Great Work Continues!

I find this work amazing!
God's amazing grace at work!
I am a witness to what He is doing in Alva (sometimes it feels like 'in spite of me')

We hosted the Clackmannanshire Council (our county government) for an event called the "Kirkin of the Council".  Basically, the government representatives came to church to see what those folks are on about over there in Alva.

Any church will only expect their church to be invited to host the event once every 20 years.  The event has never been held in a Baptist church, as far as anyone knows.

All we did was invite them to worship with us; no compromise; no handing over of the worship service to politicians; we merely asked two members of the standing government to read the scriptures.  The population of the room doubled and then some, and we preached the clear gospel.

Don't ask me how these opportunities come my way, I can't take credit for it.  I believe we have been faithful to God to engage with this community and give them Jesus.

Induction 2007

Baptism 2010

24/7 Prayer 2013

Appreciation on the Prayer Wall

The choice was up to the Provost of the County about where to go.  Maybe the only reason why Provost Tina Murphy knows who I am, is my service on the Education Sport and Leisure Committee of the County as a Church Representative (Read: A crucial service that sometimes feels exactly like death by 1000 paper cuts!) or social events where we both end-up chatting.

This past summer she visited the Jesus Booth at the Famous Alva Games and I was able to pray unceremoniously with her about a very personal issue.  Somehow, God has used me, steeping in this community like a sachel-of-gospel-tea, to reach people in authority; and the gospel is preached again.  Amazing!

Thank you for your prayers and support which make this work possible.
Have a listen if you like: www.AlvaBaptist.org

Mission Accomplished!

A little photo for everyone who has been praying for the Holiday Club here in Scotland.
The team of Christians that came over was a bell-balanced and helpful evidence of God's provision.
You were part of that team, if you were praying, and we ant to say Thank you.

There was alot of contact with families this year.
As a result of the week of mission, two people have asked about baptism, one adult and another child. Four children responded to the gospel invitation. (and not a 'please raise your hand if you agree' invitation; these kids came up after the days events and asked to speak to someone further about Christ and salvation)

I have a tentative plan to work with another father in the neighbourhood to help kids to build go-carts on the church lawn or inside the church.  I had the idea while reading Malachi 4:6 "... turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers..."  Another mum agreed that she would help if we would keep putting-on activities for children.

We are just committed to be where people are who need to know the Lord.  The church needs to escape the walls of 'the church'!!!

We have two members of our fellowship on a short-term mission trip to Zambia as we speak.  Please pray for Daniel and Joanna as they travel with 6 other people from along the Hillfoots serving alongside an ongoing Tearfund project.

Please pray for the work of discipleship and equipping the saints here in Alva.  That God would give me wisdom and insight into the needs of this congregation and seek Him for provision and fruit.

The boys are well. They travel with Elizabeth and her family to the island of Arran this weekend. The boys are looking forward to Creation Fest in Cornwall starting next weekend.  Thank you for praying for the Fraser family during this difficult time.  I will meet with Liz and a family mediation service on the 26 August to agree on a memorandum that outlines her position on the divorce she intends to pursue.  Who knows what God will do between now and then.  If you read all of this, I hope you will pray about it.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God. to those who are called according to His purpose.  This is true.

I miss you guys...

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

Bearing Fruit

We are coming-up on the 6th year in Scotland, Preaching the gospel and equipping the saints to embrace the opportunities that God has prepared for those who live Him. I am happy to share the recording of the Scottish Parliament's Time of Reflection which I had the honour of leading last month.

http://www.24-7prayer.com/signup/e3d16d

Merry Christmas

Well,

Christmas is always a glorious storm!

God continues to grow the fellowship, with youth and families.

The congregation is starting to show a bit of friction
between those who were here at first, five years ago;

and those who have come (who are responsible for much of the present ministry)

God is faithful to lead through the phases of change.

We are pursuing several opportunities for witness and worship this season.

One woman at our fellowship has just died after a long bout with Alzheimer’s.

The funeral is scheduled for New Year’s Eve.

One other dear saint is very sick in the hospital.

She is very old and frail disabled and suffering from dementia;

She was unhappy and ailing and longing to go rest, in hope of next being home with God.

The doctors are working hard to make her well again.

If she gets well, she is likely to be taken into care at a nursing home,
which is breaking her heart and her husband’s also.

Pray for her husband who is also quite old and frail.

I will host the Fraser Boys this Christmas and am very chuffed at this! (that’s a good thing)

I asked Elizabeth to pray for me and she feels her prayers are not powerful and effective.
She meant to be quoting James. Jehovah-Tsidkenu

I keep trying to make opportunities for the family to be together.

Liz keeps making it clear that she doesn’t want to be married.

Every time she agrees to come together it is only ‘for the good of the boys’

She is making other friendships, some with single with men, 

and while I want to trust her, she has renounced her vows and I have concerns.

Life is tough right now and has been for several years.

In Alva we are planning for Sunday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Morning, New Year
and also 7 days of prayer 24-hours per day from January 12-19^th.

Our new associate minister is really helpful and insightful.

He has great love of for the Lord, lots of ideas and energy for the work.

We are looking for further provision beyond the initial year that we agreed.

Present £££ is scheduled to run out in July…

Jehovah Jireh

We are seeing the congregation doubled due to youth ministry.  
God is blessing both a men's ministry and a women's fellowship.  
Discipleship is ongoing and growing legs.  Disciples are discipling!
God is multiplying the work beyond the Pastor 
And the church is growing stronger and in numbers.

Thanks for your prayers,

David

BACK TO YOUR FIRST LOVE

An excerpt from "David Wilkerson Today", a daily devotional:

 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2012

BACK TO YOUR FIRST LOVE

by David Wilkerson

[May 19, 1931 - April 27, 2011]

“Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first

love” (Revelation 2:4).

I believe this warning to the Ephesian church is intended for every Christian

living in these last days. Simply put, the Lord is telling us, "It's not enough

for you to be a caring, giving, diligent servant who grieves over sin and

preaches truth. It's not enough for you to uphold moral standards, endure

suffering for My sake, or even be burned at the stake for your faith. This is

all part of taking up My cross.

"You can do all these things in My name, but if your affection for Me does not

increase in the process of doing them, if I am not becoming more and more the

one great delight of your heart, then you have left your first love. If your

affection for Me is no longer a matter of great concern to you, then I have

something against you."

Consider David's words: "Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon

earth that I desire beside thee" (Psalm 73:25). These are strong words, yet

David is not saying, "I don't have human love." Rather, he is saying, "There is

no one I love exclusively in my heart as I love my Lord. I desire Him above all

others."

David also writes, "O God . . . my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth

for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is" (63:1). "As the hart

[deer] panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My

soul thirsteth for God, for the living God" (42:1-2).

David says, "I thirst deeply for the Lord, the way a deer thirsts after it has

been chased. A deer will go past the point of exhaustion to find the water it

seeks."

Likewise, Jesus is telling the Ephesian Christians, "You no longer seek Me as

the deer seeks. I am no longer the chief object of your desire. You may be

willing to do things for Me, but I'm not at the center of your heart anymore!"

Go back to your first love today. Ask Jesus for grace and strength to begin

again to guard your affection for Him!