Scotland Update 2: Church and Gospel Conversations

   Today we started the day refreshed with a full night of sleep after the long travel day before. We arrived early at Glenrothes Baptist Church and were greeted with so many hospitable welcomes and “glad you all made it”! It was good to worship with other brothers and sisters that we have never met but are united in the gospel.  Once again God used Nathan to share His Word as he preached this morning, and we all were blessed by it.

   We spent a few hours with a couple from GBC at their home for lunch and enjoyed their hospitality and company. We took a nice one-hour walk back to the church and had a chance to get to know one another more as a team as well as Stephanie, a member of GBC and our host for the afternoon.

    Back at the church we help set up for the “Christmas Explored” dinner event hosted by GBC. “Christmas Explored” is evangelistic event where the church hosts a meal and presents the Christmas story through scripture reading, singing and intentional table discussions. About half of those attending were unbelievers.

Our team was sprinkled among the tables, and we were able to have gospel conversations surrounding the Savior. One story Katie shared was that she was able to talk at length with a lady who used to be a part of the Church of Scotland but no longer attends church. She seems somewhat opposed to church because of some past hurt at church. She currently has a husband who is in full time care for dementia. Katie got to hear about her life and discuss how hope will never be found in governments or leaders but in Christ. Katie was able to pray for her and her husband. The day gave us the opportunity to have good conversations with church members and those who were attending the dinner event.

A couple of other prayer request would be for a man who has been attending the church for many years now but has experienced severe medical challenges off and on for 25 years. He is doing well now, and said God has been faithful which is encouraging to hear. Pray that he will be used by God to bring comfort and faith to others with medical issues as there are a lot of those stories. And pray for another man who is currently attending the church for 5 plus years now but has an undiagnosed medical condition that is very painful and has been going on for years. He has an upcoming appointment so please pray for answers, healing and that he would continue to trust in the Lord knowing that the Lord is always good in all circumstances. His words were, “it hasn’t beat me”.

-Mark and Katie Pierce