Hello! Goodbye!

Last week I attended two gatherings at our church office that underline the significance of relationships.

Firstly, three of us gathered to have a snack lunch with our good friend Waqas –a minister in Pakistan, who we as a church have been supporting. It is always a deeply moving experience to meet Waqas: to hear first hand what it is like to be living as a Christian in an intensely Muslim country going through  political and religious turmoil … hearing  the up to date experiences of Christians being marginalised and  persecuted, whose church buildings and homes are constantly under threat… but that is  always matched by  great stories of the gospel being effectively shared , the poor and the marginalised being cared for and the kingdom of God being experienced with power!!

Do take the chance to hear Waqas on Monday evening 2 August at 8pm to listen first hand to the real story of the Christian living and ministering in a Muslim country- you will be challenged, enthralled and humbled!

I went straight from that meeting to a gathering of our  staff  at our own informal goodbye to Andrew Bennett as he leaves us to head up a missions project  in Dundee.  This was one of the few chances when most of us could be at the office at the same time to mark the occasion.  Along with refreshments and  much laughter,  there was also the occasional need for a tissue – it’s hard saying goodbye to someone who you have worked with, laughed with  and cried with… shared everything with for many years,  in my case 13 years.

Andrew,  I am  going to miss you- you have  been a fantastic colleague and partner in the gospel.

Don’t forget as a church we have our official goodbye to the Bennetts at the service on 15 August 10:30am at  Balerno High School.

This weekend I have just been up in Saint Andrews at Clan Gathering ,  the New Wine Scottish conference. I led a “soaking session” on Sunday afternoon:  a chance to pray over many people for a fresh filling of the Spirit, and to experience God’s love and blessing, in  a relaxed contemplative worship atmosphere.

I know many ‘Mungoites’ are migrating up there for the whole week, many on serving teams. Have a great time, and yet another chance to build relationships: meet our old friends, make new friends and above all develop a relationship with our God!

This entry was posted on 27 July 2010