Homecoming

I went home on Sunday Morning to the church where I spent the first 20 years of my life and to the first baptist Church in Scotland that employed me to serve them. Apart from being repeatedly told how much I look and sound like my Dad by those who could remember me when I was in short trousers (and they have the photo's to prove it) I found it a really refreshing and liberating experience.

Amongst the well kent faces of my youth were new faces and new stories eagerly told. The young people had been to a recording studio the day before to record a single, a young mother who had first visited the churches toddlers group had recently come to faith and been baptised. Today they were begining a joint venture with the local church of Scotland and the Bible Society when the Bibleworld exhibition would pull into town and provide classes for all p5's-p7's. The Pastor is being given greater opportunities in the local secondary school and a holiday club was being planned for primary school children in the summer holidays.

I was delighted to see that what I remembered from my youth was still the essence of this church, energy, commitment, heart felt worship and a depth of welcome to the stranger. Their evident desire was that those they encountered in that little town "would see Jesus."

It was also a clear reminder that statistics in a year book do not tell the whole story. Statisticaly I'm certain there have been days when they were a dozen members better off and yet I would have to question if they have ever been as healthy as they are today. There is a bigger story to be told than the one our year book stats will tell.

Please join me in prayers of thanksgiving for Denny Baptist Church, that gave me so much, and ask the Father to bless all that they offer to their community today in Jesus name.