Summer 2013

Hi Everyone,

Just an update and I am so sorry that the reports are dwindling.  I hope it is a sign that I am getting busier in ministry.  You can check the church website at www.alvabaptist.org and also if you are not a friend on facebook I am happy to add you.  It's 6 years in Scotland as of April 22.

We wanted you to know that we are hosting a team of people from the USA coming over from Calvary Chapel Chester Springs in Pennsylvania in July.  Will you please be praying for the mission team, and for the Vacation Bible School we will put on over the week of 8th-12th July; and for the Family Service that follows on Sunday 14th?

Later this summer, in August  I will drive the boys south to Cornwall for Creationfest camping, music, sports and skateboards/scooters.  I am volunteering in the children's programme so the cost is deferred.  Just fuel and time invested for memories the boys may never forget.

This church will close by 2014 if something doesn't change.  I am considering becoming a bi-vocational pastor before anything would cause the fellowship to stop.  God has plans we will discover as we go.  It certainly inspires prayer.

The church is experiencing a growth spurt.  Several families have come along in the last couple of weeks.  currently, there are about 32 members and 20-or-so occasional attenders. We have doubled the congregation by adding weekly youth meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.  Nearly 40 kids come along between the two.  Lots of young people are growing, and a bunch of teens have begun attending an additional bible study at our associate minister's home.

This coming Saturday is our men's fellowship breakfast.  Pray for the guys.
We also have seen the birth of a Woman's fellowship, which is very cool.

We also are seeing fruit at the Alva Worship Experiment (AWE)  which is an afternoon event that combines food, scripture music and prayer in a decidedly NON-theatre format.  There is no audience and no show at the front, but there is directed worship with the freedom to participate and engage the ideas.  There is also room for artistic expression and even critical dissent.  THAT has been a cool and more wriggly ministry endeavour.

The Fraser boys are well and are growing in their faith. 

They love coming to church and they know their dad loves them and Jesus.  They are coming to see differences in the way that mum and dad run their separate homes.  Pray for Daniel who has had his sex-ed classes (10 years old!)  and the requisite post sex-ed class talk from his Christian dad.  I think that went well.  I might have been too straightforward (at one point he begged me "Dad PLEASE stop talking" it gets funnier but some stuff ought never to be put to print.)  Yes your prayers help! ;)

Our community knows that this man of God is committed to them and that God is a real influence on my view of the world.  I do preach the gospel.  I am in the minority.  The Christians along the Hillfoots appreciate our ministry.  I pray that the exposure of this community to the heart and mind of Christ will be contagious.

It's all happening and God is faithful.

Thanks for praying and for your ongoing financial support it really helps,
David