asghar Giss gave his life to the Saviour. I came away recognising that the hand of God was upon that man. I think years from now, a young believer may see him and say to him what I had said to that elderly missionary and how Asghar had felt about that German missionary nurse. And Asghar will have quite a story to tell of the ‘marvelous grace of our loving Lord, grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt’, the transforming grace of the One full of grace and truth who had changed his life from a scoundrel to a saint. Who knows how many we shall meet in heaven who will be at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb as a result of God visiting the heart of Asghar Giss! •

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A Healthy Gospel Church... feeds the roots and relishes the fruit BY REV JOE HALL

eople are like trees , said jesus – and so are

And that is also how a church works. We do not get healthy gospel fruits in our churches by pouring our focus primarily into the fruits themselves, whatever they are — welcoming community, warm hospitality, winsome evangelism, self-giving love, sacrificial generosity, spiritual vitality… these, and plenty others, are the good fruits God loves to grow in the life of his church by his Spirit. But they only grow when the roots of the church are being fed with the food God gives for growing churches — that is, his word. Isaiah compares God’s word to rain and snow that water the earth, ‘making it bud and flourish so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater’ (Isaiah 55:10-11). It’s Scripture, read, preached, studied, shared, that gives life. When the church hears God’s voice, she bursts into flower and bears fruit. Whether it’s Genesis or Judges, John or Jude, God gives the growth as we water the church with his word, preach the gospel at the heart of his word, and hold out the One at the heart of the gospel — Jesus Christ. He is the one who turns thorns bushes into fig trees and thistles into vines. So, a healthy gospel church feeds the roots. As the label suggests, the food of a healthy gospel church is a healthy gospel! And a healthy gospel church relishes the fruits of the gospel whenever, wherever and in whomever they grow, by God’s grace. This is why we do it after all, in the expectant hope of a harvest! But we don’t need to pour ourselves into the fruitless task of fruit-feeding. We focus on feeding the roots, and the roots will feed the fruits, and the fruits will bring glory to God. •

churches . ‘No good tree bears bad fruit, nor

again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush.’ (Luke 6:43-44) The bramble picking season is over, but wouldn’t we love to walk through the frosty woods and find a bunch of grapes glistening in a heap of nettles, or figs hanging between the thorns? I would love that. But Jesus says it’s not going to happen! Picture a church where the preaching is less about who Jesus is and more about what kind of people or community we should be. The desire behind this of course is to grow healthy gospel Christians and a healthy gospel church. But do those fruits grow from preaching and teaching that stresses what the fruit should look like? Isn’t this like trying to tell a thistle it should be growing better grapes? How likely is the thistle ever to grow grapes simply by being told it should? We can tell people what kind of people they should be – and churches what sort of churches they should be — until we’re blue in the face. But here’s the twist: it won’t produce healthy gospel Christians or churches. Where do healthy gospel fruits grow from? Jesus says, healthy gospel roots. The tree is a helpful analogy, because while for human beings and churches this is counter-intuitive, this is simply how trees and plants work. We grew tomatoes in our garden last summer. Of course, the reason we grew them in the first place was for the taste of the fresh, fragrant, sun-ripened fruits. Sadly in Aberdeen ‘sun-ripened’ was optimistic. The few we got to taste were astonishingly tasty. But when we went to water them, we didn’t pour the water on the green tomatoes. We didn’t feed the fruits. We fed and watered the roots, so that the fruits would grow. That is how a plant works — we feed the roots, and the roots feed the fruits.

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Rev Joe Hall is the minister at Bon Accord Free Church, Aberdeen

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BOOK REVIEWS Whether you are a minister, a child, a trainee or a curious explorer, we have a book to interest you this season. THE BIGGEST STORY KEVIN DEYOUNG (2015) If you’ve been reading this review section for a while, you’ll know that I’m passionate about Christian books for children. They are one of the best ways to excite children about gospel truths and Christian history, and there is some amazing stuff out there. As we approach Easter, this is a great opportunity to give the children you care about a great book, alongside a tasty Easter egg! It will last longer, and may be the start of some delightful conversations. The Biggest Story by Kevin DeYoung is an excellent such book. Written in 10 chapters, it tells the story of God’s redemptive work in a simple, captivating yet detailed manner. Beautifully illustrated by Don Clark, children will find this book fascinating and memorable. Sometimes it can be hard for children to follow the overarching story of the Bible in their regular Bible readings, because the detail distracts from the overall message. In our house, we have had this book (and the accompanying film) for many years. They are perennial favourites that always delight, raise great questions and have shaped our son’s faith in really tangible ways. This book offers an overview that misses none of the heart but is hopefully easier to grasp. This series also includes an ABC board book for little ones, a beautifully animated DVD and most recently a Bible Storybook. Any and all of them would make great gifts this Easter. • This series is available from 10ofthose.com (10ofthose.com) Miriam Montgomery, Free Church Books

A SHEEP REMEMBERS DAVID B. CALHOUN (2021) This is a rich devotional book on Psalm 23 written by a former missionary, pastor and professor shortly before he passed into his eternal rest. He had lived in the valley of the shadow of death for over 30 years with a terminal diagnosis and had clearly spent a lot of time meditating on this psalm. In his book he has gathered a rich resource of the writings of others and added in his own commentary and testimony to God’s goodness during his life. Each chapter starts with a different version of the psalm, or a hymn or poem inspired by it, with more in an addendum. It is book which lends itself to being read a chapter per day as part of daily devotions and would make a very useful resource for anyone contemplating preaching on the psalm. • This book is available from Banner of Truth (banneroftruth.org) Duncan MacPherson, North Harris Free Church

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BOOK OF THE MONTH PASTORAL FRIENDSHIP MICHAEL A.G. HAYKIN, BRIAN CROFT & JAMES B. CARROLL (2022) Anyone who has been in pastoral ministry can attest that it is often a lonely vocation. Should one hope to enter into vocational ministry or if one is already serving the church as a minister, one will need friends to come alongside of him. This is a short and helpful book on a forgotten aspect of ministry from three pastors. In the digital age it is too easy to hide behind a computer screen, bury oneself in a pile of work, or think that friendship is not important for ministers. Haykin, Croft, and Carroll seek to bring this forgotten aspect back to pastor’s attentions. One will need friends to turn to in ministry or one will burn out quickly. The content of the book is easy to grasp and well-presented. The first section is devoted to biblical and historical examples of friendship. Haykin uses such famed examples as Paul and Barnabas and David and Jonathan to bolster his claim that friendship in ministry is not a novelty but a biblical concept rooted in the created fabric of mankind. God created men as relational beings who yearn for human connections at a deep level. There are also historical examples of ministerial friendships that served as “iron sharpening iron” for ministers. The second section is the most captivating portion of the book. This is the practical section. Here the authors give sage advice regarding cultivating friendships, challenges to friendships, and the command for friendships given by God in his Scripture. Haykin and the others give numerous practical bits of advice and examples such as praying for one another and calculating expectations for one another. The book is simple, to the point, and practical while remaining biblically based. It is tempting to view this book as solely pertaining to ministers, elders, and vocational church leaders. However, friendship is part of the makeup of every human being created in the image of God. Though this work pertains specifically to pastors it does not apply to pastors alone, just as the Pastoral Epistles are written to other pastors but are not relevant for pastors alone. Every Christian needs friends to turn to and have a deep relationship with. The church is the first place where a believer should find friends. We are all united to Christ by faith and united to one another in the body of Christ. Therefore, it is vital for the men and women of the church to invest in deep relationships with brothers and sisters in Christ. It is vital for ministers and it is vital for all Christians. • This book is available from Mound Books (moundbooks.com) Ethan McCarter, Crumlin EPC Ministerial Intern & ETS Student

TEACHING JAMES MERVYN ELOFF (2021) The Proclamation Trust’s Teaching… series is an excellent resource for anyone who might be preaching, leading a small group, or simply wanting to deepen their own understanding of a particular book of the bible. Mervyn Eloff’s edition on James follows the series’ helpful pattern of seeking to identify a ‘melodic line’ (p.28) which ties the various features of the book together. This is particularly helpful in James, as it reminds the reader that this was a letter written for a purpose and should be approached as such, rather than a collect of semi-unrelated thoughts, which is often the fate of this epistle. Seeing this worked out throughout the different chapters helps this key theme to really hit home in the life of the reader or those they might be teaching. The layout of the book means that if it was being read for personal devotions, there might be sections you could skip over. However, there is also extra material to aid those teaching the book in various settings. Whatever your reasons for wanting to get to grips with the book of James and its central message, I’d highly commend this book as a really valuable companion. • This book is available to purchase from Mound Books (moundbooks.com) Ali Sewell, Haddington Community Church

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MISSION MATTERS A monthly take on some of the mission work the Free Church is involved in by our Mission Director, DAVID MEREDITH

nuanced reflection. It has always been the case that we need to take time to calmly and lovingly explain our position. Remember that the natural man does not understand the ways of the Spirit? Expecting a non-Christian to think and live like a believer is like expecting a dead person to explain calculus. It is impossible. However, there is hope. As we speak about Jesus there are supernatural forces at work. The words of the gospel come with inherent power. The energy of gospel conversation does not come with the raised voice but often in the gentle wind which will not even break the bruised reed. A breeze so gentle that it will not extinguish a flickering candle. Hate and bigotry must be met by love and understanding. The cross gives us a model in dealing with hatred. In a bizarre paradox the world kept wanting Jesus to be a leading politician. The people saw his potential and wanted to make him king by force. Above his cross they mocked him by calling him the ‘King of the Jews’. His response: “Father forgive them.” Scotland will never be transformed through political renewal. Our society is at such a low ebb. It’s not only our infrastructure that’s decaying but the moral and spiritual soul of our nation. The flower of Scotland is never that sentimental, racist dirge sung at sports events but is surely that other flower which the Church has always seen as depicting the Lord Jesus, the lily of the valley known as the rose of Sharon (Song of Solomon 2:1). Remember, the lily is among thorns. On the cross his head was crowned with thorns but that same head is crowned with glory now. God laughs off opposition. He always has, he always will. •

ometimes words are like objects taken from the attic when you’ve finally found a use for them.

Febrile has been recovered from the loft of my vocabulary this month. The meaning? A situation which is ‘characterised by a great deal of nervous excitement or energy’. I used it when discussing the Kate Forbes campaign to be elected as leader of the Scottish National Party. Media discussion has been febrile plus, more like frenzied, as the dark arts of the Fourth Estate are unleashed against Kate because of her unequivocal Christian views. What does this teach us? There is a moment at which people move from thinking that they quite like Jesus to hating him to the point of wanting to kill him. In Mark’s gospel a theological discussion regarding the Sabbath soon turns into a murder conspiracy (Mark 3:6). The mood changes in the synagogue when he applies the sermon in an unexpected way. They take him to the brow of a hill, not to show him the sights but ‘in order to throw him off the cliff.’ (Luke 4:29) As followers of Jesus we will be caught up in this conflict. As believers we will also be caught up in this conflict and as evangelists, honest conversations demand explaining that following Jesus will inevitably lead to trouble. There was a day when being a Christian was respected; now we are perceived as having extreme views. It teaches us that there are many opportunities to speak about our faith. Election campaigns are dominated by soundbites and cliches. We live in a culture where good optics and slick branding are more important than reasoned argument and

QUOTATIONS: How do we bring glory to God? The Bible’s short answer is: by growing more and more like Jesus Christ Sinclair B. Ferguson Use me, God. Show me how to take who I am, who I want to be, and what I can do, and use it for a purpose greater than myself. Martin Luther King, Jr.

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POETRY PAGE

THY HANDS WERE PIERCED THOMAS MACKAY Thy hands were pierced, Lord Jesus, Those gentle hands and kind, The hands Thou liftedst up to bless The lame, the sick, the blind; Their wounds were deep and grievous, Yet all the fault was mine, For my hands forged the cruel nails They hammered into Thine.

Thy heart was pierced, Lord Jesus, The heart that bled for men, The heart that wept at Lazarus’ grave And cried, ‘Live thou again!’ It was for my sake broken — The guilty deed was mine; It was the blacknesss of my heart That drove the spear through Thine.

Thy feet were pierced, Lord Jesus, The feet that deserts crossed, That walked the second mile to save The dying and the lost; But for these wounds I love Thee, For this I learned of God: Thy feet were pierced to lift me from The path that mine had trod.

Thy brow was crowned, Lord Jesus, But not with gold or gem, For cruel, bloody thorns became Thy royal diadem; With brasen brow I scorned Thee, Yet did Thy love abound: Thy brow was pierced that I might be In glory with Thee crowned.

Thomas Mackay of Ardoch (1972), Elder of Dumbarton Free High Church

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APR-MAY 2023 PRAYER DIARY ‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.’ Hebrews 10:23-24

April week 1 Pray for the ministers, elders, and deacons of the denomination, that they would be guided by the Holy Spirit in making decisions that honour God and advance His kingdom.

May week 2 Pray for the youth and young adults within the Free Church, that they would be strengthened in their faith and be equipped to serve God in their generation. May week 3 As we approach the 2023 General Assembly, pray for the final preparations that need to happen, safe travel for all the commissioners and staff, and for the Lord’s guidance in the decisions that need to be made.

April week 2 Pray for unity among the members of the denomination, that they would be bound together in love, and that any divisions or disagreements would be resolved in a spirit of grace and humility.

May week 4 Pray for the financial health of the denomination, that the resources needed to carry out our mission would be provided.

April week 3 Pray that the denomination would remain faithful to its biblical and theological roots, and that it would continue to be a strong witness for Christ in a world that desperately needs His love and grace.

May week 5 Pray for the denomination’s partnerships with other organisations and denominations, that they would be marked by mutual respect and cooperation in furthering the gospel. •

April week 4 Pray for the members of the denomination who are experiencing physical, emotional, or spiritual struggles, that they would be comforted by the presence of the Holy Spirit and supported by their brothers and sisters in Christ. May week 1 Pray for the missionaries who are serving within the denomination, that they would be effective in sharing the gospel and making disciples.

PRAYING FOR ONE ANOTHER WEEKLY PRAYER POINTS What a privilege we have in prayer! We can approach the throne of grace with utmost confidence that we are coming before a God who knows us perfectly and loves us endlessly. Each week we send out a prayer calendar, via email, with prayer points for the week ahead. These include specific prayer points from our churches and mission partners. For more information, and to sign up, go to: www.freechurch.org/prayer

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Far a bheil cumhachd (Where power lies) LE JANET NICPHÀIL

eughaidh sinn anns a' bhìoball mu thè a bha a'

Nuair a bhios suidheachadh an là gar sàrachadh, tha e glè fheumail dhuinn a bhith a' cuimhneachadh, ' gu bheil cridhe an Rìgh ann an làimh an Tighearna; ge b'e taobh an àill leis tionndaidhidh E e.' Nach ann an seo a tha dòchas? Is e feadhainn a bha mothachail air an eu-comas fhèin agus air cho feumach sa bha iad, a thàinig gu Criosd air thalamh. Nach fheum sinne anns an aon dòigh a bhith a' faireachdainn ar bochdainn fhìn, agus a bhith a' cuimhneachadh air a' chumhachd a th'Aige-san? Abair gun dùisg seo an àirde sinn gu seinn is moladh!

sireadh leighis, agus cha do rinn i càil ach beantainn

ri iomall aodaich chriosd, agus shlànaicheadh i.

Nuair a bha Criosd air thalamh, bha e glè shoilleir do na bha timcheall air, gu robh cumhachd air leth Aige. Leighiseadh E daoine le pairilis, bheireadh E àithne do neach a bhàsaich, mar a bha Làsaras, èirigh o na mairbh, agus bha eadhon am bàs umhail Dha. A-rèist, ma bha daoine faisg air Iosa, bha iad faisg air Fear Uile- Chumhachdach. Nach eil seo iongantach? Bidh sinn a' cluinntinn mòran an-diugh mu chumhachd: mu chumhachd an dealain, 's mu chumhachd nan tonn's mu chumhachd na gaoithe, ach chan eil e nar comas-ne smaoineachadh air Fear Uile- Chumhachdach. Nam bitheadh sùilean againn a chitheadh, thuigeadh sinn gu bheil sinn glè fheumach air a bhith an cuideachd Chriosd, biodh sin aig coinneamh-ùrnaigh, eaglais no leinn fhìn aig an taigh. Is Esan a chuireas spionnadh annainn; is E a neartaicheas sinn agus a shlànaicheas sinn cuideachd. Neartaichidh e sinn a bhith a' smaoineachadh air na rinn E 's na h-amannan a dh' fhalbh, agus feumaidh sinn a bhith a' cuimhneachadh nach do dh' atharraich E. Nuair a bha Peadar na chadal anns a' phrìosan a b' fhaide a-staigh eadar dà shaighdear, nochd Esan A chumhachd, agus threòraicheadh Peadar gu sàbhailteachd. Bidh sinn aig amannan a' dì-chuimhneachadh cumhachd Dhè, agus tha e feumail agus misneachail a bhith a' cuimhneachadh nach eil nì ro bheag no ro mhòr Dhà-san. Ged a tha E cho cumhachdach, tha E truasail, a' cuimhneachadh 'gur duslach talmhainn sinn'. Nach do choisich E Fhèin a-bhos air an talamh-sa? Nach ann air an talamh-sa mar an Dia-duine a sheall E A chumhachd mar a rinn E aig a' bhanais ann an Cana Ghalile? Is ann air an talamh-sa a dhùisg E Làsaras a bha marbh, agus is ann an seo a shlànaich E muinntir a bha euslan. Bhiodh e glic dhuinn a bhith a' tighinn thuige ler n-uallaichean gu lèir, oir is E an t-Aon aig a bheil cumhachd gach cùis a fhreagairt. Bidh nithean ann a thèid thar comas an fhir as cumhachdaich a-bhos an seo, ach chan eil nì eu-comasach Dhà-san. Bidh sinn tric mar a bha deisciobail Chriosd, a' tuiteam nar cadal, agus anmhainneachd an-còmhnaidh maille rinn, ach tha E caomh, tròcaireach, agus is e E Fhèin a bheir neart dhuinn agus misneach.

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'Is Dia ro mhòr Iehòbhah treun; Rìgh mòr os cionn gach dia.' Nuair nach eil sinne a' faicinn soirbheachadh le Facal Dhè, mar a tha seo ann an rìoghachdan eile aig an àmsa, cuimhnichidh sinn gu bheil e glè chomasach Dha tilleadh, nuair a thuigeas sinn gu fìrinneach mar a tha 'ar bith, ar beatha agus comas ar gluasad Annsan.' Chan fhaod sinn fhàgail a-mach à cùisean no fàgaidh Esan sinne. Ma chuireas sinn luach air Facal Dhè 'mar lòchran, agus mar sholas dor ceum,' treòraichidh seo sinn air slighe cheart. •

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BY CATRIONA MURRAY

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ohn gillespie magee , a pilot with the royal

I can’t help thinking that, somewhere along the line, those of us whose job it is to represent God, have slipped up. A sizeable chunk of the country think he’s a psychopath, and quite a number think of him as a sort of cartoon character god — the kind who can be whatever you perceive him to be. He is the type of deity beloved by folk who will say that they don’t go to church, they’re not religious ... but they are ‘spiritual’. This is why personal witness is so important and why we must not ever stop speaking about God and his role in our lives. The misunderstanding of who and what he is always seems to arise from a lack of familiarity with him. Once you have met the real God, you will accept no imitations. I know him, and so I know that the cruel, heartless God and the fluffy, boy-next-door God are imposters. They are straw men, created by people who are actually terrified that he may be real. So they recreate him in their own image and make him ridiculous, or unpalatable — or simply a bit mystical to satisfy a nebulous idea of spirituality. All these versions of him are then easy to knock down, thus proving that, of course, there is no such person, really. Sinful human beings that we all are, we have this urge within us to BE God, and can only do that once we’ve proven that he isn’t. Every leap forward we make in our civilisation, whether its flight, or medicine, or computer simulations, we con ourselves that we are ready to take his place on the throne of heaven. Yet, we are all faced daily with the reality of our human frailty. We still sicken and die. Even astronauts, who have truly slipped the surly bonds of Earth, ultimately succumb to the same limitations we all share. Many of us, long before then, will walk the valley of the shadow of death beside our loved ones. If we have opened our eyes to God walking alongside us, it is impossible to say that he is either cruel or insubstantial. He is God. To those who know him, the name alone embodies all that is good, all that is powerful and all that is everlasting. We need to urgently show this God — the real and only one — to a world of unbelievers who are looking at a distorted image and perishing for want of powerful witness. •

canadian airforce , was killed in 1941 when his spitfire was involved in a collision with

another plane . He was desperately young — only

nineteen — and is remembered not for the manner of his death, but because of a short poem he wrote, called ‘High Flight’. Its first and last lines are the most famous of the entire work, and you have almost certainly heard them before:

Photo by Philip Mackie on Unsplash

‘Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth... put out my hand and touched the face of God’. He was writing about his first experience of flying, and the sense of triumph and freedom it brought with it. It gets quoted by people who wish to speak about awe and reverence. That is not how it speaks to me. Instead it articulates a huge problem that we have brought upon ourselves. We have no right to touch the face of God in the first place, far less slap it, as we have been doing of late. Societally, we have fooled ourselves into thinking that our relationship with God is somehow one of equals. You may be reading this and saying to yourself, ‘Societally, most people don’t believe he even exists’. True, but even they seem to be awfully mad at him. I have had more conversations with self-professed atheists about the cruelty and capriciousness of God than I will ever have with Christians. Remember the much-publicised outburst from Stephen Fry, in which he railed against God for creating a world in which, amongst other miseries, children suffer and die? He was speaking, I think, for many unbelievers, who are not quite as atheistic as they might claim ... but who have fundamentally misunderstood the nature of God. We have, on the one hand, sceptics who think that, if he exists, he is mean-spirited and wantonly authoritarian; and on the other, we have those whose sketchy notion that he does exist veers towards the romantic and fantastical. It is this latter concept that manifests in John Gillespie Magee’s poem, where man is able, by his own ingenuity, to place himself on a par with God.

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The Record - April/May 2023

Articles inside

MISSION MATTERS

A Bowler Controversy

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