MISSION MATTERS

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

Rural is complicated. 98% of the land mass of Scotland is defined as rural with 17% of the population. The Scottish government defines rural as settlements with a population of less than 3,000.

As a denomination, our vision is to see a healthy gospel church for every community in Scotland. We want to see rural congregations thrive.

There is an image problem. Think musty smelly Victorian buildings with grass growing out of the gutters. One book lists: caution, cultural conservatism, insularity and suspicion, intransigence, lack of imagination and diffidence as ‘behavioural traits’ and ‘defining characteristics’ of people in village communities. To what extent are these perceptions real?

In the Free Church we have examples of rural renewal. In Kiltarlity we have a fresh building which is packed out with young families. Move further west to the communities of Poolewe and Aultbea where you will see a growing congregation housed in stunning buildings with contemporary interiors renovated by local people.

In the providence of God, it’s mostly historic presbyterian churches who remain in rural areas. Independents tend not to prosper. Resilience and traction are issues. What are we to do with this opportunity?

Our Centre for Rural Mission will be initiated in November. This will generate gospel optimism as we think about mission in rural Scotland and stimulate resourcing these churches. There are increasingly fewer differences between people who live in rural areas and those who live in our larger towns and cities. In this post-Covid world people seek out the freedoms which country life brings. Surveys consistently show higher happiness markers among rural dwellers.

Some starters for rural churches.

Stop thinking like victims. I understand where this is coming from. If the prevailing positive stories are all about edgy urban church plants, what chance do we have? The answer is to reverse the view of urban as a threat and see them as examples. Church planting has taught us that we have to change our way of working to reach this generation. The people of Morningside are not fundamentally different from folks who live in Marvig. Ministry is similar wherever you are located. It’s a case of communicating the good news of Jesus and genuinely caring about people.

Build on your strengths. In your community everyone will know everyone. The community values which people cherish and miss are those which emerged from a Biblical worldview. Love and kindness characterise the people of God. Some will be blushing as they think of their small communities with three nearly empty presbyterian churches. Own and admit the failures and speak about them with honesty and not a little grief. Perhaps a letter in the local press confessing past failures. Answer the questions which your new neighbours are asking.

Don’t see technology as the total answer. I admit to being an outlier with my views on this. Video technology is good for many business meetings. My world has been revolutionised by the ability to be in meetings in any part of the country or the world. My rural neighbours live on Skye but work in the Netherlands and West Lothian without having to leave the island. However, worship is best when it is enfleshed. Video may be a silver bullet but bullets kill. Our forefathers walked over moor and glen to gather with the family of God. We capitulate to a half-hour drive when the greatest risk is a directionally challenged American in a rented campervan. There are times when Donald’s handshake and Annie’s smile is the juice that is worth the squeeze.

I think we will be talking and praying more about our rural congregations in the next few months.

One more thing. Sort out your noticeboards. •