God gave us a great Sunday and a good start to our work week on Monday as well. Yesterday was a blessing on a couple specific levels. We had 3 first time visitors to church yesterday. Two girls who came to our HBC have started attending on Sunday night and plan on coming on Wednesday night as well. This is a specific answer to prayer as we are praying for God to populate those services. Also, a man whom we have been praying for attended with his wife. What a blessing to have them present at all our services yesterday.

The other blessing yesterday was some very good chuch fellowship time. We had a fellowship meal after the morning service. And because we had plenty left over, we had a fellowship time after the evening service. We also were blessed in our time together around the Lord's table in our Sunday PM. I enjoyed sharing Psalm 22 a precious Psalm which details the crucifixion 1,000 years before it took place.

My message yesterday morning was also from the Psalms. I preached on, "Divine Intervention Needed" from Psalm 79. God blessed each one of our services and gave us a really good day.

Due to heavy rain forecast on Tuesday and Wednesday morning, Tommy and I went into Edinburgh this morning. I preached in front of McEwan Hall where hundreds of University Students are passing through. Several people stopped to listen at different times this morning. We also had some good one on one conversations on our way in and out. Thank you for praying for all of the above. We covet your prayers.

One thing that has stood out to me as we have openly shared God's Word through the open letter is that, when you call evil good, you call good evil. We have been mocked on social media this week and I received this email today. Anyone who reads the spirit of my open letter will know that ALL I am doing is letting God's view be known on difficult topics. There are many people who are not religious who agree with what the Bible says on these controvercies. They are afraid to say so because of the hate they will receive from those who despise their views.

Her email:

"Your views are disgusting and I think you need to start living in the modern day! How dare you project your vile prejudices on other human beings. No one wants you spouting your rubbish here. Take yourself a away to  the middle of nowhere and spout your absolute ____ between yourselves. 

Can’t believe in 2022 people like you exist!

God forbid you or any of your crew have children that you are forcing to hear this _______!

Awful awful people if you can even call you that. Just disgusting !!"

My response:

Thank you for your email. I’m sorry that you have taken offence to the open letter. I’m not ashamed of what God says and know that those who killed Jesus didn’t do it because they appreciated what He said. Jesus said, "The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.” John 7:7. He wasn’t testifying to them out of hate. He loved them too much to let them go to Hell and would do everything in His power (including dying for them) to save them from their sin.

Sin is punishable and will not be overlooked by a Holy God. Only those who are willing to repent of their sin can receive God’s gift of everlasting life. Sin is also a burden and bondage. No matter how much men try to justify their sin, it can’t take away the burden or the punishment of sin. Only the grace of God through the shed blood of Jesus has the power to take away man’s sin. 

I hope that someday you may thank me for being willing to be treated as you have treated me for openly sharing the truth of God’s Word.

I sincerely hope that you have a good day,

Pastor Ben

Yesterday was a busier day as we had a youth activity last night at our home. God gave us a good time together. I preached on being unashamed of Jesus and looked at Peter's denial. I was able to get out a little while yesterday to put out flyers in Auchendinny.

Today, my street preaching helper, Tommy, was ill. Thankfully our son, Logan, (16) was able to join me this morning. I enjoyed preaching on the Royal Mile near St. Giles Cathedral (Facebook Link). Those of you who are not from Edinburgh may remember that the Queen was lying in state at St. Giles recently. 

Afterwards Logan and I went down to Princess St. by the National Gallery (Sermonaudio link) and preached a couple of more times. Thank you for praying for this ministry. I'm reminded of Paul's Words, "Who is sufficient for these things?" I appreciate your prayers very much as we enter into this ministry on a weekly basis. Logan was able to hand out many Gospel flyers.

2 Corinthians 2: 14  Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

15  For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:

16  To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

PS - we just completed a verse by verse study on Sunday PM's through the book of Proverbs. Here is a photo of my notes. :)

God blessed Saturday with two really good divine appointments while knocking on doors. I anticipate one young lady being in attendance at church in the near future. There is another woman from the same area who we met 2 weeks earlier that said she will come. She's had covid this past weekend, but said maybe this next week.

Sunday was encouraging with regard to door to door. About 6 months ago we had an amazing day knocking on doors. 3 entities said very definitely that they wanted to come visit the church. Nobody came....until 3 weeks later Mali came with her 2 children to HBC and then church. She and her husband were added to our church about 2 months later. Yesterday, another one of those entities from that day, a young family with 2 small children, came out for church. What a blessing to have them there!

There are several right now whom we anticipate visiting the church. Please pray that nothing will keep them from coming and that God will use us to meet the spiritual needs in their life through His Word.

Another blessing yesterday was Tommy speaking for a 5 minute challenge in our evening service. I've challenged our men to take opportunity to do this once a month. He bravely took me up on it. Please pray for others to follow suit.

I preached in our AM service a message on church planting while looking at the example of the church at Troas. My main point was that everyone needs to get more involved in church planting. (Churches plant churches)

Today, Tommy and I put the Open Letter out on the South Side of Edinburgh. Please continue to pray for the power of God to open men's eyes to His truth. A young girl (7) recently said as my wife taught that God made male and female, "There should be 3 genders. Boys and girls and those who don't identify." These kids are being taught lies in our schools. We MUST help them to know truth or they will not only perish but they will not understand why their life is so messed up. God help us and God help you to get truth out where people can read it, hear it, and see it.

Here is a link to sermon audio if you are interested in seeing some of the street preaching yesterday. I preached three times, this was the second opportunity. What you can't see is all the young people in front of me waiting to get their bus. There were up to 40 of them and beyond them there were many young people within ear shot. Several were seated around the area and at times people stood to hear the preaching. Please pray for God to do a great work in these hearts and that the Word of God would go forth with power. 

1 Thesallonians 1:5  For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

Tommy and I went into Edinburgh this morning and I preached in front of McEwan Hall. To tie it to yesterday's update, Eric Liddel graduated in that hall. This building is part of the University of Edinburgh. Obviously there were college age young people all around us. It was a very good location with a lot of people within ear shot. The bus stop was right in front of us and the kids had to wait there for their bus. 

Two young men and a woman said they would visit our church. Please pray for them to do so. We spoke with the young men for close to half an hour (with open Bible) after I finished preaching. They had been by when we started and were coming back by as I finished. They are sincere and I do hope we can help them find Christ as their Saviour. Thanks for praying for this ministry.

God gave us a good service tonight at church as well. We're studying 1 Peter and were looking at why we ought to fear God. I haven't had time to upload any preaching, but should have some of our ministry from today up tomorrow.

The Lord gave me one of those really neat divine appointments today. I was up for a day of prayer in Blair Atholl and did some evangelism afterwards in the village. A couple was there on holiday (vacation) from a couple hours away. 

After I handed them the literature and said where I was from, the man said, "I had a relative in Edinburgh who became a famous protestant missionary. You may know him. His name was Eric Liddell." As it turned out, the man's grandma was first cousins with Eric Liddell. It was a joy to meet him and his wife and to speak to them about the Gospel. Please pray for God to do a great work in their lives.

What I love about that opportunity is the knowledge that God honours His servants by bringing their family into contact with his truth. They said that they often get to Edinburgh and that they might visit our church. I hope so.

God gave us good attendance in our Sunday morning service although Sunday School was not as well attended. I'm burdened about revival and the Lord allowed me to preach my heart a bit this morning as we went to Psalm 80, From Reflection to Revival. I remember the days of my youth (1980's) seeing churches full Sunday  morning, Sunday night and if I remember correctly on Wednesday night. Sadly we are seeing churches canceling services right and left.

As a church planter we fight to establish church services and don't give up easily though at times we'd be tempted to quit. I believe the only thing that can stem the lack of desire for God and God's house is God turning His people back to Himself. Please pray with us for the power of God.

God blessed us with good weather for most of this week. On Monday I put out flyers in a heavy mist, but it was good enough to get out. Tuesday Tommy and I went into Edinburgh and did street evangelism. I preached in front of a mall (St. James Quarter) which connects to the main shopping area in downtown Edinburgh (Princess St.) Afterward, we moved to Princess Street beside the National Gallery.  There were a lot of people out and about that morning. The Queen was Lying in State at St. Giles which is quite near that location.

Today Tommy and I put out flyers near his home which is on the East side of Edinburgh. I had one opportunity to witness with a man, Keith. Your prayers for our evangelism are much appreciated. We're trying to do what we can to get the Gospel out.

I realised as I went to add this post that I didn't update on Sunday. God gave us a good day. I preached on, "The Greatest Blindness" from Jesus healing of the blind man. (John 9)

Tommy didn't have a car to meet up with me today and so, "Plan B" was me collecting him and putting out flyers in his area. Tommy lives just outside the Edinburgh City Limits on the East side of the city. The city is growing out in all directions and so there are many new housing schemes. We probably put out about  250 flyers and had two witnessing opportunities. Both of these men had obvious needs which Jesus could meet. One had a health need after suffering a heart attack in his late 20's. The other was smoking a joint. Please pray for God to open their eyes to his truth.

The flyer we were putting out is the, "Open Letter." We've had some negative feedback at times, but we know that God's Word needs to be lifted up. Please pray for the light to shine brightly and that even unbelievers would begin to recognise what they lose when God is silenced.

Meanwhile, one of the street preaching opportunities from Monday is running on Facebook as an advert. Our Facebook is Free Baptist Lothian. If you'd like to view that street preaching video on sermon audio, here is a link.  Please pray that God will use the preaching of the Gospel to touch the hearts of people in our area. We're running this add within a ten mile radius of our church. I know these adds work as I have met people in our area who have seen them. God's good. We appreciate your prayers very much.