They're starting to talk funny, though!
Wednesday, 26 September 2007
Sunday, 16 September 2007
Three Months
We are seeing the Lord bless the teaching of His word at Alva Baptist Church!
Since beginning to serve in June and agreeing with the elders of this church about the calling to pastor in July and then the official induction in August we are seeing signs of life!
We have seen the Lord bless a weekly prayer meeting (with about 30% of the membership attending AND praying), a discipleship course called Christianity Explored, a youth club and a growing community on Sunday morning and evenings. Other churches are reaching out to us to help and plan for reaching the communities in little ways.
Somebody asked if we record sermons! Like anyone would ever want to hear me twice! :) Seriously, it exposed the false humility of presuming that I could somehow limit how God may choose to use the preaching of His word in Alva. I sort of cringe at the realization that it was I who cared too much about my preaching (good or bad; performance, as opposed to faithfulness), rather than being willing to share with people who cannot attend on any given Sunday.
~~~
Alva Baptist Church will celebrate it's 125th Anniversary on September 23rd! God has contributed a man trained by serving at Metro Calvary Chapel, to an uninterrupted continuum of preaching the word in Alva that might have stopped. That is pretty cool.
We are so blessed to have folks with the collected wisdom of the better part of the last century as a part of our congregation. One might mistakenly think that the older generation would be somehow outdated in their outlook, but I find treasure! They represent the sort of life that is passing away from this world, if we continue to fail to pass on faith to the succeeding generations. Mind you, its not without its challenges, but God is faithful and we are blessed.
Our yout group has two or three people over 50 helping out who are totally cool and have 40-year-old stories about youth groups! Its amazing! And they are not uptight and they don't fail to reach out to kids. And we play sports and games and share a sermon on some memory verse every Friday.
We see about 20 kids coming each week. Its a kids club really 9-14. The older kids aren't so interested, though the range gets older and older. We have just opened the doors and minister to whomever comes, rather than turn kids away hoping for teens. The hardest kids have become softened and now more hard kids are coming around. We just keep praying and more and kids of drunks, fighters and Jehova's Witness are coming around; its challenging but its God's work and we shepherd sheep and watch God transform wolves. They all want metal camouflage bibles!!! We have lacked women helpers, but several women have expressed interest when we announced it on Sunday.
There is stress and challenge and trials, but it is the price worth paying to lead people to Christ and baptize new believers in waterfalls (BALTIC, ARCTIC WATER!)
Thats right we are seeing folks come to faith and ask to be baptized! Hallelujah!!!
I recommend stepping out into whatever crazy plan that God would seed your mind with. Its how He builds faith and assures of His leading. And then after you has seen God PROVE faithful we are able to depend on Him as entirely as His work requires.
Its not like we have arrived. (not by a long shot!) Please don't stop praying for us!
War in the heavenlies!
Light and Life!!!
Love, David Elizabeth, Daniel & Josiah
We would love to hear from you. (even if you just comment on this blog below)
Since beginning to serve in June and agreeing with the elders of this church about the calling to pastor in July and then the official induction in August we are seeing signs of life!
We have seen the Lord bless a weekly prayer meeting (with about 30% of the membership attending AND praying), a discipleship course called Christianity Explored, a youth club and a growing community on Sunday morning and evenings. Other churches are reaching out to us to help and plan for reaching the communities in little ways.
Somebody asked if we record sermons! Like anyone would ever want to hear me twice! :) Seriously, it exposed the false humility of presuming that I could somehow limit how God may choose to use the preaching of His word in Alva. I sort of cringe at the realization that it was I who cared too much about my preaching (good or bad; performance, as opposed to faithfulness), rather than being willing to share with people who cannot attend on any given Sunday.
~~~
Alva Baptist Church will celebrate it's 125th Anniversary on September 23rd! God has contributed a man trained by serving at Metro Calvary Chapel, to an uninterrupted continuum of preaching the word in Alva that might have stopped. That is pretty cool.
We are so blessed to have folks with the collected wisdom of the better part of the last century as a part of our congregation. One might mistakenly think that the older generation would be somehow outdated in their outlook, but I find treasure! They represent the sort of life that is passing away from this world, if we continue to fail to pass on faith to the succeeding generations. Mind you, its not without its challenges, but God is faithful and we are blessed.
Our yout group has two or three people over 50 helping out who are totally cool and have 40-year-old stories about youth groups! Its amazing! And they are not uptight and they don't fail to reach out to kids. And we play sports and games and share a sermon on some memory verse every Friday.
We see about 20 kids coming each week. Its a kids club really 9-14. The older kids aren't so interested, though the range gets older and older. We have just opened the doors and minister to whomever comes, rather than turn kids away hoping for teens. The hardest kids have become softened and now more hard kids are coming around. We just keep praying and more and kids of drunks, fighters and Jehova's Witness are coming around; its challenging but its God's work and we shepherd sheep and watch God transform wolves. They all want metal camouflage bibles!!! We have lacked women helpers, but several women have expressed interest when we announced it on Sunday.
There is stress and challenge and trials, but it is the price worth paying to lead people to Christ and baptize new believers in waterfalls (BALTIC, ARCTIC WATER!)
Thats right we are seeing folks come to faith and ask to be baptized! Hallelujah!!!
I recommend stepping out into whatever crazy plan that God would seed your mind with. Its how He builds faith and assures of His leading. And then after you has seen God PROVE faithful we are able to depend on Him as entirely as His work requires.
Its not like we have arrived. (not by a long shot!) Please don't stop praying for us!
War in the heavenlies!
Light and Life!!!
Love, David Elizabeth, Daniel & Josiah
We would love to hear from you. (even if you just comment on this blog below)
Wednesday, 29 August 2007
Short update
Our community has really welcomed us into town. The church is supportive and flexible. Most are about as old (and as dear) as chuck smith so there is a generational conservatism that suits us. The village schools are open and welcome ministry. Someone actually wrote an article on us in a local paper (the Wee County News). I have even connected with a charismatic, evangelical wing of the Church of Scotland! (I didn’t know THAT existed) They have invited me to a prayer meeting of like-minded ministers along the hillfoots.
We are blessed.
This is a very unorthodox work to me, planting a church within an ailing Baptist church. But we are seeing the Lord bless the teaching of His word and it clearly doesn't matter if it looks like Baptists or Calvary Chapel are the one's bringing His message, the gospel is being preached! The Lord's name is lifted high. The Holy Spirit is working among us.
I keep bracing for the backlash, but am also convinced that we are to trust God for all He has planned for us. In blessing and suffering; that God’s grace is enough. The Lord is bringing mature, servant-hearted Christians around us.
Thanks again for praying for us.
We are blessed.
This is a very unorthodox work to me, planting a church within an ailing Baptist church. But we are seeing the Lord bless the teaching of His word and it clearly doesn't matter if it looks like Baptists or Calvary Chapel are the one's bringing His message, the gospel is being preached! The Lord's name is lifted high. The Holy Spirit is working among us.
I keep bracing for the backlash, but am also convinced that we are to trust God for all He has planned for us. In blessing and suffering; that God’s grace is enough. The Lord is bringing mature, servant-hearted Christians around us.
Thanks again for praying for us.
Tuesday, 21 August 2007
Banter
OK, there is surely a fine reason, but this country does not believe in street signs!
I am not one of those "where I come from, we do it differently" kind of people.
But out here in Scotland, the street names were perhaps once posted on the sides of buildings at intersections and have either fallen off or been removed for painting and never replaced. AND the same road can change names like five times as you drive a mile.
Got it? no posts with names on them at most intersections. None.
I am reduced to driving like someone from Jersey!
The upside: ROUNDABOUTS! :)
They rock!
I'm not complaining, just ranting for fun.
(It's the guy behind me as I drive who gets the 'creative visual expressions' award)
How would Jesus drive?
I am not one of those "where I come from, we do it differently" kind of people.
But out here in Scotland, the street names were perhaps once posted on the sides of buildings at intersections and have either fallen off or been removed for painting and never replaced. AND the same road can change names like five times as you drive a mile.
Got it? no posts with names on them at most intersections. None.
I am reduced to driving like someone from Jersey!
The upside: ROUNDABOUTS! :)
They rock!
I'm not complaining, just ranting for fun.
(It's the guy behind me as I drive who gets the 'creative visual expressions' award)
How would Jesus drive?
Sunday, 19 August 2007
Induction, 19 August 2007
It's officially official. The Fraser's have seen God deliver David to the induction as Pastor of Alva Baptist church!
This event increased the worshiping population of the church by about 700%
Rev. D.Fraser with Reverands Alec Cook, Jim Taylor, Dave Barrie Baptist Ministers
Tuesday, 14 August 2007
Connected
A cry to the faithful to pray for connection yielded immediate results!
Received the DSL modem and a letter dated Monday 13 Aug, 2007.
Thank you very much.
Also enjoying fellowship with men & women who love the Lord.
Induction Service to celebrate the calling of David Fraser to be the Minister of Alva Baptist Church on Saturday 18 August at 3pm (GMT). Pray please. The elders gather and lay hands and pray for God's blessing; The call is proclaimed before all present ; the response declared ... Singing, preaching and then we have tea & cake (and sausage rolls!).
This is sooo God.
Who would have guessed this in March?
Received the DSL modem and a letter dated Monday 13 Aug, 2007.
Thank you very much.
Also enjoying fellowship with men & women who love the Lord.
Induction Service to celebrate the calling of David Fraser to be the Minister of Alva Baptist Church on Saturday 18 August at 3pm (GMT). Pray please. The elders gather and lay hands and pray for God's blessing; The call is proclaimed before all present ; the response declared ... Singing, preaching and then we have tea & cake (and sausage rolls!).
This is sooo God.
Who would have guessed this in March?
Monday, 6 August 2007
Almost two months...
Since we moved to Alva, Scotland.
Four since we left LA!
We are busy with life and ministry.
The need to pray is evident.
Aword to the reader:
The dicipline of prayer must (needs to) be developed in a time of peace, because when the storms of activity come it is almost too late. (though probably never too late)
I have gained massive respect for our pastor at Metro, Steve Snook, who has managed these sorts of claims on his time and attention for over 17 years. The scene is different without the covering of another man to make final and important decisions, and take the heat/praise for the decisions.
As much as I pastored ministry teams and served the needs of groups larger than our entire church now, I think you just can't know until you're in that place of answering directly to God for a flock. Obviously, any person in ministry answers directly to God, but having a tangible person whom God will use to lead is a blessing no one should ever take for granted.
We are enjoying a chilly summer and bracing for Autumn.
As school starts, we prepare for boys in school: Daniel P-1 full time and Josiah in pre-school for mornings.
Preaching every Sunday, also a huge responsibility!
Thank God we can preach verse by verse through the Bible.
Every sermon emerges as one reads and seeks the Lord.
There is a uniqueness in the call to Alva.
We are ministering to the old school,
the Scottish Reserve as they are called.
AND we are planting a church among them.
There are some inherited responsibilities
that we are confident God would continue.
There are some new ideas to shepherd,
some tired ones to put to pasture.
Thank God the Father for His word and the Holy Spirit.
We are moving ahead step by step.
Really we are just takng up the mantle and trusting the Lord
to continue to lead us as He has to this point.
Our story is one of the Lord's constant encouragement
as God guides us through the valleys of our fears
and toward the mountains of our hopes and aspirations.
'It is good for us to be in this place',
but the joy of the Lord is our strength.
As God said "This is my Son... listen to Him"
A very exciting time to be alive!
I have met with Ministers and faithful leaders around town
and am convinced that God is up to some fantastic work
among the people of this wee county along the Hillfoots.
Please continue to pray for us
The family have had alot of bad dreams and quirky things
like fire alarms and other stuff happen late at night (around 3am)
more than a few times.
Be assured, our prayers impact the battle for hearts and minds in Alva (and LA!)
Our family is well and the Fraser Boys surely will have beautiful Scottish accents in no time!
Liz says "hi" and wants to connect with so many of you.
Alas we are wwwwwaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiitttttttting for broadband service.
So please pray more about that!
If you are led to support us financially in this work to reach a nation
at its heartland, starting person by person in Alva,
please click below:
Shepherd's Staff
Chose donation type: “missionary’s name” and type in " Frasers # 1015 "
Or paste this address into your browser:
https://payments.auctionpay.com/ver3/?id=w013032
Four since we left LA!
We are busy with life and ministry.
The need to pray is evident.
Aword to the reader:
The dicipline of prayer must (needs to) be developed in a time of peace, because when the storms of activity come it is almost too late. (though probably never too late)
I have gained massive respect for our pastor at Metro, Steve Snook, who has managed these sorts of claims on his time and attention for over 17 years. The scene is different without the covering of another man to make final and important decisions, and take the heat/praise for the decisions.
As much as I pastored ministry teams and served the needs of groups larger than our entire church now, I think you just can't know until you're in that place of answering directly to God for a flock. Obviously, any person in ministry answers directly to God, but having a tangible person whom God will use to lead is a blessing no one should ever take for granted.
We are enjoying a chilly summer and bracing for Autumn.
As school starts, we prepare for boys in school: Daniel P-1 full time and Josiah in pre-school for mornings.
Preaching every Sunday, also a huge responsibility!
Thank God we can preach verse by verse through the Bible.
Every sermon emerges as one reads and seeks the Lord.
There is a uniqueness in the call to Alva.
We are ministering to the old school,
the Scottish Reserve as they are called.
AND we are planting a church among them.
There are some inherited responsibilities
that we are confident God would continue.
There are some new ideas to shepherd,
some tired ones to put to pasture.
Thank God the Father for His word and the Holy Spirit.
We are moving ahead step by step.
Really we are just takng up the mantle and trusting the Lord
to continue to lead us as He has to this point.
Our story is one of the Lord's constant encouragement
as God guides us through the valleys of our fears
and toward the mountains of our hopes and aspirations.
'It is good for us to be in this place',
but the joy of the Lord is our strength.
As God said "This is my Son... listen to Him"
A very exciting time to be alive!
I have met with Ministers and faithful leaders around town
and am convinced that God is up to some fantastic work
among the people of this wee county along the Hillfoots.
Please continue to pray for us
The family have had alot of bad dreams and quirky things
like fire alarms and other stuff happen late at night (around 3am)
more than a few times.
Be assured, our prayers impact the battle for hearts and minds in Alva (and LA!)
Our family is well and the Fraser Boys surely will have beautiful Scottish accents in no time!
Liz says "hi" and wants to connect with so many of you.
Alas we are wwwwwaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiitttttttting for broadband service.
So please pray more about that!
If you are led to support us financially in this work to reach a nation
at its heartland, starting person by person in Alva,
please click below:
Shepherd's Staff
Chose donation type: “missionary’s name” and type in " Frasers # 1015 "
Or paste this address into your browser:
https://payments.auctionpay.com/ver3/?id=w013032
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