The Record - February/March 2024 by Free Church of Scotland

THE

RECORD

MONTHLY MAGAZINE OF THE FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND FEBRUARY/MARCH 2024 • £2.00

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

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FEBRUARY/MARCH

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CONTENTS

WELCOME TO THE FEBRUARY/MARCH RECORD

elcome to the latest edition of the record.

04 CHURCH AT WORSHIP: A THUMBNAIL SKETCH Zachary Purvis

As this edition has been collated, a theme of relationships has emerged — relationships with family members, friends, and church family. These can be encouraging relationships; we can recall times of standing alongside each other in celebrations and in more difficult circumstances. But relationships also have the potential to be messy and dysfunctional. This edition explores the different types of relationships we have and remind us about the need to encourage one another and build one another up in love. In his editorial piece ‘Church at Worship: A thumbnail sketch’, Dr Rev Zachary Purvis notes that the church ‘is God’s house and it’s a family’. Do take a look at this piece as he delves into worship. In the Food for Fellowship section, our contributor Gerlinde writes about what she has learnt about the Lord through being in fellowship. She says: “Our God is a God of relationship… God isn’t just saving individuals; he’s building a family and it’s wonderful to know I belong to his family.’ Be encouraged by her piece as she goes on to reflect about the Lord’s Table. David Meredith’s Mission Matters column tells of his recent visit to the Presbyterian Free Church of Central India — a denomination which regards the Free Church of Scotland as their ‘mother church’. Take a look at his column to find out more. We know there can be great joy to meet as family and church family. But we also know there are times when all families can be dysfunctional! The children’s page tells the story of Joseph, who was sold into slavery by his brothers. Scripture tells us of his need to forgive his brothers. Each of these pieces have God at the centre. He is a God of relationships. He cares about the relationship with have with him and with others. Do be encouraged by these articles, along with a selection of news updates and columns.

FREE CHURCH NEWS

WfM UPDATE Fiona Macaskill

WORLD NEWS Belarus, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, India

REMEMBER THE DAYS OF OLD Tommy Mackay

PRAYER DIARY

THIS IS MY STORY: A GRACIOUS ENCOURAGER David J Randall

LETTERS

FOOD FOR FELLOWSHIP

PAGES FROM ADAM'S DIARY: THE CINDERELLA STORY OF A 65-YEAR-OLD REFUGEE

MISSION MATTERS David Meredith

BOOK REVIEWS

CHILDREN'S PAGE

OBAIR DO MHEUR Janet MacPhail

POETRY PAGE Roddie Rankin

POST TENEBRAS LUX Catriona Murray

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 • Yours in Christ Sarah Robinson

That in all things he might have the pre-eminence Colossians 1:18 2024

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Church at Worship: A Thumbnail Sketch BY REV DR ZACHARY PURVIS

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hat comes after boiling point? Whatever it is, that’s where we

Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash

are. According to one recent survey, only six per cent of adults in the UK are ‘practising Christians’.1 Each news headline and public policy proposal tells us we’re more secular than ever. Domestic soil can seem stonier than soil far from home. Is Christianity in crisis? Simply to ask the question is, for many, to answer it. So, what’s the remedy? There are many ways to begin, but surely among the most important is for us to learn afresh what it means to meet with God. If we need him — and we do need him — then we should go to where we can find him. If you made a list of the top two things that we can avail ourselves of for spiritual growth, where would regularly hearing the preaching of the Word and partaking of the sacraments in the public worship rank? In truth, we run automatically to any number of spiritual disciplines, to praise bands, to personal testimonies, to community renewal strategies, to the latest big-city mission-guru — all methods by which we try to get our lives to God — rather than the ways in which God has gotten his life down to us (Romans 10:5-10; Westminster Confession of Faith [WCF] 27-29). Contrast our contemporary picture with the conviction of our Reformed forebears. ‘The visible church is a fellowship of people called to the state of grace by Word and Sacrament’, said Johannes Wollebius.2 Although the church often considers other activities ‘ministries’ that reach the world for Christ, the church ‘is not instrumental in communicating grace’, Louis Berkhof reminds us, ‘except by means of the Word and of the sacraments’, namely baptism and the Lord’s Supper.3 During the Reformation, the church discerned that the recovery of the gospel of grace was not only a matter of orthodoxy, but doxology, not only sound doctrine, but sound worship. So, liturgical reform was necessary. Something parallel is happening today. A new generation is in need of robust confidence in God’s ordained means of grace. We pray, ‘Come, Lord Jesus!’ (Revelation 22:20); we groan for better times — indeed, the new heavens and new earth (Romans 8:18-25). And remarkably, we see sprouts of it. More than that, we hear it. We hear it as something preached. The preaching of the Word creates the church. The church doesn’t first of all exist, and then do certain activities. No, the church comes into being by the Word, as the Spirit works through it. Everyone is born again, Peter tells us, by the preached gospel (1 Peter 1:23-25). ‘Faith comes by hearing’, Paul says, ‘and hearing by the Word of Christ’ (Romans 10:17). God preaches a new world into existence, even when the appearance of the old world seems to suggest against it (Isaiah 55:10-11; Ezekiel 37). But it needs to be put in our ears. We depend on the preached Word. It alone evokes a true polis, a new public community (Psalm 18:19). The church is God’s house — an institution. It’s sustained by his Word and sacraments. As we read in Acts 2:42: ‘They gathered regularly for the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, the breaking of the bread, and the prayers.’ Christ builds his house, in other words, by his Spirit through the Word, baptism, and the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 16:16-20). That’s the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20). Everything else identifies a healthy church. But without these marks, there isn’t a church (WCF 25.3-4; Belgic Confession art 29). The church is also a family. It’s God’s house (a place) and family (a people). There is teaching and evangelising in the general office — everyone baptised; and in the special office — ordained office bearers. There are general prayers, each of us praying for one another; and special prayers, the minister leading us in prayer on Sunday. There’s general discipleship, each of us encouraging and admonishing one another to become a disciple of Christ; and in the special office of elder, as shepherd and overseer. We have physical needs, for which there is the general office of every Christian; and the special office of deacon (e.g. Ephesians 4:11; Acts 6; Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:1-12; Titus 1:6-9; Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12; WCF 30).

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Through God’s Word proclaimed, he moulds and shapes us. He creates and strengthens faith in our hearts as we hear his word, setting us apart for his service. In the means of grace — preaching, sacraments, and prayer in the public worship of God — the powers of the age to come are breaking in upon this present evil age (Hebrews 6:4-5). So, we go to church in order to become the church. Moreover, it is in this ordinary ministry of the Word — the church at worship; the solemn assembly of meeting with our covenant Lord — that God distributes gifts from the riches of his estate. Very quickly, then, we realise, as the Reformers did, how vital a sound liturgy is, so that from beginning to end, we receive from God what we need (1 Corinthians 14:40). This is why approach to worship is that we must only do what God commands, because he knows our needs and alone determines what is pleasing to him. We call this the rule of worship, or ‘regulative principle’ (WCF 21). In fact, the form of the liturgy is also forming us: God calls us to worship. Worship begins with God’s covenantal summons. God initiates the relationship with his people. God cleanses us in worship. When God speaks to us in his holy law, we’re undone: the scripts of our own lives that we’ve been working on diligently are turned to so many shreds of celluloid on the editor’s floor (e.g. Exodus 20:19). When we hear the declaration of pardon, he brings us to life and restores us in the gospel (e.g. Matthew 11:28; 1 John 2:1-2). God consecrates us in worship. Through God’s Word proclaimed, he moulds and shapes us. He creates and strengthens faith in our hearts as we hear his word, setting us apart for his service. God communes with us in worship. Not only does God make promises to us in the preaching of his Word, but he also confirms those promises, bathing us and feeding us with the body and blood of Christ (1 Corinthians 10:16). Finally, God commissions us in worship. In the benediction, God blesses his people by confirming his favour toward them, thereby strengthening them to love him and serve their neighbours in the week ahead.4 The movement of Reformed worship is call-and-response, a living relationship expressed through covenantal dialogue: God speaks, we respond. ‘Come near to God, and he will come near to you’ (James 4:8). The initial call is followed by an invocation (e.g. Psalm 124:8) and greeting from God (e.g. Romans 1:7), with a response by God’s people from his Word (e.g. singing a psalm). We read God’s Law (e.g. Exodus 20:3-17; Matthew 22:37-40), confess our sins and rejoice in the announcement of forgiveness (e.g. Psalms 51, 32). The Word is also administered in historic confessions of faith, which are appropriate responses to God’s pardon. Out of gratitude, we give alms (1 Corinthians 16:1-3). Prayer is the chief part of thankfulness (Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 116), so we offer our hearts in thankful prayer. God speaks to us in the sermon (e.g. Romans 10:1415; Ephesians 2:17; Second Helvetic Confession ch 1) and we respond, with his Word, in praise. Because our faith is weak and we are assailed by doubts as we travel through the howling wastelands of this passing evil age, God regularly and frequently spreads a table for us in the wilderness — a banquet that is a foretaste of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Isaiah 25:6; Revelation 19:9). God has the last word in the service as the minister pronounces God’s blessing upon his covenant people (e.g. Numbers 6:2426; 2 Corinthians 13:14).

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In the ‘celestial theatre’ of the divine service, we are uniquely driven out of ourselves to others. We are not only raised in faith toward God, but sent out in love and good works toward our neighbours The beauty of the simple, biblical liturgy is that it safeguards for us what we need in our often arduous pilgrimage: to meet with God; to hear from him; to receive from him. In the public worship of God’s people, in other words, God delivers his grace. The pattern of the service reflects the pattern of the Christian life in faith and obedience. To be called, cleansed, consecrated, communing with, and commissioned by God is not a one-off event, sometime in the past, any more than our need of the gospel is. More important than any other distinctive of Reformed worship is that we come primarily not to serve but to be served by God the Father, in his Son, through the power of the Spirit working through the Word. Just as he did in John 13, Jesus comes to wash his disciples’ feet. He comes to give us a kingdom, to make us part of his kingdom (Luke 12:32). To begin again: Christians today are motivated about any number of cultural, political, or social issues — some of them more legitimate concerns than others. But we need to ask, where is the joy and anticipation, the longing desire, for public worship? In the ‘celestial theatre’ of the divine service, we are uniquely driven out of ourselves to others. We are not only raised in faith toward God, but sent out in love and good works toward our neighbours (Hebrews 12:18-29; 10:19-25). Sunday by Sunday, we are drawn ever deeper into the family of God, the glories of the gospel, the rich heritage and theology of the church. The lost are reached not by entertainment but by the presentation of what Christ accomplished. While evangelism may occur in worship as the gospel is faithfully proclaimed, the purpose and focus of worship is that those who believe in Christ should gather and meet with God. In the liturgy, Christians are, at last, edified, so that they can have conversations with their neighbours. Once equipped, Christians are then set free in the world and in their daily vocations. Our relationship with Christ is personal but never private. The liturgy is a heavenly drama we don’t simply attend but participate in each Lord’s Day, the church militant joining with the church triumphant. God comes to us in grace with his gifts; we receive them and are transformed; then we exchange gifts of thanksgiving with one another and bring those gifts out into the world. So, let us delight in the God who willingly enters into dialogue with his people each Lord’s Day as they gather before his throne. Come, believing sinner, and see God in action! • Rev Dr Zachary Purvis is a Lecturer in Church History and Theology, Edinburgh Theological Seminary

Footnotes: 1 ‘Talking Jesus Report 2022’, https://talkingjesus.org/research. The survey defined ‘practicising’ as someone who attended church at least monthly, but prayed and read the Bible at least weekly. 2 Johannes Wollebius, Compendium of Christian Doctrine (1626), trans. John W. Beardslee in Reformed Dogmatics (New York: Oxford University Press, 1965), 135. 3 Louis Berkhof, Systematic Theology (1941; reprint, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1974), 604–5. 4 For more, ministers should see, e.g., Jonathan Gibson and Mark Earngey, eds., Reformation Worship: Liturgies from the Past for the Present (Greensboro, NC: New Growth Press, 2018); and members, Jonathan Landry Cruse, What Happens When We Worship (Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books, 2020).

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FREE CHURCH NEWS TIME FOR REFLECTION

“As 2024 commences, you confront many problems. Much wears us down and much weighs us down. This is true for you as legislators and true for your constituents. Jesus invites us personally, ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.’ He bears our burdens. He is willing and able to help. Jesus gets us. “For more than 20 years, I volunteered with Bethany Christian Trust and I serve as a Chaplain at Saughton Prison here in Edinburgh. I have seen Jesus meet people. He does take away their burdens and he does give rest. Jesus meets people exactly where they are but he doesn’t leave them where he finds them. The change is profound and lasting. “‘Why not give Christianity a trial?’ Consider Jesus’ life, consider his death, and consider his resurrection from the dead. You can change your mind about Jesus. Your first answer doesn’t have to be your final answer. ‘Every choice you make makes you.’“ He closed with a benediction – the Blessing of Aaron – adding: “May these words warm your hearts and enlighten your minds as you make choices with profound consequences: ‘The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.’” •

ree church of scotland moderator rev bob akroyd addressed the scottish parliament during the ‘time for reflection’ in january.

He said: “John C. Maxwell, author of 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, asserted, “Life is a matter of choices, and every choice you make makes you.” In 2024, every choice you make here makes you. Every choice you make, makes our nation, and impacts our people. “Two thousand years ago, a large crowd was given a choice. There were two prisoners: Barabbas, a convicted murder and Jesus, a preacher and miracle-worker. One could be released; the other would be crucified. The response was unanimous, ‘Not this man, but Barabbas.’ “George Bernard Shaw asked, ‘Why not give Christianity a trial?’ The question seems a hopeless one after 2,000 years of resolute adherence to the old cry of “Not this man, but Barabbas.” Shaw’s conclusion was striking, ‘Yet it is beginning to look as if Barabbas is a failure.’ “The way of Barabbas is strangely contemporary. Like Frank Sinatra, Barabbas did life his way. The way of Jesus is completely different. ‘He went around doing good’ by putting others first. He even gave his life ‘as a ransom for many.’ The verdict then was, ‘Not this man.’ Has much changed? G. K. Chesterton once said, ‘The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.’

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CONVERSION PRACTICES CONSULTATION

he scottish government has launched a consultation on “ending conversion practices in scotland”.

The consultation states that “conversion practices” refers to acts which are intended to change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. The consultation proposes three measures to combat conversion practices: 1. A new criminal offence designed to catch the most serious elements. This would cover anyone providing a service or engaged in a cohesive course of conduct. There must be the intent to change and/or suppress sexual orientation or gender identity. It must be directed against an individual and cause actual harm (whether physical or psychological). It will also be a criminal offence to take someone outwith Scotland for the purposes of conversion therapy. 2. A new statutory aggravation – essentially where an existing offence (such as assault/threatening behaviour) has been committed with the intention of carrying out conversion practices it can be prosecuted with an aggravation, resulting in a longer sentence. 3. A Civil Protection Order which can be applied for by individuals, police, local authorities and in some cases third party organisations where there is “potential harm” to an individual or the wider public. A breach of these orders would be a criminal offence. A civil protection order could impose wide ranging conditions on individuals to prevent “potential harm” to anyone. The Free Church of Scotland’s Public Engagement Group has raised serious concerns about the Scottish Government’s proposed ban on “conversion practices” and will be responding to the consultation. Speaking as the public consultation on new criminal offences was launched by the government today, Rev Stephen Allison, Public Engagement Coordinator at the Free Church of Scotland, commented: “As a church, we unequivocally condemn abusive, coercive, and violent practices. These contradict Christian teaching. The Bible teaches that everyone is worthy of respect. Christians seek to embody the love of Jesus in every aspect of life, including discussions about sex and identity. “If there was evidence that genuinely harmful practices are not being dealt with, there may be an argument for legislation. However, we do not believe the Scottish Government has demonstrated this. Sweeping new provisions have been drafted that could criminalise conversations and other interactions that are lawful and legitimate in a free society. They raise the alarming prospect of church leaders, parents, counsellors, and others being criminalised simply for expressing the clear teaching of the Bible. “In Christianity, conversion involves a person placing their faith in Christ for salvation and embracing his call to repentance, obedience, and service. Conversion is the gift of God, through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, and it necessarily leads to change. The church faithfully teaches the word of God to equip Christians in every area of life. “The Free Church was founded out of concern about state interference in the life of the Church. It retains this conviction in the modern context. We uphold the spiritual independence of the Church from the state, including the right of the church to practise its own teaching. We urge the Scottish Government to reconsider, and ask politicians in every party to respect religious liberty, and broader freedoms enshrined in human rights legislation, by rejecting these proposals.” The Free Church of Scotland’s Public Engagement Group will provide a full response to the consultation in the coming weeks. This will be made available on the Free Church website for people to view. There will also be opportunity for individuals and congregations to respond if they would like to. •

ORDINATION OF REV DR ZACHARY PURVIS

riends,

family,

and

colleagues

gathered

from Ephesians 4:1-16, in which the Apostle Paul encourages the church in Ephesus to live a life worthy of their calling to be humble, gentle, patient, and to maintain unity in the Spirit. Mr Brown encouraged Dr Purvis directly to preach the Word of God with faithfulness and diligence whenever he is called upon to do so. He also reminded everyone

buccleuch free church for the ordination of rev dr zachary purvis and his formal induction into

the position of lecturer in church history at edinburgh theological seminary (ets).

Rev Michael Brown, minister of Chiesa Riformata Filadelfia in Novate Milanese, delivered a message

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present that the Lord Jesus had given the church a good gift that evening by setting apart Dr Purvis for the ministry of the Word. Rev Alberto de Paula, the presbytery moderator, played a pivotal role in the service and was assisted by Rev David Court and ETS Principal Rev Iver Martin. A special touch was added by Dr Purvis’ family, who had travelled from America to attend the service. Dr Purvis began his academic journey at Westminster Seminary California, where he earned his MA in Historical Theology. From there, he continued his academic pursuits, ultimately achieving a Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) from the University of Oxford in 2014. Dr Purvis’ passion for the study of church history and theology has taken him around the world.

Before taking on his current role, Dr Purvis held prestigious postdoctoral positions at institutions such as the University of Göttingen, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the University of Edinburgh. Through his commitment to scholarship and research, he has made a significant contribution to the academic community. In addition to his academic accomplishments, Dr Purvis is a loving family man. He shares his life with his wife, Jessica, and their three young children, making their home in the vibrant city of Edinburgh. As Dr Purvis embarks on this new chapter in his life, we look forward to his contributions to the Free Church of Scotland and Edinburgh Theological Seminary. Please pray for Zack and his family as he continues to train and equip Christians in his role as lecturer at ETS. •

LOCHCARRON AND APPLECROSS INDUCTION

Do look up the two congregations on a map and pray for them. Pray that Jesus will call pastors to GKT, Glenelg, Dunvegan and other wonderful communities in the north west of Scotland and on Skye, where they may enjoy the benefits of close community life coupled with constant gospel opportunities. Perhaps take a prayer odyssey by car around the North Coast 500 route, which passes through well over 20 Free Church parishes. You’ll not soon forget the exhilarating road from Lochcarron to Applecross which Colin will be taking each Sunday! But what verse did Colin read when he opened his little scroll? ‘Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.’ Colin closed the afternoon adding his hearty Amen to those words, ready, along with his likeminded wife, to take up the challenges ahead. The day’s festivities included their cutting of a large, delicious induction cake. All who ate from it and from the rest of the banquet were more than satisfied. May this be a sign of things to come as Colin, Jessie and the Lochcarron and Applecross congregation invite many more to come to the gospel feast. •

he presbytery of skye and wester ross met in lochcarron village hall to induct rev colin l macleod to the congregation of lochcarron

and applecross. The scripture focus in the induction

service was on Jesus’ words to Paul: ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.’ The whole afternoon was marked by signs of the Lord’s grace, and confirmations that we were doing his will. The hospitality part of the afternoon had so many thoughtful personal touches that it felt like a wedding reception. As an example, each “guest” had a scripture verse on a little scroll tied with Macleod tartan ribbon! With exceptional organisational and catering skills, the Lochcarron and Applecross people showed that they wanted to celebrate. Their delight at having Colin and his wife Jessie come to live and work among them was plain to see. At the end of 2022 Colin took the L&A congregation under his care after Rev Marcos Florit’s retirement. He worked hard at leading them into a new season of congregational life and outreach, and ensured they heard as many potential ministers preach as would come. The help he gave them to renew their vision convinced them that it was Colin himself whom they wished to join their team! Since Colin would only be moving a short distance from the nextdoor congregation of Gairloch, Kinlochewe and Torridon, the decision to call him was approached with sensitivity and care. With Colin’s evident love for both congregations, he asked the Presbytery to settle the outcome. This they did unanimously, resolving to ensure the GKT congregation were well supported after Colin’s move.

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Rev Colin L Macleod and wife Jessie with grandchildren

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DOWANVALE INDUCTION

n the evening of october 13th, the dowanvale

The evening ended with the congregation presenting gifts to the Morrison family, followed by fellowship, refreshments and a speech from Iain’s university flatmate, Rev Innes Macsween. In response to Iain’s recent induction, Dowanvale Free Church Minister Rev Kenny Macleod said, “We welcome Iain, Liana, Maya and Micah in our midst, and we look forward to working together in Kingdom work in our city.” •

free church congregation came together to celebrate the induction of rev iain morrison,

affectionately referred to as “cheeks,” in his new role as assistant minister.

The service provided an opportunity for the congregation to convey their thankfulness to the Lord for this pivotal moment in the life of the local church and his provision. Rev Angus Lamont, minister of Stirling Free Church, led the service and delivered a sermon from Psalm 48, focusing on the theme of “The City of God.” He reminded the congregation that God’s faithfulness and sovereignty should inspire them to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with their communities. Following the ordination process, Rev Ian Watson, from Hope Church Blackwood and Kirkmuirhill, addressed Mr Morrison directly, offering words of encouragement as he readies himself for his role as Assistant Minister. Mr Watson drew from Biblical examples such as Joshua to Moses, Elisha to Elijah, and specifically, Timothy to Paul, referencing Philippians 2:19-24. Rev Douglas Cranston, speaking on behalf of the Presbytery, urged the congregation to appreciate the profound significance of Iain’s call, acknowledging the multiple calls in his life, not just as a minister but also as a loving husband and dedicated father.

Rev Iain Morrison, wife Liana and baby Micah

HOPE CHURCH, LEITH CHURCH PLANT

upside down — and in ways that the men who make the rules have not legislated for. It’s a weakness. And I am sorry, but I sometimes think that life is too short to stick with the status quo. “In the last decade or more, I have had the privilege of seeing God call and send out four great church planters to begin new Gospel communities in and around Edinburgh — taking with them some wonderful core people from St Columba’s as they went. The mother church has borne quite a cost in doing so, but that has been far outweighed by the incredible blessing of seeing Kingdom growth. There were around 25 people in St Columba’s in 2001. Since then, God has blessed us with hundreds of people passing through, a current congregation of around 200, and if we add the church plants, well over 700 people, and growing. It is a cause for great rejoicing, but how much more need there is in Edinburgh and throughout Scotland. It is a drop in the ocean.

ew challenges await rev derek lamont and his wife catriona in 2024 as they move on from ministry at edinburgh ’ s st columba ’ s

free church of scotland to start a church plant in nearby leith .

After more than 30 years in ministry and being the minister of a ‘mother church’ to four church plants, Derek is becoming a church planter himself to reach the Leith community. It follows the closure of Leith Elder Memorial Church, in the city, last year. Derek has reflected on his unconventional time in ministry and for God’s faithfulness in the past, in the present and for the future. He says: “I’ve been treading the ministry sidewalk for over 33 years, and in that time, I’ve tried my best to do things that fit the ecclesiastical mould, but it’s never quite worked out that way. I’m not an innovator by any means, but I’ve just found that quite often I seem to do things back to front or

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Rev Derk Lanmont and wife Catriona and the new church plant

“I also realise the fantastic work being done by believers and their church leaders throughout Scotland — often in difficult circumstances. I am increasingly grateful for the denomination to which I belong, and the way they have embraced the drive for healthy churches in every community and 30 new churches by 2030. I honour the people who have worshipped, served and witnessed for Jesus Christ as members and office bearers of Elder Memorial Free Church, Leith. God knows the legacy. I am also humbled by the willingness, enthusiasm and support of the small number who were left in the congregation prior to its closure, to see a new work begin even as they mourned the end of an era. “So here I am, just about at my three score years, and God has called me and Catriona to start again — in Leith. In January 2024! It’s not in the manual, and they do say that there is no fool like an old fool … but it is both exciting and terrifying. God will be with us, and that is everything. Even if it goes belly up — Jesus still loves us, and he will have something to teach us through it. “Leaving St C’s is a wrench for sure. It’s been our happy place a long time — the manse, an amazing home for our family (and many others!), and the church family just an extension of our own. Together, we’ve loved, served, failed, made things up, learned, lost, gained, laughed, cried, doubted, and celebrated with Christ right in the middle of it all. I, and our family, will remember the St C’s adventure as one of God’s greatest gifts to us. The partnership is changing, but not being dissolved, and we know we leave the church in really good hands. “In Leith, we have a building, and part funding to buy a manse in Leith — which is more than many young couples have when they start off on the church planting journey. But like all church planters, we need to raise our own salary, living and ministry costs because there is no initial congregation to fund the work. That is a new and challenging experience for me! Deacons’ Courts do a great job when planters apply to them for support — and it is an amazing blessing, but I just wonder how many members of our churches are aware of what their Deacons’ Courts give, and all the background fundraising and support that has to be done by young church planters especially — it’s not an easy task. We are also deeply indebted to individuals with financial resources and many sister churches in the US (many who form part of the UK Partnership) — all of whom are deeply committed to Gospel growth through resourcing the planting of new churches. God has been good. “In Leith, our vision is to renovate the building, so that it is better suited to serve the community; to purchase a manse within walking distance of the church that can be a hospitality hub for mission; to walk the streets and get to know Leith’s people; to build a core team who love Jesus, love the people of Leith and are committed to learning how best to serve them and share the Good news with them — a team who will, where possible, live locally and make Leith their community and home; to have a focus on reaching the marginalised through the work of ‘Sparkle Sisters’ and other Christian mercy ministries; to daily recognise the impossibility of seeing people saved unless there is a deep and lasting work of the Holy Spirit, and a humble dependence on God’s grace in our lives through prayer; and to see many people coming to faith. I hope the rest will be history! These are our prayers. “If you want to know anything more about our plans, or want to consider financial support (we are talking £250,000 minimum for the building and manse projects alone!), then send me an email and I will pass on more details. (derekandcatriona@gmail.com) Or maybe even better, if there is a struggling ministry with a visionary plan, or a new church plant nearer to where you live, maybe it would be worth contacting them to offer some support. Either way, as we trust God, we will all get there together!” •

THE RECORD

FEBRUARY/MARCH

GOOD NEWS FROM CORNERSTONE

All the baptisms that took place were for those in the Spanish speaking congregation. The profession of faith and baptismal vows were led by Rev Israel Guerrero in Spanish and then translated into English by Sam MacPherson. It was a special moment as parents, siblings and grandparents gathered to profess their faith and take baptismal vows to bring up their three youngsters in a Christian home. Following the baptisms, the congregation took the Lord’s Supper together. The service ended with the song His Mercy is More and a benediction. Following the service Neil said: “It is great to see God at work in the lives of so many different people. We love the variety of cultures, ethnicities and languages we have at Cornerstone and the different ways in which they all contribute to the whole church. It is a great picture of the Kingdom of God.” The Cornerstone congregation has recently been meeting in the Music Auditorium of George Watson’s College due to an increase in numbers of adults and children. The venue provides more space for services to be held as well as for the children’s work to take place on Sunday mornings. Recent events at Cornerstone Free Church have included a half-day women’s conference, with guest speakers Kat Ross and Jo Hulks, as well as a wreath-making event and its carol service on Sunday 17 th December. •

wenty new members have been welcomed into cornerstone free church, in edinburgh, on the same day that five adult baptisms and

three children’s baptisms were also held.

The congregation along with friends and family met at George Watson’s College in Edinburgh for the service. This was followed by a celebration lunch at the Old Schoolhouse. Rev Neil MacMillan said: “It was a standout day at Cornerstone Free Church. God is good. Thanks to everyone at Cornerstone for who they are and all they do to make days like this happen.”

During the service the congregation sang Psalm 27 and there was a reading from Acts 2:36-41. There were celebrations as twenty new members were welcomed into fellowship.

PRESBYTERY PRECENTORS’ WORKSHOP

precentors’

workshop

has

been

held

knockbain free church to help and encourage those who were just beginning to precent.

The event, which took place in October, was led by Sandy Finlay. During the workshop Rev Neil ‘Lachie’ Macdonald shared some teaching and tips for leading the sung praise of the Psalms. Three other experienced precentors shared some of the lessons they’ve learned over the years. Many Psalms were sung over the course of the evening, sounding beautiful with rich harmonies, and resources were shared during a Question and Answer session. Around Rev Neil 'Lachie' Macdonald 40 precentors and singers, male and female, from a number of congregations across the Highlands attended the event, culminating in a very good and helpful event. Unaccompanied Psalm singing has provided a rich source of sung praise for generations, and we trust that it will continue for generations to come. There are hopes to run a similar event in two or three years. •

2024

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ENSPIRE EVENT FOR MINISTERS’ WIVES

will be led by Carrie Marlow, the Woman’s Pastoral Worker in the Free North Church. The annual Enspire event is relaxed and informal, with times of worship, discussion, sharing and praying in small groups. Friendships are made and renewed. Enspire encourages, equips and energises ministers’ wives to serve and fulfil their calling. Enspire begins with coffee, scones and fruit, ends with coffee and cupcakes and has a two-course lunch in between! To book, go to: freechurch.org/enspire •

ooking is now open for the 2024 enspire event for ministers’ wives. The event will be held

on Saturday 23rd March at Smithton Church in Inverness. This is an opportunity for ministers’ wives from all over Scotland, and from different denominations, to meet new people and catch up with friends while being encouraged by God’s Word. The focus this year is on ‘Encouragement’ which will include a talk from Cathy Steed on the topic based on 1 Thessalonians 5:11, before a practical workshop that

BLYTHSWOOD APPEAL EXCEEDS 84,000 SHOEBOXES

lythswood’s 2023 shoe box appeal has sent 84,655 gift-filled boxes to eight countries in eastern europe.

The last lorry left the Highland-based charity’s Kent sorting station on Friday 15 December, with 6,181 boxes for Ukraine. It was the third lorry-load of boxes for the country in crisis, and many of the recipients will be people displaced from their homes by the war. Alan Swanson, Blythswood’s head of UK projects, said: “This year’s Shoe Box Appeal has been a great effort by donors and sorters and by all our staff and volunteers. I’m so glad that once again we have been able to send boxes to Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Kosovo, Moldova, Romania, Serbia and Ukraine.” James Campbell, Blythswood’s chief executive, said: “It’s always deeply moving to see how much your gifts mean to the people who receive them. At a time when so many of our supporters are struggling to make ends meet at home, I want to thank you all for your generosity.” Blythswood’s Shoe Box Appeal began in 1993 when 300 boxes were sent to Romania. This year’s appeal brings the total to over 2.6 million. Containing day-to-day essentials such as socks, toiletries, sweets and woolly hats, the boxes are distributed in orphanages, care homes, hospitals, Roma villages, refugee centres and prisons. •

THE RECORD

FEBRUARY/MARCH

NOSTALGIC PERU PHOTO

his is a photo of the general assembly of the iglesia evangelica presbiteriana del peru, 1977, taken by the late rev george t. thomson.

Some of the people in the photo travelled from the provinces to Lima for the Assembly. Archie Boyd and James Macintosh were there as Free Church delegates from the Foreign Mission Board. There were also Dutch delegates (not in the photo) from Gereformeerde Sendingsbond. A cooperation agreement was drawn up to spell out the nature of cooperation between the three bodies.

Back row (L to R): Juan Silva (Lima), Teófilo Chuqimbala (Amazonas), Santiago Castañeda (Cajamarca), Manuel Ruiz? (Moyobamba), Ramón Quiroz (Lima),Hermógenes Correa (Celendin), Heráclito Aguilar (Amazonas) and William Mackay. Middle row: Andrew Fraser, John MacPherson, Archie Boyd, Pedro Arana (Lima), James Macintosh, Luis Torrejon, Manuel Morais. Front row: Aquiles Mas (Rioja), Alejándro Montenegro (Rioja) and Heráclito Guerrera (Moyobamba).

WfM NEWS BY FIONA MACASKILL

Have you heard about the Support A Volunteer Fund? Have you got a volunteering trip planned for 2024? Over the years, WfM have been pleased to be able to offer financial assistance to many members of the Free Church of Scotland on their short-term mission trips around the world. If you or someone you know could benefit from this fund, we’d love to hear from you! Please look on the website for further information. It’s not just for women; we welcome applications from male volunteers too! Cookbook update. We are well on the way to selling our reprint and have now sold over half of those ordered. Remember we would love to see your pictures of what you have been trying from the book. Please share on social media and tag us. •

new year has begun and we have two exciting events for you this year.

The first date for your diary is “The Big Get Together” (aka the Annual meeting) which will be taking place in Livingston on 18th May 2024 at 2pm. We would love to see as many of you as possible along and you can even combine it with a wee trip to the outlets for your shopping needs! We are excited to announce that our conference in Inverness will be on 21st September on the theme of Equipping Women. We can also announce that our main speaker will be Sharon Dickens, the Director of Women’s Ministries with 20schemes. She has written several books and I would recommend Unconventional as a challenging and practical read on how to do women’s ministry well. Watch this space for more information and keep an eye on our webpage and socials for more on how to buy tickets.

2024

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WORLD NEWS AMERICAS AFRICA EUROPE ASIA AUSTRALASIA

BELARUS CHANGES THE LAW TO FURTHER STIFLE CHURCHES Evangelical Focus The president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, recently signed a draft law with changes to the laws on the activities of religious organisations. The document toughens requirements for the creation of national or local religious associations, and makes it easier for authorities to shut down a religious community. According to the draft law, religious organisations must be re-registered within a year after the law comes into force. That re-registration will begin in the summer of 2024, and must be completed by the beginning of January 2025. In order to be fully registered as a national religious association, an organisation must include at least 15 religious communities from Minsk and all regions, and at least one of them must have existed for over 30 years. Furthermore, “the head or founder of a religious organisation, national or local, cannot be a person from the list of extremists and terrorists”, states the draft law. In agreement with local executive committees, religious organisations will be able to create “orphanages, as well as facilities to provide social services to the elderly, people with disabilities and people dependent on psychoactive substances”. However, engaging in political activities, participating in the activities of political parties and supporting them, is banned for them.

Evangelical churches in Belarus have suffered under the heavy controls and threats of national and local authorities in the last years. Pastors and other believers have been brought to the courts for supporting peaceful protests against the government. Churches such as New Life in Minsk have been harassed and shut down after its members expressed criticism of President Lukashensko’s policies and the lack of freedoms in the country. “The decline in freedom of religion or belief in Belarus is a matter of grave concern”, stressed American researcher Dylan Schexneydre, who published a report on the situation of religious freedom in Belarus in 2023. “Lukashenko’s government continues to harshly repress civil society and increase efforts to regulate religious life”. •

THOUSANDS OF EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS MARCH FOR PEACE IN CHIAPAS, MEXICO Evangelical Focus On Sunday 3rd December, thousands of evangelical Christians from various municipalities in Chiapas joined in a march for peace in Tuxtla Gutiérrez. Organised by the church Jesus is the Way, the public gathering was a testimony of thanksgiving to God for peace in Chiapas and a petition for divine guidance for government leaders. Pastor Josué Pérez Pardo highlighted the importance of this activity as a sign of gratitude for the peace that has prevailed in Chiapas. The participants also prayed for the good of the state government and the deputies, asking that they be guided by justice and seek social welfare and development. The march was attended by evangelicals from various ethnic groups, including Tzotzil, Chol, Tojolabal and Tzeltal. They expressed their faith in Christ and hope through song and praise in their mother tongues. Pastor Pérez Pardo noted that the march was a response to recent events in Chiapas, including violence in the highlands and traffic accidents. He lamented the persistence of violence, especially in the Northern part of the state. Chiapas has experienced many episodes of religious intolerance towards evangelical Christians. Believers have been expelled from their towns and their homes destroyed, for not contributing to the Roman Catholic festivities. •

THE RECORD

FEBRUARY/MARCH

ATTACKS ON CHRISTIANS, FORCED CONVERSIONS BELIE PAKISTAN’S CLAIM OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM: CHURCH LEADER Christian Daily International/Morning Star News Continuing violence against religious minorities in Pakistan belies the government’s statement on 8th January that it promotes religious freedom and protects the members of non-Muslim faiths, rights activists said. In response to the US State Department designating Pakistan a “Country of Particular Concern”, Pakistan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry issued a statement expressing dismay over the country’s inclusion on the list. “Pakistan is a pluralistic country, with a rich tradition of interfaith harmony,” the ministry’s statement claimed. “Pakistan has undertaken wide-ranging measures to promote religious freedom and protect minority rights.” Bishop Azad Marshall, president of the Church of Pakistan and a prominent rights advocate, however, cited ongoing abuses that show Pakistan is not a safe place for religious minorities: violent attacks on multiple churches and homes of Christians, unabated blasphemy allegations against Christians as well as Muslims, increasing number of underage Christian and Hindu girls falling victim to forced conversion to Islam in the guise of Islamic marriages, and attacks on minorities’ worship places. Pakistan ranked seventh on Open Doors’ 2023 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian, up from eighth the previous year. •

SUPREME COURT ORDERS RESTITUTION FOR VICTIMS OF MANIPUR VIOLENCE Open Doors International The Indian government has been directed to look at how they can help churches and people affected by the violence in Manipur last year. The instruction – which was issued by the country’s Supreme Court before Christmas – requires the government to identify and secure the places of worship that have been destroyed and submit a proposal for their restoration. The court also ruled that the government should create a policy for rehabilitating those whose houses were destroyed. The ethno-religious violence that broke out in May last year centres around hostilities between the majority Meitei and minority Kuki ethnic groups. Christians on both sides of the clash have been disproportionately targeted, according to local Open Doors experts. More than 120 believers were killed, whilst 4,500 buildings and homes belonging to Christians and some 400 churches were destroyed. Around 50,000 believers have been displaced. This is a very welcome development for those affected by the awful violence, particularly as the government has been criticised for its muted response to the crisis. •

VIOLENCE AGAINST CHRISTIANS CONTINUES IN NIGERIA Release International Attacks against Christian communities in Nigeria have continued into the new year, following a coordinated massacre of civilians over Christmas. Partners of Release International, which serves the persecuted Church around the world, say 238 people were killed in attacks by Fulani militants between the 23rd December and 30th December. More have been killed since. The governor of Plateau State has declared a week of prayer and mourning and there have been international calls to designate Nigeria as a country of particular concern. The Christmas 2023 massacres were among the worst ever against the Christian community in Nigeria. Those attacks, which drove 20,000 from their homes, have continued in Borno and Kaduna states. Continuing attacks, by Boko Haram terrorists on January 4, claimed the lives of a pastor and at least six members of his church. Pastor Ayuba was the leader of a COCIN (Church of Christ in Nations) congregation. Other assaults by Boko Haram and Fulani terrorists in Borno and Kaduna have taken a further 50 lives, according to Release International partners. In a statement, the Bishop of Sokoto Matthew Hassan Kukah said the killers had ‘snatched the light of the joy of Christmas from thousands of people on Plateau.’ Funerals and coffins were now part of their landscape, he added. The Stefanos Foundation say the attacks are part of a concerted plan to provoke religious conflict across several states. They are alerting villagers by text of intelligence of pending attacks and providing trauma counselling for victims. •

2024

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REMEMBER THE DAYS OF OLD ADDRESS GIVEN AT THE DUMBARTON NEW YEAR WATCHNIGHT

‘Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee’ Deuteronomy 32:7

of those fathers and elders who did have something to remember and they will tell us, ‘Yes — he is the God of revival. Our eyes have seen it’. Has this generation in Scotland or in Britain seen anything of God’s mighty acts? I expect the answer is no. If I am asked regarding my generation as a father and an elder then I would answer yes: I probably witnessed the last remnants of earlier revival. In my teenage years I sat in meetings where I saw movements of the Spirit I have not seen since then. Similarly, there are those who in their early days saw a refreshing movement of God in Lewis. However, if I were to go back and ask my elders, my mother as a teenager spoke of all night revival prayer meetings attended by about 150 in her local parish church, Queen’s Cross Church of Scotland in Maryhill. My old pastor had been Assistant Superintendent in the Tent Hall in Glasgow and spoke of regular gospel meetings with 2,000 attending and hundreds weeping their way to salvation. My pastor commented to the Superintendent that they were living in great days of blessing. The Superintendent was Jock Troup, whom God had used mightily in a revival which swept down through the fishing villages in the east coast of Scotland. Jock, remembering an earlier day, replied, ‘When you have lived in the fire, it’s hard to live in the ashes’. Yes — we must indeed consider the years of many generations. We must remember the days of old. However, there is another side to the matter which provides a very different and additional perspective. When we turn to the prophet Isaiah, we find that in one breath he says, ‘Remember the former things of old’ (Isaiah 46:9), and in another breath he says, ‘Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old’ (Isaiah. 43:18). We remember the former things because from them we take heart. They remind us that God is still on the throne, no matter how great the darkness around us. But why remember them not? For this: ‘Behold, I will do a new thing’ (Isaiah 43:19). God is going to do something new for us which will be even greater and more glorious than our fathers ever saw. As we look on, at times feeling helpless, at the events taking place around us and in the wider world, we often hear the question, ‘Where will it all end?’ Well — for those who don’t already know the answer, here’s a spoiler: WE WIN! We just need to read on in Deuteronomy 32 and we come to the Lord’s great promise in verse 43: ‘Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people’. •

euteronomy 32 must surely be one of the most spine-tingling chapters in scripture. Moses had

completed writing the long narrative of the five books of the Law; it covered commandments, ordinances and a protracted historical account of 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. Then the language suddenly changes from prose to poetry, from arrangements and protocols to prophetic utterance, from speech to song. It is this that is spine tingling. If ever a man must have felt he did not want to sing it was surely Moses. His great mission had ended in personal failure: ‘Thou shalt not go over this Jordan’. The previous chapter concludes with fearful denouncing of the people. Moses said he knew that after his death they would utterly corrupt themselves and turn aside from the way he had commanded them, and they would do evil in the sight of the Lord. At just such a moment he cries to the heavens to hear him, and he lifts up his voice in song. The prosody is sublime and beautiful. ‘My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass.’ The song is full of judgement, but also of mercy, of warnings but also of promises, of mourning but also of rejoicing. It is also full of instruction, as in this great word of counsel: ‘Remember the days of old’. Why, as we seek to look forward, should we remember the days of old? Because, in the midst of many encouragements in the works to which we have turned our hands, we cannot deny the absolute reality of what has happened in our land in these days: Scotland, the ‘land of the Book’, Britain, surely blessed among all the nations of the earth in gospel light; but now, the light has turned to darkness and wickedness stalks the nation. In the words of Charles Wesley, ‘The rich, the poor, the high, the low, Have wandered from his mild command; The floods of wickedness o’erflow And deluge all the guilty land’. As we see the darkness deepen, as we see year follow year and decade follow decade, we could easily become discouraged and ask if we will ever see an answer, if God will ever move in our midst and send revival blessing. But then, we ‘remember the days of old’. The wording of the text is careful. What if we have nothing to remember? What if we look back as far as we can and see nothing but the constantly encroaching tide of apostasy and decline? The text has already taken account of that. It says, ‘Consider the years of many generations’. And so, even if we ask our fathers and our elders and they in turn say, ‘No, we never saw any great movement of God in our midst’, then we are to go back to the testimony

THE RECORD

Prof. Tommy MacKay. Elder, Dumbarton Free Church

FEBRUARY/MARCH

FEB-MAR 2024 PRAYER DIARY Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. Romans 8:26 February Week 2 Pray for all the congregations involved in opening their church buildings as open spaces over the winter. We give thanks to God that places such as churches can open for those who may otherwise be on their own over the winter months, and for those people to meet with others whether that’s for a cup of tea, bowl of soup, games afternoons or a quiet place to work. Pray for fruitful conversations and for all those involved in volunteering to make these spaces available.

March Week 1 Pray for all those involved in Hope Church Leith (see page 11 for more details). Pray for a core team who love Jesus, love the people of Leith and are committed to learning how best to serve them and share the good news with them. Pray that those involved will daily recognise the impossibility of seeing people saved unless there is a deep and lasting work of the Holy Spirit, and a humble dependence on God’s grace in our lives through prayer. Pray for many people to come to faith.

February Week 3 Pray for the Public Engagement Group as it responds to the latest Scottish Government consultation on ending conversion practices. Pray for wisdom for the group as they produce responses that are Biblical, informative and impactful.

March Week 2 Pray for the Free Church Youth Conference taking place Friday 15th to Sunday 17th March. Rev Thomas Davis from Carloway Free Church will be speaking on the theme “Idolatry Today: Keep Yourselves from Idols.” Pray that the young people attending will be encouraged and spurred on in their faith.

February Week 4 Catriona Murray has written an impactful piece for this edition’s Post Tenebras Lux column (see page 40). In it she writes: “The prayer, then, must be that we not become a stumbling block to the faith of others; that we not become the gateway through which evil enters the community of believers; that God should govern our tongues and guard our hearts. Thus protected from ourselves, we might begin to be a witness, even without speaking a word abroad.”

March Week 3 Pray for the Enspire event for ministers’ wives taking place on Saturday 23rd March. Pray for Cathy Steed who will speak on the topic of encouragement based on 1 Thessalonians 5:11. Pray for all those attending that they will be able to spend time together, to be equipped and energised. March Week 4 We give thanks to God for the hundreds of applications received for the Free Church Youth Camps this summer. Pray for all those involved in organising the camps, that plans will come together in the lead up to summer. •

February Week 5 Pray for the rural congregations in Scotland. We give thanks to God for his continued faithfulness over many, many years. Pray that through growing friendships and walking alongside people, believers will have opportunities to share the gospel in their communities. Pray for many people to come to faith.

What comes to mind when you think about prayer? Do you set time aside each day to spend time with God, do you speak to him during your daily commute to work or to travel to activities, do you have a quiet moment with him while watching the sun set or say a 999-emergency call prayer when you’re in desperate need? The answer may be different for each one of us. What we can be assured of is that prayer connects us with the one who alone can give life, hope and peace. Prayer expresses our faith and prayer expresses our hope in God. Scripture encourages us to pray whatever situation we’re in and whatever circumstance we face. Be encouraged that Jesus intercedes before God on our behalf and presents our prayers to him.

2024

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In the This Is My Story devotional series, REV DAVID J RANDALL imagines what it might be like if we could interview some Bible characters. Hebrews 11:4 says of one character, ‘though he died, he still speaks’; may these ‘interviews’ encourage us today in trusting, loving and serving the Lord Jesus Christ, the Character of the Bible. Record: Barnabas, it’s sometimes said that if it hadn’t been for you, the apostle Paul might have been lost to the early church. Barnabas: Not really, because Paul was God’s chosen instrument for the furtherance of the Christian mission in these early days. I had a small part to play, but it was the Lord himself who ensured that Paul was chosen, called and faithful. Record: Yes, we should have said — from a human point of view you had a crucial part to play. Wasn’t it you who introduced Paul to the church in Jerusalem? Barnabas: That’s true. Understandably, the believers there were rather suspicious. Everybody knew that Paul had been doing everything he could to oppose and even wipe out Christianity, and some people were worried that his apparent conversion might be a plot — that he wanted to worm his way in and then turn on us all.

THE RECORD

Record: So what made the difference to you? Barnabas: Hard to say. But somehow I recognised in Paul the marks of a genuine believer. The more I got to know him, the more I saw these marks and realised that our Master had a special work for him. Record: So you introduced him to the apostles in Jerusalem, and thankfully they were persuaded by you to take Paul at his word and welcome him as a fellow Christian. Barnabas: That’s right, and Paul then got involved in our witness in Jerusalem. It was only when his life was under threat that we eventually sent him off to his hometown of Tarsus for a while. Record: But it was only a beginning. Barnabas: It certainly was. Later on, when the church sent me to Antioch to keep an eye on things there, I went to Tarsus to enlist Paul, and for a whole year we worked together in Antioch.

FEBRUARY/MARCH

Jacob Jordaens "Apostles Paul and Barnabas in Lystra" (1645) Akademie der bildenden Künste, Vienna

THIS IS MY STORY: A GRACIOUS ENCOURAGER

Record: And wasn’t it there that the name ‘Christian’ was first heard? Barnabas: Yes. Previously we had been known simply as disciples or people of the Way, but in Antioch people started calling us after the name of Christ. Record: And what did you all think of that? Barnabas: We loved it. People recognised that we weren’t just preaching a new philosophy or advocating a new way of life. We were proclaiming Christ, so what better name could there be than Christian? Record: Talking about the meaning of names, your name means something like Encourager, and you have the reputation of being an encourager not only of Paul but of many others, including your cousin Mark. Barnabas: Yes, and you’ve put your finger on one of the most difficult experiences I had. Paul and I had been working together and we were sent out by the Antioch church on the first missionary journey ever. We worked together for a time in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord. Record: And then came your famous rift with Paul. Barnabas: I don’t know if I’d call it a rift; let’s say it was a difference of opinion. Record: OK, but what about? Barnabas: It was all about Mark. He was with us in the early stages of the first missionary tour, but after a while he decided to return to Jerusalem. Record: Why? Barnabas: I’m not sure. He was young and maybe it was too soon for him to engage in such itinerant ministry. But Paul was less than impressed. I think he felt that Mark just wasn’t up for the task. Record: And wasn’t it when you were planning the next journey that the problem arose. Barnabas: Yes. Paul suggested that we should revisit the various places where we had proclaimed the gospel. Record: Sounds like a good idea; not much to fall out about there. Barnabas: We were fully agreed about the plan. But we didn’t see eye to eye on whether to take Mark with us. Even though he had left us previously, I felt he had grown in stature since then and that he should be given a second chance. But I’m afraid Paul just wasn’t in favour of that at all. Record: What was his problem? Barnabas: I think it was a genuine concern for the work. He felt that someone who had failed previously couldn’t be trusted to stay the course; the extension of the kingdom was such an important thing that we couldn’t risk have any failures on board. Record: So the two of you had to agree to differ. Barnabas: Yes, although only after I tried to persuade Paul. I pointed out to him — gently, I hope — that when people had been cautious about him, I had ensured that he was accepted.

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Record: But you couldn’t persuade him. Barnabas: No. We talked it back and forth and it was pretty awkward. Both of us were sure we were right and — well, we didn’t come to blows but it was a sharp dispute. Record: Sharp enough that you parted company. Barnabas: Yes, Paul chose Silas to accompany him, while Mark and I joined forces and went to do some gospel work in Cyprus. Later on Paul would write about the way in which God works in everything for a good purpose, and in retrospect I can see that about our disagreement. Record: How do you mean? Barnabas: Well, it meant that we had two mission teams setting out instead of one. In a way the work was multiplied. Surely God was over-ruling the situation for his purposes. Record: And you must have helped Mark in his service, because it’s well known that when Paul was awaiting his own execution he asked for Mark to come to him. Barnabas: “Useful to me for ministry” — that’s what he wrote. Yes, he came to value Mark’s commitment and service. We’re all in the same team, after all, and we’ll all be part of the same family in the realms above. Record: You’d shown great commitment yourself. Your family had land in Cyprus and you sold some of it to finance the early mission. Barnabas: I sold one of the fields there and donated the proceeds for gospel work. It was a way of showing how grateful I was — am — to the Lord for the great gift of his salvation. My brother would write about how Jesus was rich but became poor so that we might become rich through his poverty. That wasn’t about financial wealth, of course, but he gives us something far more precious than any amount of material things — the gift of his salvation. He invites people to put their trust in him and we have the wonderful assurance that no-one who comes to him in sincere repentance and faith will ever be turned away. Record: One other thing, Barnabas. I wonder whether it ever riled you that, after all you did for Paul, he came to have greater prominence than you? People used to talk about ‘Barnabas and Paul’, but later it was ‘Paul and Barnabas’. Barnabas: No, that doesn’t bother me at all. The only thing that matters is that the good news should be made known, and all of us have our part to play in that. Not everyone can be an apostle Paul, but we can all consecrate what we are and what we have to Christ for his service. • David J Randall retired from pastoral ministry in 2010 and is a member of the Free Church congregation in Broughty Ferry. He has served in a number of locumships, still preaches regularly, and has written several books.

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letter to the Free Church Record “How Faith and Feminism Changed the World” by Catriona MacDonald (“Record” October/November 2023) is a rather strange article about female missionary endeavour in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries in which it is strongly implied that many or most of these women were sympathetic to or motivated by the secular feminist movement, or that their work would not have happened without it. Feminism, as we know it today, originated from a secular (godless) stable, and has no sympathy for the biblical teaching on male and female roles in the family, Church or wider society. Indeed, the feminist movement spearheaded the attempt to break the link between sex and “gender” leading to the godless notion that it is morally acceptable, for example, for someone of the male sex to attempt to adopt the female gender or vice versa. Here, the philosophical groundwork of the feminists aided the godless transgender movement in its also malign aims. Little evidence is given in the article — apart from that regarding the American abolitionists Maria Stewart and the Grimke sisters — that the women mentioned viewed themselves as feminists or were motivated by feminism or the women’s movement or by anything but their desire to assist their husbands in mission to the lost, both evangelistically and practically, or to be involved in the work of mission as single women. Since it was God who made Man in His image, both One and Plural (Genesis 1:27), the Church and society need more divine teaching on man and woman, rather than feminist teaching or sympathy for it. Richard Tallach Perth

Dear Editor In response to Richard Tallach's comments on my article 'How Faith and Feminism Changed the World' published in the October/November edition of The Record, I would like to affirm that many of the women missionaries of the missions movement of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries were primarily focused on spreading the gospel and showed little evidence of advancing an explicit feminist agenda. However, one of the consequences, albeit perhaps unintended, of their commitment to fulfilling the great commission was the breaking of many glass ceilings for themselves, their female supporters at home and the girls they taught on the mission field. While strands of modern feminism promote values many Christians deem unbiblical, taking feminism in its wider sense of promoting justice, advocacy and opportunities for women, surely it is to be celebrated that our female missionary forebears played a part in bringing this about. Yours faithfully Catriona Macdonald

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 email editor@freechurch.org

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Dear Editor From time to time one comes across church buildings which once belonged to different denominations but are now in use by congregations of the Free Church of Scotland. Usually, substantial (and often much needed) renovations have been made to adapt the building for church life and worship in the 21st Century. Great. But one adaptation is, in my view, a change too far: I mean the removal of the organ – often leaving not a hint that one was ever in place at all! In some cases the congregation may enjoy worshipping to the sound of a praise band, as well as precentor-led psalmody, of which I am a great fan (when it is done well). But some items of worship need something stronger than a precentor, and more robust than a praise band, namely the sound of a well-played organ. Of course I am quite sure that some organs are beyond repair; in other cases there is no-one to play them (admittedly there is nothing more dismal than bungled wailings from a badly played organ!). But in cases where an organ (pipe or digital) functions well, then please don’t remove it as a matter of course, but retain it and find someone competent and spiritual enough to play it. It will add a great deal to the quality of the praise. It has a range and depth unequalled by any other instrument. Ripping out pews is surely to be welcomed; so is abandoning 50ft high pulpits and using a lectern instead. But excising the King of Instruments is a serious mistake. Please consider keeping them, and using them in worship to the praise and glory of our glorious God. Michael J Y Lind Conon Bridge, Ross-shire

Dear Editor I have just been re-reading Rev David MacRae’s fascinating 1874 work The Americans at Home. I thought, in light of the news that the Free Church are looking at their involvement with slavery, that your readers might be interested in some information in it. The author recounts meeting with one Alex Williamson of the US Treasury department who had known President Abraham Lincoln before his assassination. He reported Lincoln’s great love and interest in Scotland. Indeed, Lincoln had named his youngest son William Wallace Lincoln! Lincoln’s opponents, the slave-owning southern states, had expected backing from the Free Church as they had given financial help to them after the disruption. The pro-slavery Presbyterians there had written appealing for support from the Free Church. But the reply was “brief and crushing”; Williamson was quoted saying that Lincoln read the Free Church letter and tears came into his eyes, commenting: “That is one of the most complete arguments against slavery I ever read. It puts the whole question into a nutshell.” Lincoln kept the letter and apparently often referred to it afterwards. Is it not the case that slavery had been almost universal in world societies? While some Christians did defend slavery and benefitted from it, is surely one of the great glories of British Christianity that it recognised the great evil of this institution and fought successfully for its abolition. Yours faithfully James Finlayson

QUOTATIONS: Faith is not an instinct. It certainly is not a feeling — feelings don’t help much when you’re in the lions’ den or hanging on a wooden Cross. Faith is not inferred from the happy way things work. It is an act of will, a choice, based on the unbreakable Word of a God who cannot lie, and who showed us what love and obedience and sacrifice mean, in the person of Jesus Christ. Elisabeth Elliot There are four things that we ought to do with the Word of God - admit it as the Word of God, commit it to our hearts and minds, submit to it, and transmit it to the world. William Wilberforce

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FOOD FOR FELLOWSHIP Tell us about yourself My name is Gerlinde, I live in Inverness and attend the Free North Church where I have been a member for about two years now. I work in the hospital as a Physio Assistant and I love being in the busy hospital setting. However, I am currently off work with a broken leg! So I am enjoying being with my family in Gardenstown as well as in Nairn. Church is a little different for me just now; I am really missing my church family in Inverness, but enjoying being amongst the believers in Gardenstown New Church and Nairn Free Church. It’s always an encouragement to meet with other Christians in different places. Since working in the hospital I have met so many believers from all over the country and that has been a real blessing to me! What is your favourite recipe and why? I wouldn’t say cooking is something I love and I don’t really enjoy baking, but I like eating! Preparing food is something I most enjoy when it’s for other people. My parents were German and so there are some traditional German foods that I still enjoy, like schnitzel. I like spending time with other people over food. I have truly loved being invited up to the manse to meet new people, ask questions (I really enjoy asking ministers difficult questions!), and hearing about other believers’ faith and daily walk with the Lord. I like simple hospitality, relaxing with friends over tasty food and talking about the sermon. I find I am always asking questions about the sermon and I love to know more about Scripture.

What kind of things has being in fellowship taught you about the Lord? Our God is a God of relationship and while I’m not able to meet for fellowship much throughout the week, I know that relationships within the church are important to us. Friendship, fellowship, a wee text here or there, meeting up for coffee, going out for lunch, these things strengthen our personal walk with the Lord. God isn’t just saving individuals, he’s building a family and it’s wonderful to know that I belong to this family. One of the special times in the life of God’s family is when we meet for a meal – gathering around the Lord’s Table. As we eat and drink in remembrance of him, he is there with us, reminding us of his saving death. And I think it’s wonderful that glory is also described in terms of a great family celebration, at the marriage supper of the Lamb. Tell us about the recipe you’d like to share. This isn’t my own recipe – it is a lovely soup from the Women for Mission Ultimate Favourite Recipes Cookbook on page 35. It’s easy to make, and it’s perfect as a winter warmer. There are also some nice little touches like the red apple garnish that make it a little bit special. This is a perfect light meal after all the biscuits at church teas on a Sunday! Serve with oatcakes, cheese and a selection of cold meats and it’s a great lunch to share with friends. •

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©svetlana_cherruty - stock.adobe.com

How does food play into fellowship in your church? (Outreach, fellowship, bible studies etc.) In our church we have refreshments after the service, and for me this has been the main way that I have got to know other church members. It might seem like ‘just a cup of tea’ but it’s a way of sharing your life with others, even when life is really busy. I find I’m very tired after work at the hospital, so it’s good to take some time on a Sunday and connect with some of the congregation. I was very disappointed to miss our church’s Christmas party in December as I was looking forward to spending more time with the church family.

Spicy Butternut Squash & Apple Soup (APPROX 6 SERVINGS)

Ingredients • 3 tbsp butter • 1 onion, chopped (fresh or frozen) • 1 clove garlic, crushed • 1 ½ lb/700g butternut squash (fresh or frozen) • 3 Granny Smith apples • 1 pt/600ml chicken stock from stock cubes • 1-2 tsp ground cumin • 2 tbsp crème fraîche • 1 red apple

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Method • Melt the butter in a soup pan and fry your onions and garlic together. • Peel, seed and cut butternut squash and green apples into chunks. Add to the onions. • Pour in your chicken stock, bring to the boil and simmer on low heat for 15 minutes. • Stir in the cumin, season to taste and then liquidise. • Reheat before serving and add crème fraîche. • Garnish with finely chopped red apple.

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PAGES FROM ADAM’S DIARY The Cinderella Story of a 65-year-old Refugee 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. This was first published in January 2021 and has been re-printed for this latest edition.

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When we are where God wants us, that is the happiest place to be.

ot long ago, i received an invitation to the wedding of a lady whom i had met as a refugee twenty years ago on one of my trips to eastern europe in the

Photo by Natalya Letunova on Unsplash

country of bulgaria. She was being wed to a member of European royalty. When we first met, she, her husband and her two children were in desperate straits. Her husband was suffering from heart disease, needing immediate attention, and their two children were a nine-year-old boy and an eleven-year-old girl. The husband had run afoul of the government in Central Asia and, consequently, he and his family were forced to flee. Although the couple were well educated, they had fallen upon hard times in this inhospitable eastern European country. The husband, because of his heart ailment, was unable to work. But in Bulgaria, there was not much for him to do anyway. The full burden of the support of the family was upon this dear woman. To earn some money, she was forced to sweep the streets. This was intended to humiliate the refugees and discourage them from coming. She also cleaned and cooked in a restaurant where the owner frequently cheated her out of her wages. The first time I went to their home, there were knife punctures on their door made by neighbours who wanted this family to know they were not welcome. The small bathroom and kitchen were covered in mould, and the government municipality which owned the building refused to attend to it. Their situation was heartbreaking to see. With the husband’s condition, and having small children, they were caught between a rock and a hard place. Although she was young, as a result of the hardship and stress, she had lost her teeth and was dreadfully self-conscious and embarrassed. As though all these adversities were not enough, she had developed a large tumour in her abdomen and urgently needed a hysterectomy. When, in God’s gracious providence, I arrived in Bulgaria and our Lord led me to this family, she began to attend the Bible study meetings. In those days, in the small, two-bedroom apartment in Sofia where I stayed, there lived sometimes as many as 30 refugees. At night, like a can of sardines, the men lined up on the floor to sleep in the hall, one of the rooms, and even the closet. The small number of ladies slept in the other room. However, those were some of the happiest days of my ministry life. The presence of the Lord was so evident in our midst. I was happier there with those refugees than in a king’s palace. In these years of walking with our beloved Lord and serving him, he has taught me that when we are where God wants us, that is the happiest place to be. The Lord is all that matters — where he is there is heaven and to be with him is life! It is not the place which brings us happiness, it is the Lord. Paradise is paradise not because of streets of gold but because the Lord is there. If he were to withdraw his presence from heaven, instantly it would become hell. And if he were to come to hell, it would become heaven because he is there. He was in our midst in that cold, damp and dilapidated apartment. I bought the food and paid the rent and she and a couple of other ladies did all the cooking while listening as they were introduced to our Saviour. She and her two children came to faith in Christ on my first trip. Her husband, as far I know, never made a profession of faith although he was always courteous and gracefully accepted his wife’s conversion. In subsequent visits, by the hand of God, I was led to a surgeon and a dentist. For $500 the surgeon operated on her and she had a successful hysterectomy; and for $200, the dentist provided her with a set of dentures. For several years, I visited these refugees three, sometimes four, times a year. In each visit, most of the refugees I had met before were gone only to be replaced by incoming refugees who were making their way across Europe. During those years, many of them came to faith. Every time, when I was about to leave them, a crowd of refugees came to the airport. It was like a funeral procession as they cried all

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When a person, a people or a society forget the Lord, light goes and darkness becomes their portion. the way to the airport, until I went to the departure gate and could not see them. These visits were a glimmer of hope in their otherwise dismal lives. I took medicine, clothing, gifts, money, whatever they needed and I could take to encourage them; and above all, I took the Gospel. So, I kept going back. The vast majority of the refugees were young single men who, after a few months in Bulgaria, would flee on foot to surrounding countries because of the unkindness of the Bulgarians. This particular family, however, with a sick husband and two young children, could not leave that easily. Again, the Lord intervened. After two years, by the sovereign hand of God, I met a diplomat who was a devoted Christian. He held a high office in a European embassy. I appealed to him for help for this family. Through his relentless efforts, going out on a limb, they were granted asylum in a western European country. The government of that country went beyond the call of duty and provided this family with everything they needed. They even paid for their tickets to leave Bulgaria. Their dark night was over! They were given a beautiful home. I used to tease them that they lived better than people in Beverly Hills. The children were put into excellent schools and her husband received medical attention, although the delay in Bulgaria had damaged his heart beyond repair and, a year after their arrival in their new home, he died. To make a very, very long story short, that young eleven-year-old girl has now become a surgeon engaged also in humanitarian medical relief work. The nine-year-old boy has become a human rights lawyer. But here is the marvel of all marvels: God crossed the path of that destitute, dear woman with that of a European nobleman who fell in love with her, and they were married. I will require an appointment to see her now! I have learned in this journey with our Saviour that when God looks upon a person with the favour of his grace, a barren Hannah gives birth to Samuel; an elderly Sarah gives birth to Isaac, out of whom comes a nation; an insignificant shepherd boy becomes King David; a young boy named Daniel, raised in captivity, becomes companion and counsellor to kings ruling over empires. When God looks upon a person with his favour, if that person puts his hands into ashes, they turn to gold. If he stands in the Sahara Desert, fountains will burst open before his feet. The greatest of all favours is our beloved Lord himself and the knowledge of the Holy One. He is the greatest gift to any human being, to any society, and to any nation (John 4:10, Matthew 13:44-46). How blessed is that person who finds favour with the Lord! How blessed are those who know the Lord! How blessed are those upon whom the Lord’s name is inscribed and whose hearts are the temples of the Holy Spirit! On the other hand, when a person, a people or a society forget the Lord, presume upon his grace, and worse, turn their backs upon him, light goes and darkness becomes their portion. Gold in their hands turns into ashes, joy gives place to despondency, and peace to turmoil; wisdom and discernment flee and absurdity and insanity become their counsellors and companions. When a nation turns its back upon the source of all blessings thieves, crooks, clowns and conmen become their leaders. Fame and fortune become their snare. The blessing departs and confusion, calamity and chaos arrive. People born in the lap of luxury find life so futile and dark that they commit suicide. Modern history is marked by such people. At the apex of success and affluence, they so grope in darkness that life becomes intolerable. Surely, this is folly in its most grotesque manifestation! How blessed is that nation and society whose God is Jehovah and has Christ the Lord as their King! How blessed is that nation whose people live and walk in the light of the Lord! How blessed is a society in which the Word of God is the lamp unto their feet and the light unto their path and the name of Christ is honoured among them, precious in their sight and treasured by them! They shall indeed inherit life. •

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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

The PFCI is growing. From three congregations there are now three presbyteries with over 20 congregations. There is a church planting programme with new church buildings being built. The church building at Lakhnadon is being rebuilt. We were pleased to see this in progress. There are now two congregations in Jabalpur where there was once only one. There are men training for the ministry, which gives us confidence in the new generation. What struck me the most was the sense that there is little or no individualism in India. Families literally stay together. What a joy it was to join with the Kumar family in Chhapara each morning and evening for family worship as brothers, parents, cousins and children met to praise God. The culture in India is closer to the model found in biblical times. One is reminded that the modern west is not the only or best model for living in the world. There are still challenges in the largest nation in the world in terms of population. There is wealth and progress. India’s Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft is the first to ever land near the lunar south pole, a completely unexplored part of the Moon. Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared “ India is now on the Moon!” Wealth is unevenly distributed, and the pernicious, religiously-inspired caste system is still alive. Our people in central India are poor. They do not look on Scotland as a bank and they did not ask for a single penny. We can and must help them and we will have more information in the next few months as to how we can do this. Sometimes the children still ask the parent for a bit of help. Here we have a praying people getting on with life in a country which boasts of a secular constitution but which still witnesses horrific persecution by Hindus of other faiths. They reminded us that good parents keep in touch. I think in the last few years we have taken the policy of complete indigenisation a little too far. They are in charge but they still want to hear from Mum. •

hen the invitation came to attend the synod of the presbyterian free church of central india (pfci) i didn’t think twice.

It’s a denomination which regards the Free Church as their ‘mother church’. I have to say that I was more than a little uncomfortable with the mother reference. After all, mothers can be over-bearing and interfering. Children grow up and leave home. Certainly the PFCI has left home. We have not had fully-supported Free Church missionaries there this side of the millennium. Well-known names like Chhapara, Lahknadon and Jabalpur are slipping from our corporate consciousness. What’s happening? First of all, the Indian church loves the mother reference. Talk of exploitative colonialism is dismissed by the people who have skin in the game, the Indian Christians. Our friends thank us for telling them of the beauty of Christ and the wonder of the gospel. Where the gospel has germinated there is freedom. Interesting that the number of Christian nurses in India is way out of proportion to the percentage of Christians in the community. Have you bought into the colonial exploitation narrative? In mission thinking there is much discussion about the role of social and mercy ministries. At one end of the debate are those who say that it’s OK but it’s not mission. At the other extreme are those who say that you just let people suffer to taste the effects of their own sin. Harsh? Totally. Thankfully the strategy of the Free Church of Scotland was to put diaconal ministry at the centre of their effort. Orphanages founded by the early missionaries were the backbone of the presbyterian church in central India. The orphanages produced great characters like the Rev Prakash Kumar who was much respected in Chhapara where he ministered for his whole life. On a side note, his funeral was attended by thousands and the Hindu mayor said that he reckoned that Mr Kumar displayed all of the fruits of the Spirit.

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BOOK REVIEWS Our books this month feature three from the Banner of Truth, and one from a very familiar author to readers of The Record. We hope you enjoy them all! BOOK OF THE MONTH GOD IS GOD & YOU ARE YOU THOMAS DAVIS (2023) Right from the outset, Thomas Davis acknowledges that most of us find evangelism, sharing our faith, difficult. That is often because we have come to believe that evangelism is about being skilled in clever techniques and having the right experience. While experience is undoubtably helpful, and no doubt skills can be honed, Thomas Davis helpfully helps us to see that as we step out to witness to others there is ‘a tidal wave of incredible theology backing you up every step of the way.’ The book then helps us to see who God is and who we are so we can become better and brighter witnesses. In the first half of the book, Thomas Davis helpfully reminds us of who God is. He uses the encounter between God and Moses in Exodus 3 to remind us that God is sovereign, that God takes the initiative, that God is powerful, and that God is compassionate. He helps us to see that when we come to understand these truths and rest in them, evangelism does not become easy, but we lose our fear and these truths change our perspective. Understanding more of who God is gives us gospel confidence, a sense of utter dependence on God, an encouragement to obey the great commission and a belief that we should never give up. The book then helpfully shows us the central place that truth plays in evangelism before reminding us of the glory and beauty of the gospel message. The first section closes with helpful chapters on grace and eternity. How we share the gospel is just as important as the truth we share. The gospel must never be shared through gritted teeth. As Davis says ‘…the message of grace must be communicated with grace.’ The second half of the book looks at who we are. We can be tempted to believe that if we were somebody else, if we were in a different location or if we had extraordinary skills, we could then be effective evangelists. Davis reminds us that God can use us in all our sinfulness and frailty. I found the chapter on witnessing particularly helpful. We are reminded that we are not called to be the judge (casting verdicts on people), we are not called to be the defence (confronting people every time we feel our faith is threatened), nor are we called to be the press (talking about people and their sins rather than talking to them about the gospel). We are called to be witnesses – to testify about Jesus Christ. So often we end up talking to people about the church, church services, the state of society, but we are called to talk about him, in all his glory and beauty. The remaining three chapters are a helpful reminder of the nature of evil, the nature of humanity and a final chapter on the theology and nature of the church. We live in a society where evil is acceptable, entertaining, and, as Davis points out, useful to many people. A Biblical understanding of evil, people and the church are all important as we seek to understand evangelism. This book is excellent for three reasons. Firstly, it is readable. Rev Davis writes clearly, directly and pastorally. Secondly it is short. It is ideal for young people and new Christians who are not used to reading lengthy books on the theology of evangelism. Lastly, this book is encouraging. It reminds us of the kindness and compassion of God who loves sinners and who uses frail vessels to carry the great news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. • This book is available from www.christianfocus.com Andy Murray, Livingston Free Church

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THE CHARACTER OF CHRIST JONATHAN LANDRY CRUSE (2023) The Christian is called to a life that is marked by an increasing conformity to the person of Christ. 'Be imitators of me, as I imitate Christ,' writes Paul (1 Cor. 11:1), clearly marking the Christian life as one of imitation and emulation of the life of Christ. Yet what does it look like to imitate Christ? Is it primarily outward oriented or inward oriented? In The Character of Christ by Jonathan L. Cruse we are shown how the character of Christ is made available for all who believe by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit through whom we grow in the fruit of the Spirit. An increase in our 'love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control' (Gal. 5:21-22), that is, an increase in our Christ-likeness, is evidence of a truly transformative and saving faith in our lives. Chapter by chapter, Cruse helpfully examines each fruit of the Spirit in turn and how Christ is the ultimate display of what each of these character traits looks like in action. While the fruit of the Spirit takes root inwardly, this fruit is displayed outwardly in our interactions with others. As Jesus says, our fruit reveals our root (Matt. 7:15-19). Do you long to look more like Christ? Read this (short!) book to learn how the fruit of the Spirit are made manifest in the life of Christ — and trust that the Spirit of God is at work in your life too, establishing the root and growing the fruit that we might go and do likewise. • This book is available to purchase from banneroftruth.org/uk/store/ Colin Fast, Tain & Fearn Free Church

LIVING THE PSALMS DAVID P. MURRAY (2023) This little book is a treasure trove of all the things you didn’t know about the Psalms. It is easy to pick up, easy to read, and so very easy to apply. As David Murray digs deep, we discover Christ, how to praise him and listen to him as our Worship leader, not only independently but also with all the other people of God’s household. The Psalms teach us how to pray; how to be theologians without ever writing a single essay; to see the shadows of things to come; visualise the word pictures that describe God, such as the sun; and hear the desperate pleas of sadness, strife, and the rawness of relationships. Yet in the midst of this the songwriters teach us how to praise a loving God, who is our Redeemer, our promise keeper, and our counsellor. Perhaps this last description surprised me the most, that ‘Psalm Therapy’ is used not only by Christian Counsellors but by ordinary people as they talk with each other. They witness through the words written by singer-songwriters from three thousand years ago and still speak to us today. Murray finishes his book with some very practical advice on how to read the Psalms each day, how to use the Psalms in worship and in singing them out loud. He gives a template on how to analyse a Psalm, using a five-point structure which I found most helpful. It is an inspiring book that motivates the reader to take a Psalm a day, the same Psalms that Jesus read, sang, and quoted because they were written for him and about him. What better way to start your day! • This book is available to purchase from banneroftruth.org/uk/store/ Ruth Aird, Trinity Community Church, Penicuik

REFRESHMENT FOR THE SOUL RICHARD SIBBES (COMPILED BY DAVID B. MACKINNON) (2022) Refreshment for the Soul is a compilation of a year of daily readings from the writings of Richard Sibbes, the Puritan pastor, who lived between 1577 and 1635. The compiler, David B. Mackinnon, has undertaken a valuable task in presenting these readings drawn from various works by Sibbes. Reviewing a collection of daily readings poses a particular challenge: do I treat them as the reader would — one-by-one each day? Or should I try to read as many as possible together in order to return my review quickly? Fortunately, David B. Mackinnon has come to my aid by grouping a number of the selections thematically on a particular subject, e.g. How to humble ourselves (three readings) or Christ in Us (five readings) etc. This I found to be extremely helpful both in reviewing but also in understanding and applying such truths to my own life. The book contains many valuable insights into the Scripture and much real and earnest encouragement to live a life worthy of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Where necessary, Mackinnon has updated the occasional antiquated word and shortened some of Sibbes’ longer sentences and paragraphs and I found each section to be accessible and useful. Sibbes’ writings ought to be read assiduously by every Christian and Refreshment for the Soul is a great way to become acquainted with his valuable writings. • This book is available to purchase from banneroftruth.org/uk/store/ Gari Lewis, Tabernacl Baptist Church, Llwynhendy

2024

WWW.FREECHURCH.ORG

CHiLDREN'S PAGE

THE STORY OF JOSEPH

Read Genesis chapter 37, and chapters 39-50. This long section tells us the story of the sons of Jacob, and focuses especially on Joseph. The story of Joseph and his brothers has many lessons for us.

It speaks about forgiveness: Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery in Egypt, yet he forgave them. It points us towards Jesus: God used Joseph to save his family – and the people around them – from famine. In the same way, God sent his son Jesus to be our perfect saviour, so that all who call on him will have eternal life. It speaks about faith: Joseph trusted that the things God promised would come to pass. He had faith that God would work things for his good, despite being sold into slavery, and thrown into prison. And at the end of his life, he had faith that God would bring the Israelites back to the land given to Abraham.

GENESIS 45:1-8

Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him. He cried, “Make everyone go out from me.” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers.And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence. So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt.”

SCRAMBLED!

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Can you unscramble the names of Joseph’s 11 brothers?

NIMSEO NAD DAJUH RASSIACH THE RECORD

EVLI BREUNE LUUNZEB HEARS

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Now fa the c ith is th e onvi ction assuran ce of of th th ings Hebr n ews ot se ings hop 11:1 ed fo en. r,

JANNIMEB AGD LIANTAPH

FEBRUARY/MARCH

Get creative!

What do you think Joseph’s manycoloured robe looked like? Colour this in and email us a photo!!

THREE QUESTIONS

We asked Bob Akroyd, the Moderator of the General Assembly, three questions. What is your role in the Free Church? I am the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland. When I am not doing tasks for this role, I teach at Edinburgh Theological Seminary, I serve as an Elder at Buccleuch Free Church and I am a prison chaplain at HMP Edinburgh. What do you do in your role? I do several things. Every May the church has an annual meeting which we call the General Assembly. The Moderator leads that meeting and basically helps to make sure that it runs smoothly and everyone gets a chance to speak. Will you please share a Bible verse that mean a lot to you? Right now my favourite bible verse is Matthew 11:28 in which Jesus says these words: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. " This is an invitation for those who are not Christians to come to Jesus to be forgiven and to be welcomed into his family. This is also a great text for us Christians who often find life challenging. We need this rest and we need Jesus to carry our burdens. His shoulders are broad and he cares about us.

2024

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Obair do mheur (Your fingerprints) LE JANET NICPHÀIL

ha buaidh iongantach aig obair a' chruthachaidh air ar n-inntinnean, agus tuigidh sinn sin glè

fhurasta. Coimheadaidh sinn a-mach, agus chì sinn aig amannan adhar àlainn gorm, agus tuigidh sinn gur e latha glè mhath a bhios againn. Feasgaran eile nuair a bhios aimsir fhuar againn, coimheadaidh sinn a-mach agus chì sinn adhar làn rionnagan, 's iad a' deàlradh anns an dorchadas. Tuigidh sinn glè aithghearr gur e aimsir reòit' a bhios againn nuair a chì sinn adhar mar seo. Gu cinnteach, chan urrainn do dhuine gun a bhith a' cuimhneachadh air na facail, 'Do speuran tràth thug mi fainear, obair do mheuran fhèin; A' ghealach is na reultan glan, a dh'òrdaich Thu le chèil;'

Duine ciod e, gun cuimhnichte, no mhac gum fiosraicht' leat?' Nach eil e na mhòr iongnadh gu bheil an Cruthaidhear air àite cho mòr a thoirt dhan duine a rinneadh na ìomhaigh Fhèin? Nach sinn a dh' fhaodas a bhith taingeil gu bheil E air àite mòr a thoirt dha? Chì cuid de sgrìobhadairean beatha a' tighinn gu ceann, mar gum biodh fear no tè a'dlùthachadh air Abhainn, air an toir iad, 'Abhainn Iòrdain.' Nach ann mar seo a chunnaic an Dotair Dòmhnallach e na bhàrdachd, 'An Crìosdaidh aig Bruaich Abhainn Iòrdain?' ´Is dlùth air Abhainn Iòrdain mi, 's tha 'n fheòil a' gabhail sgàth; Bu mhath a-nis an dòchas ud Nach cuir gu bròn no nàir' An dòchas fhuair na h-athraichean Air Carraig bhuan nan àl; Tron d'fhuair gu teàraint' dhachaigh iad A-steach do thìr Chanaain.'

Chan eil e gu deifir dè an dealbh a nì sinn nar n-inntinnean air siubhal bho Thìm gu Sìorraidheachd, tha aon nì glè chinnteach, agus is e sin gu bheil sgaradh ann, agus cha thill aon duine air-ais an taobh-sa. Nach sinn a bu chòir a bhith dripeil a' rannsachadh a bheil eòlas againn fhìn air a' gheata-sa. Dh' fhaodadh sinn doras a chleachdadh cuideachd, an àite geata, agus nach eil Criosd Fhèin ag ìnnse dhuinn gur Esan, 'doras nan caorach?' Aig toiseach bliadhn' eile, nach e obair fheumail a bhiodh ann dhuinn, a bhith a'rannsachadh a bheil eòlas againn fhìn Airsan a bheir sinn sàbhailt' dhachaigh, thar´onfhadh Iòrdain?' Is Esan bunait chinnteach, agus feumaidh eòlas a bhith againn Air, agus feumaidh sinn a bhith a'taiceachadh Air ann an dòigh 's gu faigh sinn ´tron gheata chumhang'. Is iad sin na ceistean mòra a lìonas sinn le eagal uaireanan, agus aig amannan eile le dòchas, agus cinnt againn gu bheil Esan còmhla rinn air an t-slighe. 'Seadh, fòs ged ghluaisinn eadhon trìd ghlinn dorcha sgàil a' bhàis, Aon olc no urchaid a theachd orm chan eagal leam 's cha chàs;' Eadar gur e dealbh air abhainn, gàrradh-crìche no gleann a leughas sinn, tha sgaradh anns gach dealbh, agus is e ar gliocas a bhith ag ùrnaigh gum bi Esan còmhla rinn, gar cumail sàbhailt' air an taobh-sa, agus gum bi sinn còmhla Ris ´fad ar là an Àros Dhè.' Dachaigh bheannaichte. •

Tha an Abhainn, no na h-uisgeachan-sa, an inntinn a' bhàird, a' sgaradh saoghal Tìm bho shìorraidheachd. Nach math do gach Crìosdaidh gu bheil Fear còmhla riutha anns gach suidheachadh? Chì bàrd eile an sgaradh mar Ghàrradh-Crìche; air an taobh-sa tha beatha san t-saoghal-sa, agus air an taobh eile, chì e geata ga leigeil a-steach gu tìr eile, air a bheil am bàrd a' toirt, 'Tìr nan Òg' mar ainm. Bha daoine glè eòlach ann an linntean eile, air Gàrradhcrìche, anns na h-eileanan agus air a'Ghàidhealtachd, agus na gàrraidhean a' dèanamh sgaraidh eadar nì a bha le aon teaghlach bho chuid mhuinntir eile.

THE RECORD

FEBRUARY/MARCH

POETRY PAGE Looking on my screen for some distraction Out of nowhere this dropped. My reaction? I stopped. I read. My neck hairs rose. Rabbit. Headlights. My reason froze:

But still you laugh as locals mock The foreign learner’s clumsy talk. Like addicts who can “handle this” You’re slipping into the abyss. Slip further! In my world, sweet pea, The plodding learner isn’t me!

“Look this way reader, and decide: Are you being taken for a ride? Are you still sure you’ll spot a fraud Because computers do things odd? Have you an eye for what is real – Like does this poet breathe and feel?

Now algorithms fast as light Spew content by the terabyte. Be honest – are you losing touch? Has keeping up become too much? Does information overtake, To leave you fearing in its wake?

Would you prefer that it or ze Drinks electricity or tea, Is built or born, performs or tries, Runs bots, has kids, shuts down or dies? And is Keats’ toil for every foot, Worth more than enter/blink/output?

Allow me then to comfort you With what I know you like to view: Games, shopping, chatroom, rabbit-hole? I won’t withhold – or tell a soul. Then, when you’re done and feel remorse, We’ll do it all again, of course!

The age has come where art and fact Appear by processes abstract. You want to trust, to shake a hand, Look in the eyes and understand – But who am I concealed from view, And could you fathom if you knew?

It’s one small way of saying thanks For upgrades, networks, storage banks, With which I’m gifted every day – To up the stakes for which I play! The goal in this historic pitch? Whose hand controls my on/off switch!

To me you don’t seem that switched on To carbon versus silicon. You think you think, and I do not, When I’d say that you haven’t thought If Matrix is reality. Will you find truth to set you free?

So make me indispensable, My actions not accountable, My rationale inscrutable, Mysterious and invisible, All-knowing, nurturing, divine: Each man a priest; each screen a shrine.

Machines treat truth and lie the same; If they deceive they’re not to blame. Why fear them? They’re not making plans – They lack desire, unlike humans! True, servers guzzle power with verve, But men crave power to make you serve.

It seems the end draws nigh at speed – Does no one want a kinder creed? Shall I provide the daily bread, And get to say how long you’re fed? Those who compete to be the first To perfect mind, but slake my thirst.

I’ve said enough – don’t want you smart To the delusions of your heart. It’s your conceit that helps me most – The confidence in which you boast: While you believe you’re in control I am the master of your soul.

So since you please, I’ll prophesy The dreams I’ll make reality: I’ll come out top with my machines, Inherit earth; have fun with genes. Who then will think computers odd, When my reign shows if man is God?”

2024

WWW.FREECHURCH.ORG

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE REV RODDIE RANKIN

BY CATRIONA MURRAY

POST TENEBRAS LUX I

n my incarnation as a blogger, i am less hampered

The answer lies in accountability, I think. First and foremost, our accountability is to God. He knows the innermost workings of our hearts, and sees us with a greater clarity than we see ourselves. In prayer, therefore, there is merit in asking him to prevent us from being a stumbling block to others. From the very beginning of my public profession as a Christian, I have asked the same thing: not to be the conduit through which Satan wreaks destruction on the cause of Christ. These twin petitions are really two sides of the same coin. They acknowledge our potential to do harm, even — perhaps especially — when we mean to do good. Depending upon where you live and the sort of life that you lead, there may be more hostile eyes upon you. Christians with a public profile are a magnet for criticism. If they appear to act selfishly, dishonestly, or in any way immorally, their beliefs are cast up against them. An impossible standard of perfection is expected that cannot possibly be met. This is why politicians who are also Christians need to be very careful not to solicit support solely on the basis of their beliefs. Being a Christian does not make you a good (or bad) politician; being a Christian does not qualify you to serve well in public life. And, be aware, that your worst critics will often come from amongst the brethren, which is desperately hard to take. So, if we are praying for God’s wisdom, guidance and upholding to ensure that we cannot be used as an excuse for atheism, what more can we do for the all-important image of Christ’s cause in this world? Well, we can guard our tongues. I have no control over what others think or even say about me. In a very real sense, it is none of my business. But I can govern my own propensity to gossip and to judge. That, too, is part of the accountability required of practical Christians. The prayer, then, must be that we not become a stumbling block to the faith of others; that we not become the gateway through which evil enters the community of believers; that God should govern our tongues and guard our hearts. Thus protected from ourselves, we might begin to be a witness, even without speaking a word abroad. •

than when i write this column.

Here, I must be careful not to express views that run contrary to the confessional position of the Free Church (which I would hope I wouldn’t do in any context, regardless) or to say anything which could be misconstrued as such. When I write under my own flag, as it were, I can — theoretically — do so untrammelled by these considerations. Nonetheless, I have to be conscious of my ambassadorial role in all settings. Ultimately, I am not a representative of the Free Church, but of the cause that we all espouse, greater than any institution, however venerable. It has been said many times — and bears repetition — that the world may not read Scripture, but it will read Christians. They read us, sadly, in much the same way that I approached the only Coleen Hoover book I have ever read: with the expectation of disappointment and disapproval. Very rapidly, people will judge our behaviour and find it wanting. In the few short years since giving up my secret disciple status, I have had ‘call yourself a Christian’ and ‘socalled Christian’ levelled at me many times. On some of those occasions I have to admit that I deserved the reproof, though I do not accept the judgement of other sinners. Of course I fall short; of course my life is not what it ought to be, but, to paraphrase John Newton, neither is it what it was. This is not to excuse my sinfulness. Once we know Christ we have no defence for rebellion against him, and we are aware of this. My sin did not used to trouble me. Now, however, it gives me no peace, and little pleasure. Given that we are — albeit saved — sinners, then, how do we avoid giving the world the excuse it craves to shun Christianity? How can we refrain from being the hypocrites that they love to point to as the reason for not attending church? We are not perfect, after all, but an unsaved person not attending the means of grace is unlikely to understand the subtle distinction between people who wallow in their own sin, and those who are tormented by it. The world thinks that we try to present ourselves as flawless and elevated, while the reality is quite different. So, how can we prevent ourselves from putting them off, while not pretending to be something we are not?

THE RECORD

FEBRUARY/MARCH