The Record - October/November 2023 by Free Church of Scotland

THE

RECORD

MONTHLY MAGAZINE OF THE FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2023 • £2.00

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

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

For Subscriptions • The subscription price for The Record is £33 for 12 editions over two years. Cheques should be made payable to: Free Church of Scotland. Please contact the offices for overseas subscription costs. Details of the church's activities, latest news and people to contact are all available on the church's website: www.freechurch.org

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Cover: Campers and Leaders from Kincraig Junior Camp 2023

Advertising • Anyone wishing to advertise in The Record should contact the editor.

CONTENTS

WELCOME TO THE OCTOBER/NOVEMBER RECORD

elcome to the latest edition of the record.

04 HOW FAITH AND FEMINISM HAVE CHANGED THE WORLD Catriona Macdonald

The topic of looking back and moving forward may come to mind as you make your way through the pages of this edition. Catriona Macdonald has provided a thoughtprovoking editorial piece about how faith and feminism changed the world. She explores how feminism and mission came together in the women’s foreign missionary movement of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Do also look out for a nostalgic photo taken by late George T Thomson of the Summer School of Theology at Larbert, in 1963. We can be thankful for what the Lord has done in the past and how he continues to work today. Be encouraged as the Free Church of Scotland’s Mission Board has organised the gift of 25 Psalm books for the use of prisoners in Shotts prison. Rev Murdo MacLean, Chaplain, said: ‘The joy of singing the Psalms in prison is that God’s word is not just sung but even memorised. I suspect this will be a blessing to the prisoners especially at difficult times. The Psalms also don’t mince their words. We all need challenged by the word of God.’ Be encouraged by the news of a number of ordinations and inductions within Free Church of Scotland congregations. Take a look at the first piece in a new This Is My Story devotional series where 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. 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 •

FREE CHURCH NEWS

FREE CHURCH YOUTH CAMP PICTURES

RELATIONSHIPS, SEXUAL HEALTH AND PARENTHOOD (RSHP) RESOURCES

THIS IS MY STORY David J Randall

WfM UPDATE Fiona Macaskill

OBITUARIES: DONALD MACLEOD, COLIN MACDONALD, DUNCAN GORDON

WORLD NEWS Spain, Canada, Nigeria, China, Pakistan

PAGES FROM ADAM'S DIARY: WHAT IS YOUR LIFE BUT A VAPOUR

BOOK REVIEWS

LETTERS

MISSION MATTERS David Meredith

POETRY PAGE Luci Shaw

PRAYER DIARY

CEÒ ANNS NA GLINN Janet MacPhail

40 POST TENEBRAS LUX Catriona Murray

Yours in Christ Sarah Robinson

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

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Photo - Centre for the Study of World Christianity, The University of Edinburgh School of Divinity.

How Faith & Feminism Have Changed The World BY CATRIONA MACDONALD

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eminism is not a concept usually associated with mission. In fact, some regard

feminism as incompatible with mission and indeed the Christian faith. Yet the relationship between feminism and mission is important since gender discrimination was and is an issue for women in mission as well as society. Given the centrality of women in mission history from the early church to the present, coupled with their numerical dominance in world Christianity today, awareness of women’s issues such as feminism is not only inclusive but critical. One place feminism and mission come together is in the women’s foreign missionary movement of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This mission enterprise, whilst generally not explicitly feminist, was nonetheless transformative, influencing the acceptance of feminist ideals in various parts of the world. The women missionaries, their home supporters and the women they served paradoxically promoted restrictive notions of female behaviour while also contributing to significant feminist change.

WOMEN AS GOSPEL BEARERS The first women gospel bearers of the modern missions movement were wives and kin of male missionaries. Single women like Betsy Stockton (1798-1865) participated from the 1820s and by 1900 female missionaries outnumbered their male counterparts. In a few decades, women became the major players in one of the greatest expansions of Christianity the world had seen. These women gospel bearers were generally fuelled by faith rather than feminism. Most conformed to the prevailing Victorian idea of separate gender spheres, aspiring to the ‘cult of true womanhood’ in which women disseminated purity, piety and domesticity not only in their home but in wider society. Forsaking all for foreign lands was therefore not seen as feminist rebellion but rather a fulfilment of Christian female calling, the mission field an empire-wide extension of the domestic realm. The springboard for the feminine leap from local to global mission was the development of ‘Women’s Work for Women.’ Responding to appeals from missionary wives on the field, the establishment of schools for girls and then ‘zenana’ missions reaching Indian wives living in seclusion, was something only female missionaries were deemed able to do. Pioneers of this ministry included the Free Church of Scotland Society in Calcutta and later the Church of Scotland Association in Poona. The predominantly single missionary workforce was therefore galvanised to serve their indigenous sisters by training them up to be godly wives and mothers, while unconsciously exemplifying a rather contradictory model of independent womanhood. The paradigms of Victorian femininity were further challenged, albeit unintentionally, as pressing needs on the mission field saw many women branch out into traditional ‘male’ activities, such as preaching, construction, exploration and itinerant evangelism. Mary Slessor of Calabar (1848-1915) lived among the ‘dangerous’ Okoyong people, was appointed Vice-Consul of her area, and scouted out virgin territory for mission work. Johanna Veenstra (1894-1933) set up a boarding school for young male evangelists in Nigeria and trekked to outlying villages to proclaim the gospel. This expansion of activity gave many women missionaries a level of freedom and responsibility impossible at home, but theirs was both a liberating and bewildering world. Expected to be feisty mission pioneers yet subordinate helpers to male colleagues sometimes resulted in conflict and hurt. Lottie Moon (1840-1912) complained of the lack of equal rights in field decision-making and moved to another area of China to escape what she described as ‘the high-handed authority’ of her field director. Jane Waterston (1843-1932) stayed in Livingstonia for only six months instead of five years after her supervisor did not acknowledge her superior training and experience, plus refused to accept her criticism regarding his harsh treatment of indigenous people. Yet just as the Bible talks of receiving blessing in giving, the service of the gospel bearers who sacrificed much for the good of their indigenous sisters precipitated their own transformation. Women’s involvement in foreign missions pushed open doors for women to receive education, not only in the more ‘feminine’ professions of nursing and teaching but also in theology and medicine. For example, Jane Waterston was the first Scotswoman to take a full medical course and qualify for entry onto the Medical Register in 1879 with the intention of serving as a doctor in Central Africa for the Free Church of Scotland, while in 1894 the non-denominational Women’s Missionary College was established in Edinburgh. Christian service offered a valid alternative to marriage and women used this freedom to develop new and innovative models of mission, such as Mary Slessor’s plan to train indigenous evangelists and the initiative of Mary Elizabeth Wood (1861-1931) to establish China’s first public library.

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“These women gospel bearers were generally fuelled by faith rather than feminism.” WOMEN AS GOSPEL-ACTIVISTS The women’s foreign missions enterprise was made possible by the home team of gospel activists who sent female missionaries overseas as their personal representatives. Emboldened by the needs of ‘oppressed’ indigenous sisters, women worked with sympathetic men to set up churchlike missionary societies validated by the cause of women reaching women. British societies led the way, like the Edinburgh Ladies’ Association for the Advancement of Female Education in India (1837) founded by Church of Scotland women, with North American denominational mission societies appearing thirty years later after the Civil War. These societies gathered the support of millions and became the first large-scale grass-roots organisations for women as their members focused on missions as the primary church venture they could legitimately pursue. Although these gospel activists encountered male opposition and even ridicule, their mission societies generally upheld the status quo regarding a woman’s place. Yet they also acted as centres of ‘girl-power’ in which women gained collective confidence and experience, developing new skills in administration, advocacy and publicity. Missionary publications, which elevated women like Mary Slessor to cult heroine status, captured this emerging dichotomy in the ideal of Christian womanhood by praising the twin missionary qualities of gentle tenderness alongside gutsy courage. Glass ceilings were quietly broken in other ways too, particularly in activities such as fundraising and public speaking. Women’s societies made a tremendous financial contribution to foreign missions, supporting hundreds of women missionaries on the field and continually coming up with community fundraising ideas, from the sponsoring of specific projects to creating handwork for sale. The quest for funds led gospel activists to do the unthinkable and speak to mixed gatherings. Initially greeted with outrage — a mob burned down the building in which Quaker Angelina Grimké (1805-1879) had spoken in 1837 — female public speaking gradually became more acceptable in the 1840s and 1850s. Yet this came about only because the audience was satisfied with the speakers’ feminine demeanour, demonstrating how the women themselves had to negotiate an ideological tightrope to fulfil their mission vision. Many gospel activists used their newfound female consciousness, skills and self-assurance to play a key role in other female initiatives. Spurred on by a desire for moral reform, numerous Anglo-American women embarked on a series of vigorous campaigns against traditions and practices harmful to the family. Frances Willard (1839-1898) headed up the Women’s Christian Temperance Union while groups of Christian women in the USA formed the Anti-Saloon League and visited public houses, threatening to hatchet the bars unless the alcohol was poured away. In Britain Josephine Butler (1828-1906) campaigned against the Contagious Diseases Acts which exonerated men and blamed prostitutes for the spread of sexually transmitted disease. Gospel activists were at the forefront of these movements which won considerable political victories for women’s welfare and human rights. Women’s increasing activism in missions also provoked calls for their involvement in church leadership. The presence of female evangelists employed in England from the early Victorian period as well as renowned women preachers of the 1860s connected to the revivalist movements, such as Phoebe Palmer (1807-1874) and Catherine Booth (1829-1890), also stood as a testament to the efficacy of women’s public ministry. Many of these evangelists and preachers explicitly rejected feminist ideas, with Palmer preaching only from the pulpit steps and often refraining from publishing works under her own name. Yet the example of their ministries combined with the powerful model of women missionaries to provide a catalyst towards female ordination. Interestingly, the numbers of ordained women in North America reached its peak around the turn of the century, in parallel with the denominational women’s missionary movement. The forced mergers of women’s mission societies with male-controlled parent denominations in the 1910s and 1920s instigated campaigns for laity rights and then ordination as women resisted this barrier to mission-involvement. The link between feminism and mission becomes more obvious in gospel activists’ participation in suffrage campaigns, Maria Stewart (1803-1879) and Sarah Grimké (1792-1873) being prominent examples. In fact, the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848, widely regarded as the origin of the women’s rights movement, took place in a Wesleyan Methodist Chapel. However, because many Christian women dissociated themselves from overt feminism, some contemporary feminist

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“Women gospel bearers brought real and life-transforming changes to thousands of women, in terms of spiritual life, medical treatment and sense of worth.” historiography has tended to discount their contribution to the women’s movement. This view is changing, and gospel activists are becoming seen as ‘religious feminists’ who base their prowomen stance on scripture rather than rights, with a valid place in the broad spectrum of feminist history and thought.

WOMEN AS GOSPEL-RECEIVERS Women missionaries advanced on foreign lands with the express desire of bringing transformation to their indigenous sisters. Ironically, those who were expected to exercise a cohesive and unifying influence at home became agents for social change on the mission field. The politically correct thinkers of today often baulk at the cultural bias and paternalism of some missionaries of the modern missions movement who offered the gospel tied up in the bundle of ‘civilisation’. While women were not responsible for setting the colonial agenda, some were indeed guilty of ‘feminist imperialism’: on one hand identifying with indigenous sisters in their shared ‘inferiority’ to men while also lording over them as bearers of a ‘superior’ culture. However, missionaries have often been unfairly lumped together with the sins of colonialism and empire. It is unhelpful to regard imperialism in simplistic terms of ‘virtuous east meets evil west’ and foist contemporary ‘enlightened’ expectations on nineteenth century missionary figures who cannot speak back. Rather, it should be remembered that many gospel bearers, such as Scots missionary to India Annie Small (1857-1945), recognised the failings of their home culture and adapted successfully to their new one, as did Amy Carmichael (1867-1951). Women gospel bearers brought real and life-transforming changes to thousands of women, in terms of spiritual life, medical treatment and sense of worth. The recent flourishing of the church in the majority world, particularly among women, is no doubt due in no small part to their ministry. Great strides were also made in education, so much so that in the space of sixty years some Indian women had gone from no schooling to the possibility of attending university, even before women in Scotland had achieved these goals. Many, like Female Education Society teacher Elizabeth Sturrock, empowered the girls in their classroom by training them as monitors and trainee teachers and by taking collections for mission work elsewhere. Lucky pupils were brought to the west and became the first generation of modern women leaders in their own countries, such as Michi Kawai who studied in the US and later founded the YWCA and a girls’ school in Japan. Although women missionaries sometimes spoke up for their indigenous sisters instead of with them, they prioritised the wellbeing and rights of women and children, fighting against harmful practices, such as twin deaths and wife fattening. In 1906 a clash by Scottish missionaries with people in Kenya over female circumcision eventually resulted in indigenous women asserting their right to stand against this custom in 1922. Many women missionaries influenced both in precept and example. Although they didn’t preach feminism, the nature of their ministries acted as a countersign to the rhetoric of separate spheres and impacted the broader social structure of their host cultures. Feminism and mission came together in the women’s foreign missionary movement as women surpassed boundaries of geography, religion, politics, culture and gender to bring the gospel to their indigenous sisters. While most only whispered the word feminism rather than shouted it, women were both transformed and transformative on the mission field and at home. ‘Women’s Work for Women’ demonstrates the power of a God-anointed women’s movement and provides incentive for celebrating the female majority in the world church today. Instead of simply lamenting the ‘missing males,’ this encourages us to develop holistic mission strategies which realise the full liberating potential of the gospel and empower women to serve shoulder to shoulder alongside their brothers. It also provides a model to reclaim feminism on scriptural grounds and proclaim the revolutionary biblical concepts of dignity, justice and freedom that women have in Christ. • An earlier version of this article was printed in the Scottish Bulletin of Evangelical Theology 41.1 (Spring 2023)

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FREE CHURCH NEWS HOPE CHURCH COATBRIDGE COMPLETED!

he refurbishments and extension at hope church,

Presentations were also made to Rod Morrison of Arniston Consulting, who had assisted so effectively with fundraising, and Brian Maclean and Stuart Cockburn who had given generously of their time to ensure the IT and AV systems were in place. Cameron and Morag MacIver, who had done much to make the extension a practical reality, were also especially thanked. Thanks were due to all those who had provided funds – the Board of Trustees of the Free Church for a substantial loan, the Free Presbytery of Glasgow and Argyll for its gift, grant-awarding bodies such as Benefact, The Ferguson Bequest, The Baird Trust, The Bellahouston Bequest Fund and others, as well as the many Free Church congregations, and friends outside Hope Church, who had given with remarkable generosity to provide this impressive facility. The challenge now is the use of the building for the glory of God in the congregation and, critically, in the wider community. •

coatbridge have been completed and the building is now officially open.

Rev Dr Bob Akroyd, Moderator of the 2023 General Assembly, opened the church building at an event in June. He gave a stimulating and uplifting address on God is For Us. Rev Ivor MacDonald, minister of the congregation, gave thanks to God for the remarkable providences that had permitted the purchase of the additional land and for the provision of sufficient funds to complete the project. Ivor, assisted by youngsters in the congregation, then made presentations of inscribed Bibles to the project architect, Raymond Angus of Angus Design Associates, and to the building contractors, Raymond Kane and Stephen Smith of RS Builders, congratulating them on their professional and speedy completion of the works.

Photos: Thanks to Victoria Stewart/Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser/Reach PLC

OM IN THE WESTERN ISLES

The team came from around the world including Jamaica, Singapore, France, Germany, South Africa and the UK. They assisted the local congregations of North Uist Free Church and South Uist and Benbecula Free Church with a week of events and door-to-door outreach. OM team leader Clare Macleod said: “It was a blessing to be able to partner with and serve alongside the

ree church of scotland congregations in uist have hosted a team from operation mobilisation (om) for a week-long mission week in the western isles.

OM is an international movement that mobilises people to live and share the Gospel of Jesus. It was founded by the late George Verwer. The week in Uist is the first such mission week in Scotland since the Free Church of Scotland and OM partnered in 2018.

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local Free Church congregations on Uist and Benbecula. We had a great time together sharing the love of Jesus with the local community. It was a privilege to be able to serve God in the islands and be a part of his work there.” The team stayed at Knox Free Church, Perth, for a night during their journey up to Uist. As part of the week, public events were held which included a church barbecue at Carinish, a children’s club in Lochboisdale, and café nights at An Caladh, Balivanich. The café nights were an opportunity to discuss some of the biggest issues people face in a relaxed atmosphere, with one night focusing on the issue of suffering and another on the topic of forgiveness and justice. The week culminated in a well-attended quiz night at Balivanich Hall with live music, a dance display and a gospel presentation provided by both local artistes and the international team. Rev Tom Penman, of South Uist and Benbecula Free Church, said: “We had a fantastic week together. We were very blessed to have the team with us as we continue to share the good news of Jesus Christ in Uist. It really encouraged members of both local congregations and showed the blessings that can come from the partnership.” •

LEADERSHIP BOOTCAMP

week of intensive training, challenging physical activities and interactive discussions about service have taken place at the latest leadership bootcamp.

The programme, which is run by Generation Church Planting, is for young people aged between 18 and 25, and aims to train them in gospel theology, gospel leadership and gospel service. It has been running for a number of years, although a new format has been introduced post-covid. This year eight young people are participating in the 18-month programme which takes place over one residential week and three weekends, with reading and discussion calls in the interim. The Bootcamp residential, held in August, had three components: intensive teaching in the morning, challenging physical activity in the afternoon, and interactive discussion sessions on theology, leadership, and service in the evenings. The aim is to stretch those who come mentally, physically, and spiritually. Teaching was given by Louise MacMillan, of Biblical Counselling UK, and Rev Cory Brock, Assistant Minister at St Columba’s Free Church of Scotland. Rhiannon Mackintosh, Mission Co-Ordinator, said: “During the residential week at Abernethy Nethybridge, the group learned about Gospel Theology and the Kingdom of God. Through looking at these areas the group was encouraged to dig deeper into various Bible passages and equipped in Bible handling. We also looked at Gospel Change, focussing on how the gospel transforms and shapes our every action and how we live. “Through the week we also heard from different church planters and church planting teams about the challenges and encouragements that they have had in beginning a church plant. Throughout the year we will also visit various church plants to hear more of their work, and how what they are learning could help them serve or lead in a church plant.” Generation Church Planting exists to build thriving gospelcentred local churches and communities in Scotland’s cities, suburbs, towns and villages. It is the church planting network developed by the Free Church of Scotland to catalyse church planting for our nation. Find out more about Generation here: freechurch.org/generation/ If you are interested to hear more about the Leadership Bootcamp programme, contact rhiannon.mackintosh@freechurch.org •

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CHURCH PLANTING VISION DAY

of seminars including: Evangelism in the Age of Jordan Peterson, Building an Intercultural Church, and Releasing Women for Ministry. There will also be an exciting kids’ and teens’ programme, so bring your families along as this is an all-age event! For more information, or to book, go to the Latest News section of the Free Church of Scotland website. www.freechurch.org •

ou are invited to a church planting vision day to hear from church planters in the free church of scotland, as well as be equipped in

your own personal evangelism.

The conference will take place on Saturday 11th November, from 9am, at Woodhill Evangelical Church in Bishopbriggs. Dr Dan Strange will lead the main sessions, looking at ‘Making Faith Magnetic’. There will also be a range

SUMMER CHURCH EVENTS

arbecues, bring and share suppers, and picnics are just some of the activities held for church congregations and the wider communities this summer.

A host of activities have taken place in congregations across the Free Church of Scotland. Rev Iain Macritchie, of Pairc Free Church of Scotland, in Gravir on the Isle of Lewis, said: “What is an easy way to get your congregation together for an enjoyable, relaxed evening? Host a Bring and Share Supper evening! That’s exactly what we did here at Pairc Free Church on Friday 14th July. The idea was that everyone brought along some food — a starter, a main course or a dessert — or even just a bottle of juice. A buffet meal was then set up and food and fellowship enjoyed. “As well as our own congregation, we were blessed to have friends from the wider community come along. Building bridges between church and community is a crucial part of the life of any congregation. To be able to chat informally over a meal with those who wouldn’t necessarily come to church services really was a blessing. “Our inspiration for such an event? The Lord Jesus himself. He often broke bread with others as a way of breaking down barriers and building relationships — an example worth following. “All in all, a wonderful evening that we hope to repeat over the winter months.” At the London City Presbyterian Church, a summer get-together was held. Rev Andy Longwe said: “We have had lots of things happening this summer. We’ve had a day out and one summer barbecue — another one is coming up soon. The annual barbecue at the Campbells was a great day of food, fun and fellowship. It’s a way of getting to know people and for new people to come along.” While a summer barbecue was recently organised by St Andrews Free Church of Scotland. Rev Paul Clarke said: “We do it every summer in our back garden and invite everyone who is around to come along. I think we had 40 or 50 this time — people sign up to bring something with them and it’s just a wonderful time for the Church family to spend time with each other in a relaxed environment and especially to get to know people that they don’t know very well yet.” During the summer, many churches have also been holding holiday clubs for youngsters as well as prizegiving for Sunday clubs. As youngsters prepare to head back to school, churches are gearing up to resume their usual meetings and groups during term time. •

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Pairc Free Church Bring and Share Supper

LCPC Annual Barbecue

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PSALM BOOKS GIFTED TO HMP SHOTTS

he free church of scotland’s mission board is

Another said: ‘The words are amazing. The Psalms teach us how to go about things when we are struggling throughout our life, no matter what has happened to us.’ The response from the Chaplaincy team and volunteers has also been encouraging. Rev Murdo MacLean, Chaplain, said: ‘The joy of singing the Psalms in prison is that God’s word is not just sung but even memorised. I suspect this will be a blessing to the prisoners especially at difficult times. The Psalms also don’t mince their words. We all need challenged by the word of God.’ Andrew McMillan, volunteer, said: ‘Many prisoners find themselves up against it – lonely, scared, helpless and vulnerable, they need light, and they need hope! In my experience, to be amid the prisoners as they worship God in the singing of the Psalms is to witness something profoundly moving.’ Rev David Meredith has spoken about the gift of Psalm Books to Shotts, a prison for long-term adult male prisoners with a capacity of 553. He said: ‘I can fully understand the men in Shotts relating to the Psalms. There is a reality and honesty in the Psalter which resonates with people who have lost their liberty. All of the men have experienced trauma in life and have made bad decisions which led to their incarceration. We pray that in their imprisonment they will experience full spiritual release.’ The Chaplaincy team would like to launch a Psalm singing group. Rev John Cardwell said they will be looking for people experienced in teaching Psalm singing to join the Chaplaincy volunteer team to help them develop Psalm singing in the prison. They would also like to have Precentors join their Sunday afternoon worship service to help expand their set list. ‘Again, we are grateful to the Free Church of Scotland for helping us to introduce the Psalms more formally to our Sunday service,’ he added. •

delighted to organise the gift of 25 psalm books for the use of prisoners in shotts prison.

It means that Psalms – which often reflect life’s struggles but are also full of hope, strength, and joy – can be sung by prisoners in worship services at the prison. Rev John Caldwell, Lead Chaplain at HMP Shotts, who is also an ETS graduate said: ‘I’m very grateful to Rev David Meredith (Mission Director) and the Free Church of Scotland for fundraising and gifting the Chaplaincy team at HMP Shotts with these Psalm books for the men who attend the Reformed Worship Service. ‘The service normally includes a mixture of traditional and contemporary worship songs. Over the last few months we have been adopting Psalms from both the Scottish Psalter and Sing Psalms. Having Psalm books in the chapel will make it easier for us to adopt Psalm singing into the regular services. ‘Whilst the men love and relate to many contemporary songs that express the hope and freedom that is found in Christ, I was keen for those who attend the Reformed service to have greater exposure to the Psalms because the Psalms are incredibly relevant for men in a prison context.’ John said: ‘Prison is a place where people experience a range of pent-up emotions (anger, grief, despair, confusion, depression etc.) yet it’s also a place where it’s difficult for the men to express these feelings. The Psalms provide that outlet. Not only that, they provide a source of joy, strength and hope — not because God promises to change our circumstances, but because he promises to take us through the challenges we face.’ The responses from the men, and chaplaincy volunteers, have confirmed the relevance of the Psalms for the Prison context. One prisoner said: ‘The Psalms give you words of hope. They express true feelings. Very relatable.’

SPANISH SPEAKING MINISTER ORDAINED

amilies

and

friends

joined

together

service there was a round of applause by the congregation as Israel and his family begin a new chapter. Over the past few years, Cornerstone Church, including the Spanish-speaking congregation, has grown in number. Bilingual services are held monthly at the church and the Spanishspeaking congregation once a month on Sunday

cornerstone church in edinburgh on sunday to celebrate the ordination and induction of

israel guerrero as church planter for cornerstone’s spanish speaking congregation.

There was standing room only at the service at the Old Schoolhouse in Morningside on Sunday morning. Following the formal elements of the

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afternoons. Once the church plant is underway there will be more services in Spanish plus a growth in Spanish language discipleship, community and mission. Rev Neil MacMillan, of Cornerstone, said: “We are going through a time of change at the church. Last week we spoke about the kind of change that God brings about in people’s lives as he gives us a new heart and a new spirit to love God and to follow Jesus Rev Israel Guerrero Induction, Cornerstone Free Church and worship him. God is doing an amazing work in transforming the lives of individuals. That’s part of a much bigger picture of the great work of transformation that God is doing through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. “Change is a really big part of what God is up to. That change doesn’t happen to us in isolation but it happens to us in community.” Neil looked at the passage of John 13:21-35. He spoke about the power of the church, the purpose of the church and the people of the church. He said the early church grew because the “power of loving community spoke to the Roman world in a way that was irresistible”. He said that people saw the love of the early church and were convicted by it. “Church is a community of people who love each other, and church is the number one way in which God chooses to spread his love through the world.” Following the sermon, Roddy Macleod, clerk of the Edinburgh and Perth Presbytery, said the prospect of having a new congregation gave the presbytery “great joy even more so because of the cross-cultural nature of such an endeavour”. To the best of our knowledge this is the first Spanish-speaking church in Edinburgh and perhaps even in Scotland. The Spanish-speaking congregation will continue to meet at Cornerstone and be part of its intercultural ministry. We look forward to hearing what the Lord is doing there over the coming weeks and months. Israel will begin work as the church planter once he has the correct visa. During the service, four new deacons were also ordained: Andrew Armstrong, Andrew Johnston, Esneider Hernandez, and Ian MacCormick. •

THREE ORDINATIONS AND INDUCTIONS

Psalm 40, he referred to the congregation’s patient waiting on the Lord in prayer and the Lord’s ultimate provision. Once Matty had taken his ordination vows, members of all the presbyteries present prayed over him and gave him the right hand of fellowship. The formal proceedings over, refreshments were served and the late-summer sunshine allowed for outdoor and indoor mingling. Following this interlude, Donald Forsyth, Session Clerk, welcomed Matty and read greetings from absent friends, including Dingwall’s former minister, Rev Angus Macrae. Presentations were made to the two interim moderators, Rev Calum Iain Macleod and Rev Dr Malcolm Maclean. Mrs Mary Mackenzie and young Daisy Scott presented gifts to Matty, Jody and Billy Guy. A loud cheer went up as Matty took the chair and expressed his thanks to the many who had made the day

elebrations have taken place as three ministers were ordained and inducted on the same day.

Rev Matty Guy became minister of Dingwall & Strathpeffer Free Church, Rev James Murray became minister of Campbeltown Free Church and Rev Donald Smith became Assistant Minister at Bon Accord Free Church in Aberdeen. Induction services were held for all three, attended by friends, family and congregations. After a challenging vacancy at Dingwall & Strathpeffer Free Church, there was a palpable sense of excitement as over 200 people gathered for the ordination and induction of Rev Matty Guy. A significant representation from St Andrews joined those from Dingwall and friends from other parts. Worship was led by Rev Chris Davidson, Minister of Merkinch Free Church and acting Moderator of the Inverness, Lochaber & Ross Presbytery. Preaching from

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possible. He then called on three friends from Newcastle and St Andrews to speak. Despite the light-hearted banter, we came away with the distinct impression that our new minister is a humble, godly man. Please pray with us for Matty and family as they begin work in Dingwall and Strathpeffer.

The congregation wish to thank the many friends and congregations throughout the denomination who have supported the work in Campbeltown over the years by way of prayers and gifts, and also express thanks to the many faithful preachers who have come to lead the worship services.

Rev Matty Guy Induction, Dingwall Free Church

There is a long tradition in Kintyre of Christian missionaries making the journey across the narrow sea from Ireland to the shores of Scotland to bring the good news of Jesus to its inhabitants. Columba and Ciaran came to these parts in the 6th Century, and in recent years Campbeltown Free Church has maintained these age-old ties – first in 2017 when it invited Rev Dr Rodger Crooks from Northern Ireland to be minister, and now the call to Rev James Murray, also from the farther shore. The local congregation was joined by members of Presbytery and friends from near and far to celebrate James’ ordination and induction. Rev Allan Shearer from Dunblane read from Hebrews 4: 14-16 and Hebrews 9: 1-14, pointing us to Jesus the great high priest and reminding us that our hope is only in him. Following James’ ordination and induction, Rev Douglas Cranston addressed the minister, reminding him to solemnly and straightforwardly preach Christ and to offer him exclusively on the basis that he is able to save all who come to him. Rev David Parker then addressed the congregation, reminding the people of the verse in Acts 2:42 where the early Christians “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer”. Following the service, presentations were made to the Interim Moderator, Rev David Parker, and to his wife Mary. David had provided such caring and regular support to the congregation in the 29 months of vacancy, and the congregation is indebted to him for all his hard work and to Mary who accompanied him and showed such encouragement and love. Presentations were also made to the new minister, James, and his wife Bethany and their three sons, Isaac, Noah and Asher. The congregation is thankful to God for this new chapter in its history, and warmly welcomes the family to the town. The prayer of the congregation is that the kingdom of Christ will be extended throughout the peninsula.

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Rev James Murray Induction, Campbelltown Free Church

At Bon Accord Free Church, a sizeable crowd met for the ordination and induction of Rev Donald Smith to be assistant minister. Donald grew up in Aberdeen with Bon Accord as his home congregation. Now, after “serving time” at Ealing International Presbyterian Church, 20 Schemes and Cornerstone Church in Edinburgh, as well as completing studies at ETS, Donald, his wife Mairi, and baby son Rory have settled back in Aberdeen where Donald will assist Rev Joe Hall in ministry at Bon Accord. Rev Alberto De Paula, current moderator of the Edinburgh and Perth Presbytery, preached on Ephesians 1 “Paul, Called and Sent”. Much of his sermon focused on the diversity of gifts that God had given in gospel ministry and how these were channelled in the service of Jesus. After the formal ordination, warm welcomes were given by Mike Bowman and Judy Laing, and messages were heard from former colleagues: Paul Levy, Andy Constable and Neil Macmillan. Donald and Joe became close friends while studying together at ETS. Their friendship has now become a partnership in the gospel, one which we pray will be a powerful instrument in the hands of God in Aberdeen. •

Rev Donald Smith Induction, Bon Accord Free Church

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LARBERT SUMMER SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPH 1963

Following George’s passing his photographic collection of transparencies and prints was given to the Free Church of Scotland and is presently being analysed and digitised by Rev Sandy Sutherland. There are several categories of photos including Peru, Free Church Camps, General Assembly and personal. Sandy said: “If the photos are to have historical value it would be important to try and have names and places identified, thereby, there is a need to carry this out as soon as is practically possible.” At the time George took the photograph of the Summer School of Theology at Larbert, he was home on furlough. Camera self-timers were rare in 1963; therefore, the Larbert photo has an insert of George himself, which was also found in his photo collection. There is one unidentified individual. •

his photo of the summer school of theology at larbert was captured by the late rev george t. thomson - 60 years ago.

George was ordained in 1957 and immediately he and his wife Irene went to Moyobamba, Peru. He served as a missionary there and later at Lima. In 1978 he returned to Scotland and was inducted as minister at Aberfeldy. George was an LRPS (Licentiate of The Royal Photographic Society) whose photographic work was well known in both The Instructor and The Monthly Record during the latter part of the 20th century. He once made a witty remark to a Scottish Peruvian missionary’s son: “the first wave of missionaries came to pioneer the work; the second wave came to establish it and the third came to photograph it!”

Summer School of Theology at Larbert, 1963. (with insert of George T Thomson, the photographer) Back Row (L to R): Clement Graham, Murdo Nicolson, Urray, Alasdair Fraser, Elgin, Murdo Alex Macleod, Dingwall and then Stornoway, Angus MacKinnon, Kenny Macleod, Barvas and Tain, David Paterson, then East Kilbride also Brora and Perth, Neil Macleod, Glasgow, John Muirden. Middle Row (L to R): John Fraser, Glenmoriston later Wick, not yet known, Hugh Mackay then Aberdeen, later Killearnan & Fortrose, Archie Boyd, Keiss or maybe Shettleston, Joe Perry, Helmsdale, George Dunnett, Castletown then Kiltarlity, Murdo Macleod, Tarbert then London, James Fraser, then at Buccleuch and Greyfriars, Donald Ross, Kilmuir Easter. Front Row (L to R): John MacPherson kneeling (on furlough from Peru, as was George T Thomson, insert), seated Donald Mackay, Watten, Prof R A Finlayson, William MacKay, Robert Christie, Saltcoats standing.

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THE BONAR TRUST

than

for

ministry

partnership

“Furthermore, the Bonar Trust helped me to grasp the state of the church in the Scotland and the great need for more churches across our nation which keep word ministry at its centre. This also helped me to meet other like-minded men and women throughout my training. From this a number of deep friendships have grown which have helped sustain me in ministry and I’m sure will continue to do so.” He added: “The preaching residentials are a great time to spend time with these friends and also to continue to work on becoming a better preacher and understanding a book of the Bible better. I simply cannot speak highly enough of The Bonar Trust and its impact it has had and continues to have on me. I hope, therefore, that the gospel ministry in Galashiels instead displays their input.” Ali said: “The Bonar Trust enabled me to train thoroughly in both practical and academic aspects of ministry. Its financial support meant training wasn’t simply something to be completed as quickly as possible, but that time could be spent in order to be better equipped for a lifetime of ministry. “The practical input of the Trust in facilitating ongoing preaching development and mutual encouragement has also continued to be a great support after the completion of training and financial grants. The work of the Bonar Trust has meant embarking on training for gospel work in Scotland is a viable option for more people, which will in turn greatly strengthen the church across the nation.” A number supported by The Bonar Trust through their training are now in leadership roles training others. In total, 54 people training for ministry in the Free Church have been funded by The Bonar Trust. Rev Thomas Davis, who oversees the Student Team on the Board of Ministry, said: “There is such an urgent need for the communities in our nation to be reached with the gospel. For that to happen, we need to train ministers and church workers. And for that to happen, we need the financial resource to make that training possible. That is why we are so thankful to God for our partnership with the Bonar Trust. The generosity shown by the Trust and its supporters has been an enormous blessing to the Free Church and it has had a direct impact in terms of training pastors and sending them to serve across our nation.” Residential preaching conferences are held by the Trust. Free Church ministers including Rev Paul Clarke and Rev Pete Turnbull, Rev Ali Sewell and Rev Andy Robertson help to lead them. If you want to find out more about the links between the Free Church of Scotland and the Bonar Trust, do check out the latest film by the Trust, Gospel Workers for the Church in Scotland at bonartrust.org •

50 leaders have been trained

ore

long-standing

thanks

between

the

free

church

scotland and the bonar trust.

The Bonar Trust exists to develop a culture of training in the Church in Scotland by supporting people in their training and partnering with training churches, training providers and other organisations. It has been working in partnership with the Free Church of Scotland in several ways, including providing financial support for those in the Ministers-in-Training programme and other leadership roles. Grants awarded by the Bonar Trust to people training or having trained for ministry in the Free Church since 2009 total £638,000. This is approximately one third of the Trust’s total grants to date. Matched funding from the training church means at least £1,276,000 has been invested in people training over that period in association with the Bonar Trust. Rev Paul Clarke is the Chair of the Board of Ministry for the Free Church of Scotland and a Trustee of the Bonar Trust. He says: “A Healthy Gospel Church for Every Community in Scotland is dependent fundamentally on the power of God. Such a vision is beyond any one denomination or grouping to deliver. It can only be achieved through generous Gospel partnership.” The Bonar Trust has partnered with 24 Free Church congregations training people, including Bishopbriggs Free Church, Haddington Community Church, Kiltarlity Free Church and Stornoway Free Church. In addition, Chalmers Church in Edinburgh and Redeemer (a church plant from Chalmers) have so far trained eight people for ministry in the Free Church. The Trust has worked closely with the Free Church to develop Foundation (Apprenticeship) and Core Training (Minister in Training) as the recognised pathway to ministry. The Trust has a long-established partnership with Edinburgh Theological Seminary as one of the core external training providers for people undertaking Core Training (Minister in Training). Free Church ministers supported by the Bonar Trust through their training include Generation church planters Rev Andy Robertson (Charleston Community Church), Rev Ali Sewell (Haddington Community Church) and Rev Craig Anderson (Galashiels Free Church). Craig said: “The Bonar Trust was invaluable towards my training. If it was not for the funding that they provided, I don’t think I could have trained for the ministry. However, the input from the Bonar Trust has gone far beyond financial support. Knowing that to be granted funding they need to see a training programme, that meant that my training was specific towards me individually and for each stage (Ministry apprentice, Minister in training, Church planter in training).

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CAMPS!

ampers enjoyed great food, friends and fun at a series of free church youth camps this summer.

Young people, aged from 10 to 18, had the opportunity to take part in various activities, games and challenges, as well as to learn more about the Bible and its relevance to their lives through informal daily talks and times for questions and discussion. The camps took place in Kincraig and Renfrew in Scotland and Oswestry in England. •

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RELATIONSHIPS, SEXUAL HEALTH AND PARENTHOOD (RSHP) RESOURCES PROJECT

project is taking place to review relationships,

Safety and online safety are also covered, as well as teaching around ‘my body belongs to me’ and the naming of private parts. Concerns have been raised by some parents that children are introduced to the concepts too early in their development. Kirsty notes that: “The inclusion of anatomical terms for body parts is certainly helpful for younger children and can help to reduce shame and embarrassment at a later age.” It can also help to protect youngsters, who are vulnerable, to speak out about abuse. In addition, the Curriculum looks at gender stereotyping. It also looks at simplistic definitions and simplistic ideas about the distinction between sex and gender. Kirsty said: “Unfortunately, these topics are not so simple, and it is going to be a challenge to address them in a way that acknowledges this but is still understandable and appropriate for the age and stage of the pupils.”

sexual health and parenthood (rshp) resources for primary and secondary schools, and to

produce alternative resources, based on a christian worldview. RSHP is taught as part of the Health and

Wellbeing (HWB) sub-section of the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) produced by Education Scotland. The work is being carried out under a project jointly led by the Free Church of Scotland and Christian Values in Education (CVE) Scotland. It arose out of a growing concern from parents, both within and outwith the Free Church of Scotland, about the appropriateness and age-and-stage relevance of some of the current RSHP content. The project was endorsed by commissioners at the 2022 General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland. Kirsty Moffat, who has taken up the role to lead this project, has been working for the past twelve months to complete an extensive review of the Curriculum and provide additional material, where necessary. This is a complex task as there is a wide range of content across the primary and secondary curriculum. There are many positive aspects of the curriculum as well as opportunities to produce additional and optional resources. Kirsty said: “I am creating additional and adapted resources that fit in with the current Curriculum resources. There was a lot of time, effort and skill put into the current resources so it’s just about adapting them to address some of the concerns we identified with the materials. In particular, we want to ensure that the materials are not promoting a secularised worldview or ideologies, but instead include a range of viewpoints, including religious ones.” All adapted material will meet the experiences, outcomes, and benchmarks set by Education Scotland They will be easily accessible to teachers in each subsection of the RSHP area of the Curriculum. They are set up in such a way that they will be available as options and alternatives to the existing resources. Some of the changes to the materials include small changes to language, or replacing resources like videos that might promote messages that are contrary to a Christian worldview. Kirsty says: “It’s about reframing conversations and ideas and looking at the moral side of the topics as well.”

SECONDARY RESOURCES Within the Secondary School Curriculum, the RSHP materials focuses on sex and romantic relationships. “They do place this in the context of respectful relationships where people care about each other. They have looked at what makes for a good relationship. They talk about recognising abusive relationships, which is very helpful,” said Kirsty. Safety — in personal health and online — is also looked at, as well as how unrealistic and damaging pornography is. “All those kinds of things are really positive,” she said. “But when it comes to teaching about sexuality and gender, a much narrower viewpoint is expressed, essentially that if you love each other and you are ‘ready’ it’s okay to be physically intimate. Our goal would be to introduce some other concepts that people could be thinking about, focusing mostly on the secondary school level. We want them to be thinking more about the morality and spirituality of their choices.” She said changes to the materials include recognising that young people may want to talk to a youth leader or a member of their faith community about these issues, so adding this as an option to activities that ask ‘who could you speak to?’ acknowledges faithbased options. Kirsty said: “A concept I want to introduce to the Curriculum is the idea of sexual integrity. I would love to have pupils thinking through what their own sexual ethic is, why they hold it and how they are accountable for their actions. I think ‘integrity’ is a good word to use in that it’s not a religious word and I think that most people agree that having integrity is a good thing.” Much work has been done over this past year to adapt

PRIMARY RESOURCES Kirsty said “there is a lot of good stuff” in the existing resources, particularly for primary school aged children. “Many of the primary resources are talking about how to be a good friend, how to be kind, and sharing with others. Other topics look at disability and race, and how it’s not ok to be mean to someone about those things,” she said.

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resources and provide additional material. The work is now about three quarters completed, with material set to be trialled and consulted on before being rolled out. Kirsty is set to run a seminar for Canopy, the Baptist Union of Scotland’s online gathering in October to discuss a range of topics.

KIRSTY’S ADVICE TO PARENTS AND CHURCHES In addition to the provision of resources for schools, Kirsty is keen to encourage parents and churches to discuss RSHP topics with their young people. Here are some of her top tips: • Be open to speak about it regularly, whenever it comes up. • It is also important to let kids know that it’s okay for them to ask questions about these things and that they won’t just be shut down. If you are unwilling to answer your child’s questions, they will go somewhere else to find the answer. • In the case of a youth group, the youth worker will probably need to bring the topic up first so that kids know it’s not off limits. It’s ultimately about creating safe spaces where kids feel like they can ask their questions without being judged. • It’s also important to show kids and teens how they can find the answers for themselves. Like with all areas of discipleship, we need to walk them through the Bible, discussing the context of specific passages and help them think through what it means for their life. We should not just be giving them an answer and expecting them to accept it.

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS The Sex Thing: Reimagining Conversations with Young People About Sex by Rachel Gardner It’s good for getting churches and parents thinking about how they can initiate conversations with young people about sex. It also contains some interesting survey data from young people around the UK, which gives insight into what young people are thinking and what they want from their churches. For thinking through what it looks like to be a same sex attracted Christian, The War of Loves: The Unexpected Story of a Gay Activist by David Bennett tells such a great story. Bennett left school and became an LGBTQ activist but when he became a Christian, he was left thinking, “what do I do with my sexuality?” God does amazing things in his life and enables him to reconcile his faith with his sexuality.

HAVE YOUR SAY A Government consultation has been launched about RSHP guidelines. The Free Church of Scotland’s Public Engagement Group is set to respond to the consultation. Do keep an eye on the Free Church website for more updates from PEG. Use the QR code to view the Government Consultation document and respond for yourself.

North Scotland Fundraising Manager

North Scotland Fundraising Manager Blythswood Care is a Christian charity committed to education,

community and gospel, and so impacting hundreds of thousands of

Blythswoodlives CareinisEurope, a Christian Africacharity and Asiacommitted every year. to education, community and gospel, and so impacting hundreds of thousands of We are looking someone with the enthusiasm and ability to lives in Europe, Africa andfor Asia every year. build relationships, inspire and motivate major donors and

fundraising groups, with and encourage volunteers. We are looking for someone the enthusiasm and ability to build relationships, inspire and motivate major donors and You will also work to raise awareness of the charity through fundraising groups, volunteers. meetingsand and encourage exhibitions and speak about our work at churches,

Applications are now open for our Community and Family Worker!

schools and groups, enthusing all age-groups about Blythswood’s

We are looking to recruit a full-time female worker to be part of our vision to grow a vibrant, all-age community of followers of Jesus.

You will alsomission. work to raise awareness of the charity through meetings and exhibitions and speak about our work at churches, post has an Occupational Requirement the Equality Act schools andThis groups, enthusing all age-groups aboutunder Blythswood’s mission. 2010, Schedule 9 Part 1 that the post holder be a practising Christian as set out in the person specification.

The successful candidate will work with young people through Young Life International, develop links to families and others in our community, and seek to develop women’s ministry at Kiltarlity Free Church.

This post hasBased an Occupational Requirement under the Equality Act at our Head Office in Evanton, this full-time position requires 2010, Schedule 9 Part 1 that post holder be objectives a practising flexible working andthe commitment to the of Blythswood Christian as Care. set out in the person specification. an Application Form and this Job Description please visit our Based at ourFor Head Office in Evanton, full-time position requires website or objectives email personnel@blythswood.org flexible working andwww.blythswood.org commitment to the of Blythswood Care.

For more info and to apply visit our website bit.ly/KFCWorker

Closing date for completed applications is Monday 23 October 2023

Closing Date: Friday 13th October.

For an Application Form and Job Description please visit care our Transforming lives through Christian website www.blythswood.org or email personnel@blythswood.org Closing date for completed applications is Monday 23 October 2023 2023 Transforming lives through Christian care

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THIS IS MY STORY: UNDER COVER OF DARKNESS

Record: Nicodemus, we know you’re a Pharisee, so how come you were sticking up for Jesus? Nicodemus: I suppose you’re referring to the time when we sent officers to arrest him and they came back empty-handed. In a way I wasn’t surprised. All they could say was that he spoke like nobody they’d ever heard before. Record: They’d come under his spell? Nicodemus: I don’t know if that’s the way I’d put it. They just found what many others were finding – that Jesus had a magnetism and an authority that seemed to compel attention. Record: When they came back empty-handed, your lot couldn’t have been best pleased. Nicodemus: The others were enraged, and they were all for taking action right away. Record: What kind of action? Nicodemus: They just wanted Jesus out of the way. He was too hot to handle. They’d have to find a way to get him killed – messy, but (as our high priest said) for the good of the nation, you know! Record: And then you spoke up. That must have been pretty provocative. Nicodemus: Perhaps, but I felt a person deserves fair play at least. Anyone should be given a fair hearing before being condemned. Record: And how did your colleagues respond to that? Nicodemus: More or less told me to shut up. They were quite dismissive. Some of them laughed at me. Some of them pointed out that real prophets have always come from Judea, not Galilee. That’s not true, but that’s what they said.

THE RECORD

Record: So why did you speak out? Nicodemus: Well, as I said, I believe in fairness and justice. Some of my colleagues aren’t too particular about legal requirements, but I wasn’t prepared to sit on my hands while they’d condemn someone without proper investigation and due process. Record: I understand you’d done a bit of investigating yourself. Nicodemus: Yes. I don’t know if any of the others knew about it, but I did once go and seek out the Teacher to find out for myself what he was like. Record: It’s said you went under cover of darkness. Why? Nicodemus: At the time I didn’t want anyone to know what I was doing. Record: Why was that? Nicodemus: Well, they probably would have thought I’d gone soft in the head or that I was (as you put it) coming under his spell. Record: And were you? Nicodemus: Well, I have to say I was intrigued by his reputation. I had heard about miracles he was supposed to have performed, and some of them were difficult to dismiss or explain. There were people walking about who claimed he had healed them and changed their lives. And if such things were true, I was left wondering whether he really was a teacher sent by God. Record: So how did you approach him? Nicodemus: I waited one day until the sun had gone down and the lanes were quiet. I introduced myself to him, although he seemed to know all about me already, and I started by saying that I admired what he had been doing.

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Henry Ossawa Tanner "Christ's discourse with Nicodemus" (1899) Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia

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: And what was his reaction? Nicodemus: It was a bit unnerving. I don’t know whether he thought I was trying to butter him up, but he cut through everything and told me that I needed to be born again. Record: Born again? Nicodemus: That’s what he said, and of course I didn’t know what he was talking about. We were all born once and nobody can repeat the process. I said as much to him and then he said something about the need to be born not only of water but of the Spirit. It was rather confusing and he realised that I wasn’t making anything of it. As he pointed out, I was a religious teacher but I couldn’t follow what he was saying. Record: So how did the conversation go after that? Nicodemus: Well, he referred me back to the time of Moses when there was a plague of snakes and many casualties. According to the ancient story, the people realised they had been rebelling against God and they pleaded with Moses to pray for God to take the serpents from them. Moses mounted a bronze snake on a pole and when anyone was bitten by a snake and then looked toward that pole with faith that God would heal them, they would be healed. Record: A magic pole? Nicodemus: No, nothing magic about it. It was a test of faith. It wasn’t the pole or the bronze snake that healed them but God. Record: But why was Jesus telling you about that? Nicodemus: Well, this is the main thing. He said that the Son of Man would be lifted up and everyone who looks to him in faith will have eternal life. Record: Son of Man? Nicodemus: That seemed to be his preferred title for himself. And it was some claim – because it comes from a prophecy of Daniel about a Son of Man being given supreme authority by God. And as for lifting up – I realised that he was actually talking about crucifixion, the Romans’ brutal way of dealing with rebels and criminals. Record: So what does that add up to? What did you think he was saying? Nicodemus: Looking back now, I can see clearly that he was looking to a time when he would be ‘lifted up’ himself, and his message was that all who looked to him in faith would be healed in the deepest sense. Record: But surely you couldn’t accept all that? Nicodemus: It went against the grain, although many of us were aware that there were loads of inadequacies about the religious system we had developed. We would go through all the rituals and try hard to live good lives but somehow it never seemed to bring any assurance of being right with God. And that’s when I began to wonder whether this plain man from Nazareth really was more than just a plain man from Nazareth. Record: What, the Messiah? Nicodemus: That’s what I mean, except that most people had come to expect a military Messiah who would free us from Roman domination. But I had studied the

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ancient writings, and I was always intrigued by Isaiah’s words about a ‘man of sorrows’ who would come. And it said he would be pierced for the transgressions of others and people would be healed by his wounds. Record: What did you make of it then? Nicodemus: I was further intrigued when he spoke plainly about the Son of Man being lifted up and – I can’t get the words out of my head – that God loved the world so much that he sent his only Son so that people who believe in him will not perish but have eternal life. What was he saying? Something was stirring within me, even as the breeze stirred around us. He referred to the uncontrollable wind, and somehow I knew he was referring to a spiritual influence, a power of the Holy Spirit, that was drawing me. Record: But what about your colleagues and friends? Nicodemus: That’s what was worrying me. Could I really conclude that we had been missing the point? How could I suggest that to my fellow Pharisees? Record: So you decided to keep quiet? Nicodemus: I’m afraid so. I kept silent for a while and it was only when they were ready to condemn him without proper investigation that I realised I needed to speak up. Record: But it didn’t make any difference, did it? Nicodemus: Sadly not. They kept plotting and conniving until they got him condemned to death. They recruited Judas, one of his disciples, and they got the governor to OK their death penalty even though he knew perfectly well that Jesus was innocent. Record: And so he was ‘lifted up.’ Nicodemus: Indeed, and I remembered what he said. Record: So – do you believe in him? Nicodemus: Yes I do. I don’t know what it’s going to mean for me in the future. Probably I’ll be out of a job, and it’s going to be dangerous to become a follower of a crucified Messiah. If they persecuted him, they’ll probably persecute any of us who believe in him and follow him. Record: But isn’t it all over? They’ve had their way. Jesus is dead, isn’t he? Nicodemus: Yes, but something seems to tell me it isn’t the end. I don’t know what to expect. There are stories about him saying he’d come back from the dead, but for the moment, I’m going to make sure he gets a decent burial. Record: That’s going to take a bit of courage, isn’t it? Nicodemus: Perhaps, but it’s my way of saying openly that I’m one of his followers. I’ve got the means, and there’s my friend Joseph who has also been a secret follower. He’s going to Pilate to ask for custody of the body and we’re arranging a proper burial. Record: And then? Nicodemus: I have a feeling that something amazing is about to happen. • 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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WfM NEWS BY FIONA MACASKILL

has arrived very late ! It seems somewhat strange to be writing an article for the October Record when all the windows are open and the shorts and sandals are out for the first time since June. The exciting news of the month for the WFM though, is not the appearance of the sun but that the cookbooks are back in print. No sooner had the news hit the socials than the orders started to come in again. Great news for the Disaster and Relief fund but not so much for our postie who doesn’t seem to like the Click and Collect service the Royal Mail have helpfully provided over the last year. Please do continue to buy and gift the cookbook. It has really been a labour of love over many years. Remember if you have already bought one, to scan your QR code which will take you to the electronic version. Handy for when you are going on holiday! Please do share your pictures of what you have made and tag us in your posts. Maybe there is a brave soul out there who would like to do a Julie and Julia and cook their way through the entire book?! Our project for this year, Breaking Barriers, is now well under way and we would love to hear about what you are doing to raise funds for the charities we are supporting. If you don’t know much about them then we would encourage you to look on our website to find out more, but here is a brief outline of each of them and what they hope to spend the money raised on.

to the rise of terrorist groups, persecution has intensified. In response, Release International’s partner the Stefanos Foundation run the Love in Action project. Over the course of a year, Love in Action provides essential food and hygiene items to around 1,000 families affected by the violence. Funds raised for Release International will go towards the Love in Action project. As a result of this support displaced families have their immediate practical needs met. This reduces the impact of the hardship and trauma they face. They are encouraged to persevere in faith and they know that they are not abandoned by their Christian brothers and sisters in the UK.

ummer

CHRISTIAN VALUES IN EDUCATION The Christian Values in Education Project (CVE Scotland) was established in September 2014 with the vision of ‘Supporting school staff, chaplains and families to communicate the Christian faith so that children and young people can make informed choices about beliefs and values’. Funds raised for CVE Scotland will go towards continuing to provide a course in School Chaplaincy as well as maintaining their website, which has a bank of resources for education staff. Additionally, CVE Scotland is partnering with the Free Church of Scotland to develop materials from a Christian perspective, suitable for the Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenting (RSHP) part of the Curriculum, to provide alternatives to current materials.

INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE MISSION International Justice Mission are a global movement of Christian lawyers, social workers, investigators and survivors working to end slavery and violence, until all are free. We believe the church has a unique role in catalysing justice across the world – in prayer, generosity and action. Funds raised for IJM will fund two operations to bring people to safety and could help make freedom possible for children, women and men trapped in slavery and violence. The funds will also be used to bring a partner organisation into the movement which could scale the demand for justice where it is most needed, by training and equipping a grassroots partner NGO to combat slavery in their community.

INTERNATIONAL MISSION TO JEWISH PEOPLE International Mission to Jewish People is a UK based interdenominational evangelistic society committed to sharing the Good News of Jesus the Messiah with Jewish people. Previously known as CWI, the mission organisation IMJP now works in eleven countries including Australia, Brazil, France, Hungary, Israel, Ukraine, UK, the USA and the Netherlands. Funds raised for IMJP will support the cost of evangelistic literature — which will be produced in several languages — required for the outreach ministries of the missionaries serving with International mission to Jewish people. •

RELEASE INTERNATIONAL Release International is a Christian ministry called to love and serve persecuted Christians. 54% of Nigerians are Christians but, in recent years due

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DONALD MACLEOD (1941-2023)

onald macleod was born on 22nd february 1941 to kenneth macleod and margaret mackay. He was the youngest in a family of four, a

brother to Mary, Catriona, and Effie. Donald was devoted to his family. He married Cathie Mary Macleod, of 14 Tolsta Chaolais, in July 1976. Their marriage was blessed with three lovely daughters – Mary, Marjorie, and Kaye. Donald found great joy in seeing his family grow. Mary married John Forbes and they are blessed with five children – Katherine, James, Donald, Elsa, and Kenneth. Marjorie married Iain Buchanan, and they are blessed with three children – Alasdair, Isla, and Angus. Kaye married David Macleod and they are blessed with three children – John, Matthew, and Ruth. Donald was devoted to them all and loved to spend time with his grandchildren. Donald was a designer. He was naturally artistic. He had a natural ability in mechanical and technical things. He loved style, he loved detail, and he loved to design. This combination of talents was put to good use in his career in the Harris Tweed industry. He began to work in the local Harris Tweed Mill at Shawbost before stepping out to own and build up his own Harris Tweed Mill. He continued in his retirement to put his experience and skill to good use in the design and production of knitting yarn, a work in which he was engaged until shortly before his passing. Donald was dedicated to his Lord and Saviour. He came to know the Lord Jesus as his Saviour in 1979 after a spiritual struggle, during which he lost interest in the social life in which he was very active, and came to the point of faith in the Lord Jesus which he described as a clear change of will and affections and the discovery of satisfaction in the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ. He professed faith in the Lord Jesus in October 1980. He was ordained as a Deacon on 23rd November 1981. He was ordained to the office of the Eldership on 29th January 1991. Donald took great delight in Christian fellowship. His love for his Saviour, his desire to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, and his unique analytical mind, found expression in his love of discussing the Word of God and in searching and probing questions about the personal experience of salvation and theology. This often led the fellowship discussion into areas and depths which hitherto were unexplored by those sharing fellowship with him. Time spent with him was therefore an education, a time of discipling, and an opportunity to develop understanding of the Christian faith. It was a privilege for all who were present to share fellowship with him in his home for the last time on Wednesday 26th April 2023. Donald was dutiful in his life as a Christian and as an office bearer in the congregation. He was faithful in his attendance at all the means of grace. His place in the prayer meeting was never empty. He led the praise in the public worship of God regularly, and with particular aptitude and inspiration when leading the praise in Gaelic. His sense of duty to the cause of Christ extended to his commitment and industry in the financial and material affairs of the congregation. He served for a long period as Congregational Treasurer. His technical ability, and

his artistic and designer mind, was put into good use in all matters of the maintenance and refurbishment of congregational property. He left his mark, if not his fingerprint, on every aspect change and development. Donald became unwell in March 2020. He bore his illness with grace and patience. It was evident to all who shared fellowship with him during his illness that the Lord was preparing him for a better place. The process of sanctification, which he often spoke of in fellowship, was accelerating, and the transforming power of God’s Spirit was completing his work. He passed peacefully to his eternal rest, in the Western Isles Hospital, on Sunday 7th May 2023. We extend our sincere condolences to his wife Cathie and the family, to his sister Effie, and to the wider family circle. • “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!” (Revelation 14:13).

COLIN MACDONALD (1940-2023) BY DONALD M MACDONALD

olin was born to colin and jenny macdonald in a shepherd’s cottage known as “the garage” on borrobol estate in the strath of kildonan, sutherland. Both his parents belonged to Strath Halladale and both

these straths had a profound effect on his development. Soon after Colin was born, his father was called up and he served in the army until 1946. While he was away, Colin learned to be a responsible and helpful son, a characteristic that remained with him. A year later his father was appointed head shepherd and manager and embarked on a programme of improvement of stock and land.

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Colin and his two brothers, Donald, born 1944, and Alex, born 1949, were brought up in a loving Christian family home, full of laughter, song and story, and with the freedom to explore the hills and glens, once so well populated before the Clearances, from ancient brochs to pre-Clearance black-houses. As they grew up they helped more and more with the farm work, milking the cows, tending the sheep, working at peats and agriculture. Colin became a proficient ploughman and loved all things mechanical, how they worked and how to fix them. He was a protective big brother and an excellent role model. While there was daily family worship, Sundays were special days. Apart from essential farm work, it was a day of rest, recreation and worship, not a dull, negative day, but a day of rejoicing in God’s creation and redemption. The family attended the Free Church in Kinbrace, linked to Helmsdale. There were Sunday books and activities, including reading the Instructor and doing Welfare of Youth lessons and exams, in which Colin won many prizes. In the evening there were Bible quizzes and singing of psalms and hymns. Colin started reading the Bible with Scripture Union notes and he kept this up throughout his life. Colin was educated at Kildonan Primary School, a oneteacher school, and Golspie Secondary School, where he was a keen scholar, footballer and athlete and became school dux. He considered a career in agriculture, but decided to study physics at Edinburgh University. While there he attended Buccleuch and Greyfriars Free Church. He went through a time of intense conviction and seeking assurance. One Sunday, after a sermon on “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”, while walking across the Meadows, the Holy Spirit broke though, light flooded his soul and he felt that Christ loved him personally. Thereafter he remained a bright and confident Christian. After graduating with honours, Colin trained as a teacher in Moray House. He began teaching science in Westwood Academy, Easterhouse, where he ran the football team and the SU group. Later he became principal physics teacher in Eastbank Academy, Shettleston, where he also taught RE and helped with maths and pastoral care as well running the football team and SU group. In 1965 he married Lilian MacKenzie from Stoer in Assynt, whom he had met while in Edinburgh. They had a long and happy marriage and had three children, Jane, Rhona and Alan. They began their married life in Coatbridge, where they attended the Free Church, but very soon moved to the new town of Cumbernauld, where Lilian taught in a primary school. Their main motivation to live there was to help out with the new extension congregation of the Free Church and they both faithfully supported the work through four ministries and the vacancies in between. Colin rapidly became precentor, Session Clerk, Sunday school and Bible class teacher, Campaigner leader and over the years fulfilled many other roles such as church officer, general repair man and even treasurer, as well as playing his part in Presbytery, Church Committees and as

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Child Protection Officer. He believed in team leadership and was not slow in expressing his opinion, based on his long and varied experience. He was a diligent pastoral visitor, especially of the sick and elderly as well as being willing to help those in need at any time of day or night. He was an enthusiastic supporter of missions as well as a keen member of Glasgow Psalm Singers. In all this he had Lilian’s unwavering support. He took early retirement in 1998 in order to devote more time to the Church and the grandchildren, with whom he loved playing, as well as looking after his parents’ retirement croft in Marrel, Helmsdale. While there he supported the local Free Church. He enjoyed a long and active retirement, but towards the end he was diagnosed with advanced cancer and, despite an initial response to treatment, eventually received palliative care at home, supported by the NHS and Strathcarron Hospice. As usual he was uncomplaining and appreciated the loving care of Lilian and the family. His son, Alan, summed up his life by quoting the two great commandments: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbour as yourself. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him, but we rejoice that he is now with the Saviour he loved and served. A wellattended thanksgiving service was held in Cumbernauld Free Church on 27th June and the funeral service was in Helmsdale Free Church on 6th July. His mortal remains were laid to rest until the resurrection in the historic Kildonan cemetery. We thank God for a life of self-denying service and commit Lilian and the family, Jane, Rhona and Alan, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren to the loving care of the heavenly Father. •

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER

DUNCAN GORDON (1932-2023) BY REV SANDY SUTHERLAND (RETIRED)

Colossians was Duncan’s favourite biblical letter and he often preached and taught from it, even having inscribed on Margaret’s (and in anticipation of his own) headstone, ‘Christ in you, the hope of glory’ (Col 1: 27). Duncan was an accomplished musician and with his amiable disposition and knowledge of language he was an ideal team player in the denomination’s edition of the widely acclaimed Sing Psalms version of the Psalter. As well as a regular supply preacher, he was for many years the enthusiastic chairman of the Inverness and North Mission Support Group that not only raised funds for missionary causes but held missionary conferences enlightening northern congregations of the work of the denomination in other parts of the world. After Margaret’s passing, Duncan kept himself busy by raising funds through his baking, jam and marmalade making for the Highland Hospice; receiving an award in 2020 for being the Hospice’s Fundraiser of The Month. Duncan raised £4,104.77 between 2015 and 2020. Due to the poor foundation of the Fortrose Free Church building the congregation opened a New Church Building Fund in 2004. Little was it known that it would take 14 years of fundraising before the actual work would begin! Duncan’s encouraging quarterly treasurer’s newsletters kept the congregation focused until he had the pleasure of joining with others in laying the foundational stone of the new church in 2018. Duncan Gordon was an exceptional individual by anyone’s standards but his hope was not in himself or in any crumbling foundation of this world but in him whom he gave the pre-eminence in all things. To Gavin, Peter, Ruth and their extended families we offer our heartfelt sympathy. • ‘Until we meet again and the shadows flee away’.

first met duncan gordon in 2001 when he was part of a quinquennial visitation to ardnamurchan where

was

interim

minister

for

kilchoan,

acharacle and strontian.

Little did I know that this would be the start of a close friendship that would last for 22 years, 17 of these as minister at Fortrose Free Church where Duncan was not only a well-respected elder but the congregation’s treasurer and one of the precentors leading the congregation in the praise of God. Duncan was born on the 26th September 1932 in the Huntly area of Aberdeenshire but in 1955, after having graduated from Aberdeen University in Geology, Latin and English, he moved to Inverness to begin a career in teaching. It was during this time at Inverness High School that he experienced some of his fondest teaching experiences and where he met his future wife Margaret Sinclair, a fellow teacher, marrying in 1960 in Inverness’ Crown Church. The newlyweds travelled to Canada and taught there for the next five years, after which they left the Montreal area and settled back in Scotland, coming to Fortrose in Ross-shire’s Black Isle. Duncan taught English, initially at Millburn Academy in Inverness before taking up the same role at Fortrose Academy where he remained until 1989, when in “retirement” he continued to teach English on a supply basis, as well as invigilate accountancy examinations. On Duncan’s passing on 24th July 2023, the Past & Present Facebook page of Fortrose Academy had many former pupils leaving tributes to Duncan’s teaching abilities: ‘inspirational’, ‘dynamic’, ‘a wonderful teacher’… Duncan also helped mature students pass their Higher English, some now in the ministry. Duncan and Margaret’s house was named ‘Kelowna’ reflecting their time in Canada. In the course of time it became the happy family home to the Gordon family: Gavin, Peter and Ruth. It was also a hospitable home to neighbours, friends, church supply and a ‘home from home’ for Faith Mission Pilgrims. Duncan and Margaret never forgot how the Faith Mission campaign in the Black Isle in December 1971 brought the light of the gospel to them. It was not too long after this that they found their spiritual home in Fortrose Free Church. Duncan was ordained to the eldership there on 12th January 1975, serving the congregation for nearly 50 years, albeit latterly, with the bitter blow of losing Margaret in 2015, failing health and spending his last days in Ballifeary Care Home, Inverness, he couldn’t be as active as he once was but he was still able to lead worship services in the care home.

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WORLD NEWS

AMERICAS AFRICA EUROPE ASIA AUSTRALASIA FIRST MOHAWK TRANSLATION OF THE BIBLE Premier Christian News The first complete translation of the Bible in Mohawk has been published in Canada after 40 years of work by Harvey Satewas Gabriel, who first heard the Bible preached in his native language as a teenager. Gabriel was eventually asked to read the Scriptures in Mohawk at church, which required him to translate short passages. In 1980, these efforts led him to take on the challenge of translating the entire Bible. Gabriel built upon work begun by his grandfather, Chief Sosé Onasakenrat of Kanesatake, who completed a Mohawk edition of the Four Gospels in 1880. A further seven Bible books had also been translated and published by the Canadian Bible Society (CBS) over the last 20 years. Supported by his wife, Susan, CBS, and the Mohawk community, Gabriel translated the remaining 55 books, a task which took 40 years. Funding from the United Church of Canada Foundation, the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake, and CBS – who also contributed linguistic and translation expertise, helped complete the work. In a recent interview with the Canadian Bible Society, 84-yr old Harvey said, “You never get tired, working with the Word of God. Never. You don’t get tired.” In many Indigenous Canadian communities, the translation of and engagement with the Scriptures is seen as strategic and valuable for the revitalisation of language and culture. The Canadian Bible Society says it hopes having the whole Bible in print will make a positive contribution to the life of the Mohawk church and to efforts to revitalise and teach the Mohawk language. •

EVANGELICAL CHURCHES INCREASE IN SPAIN Evangelical Focus There are now more than 4,300 evangelical churches in Spain, according to recent figures released by the Observatory of Religious Pluralism, making it the fastest-growing minority religious group in the country. Attendance at evangelical churches has shown continuous growth over the past 20 years, with increases attributed to the arrival of immigrants from Latin America. Figures show that most of these churches are in urban areas, with missionaries pointing out that there is still work to be done in rural areas and villages. Overall, religious observance in Spain continues to drop, with people identifying as atheists and agnostics showing the largest increase in numbers. •

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NEW LAWS SEEK TO “ELIMINATE VISIBLE PRESENCE OF CHRISTIANITY” IN CHINA Christian Institute Legislation designed to suffocate Christianity has come into force in China, warns Release International (RI). The charity, which helps persecuted Christians worldwide, said the new laws confine all religious activity to official venues and ban the outdoor display of religious symbols. Places of worship can also no longer be named after denominations, churches or individuals, and religious leaders must clearly show they are “supporting” the Communist Party and leadership. Paul Robinson, RI’s CEO, said the measures indicated “a tightening of the screws designed to eliminate the visible presence of Christianity in China”. This new legislation comes after The Measures for the Administration of Internet Religious Information Services was introduced last year, which banned Chinese house churches from posting anything of a religious nature on social media. Only the five officially sanctioned religions – Three-Self Church Protestantism, Roman Catholicism, Daoism, Buddhism and Islam – are eligible to apply for a special licence to make such posts. For the third year in a row, Open Doors has numbered China among the worst twenty offenders in its annual ranking of countries where Christians face the most severe persecution. •

MORE THAN 100 ARRESTED AFTER CHURCHES BURNED BBC News Police in Jaranwala, Eastern Pakistan, arrested more than 100 people in August after thousands of Muslims burned churches and homes. The violence was sparked after claims two Christian men had torn pages from the Quran. It is alleged that pages of the Quran, scribbled on in red ink, were found near a Christian community. The two men deemed responsible have been charged with blasphemy, which is punishable by death in Pakistan. Yassir Bhatti, a 31-year-old Christian, was one of those forced to flee their homes. "They broke the windows, doors and took out fridges, sofas, chairs and other household items to pile them up in front of the Church to be burnt," he told AFP news agency. "They also burnt and desecrated Bibles, they were ruthless." Videos on social media show protestors destroying buildings while police appear to stand watching. Religious violence in Pakistan has been rising since the country made blasphemy punishable by death, although no one has as yet received that sentence. However, it is believed that the law encourages mobs to protest against any claims of blasphemy, which has resulted in lynchings and killings in past years. Iftekharul Bashar, a researcher at the think-tank RSIS who focuses on political and religious violence in South Asia, told the BBC: "The Pakistani society has experienced increased fragmentation, driven by widening economic disparities, leading to an upsurge in violence directed towards minority religious groups.” Pakistani bishop Azad Marshall, in the neighbouring city of Lahore, said the Christian community was "deeply pained and distressed" by the events. "We cry out for justice and action from law enforcement and those who dispense justice, and the safety of all citizens to intervene immediately and assure us that our lives are valuable in our own homeland," he posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. •

90% OF THE CHRISTIANS KILLED IN 2022 WERE NIGERIAN International Christian Concern 90% of the 5500 Christians killed for their faith last year were Nigerian, according to Crux and the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), an NGO in Eastern Nigeria. Intersociety also reports that 52,250 people have been killed in Nigeria for their Christian faith since 2009. Nigeria has experienced increased attacks against Christians over the past 20 years, especially in the central and northern regions, where Fulani militants and the terrorist group Boko Haram are most active. Perpetrators are rarely caught by the authorities. Nigeria’s Constitution guarantees religious freedom, but this is often ignored, with cases of Christians being hauled in front of sharia courts on charges of apostasy, according to Megan Meador from Alliance Defending Freedom. Approximately 100.8 million Nigerians are Christians, which is nearly half of the population. Despite this, Nigeria remains one of the world’s worst persecutors of Christians. •

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PAGES FROM ADAM’S DIARY What Is Your Life But a Vapour

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

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Wise are those who beat the world at its own deceptive game — they give, rather than grab and keep; they lay down rather than take up.

everal years ago , a friend in london phoned me in the states and asked if i would be willing to go and speak to her dying brother . He was a successful

and talented eye surgeon. After graduating from a prestigious medical school in America (Stanford University), he had returned to his home in Central Asia to practise medicine. His sister, who contacted me, was a devoted Christian and a Muslim convert. He, on the other hand, was at best a nominal Muslim. I actually had met him a few years earlier. On that occasion, his sister had asked me to go to his posh medical clinic and speak to him about our Lord since I was already in Central Asia. He told me that he was an agnostic who believed that, after we die, our atoms return into the universal soup of molecules and continue to be recycled. That, he asserted, was what eternal life really meant. He proudly boasted that some of his patients were wealthy Arab sheikhs who flew all the way to Central Asia to his clinic to benefit from his surgical knowledge and talent. This time, however, his sister was asking me to go to see him because he had been diagnosed with advanced liver cancer. He had travelled to the United States to seek treatment in one of the most expensive medical centres in the world. I was told that to get a foot in the door at this American cancer centre was upward of $40,000. The eye surgeon certainly had the means, and he was already admitted and was under a doctor’s care there. His sister and her husband were deeply distressed about his health and his future. Notwithstanding, they were most concerned for his spiritual state. I had many demands on my time but she implored me to go and see him. I took a New Testament and went to his temporary U.S. residence. As I knocked and stepped into the apartment, it was like stepping into a pit of sorrow and despair. I encountered a depressing scene, a broken man who was profoundly shaken and deeply distraught by his terminal illness. As I went and sat down on the sofa next to him, he began to cry. I asked him if I could pray. He agreed. Afterward, he explained that he was overwhelmed by the wicked irony life had played on him. He noted, ‘Everything I worked for is now lost.’ He told me that two years earlier, his wife had gone off with his closest friend and their only child, his daughter, had taken her side. All that he had worked for and had saved, after his death, would go to his daughter who, he was certain, in turn would pass it on to her unfaithful mother and her lover. I told him, ‘In that case give it away. There are so many worthy causes in this world — orphanages, hospitals, humanitarian undertakings. In the very city of 15 million people where you live and have your practice, on the outskirts of the city, there are thousands who live in holes dug into the ground. Give it to them.’ (He never did.) His mind was consumed by the fact that he had spent the best years of his life working and saving and, at the pinnacle of his career when he was preparing to begin to enjoy the fruits of his labour, the shocking discovery of his cancer had ruined all his plans. It was one of the saddest meetings in my memory to hear and to watch the demise of this dear man who only a few years earlier had felt invincible and had no need of God. He was inconsolable. His mind was absorbed in the thoughts of the deceitfulness of the world which had played a ‘prank’ of fate upon him. As he spoke, I recalled the words of the 13th century Persian poet, Hafez, ‘Do not expect faithfulness from this old witch (referring to the world). She is a bride of a thousand husbands. It is in her nature to shatter the dreams of those who put their faith and trust in her.’ I also remembered one of the parables of our Lord about a rich landowner: ‘The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, “What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?” And he said, “I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.” And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many

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The Lord Jesus has been the greatest gift ever given to me. To know him is indeed life. It is a treasure incomparable! years; relax, eat, drink, be merry”.’ But God said to him, “You fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?”’ (Luke 12:16-20) In our meeting, I entreated him to flee into the arms of our Saviour. I emphatically warned him that, in fact, there was a world beyond this temporal world. Many had testified to it. They could not all have been deceived liars. The Lord Jesus spoke of heaven and hell. He is known to be faithful and true. I told him, ‘The Lord Jesus has been the greatest gift ever given to me. To know him is indeed life. It is a treasure incomparable! In comparison to this gift, all your worldly losses pale into insignificance.’ This time he politely and with humility listened. I prayed with him again and committed him into the care of our Lord, but I do not know if he believed or not. A few months after that meeting, he passed away. The following year, I learned from his sister that what he had predicted had indeed happened. He had willed all his wealth to his daughter who, in turn, had squandered some of it on pleasure and passed the rest of it to her mother and her mother’s partner to do the same, completely oblivious to the fact there was also an expiration date on their life journey on this planet, too. The aged Apostle John cautioned his flock in Asia Minor and his words recorded in the Word of God speaks to us just as pertinently, ‘Do not love [neither trust] the world or the things in the world….For all that is in the world — the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and the pride of life — is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.’ (1 John 2:15-17) James the Apostle counsels us, ‘Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”, yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.’ (James 4:13-14) Wise are those who beat the world at its own deceptive game — they give, rather than grab and keep; they lay down rather than take up. Clever are those who do not believe the world’s lies and are not led astray by its allurement of chasing one mirage after another. Blessed are those who act before they are robbed of all they have; they heed the word of our Saviour, ‘Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.’ (Matthew 6:19-21) Happy and fortunate are those who invest while they can where no thief can reach, especially the greatest of all bandits, death itself. This dear man was caught off-guard because he had not prepared for the inevitable. We never know truly how to live until we know how to die. Our Lord teaches us that the path to life passes through the valley of death to oneself and to the world (Matthew 10:39; 16:25-26). Beside comforting and feeling sad for this dear man, the surgeon, there was very little I could do other than earnestly plead with him in this trying hour of his life, while there was still time, to flee into the arms of God. I said that it is better to meet him now as the Saviour before you meet him as the judge. ‘Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return to the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.’ (Isaiah 55:6-7) The door of God’s mercy and grace is open even as we take our last step and our last breath in this world. •

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BOOK REVIEWS BOOK OF THE MONTH THE GOSPEL ACCORDING ENEMIES DAVID J. RANDALL (2022)

CHRIST’S

In the Gospel accounts one can easily see opposition to Christ’s ministry throughout the narratives. Never was a man more criticised and opposed than the Lord Jesus Christ in his earthly ministry. David Randall’s book is a faithful work that describes, elaborates, and expounds upon statements uttered by Christ’s enemies that speak truth. These are unintentional statements, but what man means for evil God uses for good (Cf. Gen.50:20). These sayings occur all throughout the Gospel accounts. A Christian who is acquainted with the Gospel accounts can readily quote several of them. These statements include indictments against Christ for receiving sinners (Luke 15:2), the descriptor applied to him by Pontius Pilate proclaiming him King of the Jews (John 19:19), and the prophecy of the High Priest Caiaphas who prophesied that Jesus would die on behalf of the nation (John 11:51-52). All of these, and many more statements, were spoken by Christ’s enemies intending to discredit or stop Christ and his ministry. However, as Christ always does, he turns these statements on their heads and uses them for his own glory and the Gospel’s furtherance. David Randall writes this work to expound upon those statements of unintended truth and show how even the enemies of Christ proclaim the Gospel. Indeed, Caiaphas, Pilate, and the scoffers who passed by Christ upon the cross were not seeking to proclaim the truths of Christ and the Gospel message to those who were perishing. However, what they said ended up proclaiming the very message of Christ in the Gospel. For instance, when the Scribes and Pharisees jeer at Christ for receiving and eating with sinners, they mean to elevate themselves and discredit Christ’s ministry. Their statement is true. Christ does receive and eat with sinners and tax collectors. Randall wisely expounds each of these statements and applies them to the reader showing that they unintentionally show the truth of Christ’s message. There are many books written about the Gospel and there are many written on the Gospel according to various people including Jesus himself, Peter, Paul, and many others. This is one of the first works that seeks to expound the Gospel according to Christ’s enemies, how they unintentionally speak truthfully about the Gospel, and how that truth brings comfort to the believer. Randall pastorally applies these statements to the believer to comfort them in the Gospel of Christ. The book is worth reading for the believer yearning to apply the truth of Christ and his Gospel to their lives by seeing these statements in the Gospel accounts. The work is well done and well worth a read. This is not a thorough commentary upon the Gospel accounts, but a book that expounds and fleshes out the statements of Christ’s enemies and how they communicate truth. Jesus does receive sinners and tax collectors; he is King of the Jews; he did die on behalf of the people of God, and he did come into the world to save sinners. The Gospel cannot be thwarted nor stopped. Even the enemies of Christ proclaim his truth, showing the sovereignty and wisdom of our God. Randall’s book helps the believer to see how these truths are spoken with ill intent but are used mightily by our Lord. • This book is available from banneroftruth.org/uk/store/ Ethan McCarter, Crumlin Evangelical Presbyterian Church

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CONVERSATIONS BY THE SEA ANDREW ROLLINSON (2023) All those in ordained ministry or those exploring a vocation to it or in training for it would benefit from this book. Rollinson has wide and long experience of local church ministry and has also served as a Ministry Advisor across Scotland. He is a Baptist, but the works he cites are from a wide variety of backgrounds, and what he says is applicable to ministers of all denominations. The fact that this review is written by an English Anglican for the Free Church of Scotland tells its own tale in that respect. I especially valued the wisdom that Rollinson offers for ministers on some issues that are not often tackled in books on ministry. These include the meaty topics of 'Ministry Starvation and its Remedy', 'Ministry Failure and Restoration', 'Self-Awareness and SelfDeception in Ministry', 'Leading when not in Control', and 'Comparisons, Competition and Cul-de-Sacs'. I also appreciated that, above all, Rollinson issues a strong reminder to all ministers that, first and foremost, they are called to BE disciples — to BE followers of Jesus and witnesses to Jesus. They — we — are to BE 'exemplary disciples' and this is far more important than anything we actually DO as ministers. However, it's worth noting that, for those who come looking for a book that is closely inspired by John 21, this isn't the case here. For Rollinson, the final chapter of John's Gospel is essentially an overall framework around which he organises his 'Reflections'. Yes, succeeding verses of that chapter form the starting point for each of those reflections, but sometimes John 21 itself is rather lost to view. But still, the book stands high on its own merits, and I thoroughly recommend it to all my colleagues who serve in ordained ministry. It's certainly a book I will return to often. • This book is available from buy.sanctusmedia.com/store/ Chris Knights, Durham Diocese of the Church of England

ANGOLA IN MY HEART MARGARET SKEA (2023) I really enjoyed reading this very well-written, meticulously researched, book about the life of Ruth Hadley in Angola. From the outset, it highlighted all that Ruth gave up in her desire to be obedient to the Lord’s calling to the Chokwe people, in what were always very challenging — and for a long time very dangerous — circumstances. I particularly enjoyed the enlightening insight into the cultural background of the Chokwe people and the hindrances this posed for Christian faith. In addition, the multi-faceted nature of Ruth’s missionary work was truly amazing. She had to turn her hand to everything and anything, especially when she couldn’t trust native Angolans to do it. I stand in awe of her and call to mind her own words: ‘…but I do not know how I would cope each day if it were not for God’s sustaining grace.’ I found Chapter 7 especially moving when the author writes about the illnesses and death of close family members, with Ruth so far away. It once again underlined how she gave up everything, even her family, for the Lord’s sake. I question whether I could have done that and remain greatly challenged, considering that he gave up everything for us. Read about Ruth’s life; you will be glad you did. • This book is available from amazon.co.uk Judith Lewis, Bedyddwyr Cymraeg, Tabernacl, Llwynhendy

THE RECORD

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER

THE THREE MARYS ALEXANDER MOODY STUART (2023) The Three Marys is a captivating and thought-provoking book that delves into the lives of three remarkable women that a played significant role in the life of Jesus Christ. Moody Stuart weaves a compelling narrative that explores the unique perspectives of these women, whilst inviting readers to embark on a journey of deep reflection of their own Christian walk. The book revolves around the lives of Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, a devoted follower of Jesus, and Mary of Bethany, sister to Martha and Lazarus. While their lives might intersect at various points, each Mary has her own unique experiences, struggles, and relationships that shape her understanding of faith, love, and sacrifice. These three remarkable women offer valuable lessons for Christians to learn from. Through their relationships with Jesus, readers can glean wisdom and inspiration as Moody Stuart skillfully demonstrates how these three Marys lived faithful Christian lives. With a combination of insight and tenderness, The Three Marys offers practical applications that will resonate with all believers. By exploring the stories of these women, Moody Stuart sheds light on the often overlooked role they played in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The book prompts readers to reconsider their understanding of these godly women, encouraging a deeper exploration of their individual lives in the wider gospel narrative. The Three Marys will be a wonderful addition to your bookshelf that offers a fresh and helpful perspective on these extraordinary women. • This book is available from banneroftruth.org/uk/store/ Stuart King, North Harris Free Church

UNCONVENTIONAL SHARON DICKENS (2023) Sharon Dickens is fast becoming a force to be reckoned with in the world of women’s ministry. Working with the 20 schemes in Edinburgh as a women’s worker, dealing with the reality of everyday life on a large housing estate with all its challenges, she has entered the international conference stage to tell other women’s workers about the nitty gritty of practically living out this role. Her style of unashamed humility in servanthood is readable, relevant, and beautifully real. There are two ways to read this book and you need to do both: very fast and very slow. It is such a comprehensible book to read that you want to cram it all into your head in one go. Yet at the same time you don’t want to miss anything so find yourself rereading most of it. She carefully describes the biblical role of women and then applies this to the local church with some surprising results. I found myself questioning my own long-held beliefs about women in the church but did not feel either threatened or dismissive. Rather I felt inspired by her rich thinking which transforms the way we often view leadership in the local church. By her servant attitude to the body of Christ she has brought together diverse groups which have in turn instilled the same holy characteristics in not only women, but also men who have seen her living out the Christian life. Many times, she herself was challenged by her own sinfulness, which she is not ashamed to admit and discuss pithily, without being too self-deprecating. But through it all there is a sense of true godliness and a desire to please the only One that matters – the Lord Jesus Christ. The appendices focus on the giftings of women and the importance of working together particularly in one-to-ones, giving resourceful algorithms. This is a very practical book, but also challenges the deeprooted theology of women working for God. • This book is available from 10ofthose.com Ruth Aird, Penicuik Trinity Community Church

2023

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letter to the Free Church Record I was saddened to see that The General Assembly has discharged the Psalmody and Praise Committee. This is indeed “the end of an auld sang”! I consider it to be a retrograde step. I realise that the Committee’s remit will now be shared by the Offices and the Board of Trustees, but I do not think this is entirely satisfactory. The impression I get from the Committee’s report is that they felt their work was done, apart from dealing with routine correspondence and attending to current publications. I believe that the Free Church should be taking a proactive stance in the matter of praise and particularly with regard to promoting the use of the Psalms in worship and encouraging excellence in sung praise. I hope that the Trustees will set up a Psalmody and Praise “group” of people with special interest and expertise in sung praise to consider the need for a revamped Committee. One problem with a “group” is that it is not directly responsible to the Assembly and has to report though the Board of Trustees. This further distances the matter from the Assembly. I would suggest the following as some of the remit for a re-formed Committee: Examine ways of promoting Psalm singing, especially Sing Psalms, such as giving more prominence to Praise resources on the Free Church website; putting Psalm singing recordings on the site from previous Psalmody recitals and from good congregational singing in recorded worship services; encouraging the formation of local choirs to practise Psalm singing; failing that, to form small groups to produce recordings of Psalms in four part harmony for the website, particularly those less used at present, and to popularise less used and less well-known tunes. More attention could be given to training young precentors. There could also be recordings of Sing Scripture. What about occasional sales of Psalm books produced by the Free Church? One of the downsides of using overheads in church is that fewer people have Psalm books at home. It would be helpful to have them for personal devotions and family worship. With regard to hymn singing, I think it a pity that the Committee decided not to draw up a revised list of suitable hymns a few years ago. With the proliferation of new hymns, worship songs and psalm-based hymns, it would be helpful to select the most suitable of these and to revise the list regularly. Some of the most suitable sources are Graham Kendrick, Stuart Townend, the Gettys, City Alight and Sovereign Grace Music, but there are many other individual composers and groups. While their lyrics are generally Scriptural and their tunes catchy, the general lack of consistent rhyme may grate on the older generation. With regard to Psalm-based hymns or paraphrases, I would not like to see them replacing the metrical Psalms in our worship, as the latter are as close to the original as possible. The promotion of Gaelic Psalmody and spiritual songs should be considered. Surely, with our history, we could be at the forefront of this, rather than rely on BBC Alba’s Alleluia and others. I hope that this plea will stir up a renewed interest in the Psalms and praise in our congregations. God deserves the best we can offer in praise for his grace and mercy in Christ. Donald M MacDonald Edinburgh

Dear Friends As some of you may remember I had the privilege of editing The Instructor and then Compass from 1996 to 2017. Editors were given bound copies of the magazines. I am now at the stage of downsizing my collection of books and would like to find a new home for these ones. If you are interested in having the bound copies, please let me know by email. I will send them to you for the cost of carriage. And I’ll put in a little extra treat, a small collection of copies of Instructor magazines from its beginning in 1906 to its demise. Irene Howat ihowat@aol.com

THE RECORD

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER

Dear Editor The reports from the 2023 General Assembly included in the June/July issue made for interesting and encouraging reading, not least the Moderator’s address, but one caught my eye and quite baffled me. It was to do with the setting up of a group to review the Free Church’s connections with the historic slave trade. There are two questions in my mind: How can the Free Church of Scotland have connections with the Atlantic slave trade which was abolished by law before the denomination ever existed? If the church had, in fact, benefited from agents or accepted funds from individuals who were linked to the trade, why has this not been known and exposed before and why does it need an important group to look into it now, some 200 years later? The genuine worry is that while preoccupying ourselves with the historic slave trade we take our eye off the evil and horrors of slavery and child trafficking that is happening right now. Yours sincerely Crawford Mackenzie

Dear Editor SCOTTISH COUNCIL ON HUMAN BIOETHICS has a ‘videos’ section on their website with: ‘Puberty Blockers for Children: Can They Consent?’ Allowing young children to have mutilating genital surgery or hormonal treatments is controversial. But this 30 minute talk by a retired W. Isles GP is surely one of the best from any of the conflicted parties in a very polarised debate. Are people who promote multiple genders (or gender fluidity) highly vulnerable when their arguments are subjected to meticulous dissection? Dr Latham’s problem, when he presents the evidence against gender transitioning in children, resembles that of preachers. The sheer abundance of evidences, for the resurrection and empty tomb narrative, can be overwhelming! Does exactly the same issue arise for opponents of gender transitioning in children?

James Hardy by email

Dear Editor I write with some disappointment in relation to the Moderator of the Free Church of Scotland, Bob Akroyd, signing the Fair Pay in Social Care Declaration. Four points: 1) There is no biblical warranty for holding the view that social care is the responsibility of the state. It is the responsibility of individuals and the church. 2) It is no business of the Free Church to engage in wage negotiations for employees of the so called “Scottish Government” or any other public body. 3) Is Dr Akroyd signing as an individual or on behalf of the denomination? 4) We certainly should not be joining forces with people like Justice and Peace. Let us read our Bibles more carefully and reach mature conclusions which are not designed to make us look good in the eyes of people with whom we have little or nothing in common. Donald MacKay Adherent, Crow Road

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

2023

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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

churches run foodbanks ? Is a Christians Against Poverty (CAP) Centre part of the mission of the Church? Should we have a speaker from Care at our congregation? We are familiar with the parable of the Good Samaritan. What may escape our notice is that the lightweight heretic shamed the religious classes by showing care above and beyond the call of duty. Motivated by compassion, he bound wounds, applied balm and paid for a night’s accommodation in the local hotel. There was no pay back in terms of addition to the church roll. The guy was not even a Christian! Jesus is unambiguous in his application, “Go and do likewise.” What part of that statement is complex? There is no doubt that social justice and action ministries should be part of the work of a local congregation. The origins of our denomination are rooted in alleviating poverty arising from the potato famine. Free Church people were at the centre of the land struggle of the 19th Century in the Scottish Highlands. May I offer a caveat? Churches are like ER departments in a hospital. We operate a triage system. If you go to the infirmary on a Friday night at 11pm with a paper cut on your finger you will be there until the following Thursday. In the scale of things it’s not a matter of life or death. If you have severe chest pain, nausea and radiating pain to your left arm you will be seen in minutes (hopefully). No-one will even see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. We experience the new birth only by having faith that Jesus has paid for our sins by his death on the cross as a willing substitute. Mission is the Church making disciples from every nation, which leads to teaching and enjoying the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

A healthy gospel church will get these elements as of first importance. Yes, proclamation is far more important than social justice. In fact, it’s in another league as far as importance is concerned. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Yes? He came to proclaim good news to the poor. If it ever becomes ‘old school’ to operate a church forgetting that a person can gain the whole world yet lose their soul we are spiritually anaemic. Before the letters pour in let me clear up confusion. Justice and social concern must flow from a gathering of kingdom people. A local church is a colony of the kingdom of God. It’s an embassy of that kingdom where we represent the values of the King. CH Spurgeon said, ‘If you give a man the gospel, wrap it in a sandwich. And if you give a man a sandwich, wrap it in the gospel.’ We have to be good to all people but especially people of the Church. Read Acts to see the extent to which the early believers looked after themselves before they cared for the wider community. A test I suggest to congregations is this: Ask the question, what do you do that the local Mosque or Mandir can’t do? Go Dharmic is a Hindu notfor-profit which distributes food to the homeless with the slogan, “Love All. Feed All. Serve All.” The answer is that only Christians will tell of the message that only Jesus can save people. He is THE answer. He is the light of the world. Don’t let folks guess this, tell them. Doing good things and advocating the good life as revealed in the Ten Commandments and the whole Bible must belong together. •

hould

THE RECORD

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER

POETRY PAGE IT IS AS IF INFANCY WERE THE WHOLE OF INCARNATION LUCI SHAW One time of the year the new-born child is everywhere, planted in madonna’s arms hay mows, stables, in palaces or farms, or quaintly, under snowed globes, gothic angular or baroque plump, naked or elaborately swathed, encircled by Della Robia wreaths, garnished with whimsical partridges and pears, drummers and drums, lit by oversize stars, partnered with lambs, peace doves, sugar plums, bells, plastic camels in sets of three as if these were what we need for eternity.

Luci Shaw (1928-) is a Christian writer of poetry and essays. Her parents were medical missionaries, and she lived in Canada and Australia, before moving to the USA for college, where she eventually naturalised. She is now Writer in Residence at Regent College, Vancouver, where she lectures on art and spirituality, the Christian imagination, poetry-writing, and journaling as an aid to artistic and spiritual growth. Shaw has published 10 volumes of poetry and many non-fiction books. Several of her poems have been set to music. • Shared with permission.

But Jesus the Man is not to be seen. We are too wary, these days, of beards and sandalled feet. Yet if we celebrate, let it be that he has invaded our lives with purpose, striding over our picturesque traditions, our shallow sentiment, overturning our cash registers, wielding his peace like a sword, rescuing us into reality, demanding much more than the milk and the softness and the mother warmth of the baby in the storefront creche, (only the Man would ask all, of each of us) reaching out always, urgently, with strong effective love (only the Man would give his life and live again for love of us). Oh come, let us adore him — Christ — the Lord.

2023

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OCT-NOV 2023 PRAYER DIARY ‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.’ Hebrews 10:23-24 October Week 1 Edinburgh Theological Seminary’s Saturday Course began in September. Pray for God’s guidance and wisdom to be upon the students and instructors. May this course equip many for effective ministry in the Lord’s service.

November Week 2 On November 29th the Free Church of Scotland will hold its annual National Day of Prayer. Pray that God would guide the prayers of his people for our church and our nation. November Week 3 Pray for all the missionaries connected with the Free Church of Scotland who are serving God around the world. Ask God to protect them, provide for their needs, and grant them courage and perseverance as they share the Gospel wherever they are. Ask the Lord to bless their efforts and use them to bring many to faith in Christ.

October Week 2 Give thanks to the Lord for the Healthy Gospel Church Gatherings in Skye, Wester Ross and Dornoch. Pray that these gatherings inspire a renewed passion for the Gospel in our congregations. October Week 3 Pray for the Commission of Assembly on October 3rd. Ask God for his guidance and wisdom for our leaders. May their decisions and deliberations align with his will for our church.

November Week 4 Pray for our global partners in the Gospel. Thank the Lord for the collaboration and fellowship we share with believers and churches worldwide. May our partnerships be strengthened, and may we continue to work together to advance God’s kingdom and bring glory to his name. •

October Week 4 As Edinburgh Theological Seminary holds an Open Day on October 27th, pray that prospective students would be inspired and called to attend the seminary to further their knowledge of God’s Word.

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

October Week 5 Pray for the ETS Annual Conference on October 28th. Ask God to bless the speakers and attendees as God’s Word is preached and discussed, and that all would be strengthened in their faith and commitment to the Lord. November Week 1 Pray for the Generation Vision Conference on November 11th. Pray that it may ignite a fresh vision for reaching the next generation with the Gospel.

FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND DAY OF PRAYER The Free Church of Scotland Day of Prayer will take place on Wednesday 29th November 2023. Each congregation is encouraged to arrange time for prayer in a way that is suitable for their own situation. To help guide our prayers on the day we will prepare resources and prayer points that will be circulated closer to the time. For now, please save the date in your dairies.

THE RECORD

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER

Ceò anns na glinn (Mist in the glens) LE JANET NICPHÀIL

lè thric, chì duine ceò anns na glinn,

Eu-coltach ris a’ cheò a thig sìos 's a sgaoileas gu math obann, tha gach nì anns na nèamhan ann, agus bithidh. A-rèist, nuair a tha sluagh a’ Chruthaidheir air an toirt à dorchadas an t-saoghail-sa gu baile làn solas, nach iad a bhios air an dòigh 's iad air cala a ruighinn mu dheireadh thall? B’e dòchas a’ chalasa a chùm iad a’ dol anns an t-saoghal-sa. Chan eil an saoghal-sa idir na àite far nach eil aon nì math a’ gabhail àite. Tha iomadh deagh ghnìomh anns an t-saoghal-sa ann an caochladh dhòighean, ach thig beatha gach duine gu ceann, luath neo mall, 's mar sin, bhiodh e gòrach dhuinn a bhith a' taiceachadh cus air nithean an t-saoghail-sa. Fàgaidh iadsan sinne, air neo fàgaidh sinne iadsan aig àm air chor-eigin. Nach e an Cruthaidhear a bha tròcaireach a rinn cinnteach gum biodh dòchas ann dhuinn? Ghràdhaich Esan gu mòr, 's thug Esan an Nì a b’ fheàrr a bh’Aige airson Slaint’ a chosnadh dhuinne. Nach ann an sin a tha an tiodhlac air nach gabh prìs a chur?

aig amannan sònraicht’ den bhliadhna, a-rèir far a bheil dachaigh air a suidheachadh. Is e sealladh air leth àlainn a tha seo, agus chì duine a’ cheò a’ sgaoileadh 's i a’ coimhead cho mìn. Caillidh sinn sealladh air taighean agus air baile an uair a thig a’ cheò sìos, ach cha bhi e fada sam bith gus am bi an sealladh sin air atharrachadh gu tur. Nach eil seo a' toirt a-steach oirnn’ cho neochinnteach 's a tha beatha gach duine air thalamh? Bidh sinn aig aon àm làidir, agus ann an ùine glè ghoirid a-mach à sealladh. Nach leugh sinn na facail, ‘Is deatach mo bheatha’. Cha leig an nì a leas a bhith mòr airson ar toirt às an t-saoghal-sa. Is e beatha neo-chinnteach a th’againn, ach a dh'aindheoin sin, chì sinn daoine a’ dol mun cuairt, 's iad a’ coimhead cho làidir, agus chanadh sinn nach biodh e furast’ iadsan a ghluasad, ach, chan ann mar sin a tha a’ chùis. Chan eil duine neoghluasadach ann. ‘Gairmidh Esan, agus freagraidh sinne’. 'S dòcha gu bheil cuid a’ smaoineachadh gu bheil seo uile brònach, gun dòchas air bith, ach chan ann mar sin a tha a’ chùis. Tha nithean neo-ghluasadach ann, agus 's fhiach e dhuinne a bhith a’ gabhail grèim teann orra. Tha Facal Dhè seasmhach, agus tha A gheallaidhean agus A bhagraidhean cinnteach cuideachd. Gabhaidh an saoghal seachad, ach dhaibhsan a chreid na thuirt Dia, tha nithean mòran nas fheàrr air thoiseach orra, àite far nach bi càil a nì buaireadh no doilgheas dhaibh tuilleadh. Tha an sùil ri àite làn beatha, le ceòl, le òrain, 's le luchd-seinn a' sìor mholadh,'s abair gum bi an ceòl sin iongantach! ‘Seinnidh teanga a’ bhalbhain.’ Nach eil e na chùis-iongnaidh nach eil barrachd dhaoine ag iarraidh a bhith a’ smaoineachadh air an àite-sa, oir cha bhi bàs neo càil neo-chinnteach anns an àite?

2023

Nas prìseile nar sùilean-ne na bha E o chionn bliadhn’ sinn a’ faicinn Gràdh a cheannaich sluagh le bàs àmhgharach thug buaidh air cumhachdan an dorchadais an uaigh, 's Nàmhaid A shluaigh. Nach b’e sin a’ mhadainn iongantach an uair a dh’èirich E le buaidh? Nach tuig sinn bhon cheò 's na glinn cho goirid 's a tha tìm 's cho fada sa tha sìorraidheachd cha ghabh e idir inns’. Nach dèan sinn roghainn cinnteach a bhith a' taiceachadh air Aon a bheir sinne dhachaigh sàbhailt’ a-mach à sàrachadh an t-saoghail. •

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BY CATRIONA MURRAY

POST TENEBRAS LUX I

our private thoughts; we have no such scruple with ourselves. Growing up, I heard plenty of counsel against self-love. Indeed, the Bible is full of warnings against this trap. But Colossians 3 also says, ‘clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience’. We very naturally think about this as relating to our approach to others — ‘clothe’ perhaps tending to evoke a sense of our outward appearance and demeanour — yet I think the advice is to be applied universally, otherwise our kindness and gentleness et cetera, really is nothing more than a garment which can be cast off without much thought. How we are when we are alone is how we truly are. Forget for a moment the adage that we should treat others as we ourselves wish to be treated, and perhaps turn it on its head. Wouldn’t our inner monologue be much sweeter if we were to treat ourselves like dear friends? Perhaps we would respond positively to such gentleness; maybe our conduct would improve, and we might even end up by being genuinely kinder people. Christ, in his walk through this world, epitomised selflessness — but even he practised what we now call self-care. He drew aside from crowds, whether it was to take a nap in the boat, or to pray to his Father, knowing that it is impossible for any human to be loving and giving if they have not taken care of their own spiritual and physical needs first. ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’, Jesus said. He does not place either one above the other, nor does he chastise people for loving themselves. All the Lord is saying to us — and he is always perfectly consistent in his counsel — is that we are to love in equal measure. He, of course, does not say that we should obsess about, or worship ourselves (or others, for that matter). Ultimately, if we place our worshipful love where it ought to go, all other things will flow from that. Loving God as we should makes it impossible not to love our neighbours. The question is do we love him as we should, in the quietness of our own hearts? •

n this era of memes and mantras and cheap pop psychology , we might occasionally come across the odd piece of advice that actually has some

substance to it . Now, don’t worry, I am not about

to tell you what to do if life gives you lemons, nor yet say a word about dancing in the rain, rather than waiting for the storm to pass. Platitudes help no one. However, I am a subscriber to the view that we should learn to speak to ourselves more kindly. I would imagine we have all done something illjudged, only to berate ourselves for it afterwards. We call ourselves ‘stupid’, or ‘gullible’, or any number of awful epithets that we would not (I hope) dream of chucking at anyone else. If a friend finds herself in that kind of difficulty, I do not immediately denounce her as an idiot, or ask ‘why on earth did you do that’? No, I try to reassure her that it’s an understandable mistake, that it’s fixable, that no one died... So, why do we find it so easy to be empathetic to our friends and family, yet allow our inner voices to bully and talk down to ourselves? Sometimes, I might drop a glass, or put the phone in the fridge (yes, really) and I will say to myself, ‘well, that was stupid’. In sillier moments, the ‘voice’ of my cat might chime in judgementally, telling me I’m losing myself and getting doddery, and that she might be about to put me in a home. We then get into a bit of a debate, which I always lose because of her superior wit and intellect. These are not the kinds of exchanges I’m talking about, however — these are just some of the ways that people who live alone amuse themselves. (What? No, I’m sure it’s not just me.) Recently, I went through an experience in which I really did question my own behaviour and judgement. After several miserable days, I realised that I was being incredibly, unfairly harsh on myself. I started to imagine that it was one of my friends or my sister in the same situation, and thought about what I would say to them — and it was nothing like the vitriol I had poured upon my own head. With others, we are conscious of avoiding the appearance of being judgemental, whatever

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OCTOBER/NOVEMBER

The Record - October/November 2023

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POST TENEBRAS LUX

Women for Mission News

How Faith & Feminism Have Changed The World