The Finish Line

We're getting ready to finish the last session here at St. Columba's and it has been a wonderful week. From the lectures covering the material, to the small groups, to the discussion round tables concerning revitalization in the Church of Scotland, this has been an enriching and enlightening time with our brothers here in Glasgow and its environs. This afternoon there was a lively discussion on how to revitalize an entire denomination, especially concerning the authority of the Scripture over the church. The pastors and ministers are longing for revival to sweep through their churches and their denominations. It is so clear on their faces and in their hearts, in the words they speak and the prayers they pray.

There are many encouraging signs as well. There is a group of evangelical churches in the East End of Glasgow from which all the pastors have attended the conference. They want to bring Harry back to speak to their congregations and to their sessions to share the vision of revitalization. We have two pastors from Belfast and its environs who have been so excited by the feast of learning the Lord has laid before them. There is a gentleman who is a minster to graduate students at Oxford University who is shepherding the next generation of thinkers and intellectuals. Some of the pastors actually pastor two churches at the same time. But all of them have a passion for the gospel of Christ and for the Church of Scotland.

The course finishes up with discussions of small group ministry and implementation of ministry strategies. Pray for our brothers in Christ as they wrestle with how to apply the scriptural truths and the practical applications discussed in their churches. Many of them are facing up hill battles -- both in their congregations and also in their sessions. One wonderful out flow of this time is that several of the pastors have committed to meeting together to encourage one another every other week. Their wives have discussed beginning a support group of pastors' wives to support each other and encourage their husbands. There are so many exciting things coming out of this one small conference!

John Fairful says, "Thank you, Briarwood, for allowing your Pastor and his team to come over and encourage us in our ministries. It really has been great." The sentiment has been shared among many of the brethren here.

As we get ready to finish the conference, we will be having a barbecue together (British for "cook-out") this evening, a time of fellowship and worship. Many of the pastors will have to go back to their congregations and they will not have the benefit of the next section of the course, Fanning the Flame. Pray for them as they go back to their homes, as they commit to each other, to their denomination, to their families, and to their congregations. We have truly been blessed by being able to service the body of Christ here in Scotland. Pray that the Lord's blessings will be poured out on all of the men here, their ministries and their families.