Since starting Re:Hope here in Glasgow, I have found myself constantly wishing there were more hours in the day. Our building situation has been a major time drainer – requiring us to be always on the look-out for a more permanent location. Thankfully, we have gained some stability in Kelvin Stevenson, but with the introduction of a mid-week service in November this has brought a new challenge for myself and the staff. I find myself struggling to keep my head above water.
At the end of 2009, we decided to advertise a part-time administrative position to help alleviate some of the pressure.
Ryan joined us in the 2nd week of January and has taken care of a myriad of tasks - from making the powerpoint presentations for both services each week to writing text for various different websites, designing and printing announcement sheets for each service, ordering office supplies, putting up notice-boards in the office etc etc etc - all duties I was doing myself before he joined us, and duties that were zapping my time and making me feel like I was always trying to catch up! Ryan is Northern Irish and a graduate of the University of Glasgow and has been serving at the church for the last few years.
Having an extra pair of hands on staff has been invaluable and I am finding I can now afford to concentrate more on things like the direction of the church. For the first time since we started Re:Hope we are now looking beyond a 5 year plan and are able to consider what the church will/should look like by 2020 or 2030. We have a few different websites which have been on the back-burner for months now, but which are now roaring to life - I am amazed at how much we’ve been able to achieve in the last two weeks alone.
I am now able to invest my time in certain aspects of the church which perhaps require attention. I feel that we are in a position to move quickly and effectively in whichever direction God calls us. I am incredibly excited to see what the next few months will bring! We are so thankful for Ryan joining our staff.
This week we have stepped into an exciting new era in our church’s story.
Our new office provides us with a permanent base - somewhere to work, hold meetings and prepare for our 2 weekly services.
Once again, God has richly blessed us in providing for our needs. Not only is the office spacious, allowing us plenty of room and a very pleasant location for meeting and working, but it is well equipped (with internet, phones, storage, office furniture etc.).
The team and I are excited to see what the new year will bring - the prospect of having a more permanent base and the stability that this will inevitably bring to our situation.
As I sit here, nervously awaiting the debut of the ‘office prank,’ I want to thank you all for your prayers and support in 2009 and urge you to keep praying that God would be glorified through our work in Glasgow in the incoming year.
At the end of every year Kellie and I host our staff Christmas party. This year more than 20 of us gathered to celebrate the year and a bit of Christmas together. As you can see from the pictures our team has many hands. Many people are working hard to advance this work in Glasgow.
In the pictures you see that we really do like each other and enjoy being together. It is so special to co-labour for Jesus with people I love and respect -it is so right and yet so rare. I am thankful.
May God continue to bless us with a spirit of unity and love as we enter a new year running after Jesus Christ together.
Just over a week ago I found myself sitting in an old church building in Scotland listening to young men honing their teaching skills. The weekend was called “Simply Holy Spirit.” A weekend of teaching our people some of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, some about spiritual gifts, and some about the fruit of the Spirit.
Todd Weller put together the vast majority of the content and coordinated the teaching effort. There were two focuses for the weekend. First, to teach our people about the Holy Spirit. Second, to train and give opportunities for young people to explore teaching or worship leading gifts.
Our church is both a church and a mission. Although we are clearly a local church, which gathers weekly to worship and learn and spur one another on towards love and good deeds, we are not just a local church. We are also a mission to Glasgow and to Scotland. What I saw in these young teachers made me smile, knowing God is rising up a new generation of preachers who have the potential of seeing thousands return to believing in Jesus Christ, convinced that God is who the bible says he is, and certain that God will do everything he says he will do.
Last Sunday marked our first service in our new location, and I must say the building is striking and incredible!
The first thing I noticed when I stood up to start the service was the spiritual brick walls I was constantly fighting through at the Queen Margaret Union felt completely absent. There is something special about worship and bible teaching in a location saturated in years of prayer, bible teaching, and faithful following of Jesus Christ.
My biggest encouragement in this whole process (and there are many) has been the warm and genuine welcome from the leadership of Kelvin Stevenson Memorial Church. They exude a love and maturity in Christ that blows me away.
Here are some pictures of our new location. Yes, it is stunning. No, the pews are actually not bad as they are padded and well spaced. God has proven once again that he still hears prayers by doing something so amazing for us and I am filled with joy.
First of all, after months of searching, many “No’s”, and a global prayer effort we have finally received a “Yes!”
Kelvin Stevenson Memorial Church (just a short walk away) has voted to allow us use of their building on Sunday afternoon/early evening; AS WELL AS THURSDAY NIGHTS.
We are also launching a mid-week Thursday night service!!!
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Secondly, on another exciting note, our church is teaching a bible overview course this weekend using pictures, maps, and time-lines. It seems there is much confusion on when certain people and events take place in relation to each other in scripture.
We have been working so hard to find a place for our church to meet but so far we have received “no” after “no”. I cannot believe how many places have turned us down or been too expensive.
In the past week I have personally viewed 3 location possibilities. One was too small, one had inconsistent availability, and one makes me quite hopeful—it’s not a “no” yet.
Our time at the Queen Margaret Union is becoming increasingly difficult. The union has been incredible to work with, but now that the university is starting up again our presence is clearly straining. They have been flexible to keep us thus far, but we need a place soon.
This week we will be turning in a proposal to rent from a local church and we could use some prayer. They will be evaluating our proposal this week and next. I hope to hear back from them in two weeks time.
I could really use some respite from the strain of this uncertainty and instability. If this is not the right place may God open another door soon.
Our team is thrilled for Brian and Shauna Luse who are expanding Jesus’ work in Scotland at Renfrew Baptist Church just a few miles outside Glasgow. I will be speaking at their induction this Saturday. Brian will begin preaching there this Sunday. It seems the whole community of Renfrew is excited about Brian’s arrival; I spoke to a man on the street in Renfrew today who had never attended the church but knew about the new minister arriving soon.
The church in Renfrew made a bunch of these great flyers.
This is now our 5th ‘no’ on the same building and our 2nd rejected formal offer (the first was in 2006). It will be interesting to see where things go from here. Our highest priority is to find a great and affordable location for our church beginning in mid-September and then to sort out our longer-term plan.
This may not be the end of our building quest, but it is definitely a ‘no’ for now.
