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Reaching Thai people...Page 2

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Compassion in ChinaPage 16

News fromThe Moderator

Page 10

CHINA PHOTOS (...cont.)

Liu Chenquan with Maggu Whyte from the Friends of the Chucrh in China

Inside the damaged Mianzhu Church

An exciting opportunity is coming in 2011, as Laura Mackenzie reminds us.

“Forget South Africa 2010, It’s Scotland 2011”

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Forget South Africa, It’s Scotland 2011

Homecoming atMillerston

Calvin & The State

Reaching Thai people in the UK together

Love Life - Live Lent Missionary Prayer Points

World Missionary “All you cant leave behind”

Easter Scheme 2010:North Korea

Training Opportunities News from The Moderator Compassion in China

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Editorial

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In this Issue...

‘The evangelisation of the world in this generation’ was the passionate theme running through the World Mission Conference in Edinburgh in 1910 and that’s not a bad passion to have! The then Archbishop of Canterbury took partin the conference and said that ‘the place of missions in the life of the Church must be the central place and none other’.

Do ‘missions’ or mission have the central place in the life of the church today? If we look at our own congregations,does mission have that central place, does it have the central focus in meetings of our kirk sessions etc? What are we passionate about today? What are we doing to engage in evangelism where we are and further afield?

Mission – and missions – are very much the focus of this issue of Stedfast as we prepare for Missionary Sunday later in February. Hopefully this encourages us to take a greater interest in what is going on in different places around the world and in the UK. And there is the opportunity for us all to engage in mission as we prepare for the visit of the young people from UCCSA in 2011.

Are we spending our time doing the things Jesus calls us to be busy about?

John Fulton

The World Cup is being held in South Africa this year and there is a lot of excitement surrounding it, but there is something far more exciting happening here in 2011. A group of young people from the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa, and a group of young people from the UF church will work together for three weeks, spreading the word of God in and around Scotland! These young people have a passion for sharing their faith; let us put that to good use!

This is an amazing opportunity for us to come together and look at sharing the Gospel with those in our communities. The young people are open to coming to your congregation to assist with outreach work that you are already involved with, or help you to begin a new initiative. Are there unreached people in your community? Then here is a wonderful opportunity to share the word of God with those people either through a series of special services, or by the team

going into the local school, perhaps a Summer mission, detached work in the community, maybe even some musical items in the local shopping centre with leaflets being given out inviting people for coffee at the church or to services. The possibilities are endless!

What could you do with a team in your congregation? This is not just open to congregations with young people, it’s open to any congregation that wants to be involved in evangelism andsharing their faith with their community. The team will be made of around 12 young people covering the 5 Synods of UCCSA that is Mozambique, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe. They will work with a team of 10-12 young people from the UF Church as a group of smaller teams which will allow us to take on more projects. What you choose to do doesn’t need to last a whole week; it could be a weekend or a few evenings. The teams will work together with the congregations on whatever projects are suggested

and decided upon. We had a series of meetings when the leaders of the Southern African team were over here and the excitement has been building ever since! The planning for the trip has begun and now we need your suggestions.

This is an exciting time as congregations begin to explore what they could do and we begin to think about the application process for the young people in both Southern Africa and here. The team which went to South Africa in 2008 came home challenged and changed. So, what could you do in your setting to be part of this amazing opportunity? South Africa 2010 will be exciting I’m sure but wait for Scotland 2011 and see what God will do with our teams and congregations! Please let us have your ideas at the Church Office so that we can begin to put them to the leaders of the teams and see where God takes us! We still have the freedom in our country to share our faith, let’s relish that and get involved!

Reminders of the visit in 2008

Wellington, Meegan and Kudzani who visited from UCCSA

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In 2005 they returned from East Asia, and were looking to God for the next stage of their ministry. Here they share with us how they have been lead ..

“Not more immigrants coming here!” we sometimes complain, seeing our small British Isles getting even more crowded. But for Christians there is a positive aspect as well - we have been given a new opportunity to fulfil the Great Commission! If we can’t go to them, then God has brought them to us! People who could not hear the Gospel before now are able to do so.

People arriving from overseas often feel lonely and unwelcome. Sometimes they struggle with language, or prejudice, or homesickness. In many cases they are curious about our culture and our religion. So what a marvellous opportunity to express the love of Christ to them in practical ways, and then as trust is formed, to share the Gospel.

A NEW MINISTRY

On our return to the UK in 2005 we discovered that there are approximately 50,000 Thai people living in this country, with only a tiny number (0.3%) being Christian. It appeared that there was almost no pastoral or evangelistic work being done amongst them.

The Thai believers were widely scattered, and often did not attend Church. Usually they found the biblical language too difficult to understand, and their personal spiritual issues (eg dealing with ancestor worship, or the demonic world) were not addressed. If they were married to a non-Christian UK husband, they invariably got little fellowship at all, and mostly knew of no other Thai believers with whom they could relate.

Seeing both the plight of the UK Thai believers on the one hand, and the great spiritual need of the 50,000

Thai on the other, we committed our ongoing ‘missionary service’ to reaching the Thai in the UK. Based in Manchester, we could have an outreach to them throughout the UK.

The aims of our new ministry gradually emerged. First we would seek to befriend and bring the Gospel to local Thai people. Many of them work in Thai food restaurants, so we welcomed an invitation to teach English weekly in one of these. This has spread to 2 other restaurants, and many good contacts and friendships have resulted.

For the existing Thai believers, we would seek to provide the fellowship/ teaching/ encouragement that they needed. Then we would encourage them to reach out to their non-Christian Thai friends with the Gospel.

CARING FOR THE THAI BELIEVERS We recognize the importance of Thai believers attending a local church. We often go with them at first, and try to introduce them to church members who will give them a ‘substantial’

welcome – not just a warm handshake, but time, friendship, home hospitality, and sometimes practical help(such as filling in government forms!). At the same time we have seen the great value of Thai believers being linked together, so that they can mutually encourage one another in their own language. One of theways of doing this has been to form small Thai fellowship groups in different centres.

Fellowship group meetings include hymn singing, bible study, and prayer for one another – all in Thai – as well as eating Thai food together! At present we have 5 groups in England, with 3 others we hope will begin this year. In Scotland there is a regular group in Edinburgh, and plans for an additional one in Glasgow. Each of the groups is constantly reaching out, and we have a steady flow of newcomers, with decisions for Christ made when they are ready.

To further strengthen fellowship, we have a ‘fellowship day’ (which lasts most of the weekend!) 3 times a year. Thai believers from all over England and Scotland head to our home in Manchester for these. Also last August we had our first residential camp/conference, which saw some 50 Thai & foreigners attend for 4 days of rich fellowship and bible teaching.

Thai Literature and preaching CDs we make available to the Thai believers for their own use, and also to give to others who are enquiring about the Christian faith. We also produce and distribute a monthly prayer-news letter in Thai, which has further built up fellowship.

ENCOURAGING RESULTS

Thai believers seem to really appreciate the opportunity to be in touch with each other. As they share in fellowship times together around God’s word, their faith and joy in the Lord visibly grows! Their desire to witness to other Thai seems to be a natural outcome of their ‘re-kindled’ faith, and we have seen a steady flow of Thai people being reached for the Lord.

REACHING THAI PEOPLE IN THE UK TOGETHER!

David and Mary Robinson have worked as missionaries in South East Asia for 33 years, with 23 years being in Thailand and 10 years in Cambodia. During that time they were in church planting and medical ministries, and leading missionary teams. They have had a close connection with our Milngavie church for some time, and have appreciated the prayer and support that our UF churches have given them.

Many of the Thai return to their home country for a visit each year, but now they go with a determination to share the Gospel with their loved ones back there. During this last year 3 of the believers returning to Thailand have lead their mothers to faith in Christ.

With 5 groups and other centres countrywide needing regular visits, we cover many 100’s of miles each month. We spend many hours with the believers and enquirers, listening, encouraging, and guiding in God’s way. We are warmly received at each place we visit, and are happy recipients of Thai hospitality and delicious Thai food!

And the future?

Looking ahead, we see the need to build up Thai leadership in each of the groups, and also to have national oversight of the ‘Network of Thai Christians (UK)’ movement that has emerged. In each place we also look for local UK Christians who can mentor and encourage our Thai brethren in their service for the Lord. Within the next 5 years we hope to see a string of new Fellowship Groups come into being countrywide, so that no Thai believer in the UK is out of reach from a place of encouragement and blessing. Please pray with us to this end!

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Mr ‘Joy’ was actually a fairly miserable person. As a young Thai man growing up in Bangkok, he had been taken to church by his parents; but it was a rather formal place, and he failed to find a living faith of his own. After completing his bachelor’s degree in Thailand, he moved to the UK to do a master’s degree at a university in the Midlands. But due to difficulties in English, studying in a Western way, and misunderstandings about his course, he despaired about making progress. He found difficulty in making friends, the weather was too cold for him, and the church he tried to attend took no interest in this ‘different looking’ outsider.

‘Coincidentally’ Joy met a Thai believer, Mr Cedar, also studying at the same university. About the same time a church leader emailed us to say that Cedar had visited his church, and wondered if we would like to be in touch with him. Two months later we went to the Midlands for a meal with Cedar, and met Joy as well. Eventuallythe two of them came to Manchester for a Thai Fellowship Day; Cedar fitted in well – Joy was somewhat overwhelmed, as it was his first exposure to vibrant Christian fellowship.

After that Joy would not come to any more Fellowship Days. Cedar had returned to Thailand, and Joy said he was too scared to travel on the train by himself. We persevered with keeping in touch, and a local British Christian invited him to Christmas dinner. Another British Christian helped him with his Thesis translation. We then invited Joy to come to the Thai believers Camp (in the Lake District), and amazingly he came!

He greatly enjoyed it, and had a real experience of coming to know God personally. And God gave him a new boldness to travel on the trains by himself!! Everyone prayed further, and he passed his Master’s degree. He then went on tour throughout the UK (by train!) to stay with all the Thai Christianshe had met at camp.

At the last Fellowship Day before he returned to Thailand, he gave testimony to the fact that he now had a living faith in the Lord; and that he had experienced personally the wonder of belonging to the people of God – never in all his life had he experienced such loving care. Now he was determined to serve the Lord back in his home country – as a ‘joyful’ man!

MR

.JO

Y ‘The Evangelisation of the World in this Generation’

history of mission, the starting point of the modern theology of mission; the high point of the modern Western missionary movement and the point from which it declined; the launch-pad of the modern ecumenical movement; the point at which Christians first began to glimpse something of what a world church would be like’.

Following on from the Conference, a Continuation Committee was set up which became the International Missionary Council which became part of the World Council of Churches in 1961. Indeed the World Council of Churches can also be seen to stem from Edinburgh 1910.

The significance of the 1910 event is seen in the fact that four international conferences are taking place this year. In addition to the Edinburgh 2010 event, the Lausanne Movement (for world evangelisation) and the World Evangelical Alliance are holding a major conference in Cape Town in October in which it is anticipated over 4,000 evangelical leaders.

This third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelisation will bring together leaders from more than 200 countries to confront a number of critical issues including other world faiths, poverty, HIV/AIDS and persecution as they relate to the future of the Church andworld evangelisation.

The Global Mission Consultation and Celebration will take place in Tokyo in May and bring together delegates from a wide number of mission agencies for an ‘in depth’ consultation on world mission. Then in November theological students from around the world will gather in Boston for a conference on ‘The Changing Contours of World Mission and Christianity’ as they seek to discern a vision for mission in the 21st Century.

The fact that four such events are taking place this year reflects the significance of what took place in Edinburgh one hundred years ago.A reminder that we are part of a world Church and that mission is central to the life of the Church.

Some have seen the 1910 conference as a defining moment for the modern Western missionary movement. Although a number of similar conferences have taken place over the years, none had the same sense of significance both for those taking part at the time and for those looking back later.

Before the conference there were 8 Commissions set up which worked for two years on a number of topics to form the main part of the conference programme:

1. Carrying the Gospel to all the Non-Christian World2. The Church in the Mission Field3. Education in Relation to the Christianization of National Life4. Missionary Message in Relation to the Non-Christian World5. The Preparation of Missionaries6. The Home Base of Missions7. Missions and Governments8. Co-Operation and the Promotion of Unity

The aim of the organising committee was that it should be a ‘united effort to subject the plans and methods of the whole missionary enterprise to searching investigation and to coordinate missionary experience from all parts of the world’. The conference came at a time when new possibilities for travel and communication made possible by the steamship opened up new opportunities for mission. The then Archbishop of Canterbury, Randall Davidson, took part and stated that ‘the place of missions in the life of the Church must be the central place and none other. This placed mission and the missionary movement at the heart of the Church’s life in a way that had not been the case previously. It also brought together people from a wide range of theological positions united in a recognition of the vital importance of worldwide mission.

Reviewing the conference in his book ‘The Cross-Cultural Process’, Andrew Wallis says ‘It was a landmark in the

This was the theme running through a very significant conference which took place in Edinburgh in 1910. In June of this year another conference will take place in Edinburgh to mark the centenary. Yet many of those reading this article have probably never heard of the 1910 Conference which took place in the Assembly Hall in Edinburgh which, of course, belonged to the then United Free Church of Scotland.

Between 14 and 23 June 1910, the conference brought together 1,200 delegates from foreign missions societies which were actively supporting missionaries in the field and spending no less than £2000 on their foreign work annually. Each society was entitled to send another delegate for every additional £4000 spent. The delegates came mainly from North America and Northern Europe. It was agreed in advance that the Conference would only deal with missionary work among non-Christian peoples; it would only address the most urgent and immediate problems facing the Church; no opinion on ecclesiastical or doctrinal questions would be expressed by the Conference.

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At the General Assembly last June I said, tongue in cheek, that I looked forward to being inundated with requests for training. This has not happened, so far! Not that I really expected it to and there have been a couple of requests for training. However, there does appear to be a certain reluctance to use the training resources that we have available to us.

In a time where we are short of full time ministers and Kirk Sessions and congregations have to be more ‘self-sufficient’, I would have thought that more training might have been sought. The workshop on “Eldership Tomorrow – The Kirk Session” suggests that some of the things traditionally carried out by Elders could be carried out by members of the congregation. This may release Elders for other duties and would allow members to play a fuller role in church life. Pastoral care is another area where Elders and members can work together and I know that some churches already have pastoral groups. There is a wealth of training material available for pastoral

care from basic listening skills to visiting in bereavement. By early summer we should have new material regarding “Children in hospital, people with learning difficulties, dementia and terminal illness”

Other training available includes “Exploring Eldership” which looks at the Elder as leader and the Elder as pastor. I would recommend this for any prospective or newly elected Elders. However, it can also be used by long established Kirk Sessions as a reminder of what they committed to at their ordination. It is so easy to be distracted from the real task. We also have workshops on Prayer and developing the prayer life of the congregation and on Faith Sharing and Leading Worship. I recently completed the ‘Leading Worship’ series with our Wishaw Kirk Session and was delighted to hear that they had participated in a service based on the training that they had received and were looking forward to participating in further services.The workshops are all based on sharing

experiences and are designed to let folk consider how they can do things differently or try new things out. To build confidence and to enhance existing skills.

We don’t really want to be inundated with requests, as the three trainers are kept fairly busy with other duties. However, should it reach the stage where we cannot cope we can call on the Church of Scotland training network as we use the same materials. I have a regular slot at Wishaw every other month and am leading a training day at Cumnock in February and have spoken about training to one or two others without fixing dates. Each presbytery has an Adult trainer please make use of them!

Let me leave you with several quotations….

“Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes.” (Oscar Wilde)

“If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail.” (Abraham Maslow)

“It’s all to do with the training: you can do a lot if you’re properly trained.” (The Queen)

ELDER TRAINING PAYS OFF!

Rev Peter de Villiers tells us of the value of an elders’ training course at Wishaw

Many hours of elder training paid off when elders of the Wishaw United Free Church shared in a family service recently. This was a different service from the one-man shows the congregation had grown used to over the years.

The elders had just completed the training course, How To Lead Worship, led by the Christian Education Convener of the United Free Churchof Scotland, Gordon Steel.

Near the end of the course they had to put together a worship service. The challenge was to do something that was participatory and out of the usual.

The elders decided to replace the normal sermon with a dialogue put together by themselves, Expecting the Unexpected, based on Scripture passage Mark 13. 35 - 37.....

Almost all the elders were involved, doing the prayers, readings and dialogue, giving the minister a welcome break from taking the entire service.

It was three years ago that the Kirk Session took the decision to avail themselves of the training services offered by the Christian Education Team. Training is done every second month following the Session meeting. When one course is completed, another one is embarked upon. The Session is now busy with their fourth course, Eldership Tomorrow.

Elders have found all the courses informative, challenging and relevant to their calling. Apart from better equipping them for their tasks, the courses have become a time to share ideas, having fellowship, growing spiritually and building better relationships which make them function more efficiently as a team.

And the congregation? Well, they were very appreciative of the worship service led by their elders having found it uplifting. The elders were greatly encouraged and experienced a sense of achievement. They are looking forward to the next worship service to be led by them. Such is the confidence gained by opening themselves up to being trained!

TRAININGOPPORTUNITIES

Gordon Steel reminds us of opportunities available for us to better equipped for the work we are seeking to do.

It was interesting to read about “Back to Church Sunday” in the last edition of Stedfast. While we at Millerston were aware of this initiative, as it was a year of “Homecoming” in Scotland, we decided to have a Homecoming service. This initially started out as a single event; however, it developed into a month of events throughout September.

We started off with a breakfast meeting on Saturday 5th September with the Rev. Patrick Coltman providing food for thought as our guest speaker. On Friday 18th September we welcomed Lambhill Gospel Band who performed their mini-musical “Joseph – not any dream will do”; if you have not seen this you have certainly missed out! Saturday 26th was our Homecoming Party, an evening of fun and games with a great buffet supper. The culmination was a wonderful Homecoming Praise Gathering on Sunday 27th led by praise band MacJudah, Andrew and Graham Ferguson, two of our own lads who introduced us to some heavy metal praise, and our worship group.

The planning started in March and a generous donation from a member ensured that our efforts were not constrained due to lack of finance. A brochure inviting people and

outlining the events was designed and printed. In order for people to indicate that they intended to come to events a telephone answering service, text service and e-mail address were set up. Around 2000 brochures were distributed to the local community. At Sunday morning services during September we heard homecoming stories about Joshua and Israel at Gilgal, Ruth and Naomi, Jesus at Nazareth and The Prodigal Son.

All of the events were uplifting and well received by those who attended. However, there was no sea of new faces or of people we had not seen for some time; there were one or two and some visitors from Chryston and Darnley and some former members. Does that mean that this was a waste of time? I don’t think so. Those who received the brochures know that their local church cares about them and is there for them. The members of the congregation enjoyed the social time together and are encouraged that even though numbers are decreasing we are still trying to touch lives in our community.

This was a time for sowing seeds. Soon, as a congregation, we will explore “Blowing Your Cover” which is designed to equip and release churches to confidently share their faith in a natural way. We have sown seeds, now we need to build up those who will nurture and tend.

HOMECOMINGAT MILLERSTON

Gordon Steel reports on a new initiative.

“Therefore keep watch because you do not

know when the owner of the house will come

back…If he comes suddenly, do not let

him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone, ‘Watch!’”

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The elders at Wishaw who conducted the service

The latest Youth Assembly had the theme “All that you can’t leave behind”. We were discussing the past, present and future of the Church. On Friday, we were discussing how the United Free Church was formed and Rev Robert Owens, the new Youth Convener, led us in discussion about our own congregations.

We were given homework for this (which was a bit strange since I thought that was left at school) and we were to prepare some information on our individual churches. Because I have moved 50 miles away from home for university, this was not the easiest of tasks so all credit should go to my dad. After giving our presentations, we had supper and free time until we were too tired to function any more.

On Saturday, after breakfast, we heard from Frank and Christine Hartley, from Bo’ness. They shared with us their testimonies and how they met. It was a very touching time when they explained how different their lives were and how they were changed when they were saved. After lunch, we then had free time to explore Arbroath. I used this time to go shopping for a dress for the ceilidh that evening with some of the other girls. Once we had all returned, we had the first presentation from Martin Dudgeon from Asia Link. This was talking about the work of Asia Link and how they spread the news of Jesus to people who haven’t heard it before. It was very encouraging to hear about the people who risk their lives to tell the people of Asia of the life of Jesus and what he did for everyone in the world. We were then given free time until dinner which was to be used to get ready for the Scottish evening and ceilidh.

This was not long enough, as I was one of the last down for dinner. The evening began with homemade pâté with oatcakes, haggis (or mince) and vegetables and chocolate cake or trifle for dessert. This was one of the best meals I had had in a while, considering the canteen food at university is not the best. Then it was time for the ceilidh. We had all the traditional dances and a few prize dances thrown in for fun. We were then taught a traditional African dance by our African visitors which took a while to get but we were all attempting it in the end. We then had free time until bed, which was used to play Pictionary.

On Sunday morning, after breakfast we had the second presentation from Martin about the future of Asia Link and how we can help. One thing that they do is put the Bible in a language people can understand, onto an MP3 player and give these out to people in different countries. These each cost £9 so we were encouraged to think about how we could raise money for Asia Link to send MP3 players out to Asia. This got me thinking about different things I could do to raise money at university. After lunch, we had our closing worship and said our goodbyes. On the drive home, I was still thinking about what I could do, once I have it worked out I’ll be sure to let you know.

‘All that youcan’t leavebehind’

Kirsten Boettcher (Cathcart) reports on the Youth Assembly which took place at Arbroath in November.

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, 17th February, and ends on Palm Sunday, 28th March.

The reason for the seasonLent is a Christian Festival more prominently celebrated in Roman traditions but increasingly being valued by the wider Christian community, to the extent that a fresh initiative called ‘Love Life, Live Lent’ began in Birmingham in 2006 in order to give fresh expression and application to the virtues this season. Since then over 250,000 people nationwide have participated.

It was featured in an article in The Independent in February 2007:

“In recent years, in different corners of the globe, several movements have sprung up inviting followers to combat the selfishness of modern life by doing nice things to random strangers. If you put your mind to it, carrying out acts of kindness can start as soon as you wake up. You can be kind to people in different parts of the country, or on the other side of the world, or even be kind to the planet itself, without leaving your home.”

Love Life - Live Lent is a new way of marking Lent. Instead of giving up chocolate or going on a detox, it encourages people to undertake a simple act of generosity each day. The actions are small and fun to do, but make a real difference in homes, families and communities.

In the past it was a long, strictly imposed religious fast when people gave up rich food and devoted themselves to earnest spiritual reflection in preparation for the greatest of the festivals, Easter. This took place over 40 days preceding Easter though Churches differ in calculating these days (eg, Eastern Orthodox, North African and Oriental Churches). Believers would engage in acts of self denial, penitence to God and even almsgiving within some traditions.

These practices were virtually universal in Christendom until the Protestant Reformation. Some Protestant churches do not observe Lent, but many, such as Lutherans, Methodists, and Anglicans do. Strange to say, Lent was the term also used in times past for the period before Christmas,

before it was called Advent - again it being a time of preparation.

The number 40 is a special number in the Bible. It signifies preparation for something special:

• The rain lasted for 40 days in the mighty flood of Noah’s time.• Moses stayed on the Mount Sinai forty days (Ex 24:18). • Jonah gave the people of Nineveh forty days to repent (Jon 3:4). • Jesus, before starting his ministry, spent forty days in the desert in prayer and fasting (Matt 4:2).

Lent for many is a time when Christians remember the 40 days and nights Jesus spent alone in the desert without food being tempted by the Devil. Jesus used this time to prepare for His life’s ministry by fasting and praying. Luke’s Gospel says:‘Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for fortydays he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.’

Today many Christians take this time to prepare themselves in body and spirit so that on Easter morning they may arise renewed inwardly (2 Cor 4: 16 and Romans 7) to rejoice at the resurrection of Jesus Christ, having made full confession for their sins and devoted themselves anew to a worthier walk with God. In an age characterised by self-indulgence and profligate acts what are the deeds that might bring each of us to the cross and the empty tomb more humbled by and more aware of God’s mighty acts which we exult in at Easter.

More information about ‘Love Life- Live Lent’ and a variety of resources is available from their website www.livelent.net

LOVE LIFE - LIVE LENT

We asked Rev Jim Neil, Burntisland: Erskine, to help

us reflect on Lent and its significance for us.

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Wellington, Meegan and Kudzani prepare to ‘enjoy’ some haggis!

It is the great privilege of the Moderator to represent the General Assembly during the year following the Assembly. This means not only visiting congregations but representing the Church at Civicand Church events. So far this has meant two visits to the Scottish Parliament. One to attend a reception for the Scottish Bible Society and the other for talks along with other Church representatives’ with the First Minister. It as an opportunity to put common concerns to the First Minister and support the work of the Parliament.

A first this year was to attend on behalf of the Church a reception at 10 Downing Street given by the Prime Minister to acknowledge the contribution of Britain’s Christians. It was interesting to hear a Government Minister, who was quite openly a humanist, speak of the clear recognition he had of the fact that without Christians and the contribution of the Churches there would little or no Youth Work taking place in many parts of the country.

The greatest privilege has of course been to visit our congregations and share in their worship. With a few exceptions I was familiar with the congregations and the situations they faced. We live in a day of small things and yet there was much to be encouraged by.

Whether it was a large congregation or a small one the overwhelming sense was of a faithful people maintaining a witness and seeking to be faithful to the Gospel where they were placed.

In Westray, as recorded in the last Stedfast, a concern for the Kingdom meant the hard decision to dissolve and strengthen the other fellowships on the Island. At Uddingston the congregation were celebrating a refurbishment not merely to make the Church more comfortable (which it certainly was) but to provide the facilities to better engage and reach out to the community. In Torry a congregation facing a much changed community and as a result smaller fellowship prayerfully looking at the possibilities for planting a new Church in a needy area.

In other places Kirk Sessions and congregations wrestling with the challenge not merely of maintaining Church life in Scotland today but the challenge of engaging and reaching an apathetic Scotland with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

What will2010 bring?

More visits, more meetings with politicians, and an opportunity to attend a civic reception in Glasgow marking the centenary of my old school. I wonder if anyone has found my report card?

NEWS FROMTHE MODERATOR

Rev Martin Keane reflects on the first half of his year as Moderator.

At heart of Calvin’s theology was the sovereignty of God. As such there was no area of life or the world that did not come under his rule and that included the State. In the last chapter of the Institutes he writeson the issue of the State. It must be remembered he wrote these words in a very different age to ours. Democracy and human rights were unknown and yet here in his writing were the blueprint for modern states. Calvin though was not writing political theory but as always bringing what scripture taught to bear to the ordering of society.

As well as the reformation coming from the stream of Luther, Zwingli and Calvin, there was the radical reformation, those who felt the freedom that was theirs in Christ meant that they were free fromall interference and rule.

“For some, on hearing that liberty is promised in the gospel, a liberty which acknowledges no king and no magistrate among men, but looks to Christ alone, think that they can receive no benefit from their liberty so long as they see any power placed over them.Accordingly, they think that nothing will be safe until the whole world is changed into a new form, when there will be neither courts, nor laws nor magistrates, nor anything of the kindto interfere, as they suppose, with their liberty.”

Calvin’s answer was of course to appeal to scripture. Paul may tell the Galatians “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

But he would also write and say in 1 Corinthians, “Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him. Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you— although if you can gain your freedom, do so.”

The opposite of the radical reformation were the views well known in Scotland that those in authority had a divine right to rule as they pleased.So it was that Andrew Melville addressed James V1reminding him: “Sirrah, ye are God’s silly vassal; there are two kings and two kingdoms in Scotland: there is king James, the head of the commonwealth; and there is Christ Jesus, the king of the Church, whose subject James the Sixth is, and of whose kingdom he is not a king,not a lord, not a head, but a member.”

For Calvin there was no tension between the Christians freedom in Christ and the role of the State. In the context of Geneva that authority of the State was expressed in this way.“The Magistrate, who is president

and guardian of the laws; the Laws, according to which he governs; and the People, who are governed by the laws, and obey the magistrate.”In other words those in authority were to govern and uphold the laws and the people were to be subject to such laws. As a result the State ordered as such meant that Justice could be served, taxes raised, and the society defended. It was the duty of the Christian to recognise and submit to the authority so established.

He deals with the issue of Government that is unjust and the Christians response to this. Bringing scripture to bear Calvin encourages Christians to submit in all things provided as scripture reveals that obedience to the State does not mean disobedience to God.

In our modern world it is easy to read Calvin’s views on the State and not grasp the radical nature of what he wrote in the age that he lived. In the years that followed the tensions and conflicts that were experienced as the modern world was given birth saw Christians in our own land and beyond seek to apply these Biblical principles in a fallen and broken world.

CALVIN &THE STATEAs a Church we are well aware “that the Church derives from Him a government distinct from civil government; and that civil rulers possess no jurisdiction in her spiritual affairs?” as we say in our ordination vows. But how are we to understand the jurisdiction of the civil rulers?

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At Burntisland

At Millerston long service certificates were presented to Gordon Steel and Dr Donald Macdonald

Catherine (North Africa)

Catherine is currently involved in learning language and culture in North Africa. She has been experiencing difficulties obtaining long-term visas. Since her return in January she is now living with a new family as their first ‘guest’. Please continue to pray for more local friends, greater compassion for the people she is living amongst and ultimately seeks to minister to as well as a deeper understanding of language and culture.

Sandy & Famie Crawford (Scotland)

Sandy has been working as a bricklayer and preaching and taking services in various UF churches. He has also recently been to Uganda on a short-term practical trip with a different organisation. Famie has been involved in WEC Scotland on three committees and as Treasurer. She has also been helping out at a Bible Club in Hannah’s school and is joint Missionary Secretary for the UF along with Moira Currie. Please pray for wisdom in future ministry and for someone to do Bible Club with Famie.

Barrie & Tillie Flitcroft (USA)

Barrie continues to serve as General Director of Equip International and teaches courses as well as having spiritual responsibilities for students. Tillie looks after the accommodation

and catering for the students in USA and Canada, teaches midwifery courses and serves as campus nurse. This year they hope to ‘retire’ to lesser roles within their organisation, please pray for suitable replacements.

Stephen & Nessie Levinsohn (Based in UK)

Stephen and Nessie continue to travel to far-flung places encouraging translators, checking texts and ministering to those whom they visit. They would like to see more translators in place in order for them to take life a bit easier.

David & Wilma Lyttle (Greece)

David and Wilma are involved in evangelism in Greece and Macedonia. They also continue to provide: literature, medicine, money and care to the church in Macedonia. David also preaches on a regular basis. They have received requests to work in Albania and Bulgaria but have put these on hold for the time being. They will be visiting people whilst in the UK from January to March.

Malcolm & Gudrun McArthur (Botswana)

Although Malcolm and Gudrun are

officially retired they continue as ‘Patrons’ of Flying Mission and are still based in Botswana. Their new roles are more supportive and advisory when required or requested! Please pray for complete healing for Gudrun after her hip replacement surgery and for renewed energy for Malcolm. Pray too for a restful time in Scotland over the summer months.

Stewart & Jean Moulds (USA)

Are seconded from WEC International and lead Indopartners Agency developing the ministry in both USA and Indonesia. As well as leadership they give pastoral oversight to the agency and are developing a home base in America. They seek to strengthen a prayer network in the USA and UK. They will send out summer teams from the US to work with local Christians, schools and missions in Indonesia to assist them in reaching the 127 unreached people groups.

David & Mary Robinson (UK)

David and Mary are officially retired but continue to work amongst the

MISSIONARY PRAYER POINTSCongregations are encouraged to mark ‘Missionary Sunday’ later in February when there is a special focus on mission and on missionaries and encouragement to pray for those connected with the United Free Church who are serving in different parts of the world. We thought it might be helpful to include these prayer points.

Thai people in the UK. They have five groups around the country which are already established but hope for four more groups to come into being. They plan to hold two fellowship days this year, the first in March and to run a camp in July. Please pray that God would provide the needed health, strength, wisdom, safety and resources as they follow up Thai contacts nationwide and support the various groups.

Ruby Oliphant (Australia)

Ruby wrote recently: “What a privilege we have as a team in Cooinda Court (Australia) making Him known among many nations to the staff and residents. My mind immediately goes to those from different parts of Asia who, with joy, tell of the day they came to faith in the Son of God. They are eager to have the Bible notes and when we finish the series of Bible studies they want the books so that they can go over the notes personally. We trust that other members of their families take note of the studies too.”

Please remember to pray for Ruby in her continued service of the Lord. It is amazing to think that even well into retirement we can still live out and tell the Gospel to others, indeed wherever the Lord places us.

Sam Paul (Australia)As Sam has retired he no longer has access to e-mail and this makes keeping in touch with him more difficult but he is grateful for our ongoing contact. He attends an evangelical church two bus journeys away from where he lives. Please pray especially for his health and mobility.

Reta Robertson (South Africa)

Reta is also retired and is in a wheelchair. She had a cataract operation which was unsuccessful. She has since had a lens implanted and is able to see much better. She would like to send her greetings to all and sends her thanks to all who sent Christmas cards and messages. She hopes to send out a general newsletter in the near future. Please continue to remember her in prayer.

We are now living in our new home in Esh Winning, Co. Durham in the North East of England. Co. Durham and the North East is one of the most spiritually dry areas of the country and so the harvest is plentiful for opportunities to share God’s word in various ways.

Our first few weeks were spent setting up home including an office which will form our base for work here. This first quarter we took things fairly steady. So far we have started some of our regular children’s clubs in Esh Winning, Shiney Row, Rowley and Broadmead Way. We have been doing a series on ’Choices’, looking at Old Testament Characters who had to make choices for God. We have also used some of Open Air Campaigners’ visual tricks to help make the messages more memorable and fun.

Mark has had some preaching engagements in local churches,

mission halls and Faith Mission Prayer Unions and Sheena has been speaking at some ladies meetings. In one of the churches we have connections with, there are possible openings for children’s work, a Chistianity Explained course and some form of discipleship course for new believers. The latter is in light of Sheena, along with the minister of the church, leading a 10 year old girl to the Lord.

In the longer term we hope to build up relationships with the non-Christians around us. We aim to use a short Bible course to share the gospel when the opportunity arises. We will also be starting a new Youth Club in our home in Esh Winning in the New Year. Another part of our work is to support local churches, who may be struggling with lack of personnel or abilities, by serving them in any way possible.

News fromMark andSheena NelsonMark (from Drumchapel) completed his course at Faith Mission College last summer and married Sheena in August. They have now begin work in County Durham.

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This year you are invited to help people in North Korea receive practical help and also to be able to hear about Jesus as they receive Bibles and MP3 players.

This project was chosen after those attending the Youth Assembly in November heard about the work of AsiaLink and were moved and challenged by what they heard. Other materials are being circulated to congregations to let them know more about this valuable work. We plan to hand over the cheque for this year’s Easter Scheme to representatives of AsiaLink at the denominational event at Dunblane on Saturday 28th August.

North Korea is one of the most secretive states in the world. Its citizens cannot travel abroad and have little, if any, contact with those who visit their country. This article gives some information about North Korea and about the work we will be supporting.

Statistics:• 23 million people in an atheist State.• Heavily fortified 150 mile frontier with South Korea. To the north, a 900 mile border with China.• Widely recognised as the world’s most secretive nation. The thoughts and writings of Kim Il Sung control all of society and stand in direct conflict

with the freedoms of the Gospel.• Widespread abuse of believers. Extensive famine in rural areas. Moribund economy and zero toleration of criticism.• Life expectancy is on average 12 years less than South Korean counterparts. Maternal death rate is 3-4 times higher than South Korea.

Unreached People Groups• There are some believers inside North Korea. Their lives are severely restricted and their presence a secret. Many Christians have been placed in gulags along with any political dissidents. Treatment is horrific.• An estimated 300,000 North Koreans have escaped into China. They live in appalling conditions and face forced repatriation if discovered. Many long to make the arduous journey to South Korea or settle in an alternative country. It is extremely dangerous for refugees

EASTER SCHEME 2010: NORTH KOREAEaster Scheme 2010: North Korea This year’s Easter Scheme is linking with AsiaLink in a special appeal for work in North Korea. Last year over £13,000 was raised for the work of the Bible Society in Brazil.

to travel across China without passport or language.• North Koreans are taught there is no God. They are required to worship the deceased (but still reigning) former President and now also his son.

STATISTICS

The Church and Mission• Christianity stands directly opposed to the foundations of traditional Korean society, which depend on ancestral worship to provide legitimacy for the state rulers. Several purges killed thousands of believers in the 1800s.• Widespread revival ignited the country at the turn of the twentieth century but after 1945 many Christians headed South. Churches were converted for secular use.• With time, genuine faith has all but disappeared. It is violently suppressed today. In the 1950s there were 300,000 believers in the country, today probably just a few thousand. An estimated 100,000 believers are in prison camps. Those who can meet do so in tiny groups, in secret and in great fear.• Most people have never heard of Christ. Christian teaching has been obliterated by a nightmare of repression, demands for total

conformity and isolation from the outside world. Some Christian agencies have been allowed to help with food relief programs but never with permission to share the Gospel.• Significant opportunities for ministry, though hard to find, are available. The door is open for Chinese businesses to travel in. Broadcasts from the South and elsewhere are constant but most radios in the North are fixed-frequency and restricted to government propaganda. There are several networks of prayer for NK based in the South and around the world. Other ministries are happening, though not reported.

THE CHURCH AND MISSION

What we do:• Prayer NK-Push: For some countries of the world, prayer is virtually the only thing we can do. Let’s be sure we do it though. Join with hundreds of prayer partners around the world who are deeply committed to interceding for North Korea. We will gladly email you bi-monthly news updates for you or your prayer group. Sign up on the Contacts page of our website.• Food & Medical: We are able to help the most vulnerable who are suffering from the regular food crises – babies, orphans, single mothers, the elderly and the handicapped. Too many are literally starving to death and we have a number of avenues for getting supplies into the hands of the most needy.The Lord has opened a rare and miraculous opportunity to provide relief and rehabilitation for TB patients at 15 centres. Many suffer from the disease due to the cold winters combined with appalling diet and poor sanitation. At the NK government’s invitation, our partners import medical equipment, hospital beds, greenhouses and even mini-cultivators to prepare hospital grounds for vegetable production. Of course, they also bring a level of loving care unknown in this part of the world. Perhaps you would like to help us with this?• Bibles and MP3s: An unquestionably risky ministry but one that has borne rich fruit. A full copy of the Bible, leadership and discipleship materials are placed in the hands of North Koreans

and distributed far and wide.Now we are able to record the Bible digitally on to tiny MP3 players and already many thousands are in country–with confirmed reports of more than 2000 new believers! Please be praying for those involved.This work is being carried out at immense personal risk. 50 NK pastors are being trained right now and we can supply an MP4/projector package that allows video projection of teaching and outreach material. These units are pocket sized and we have been successfully getting them across the border

United Free Church Easter Scheme

What can we do?• Pray for believers and the people of N. Korea.

Give:

• £9: Mp3 Player• £15: For one 25kg bag of rice. Each bag of rice feeds a family for a month• £20: Pastors training pack (including Mp4 Player)• £60: Doctors kit• £160: For a mini-projector• £300: Equips a believer/refugee to return to N. Korea with food, clothes, medicines and mp3s

• £6,000: to provide a truck full of food and medicines.Thank you very much for your support!

To find out more about the work of AsiaLink & History Makers in North Korea and other parts of Asia, visit their websites:www.asialink.org.ukwww.historymakers.org.uk

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A major road with one car!

A boy searches for grains of rice to eat

One of the tinyMP3 players

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Over the years I have stayed in Chinese hotels of just about every standard but I’ve never stayed in one that had massive cracks in the walls of my room but such was the case during my most recent trip. As well as the cracks in my room the corridors had cracks and the top two floors of the hotel didn’t have any glass in the windows - but no one complained! The hotel was in Mianzhu, Sichuan Province, one of the cities most badly affected by the earthquake which struck the area on 12th May 2008.

I was privileged to be part of a small group which was taken to Mianzhu and Woyun Village by senior staff of The Amity Foundation. Within seven hours of the earthquake the Nanjing based NGO had a member of staff in Sichuan to help assess emergency and then rebuilding needs and here we were being taken to see the reconstruction work they have been responsible for.

The township of Han Wang, which was home to 80,000, is now a

deserted memorial to the devastation wrought by the earthquake. Over 5,000 people died in this area with over 20,000 injured. Such figures would make it very easy to just focus on the destruction but that would be a disservice to the spirit of the people and the positive developments of the past 17 months - so let me introduce you to the people of Mianzhu Church and Woyun Village.

Mianzhu Church was built by a CMS Missionary in the early 1900’s. The current Congregation completed the refurbishment of the interior in December 2007 only to see it badly damaged in May 2008. The earthquake took place at 2.28 p.m. and, despite the fact that the Church could not be used, the Congregation held a Service, in the courtyard, and offered water and comfort to the surrounding community, that very evening!

The Rev Gu was studying in Nanjing for her Masters but requested permission to return to Mianzhu as she wanted to be with her Congregation. Together they have worked together to offer

pastoral and spiritual support to anyone in need. They are very proud of the fact that no Worship Service has been missed, despite the earthquake.

So impressed have the city authorities been with the work of the Church people that, not only have they been given permission to restore the original Church, they have also been told they can build another Church further into the city. This Church will be set in a square which the authorities have already decided will be called “Gospel Square”.

One of the gentlemen we met at the Church was Liu Chenquan. He is now 77 years old and is a retired school teacher. He has attended this Church since he was a child and very gently reminded all of us how important it is to attend Church every Sunday, read our Bibles and pray.

The Amity Foundation decided to concentrate their reconstruction work in the village of Woyun. One of the people we met was Mr Qu who had lost his son in the earthquake. He told

us how his son got out of the factory where he worked only to realise that a disabled colleague was still inside. He ran back into the factory and managed to rescue his friend (who survived) but lost his own life in the process. His father spoke of his devastation at his loss and how he had been helped by the assistance offered to him, by the Amity Foundation, to build a new house. In this process he understood that there were many people who cared about him and others affected by the earthquake and this helped him cope with his son’s death. He then straightened his shoulders and told us how his son had done the right thing in rescuing his colleague even although it cost him his own life.

Sti Woyun is a widespread agricultural village with a population of over 3,000. There are 16 Village Committees overseeing all aspects of village life. When the villagers heard about the plight of people in southern Taiwan after Typhoon Morakot, they decided to make a collection to send to the survivors. The collection was organised by the Village Committees and between them they raised over 25,000RMB (approx £2,200).

The reason for the donation? - when their village was devastated by the earthquake people they didn’t know and would probably never meet sent money and resources to help them

COMPASSIONIN CHINA

Patricia Johnston tells of a trip to China in October 2009 and some of the people she met there still trying to recover from the devastating earthquake of 2008.

George was the third son born to George and Elsie Stewart on the 4th of September 1920. His five brothers all predeceased him. On leaving school he began work on farms, spending 43 years of his working life with W. Baird and Son. He received a silver medal for 30 years service at the Royal Highland Agricultural Show in 1969. In his spare time George loved his vegetable garden.George was involved in Paterson church for many

years, where he served as a manager. In 1973 he was ordained to the eldership and carried out his duties with distinction until ill-health took its toll. At one time he was responsible for the church heating. This is one of many jobs that are often unseen in church life. God in his wisdom has called George Stewart home. We thank God for such a faithful servant.

George Stewart:Elder Stonehouse Paterson

....more pictureson back page!

TRIBUTE

The Kindergarten in Han Wang. As the earthquake struck at 2.28 the children were asleep, contributing to the loss of life.

Amity has encouraged village gatherings as part of the “rebuilding” of the community after the earthquake rebuild their village and their lives.

They knew how important that support had been to them and now wanted to offer something to others whose lives had been affected by a natural disaster!

Thanks to a grant of £1,000 from the Scottish Episcopal Church and many generous personal donations, the Scottish Churches’ China Group has been able to send £5,500 to the Amity Foundation to help with the reconstruction work.

If you would like any further information please contact Patricia Johnston on sauchie45@yahoo.co.uk or 01259 725521.

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