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.

God blessed us with a beautiful morning this morning and so we headed back down into Edinburgh to do some street preaching. I preached in two places this morning. Both are in the heart of Edinburgh. Constantine joined us this morning. That was helpful. Tommy was able to hand out literature while Constantine recorded the preaching. Please pray for fruit that will remain and wisdom as we seek to make the most of this new Gospel opportunity. (Here is a link to the last 20 minutes of my first time street preaching as pictured below.)

The Lord gave us a good start to Sunday services in September with solid attendance is both Sunday School and Sunday morning. The weather change and the changing daylight hours is starting to be noticeable as we transition to the autumn. We had a very good summer this year in Scotland. We turned on one heater in the auditorium this morning to take the nip out of the air.

I preached this morning on Jesus cleansing a leper from Mark 1:35-45. My message title was, "You Ought To" and we looked at six "you ought to's" associated with Jesus from that story. There was a good spirit and I'm very thankful for each person who makes up our church. Thank you for praying for Free Baptist Church.