It has been eight years since I was the minister of the Church of God, in Kilsyth Scotland and this was my first visit back. For the past two years Sandy McMeekin has been the senior pastor and it was good to spend time with him and his wife Elizabeth as well as renewing friendship with many good folk that I had not seen for some time.
Saturday morning consisted of a meeting with the wider leadership of the church and Saturday night was a joint celebration with a number of churches in the area. Sunday morning and evening was an opportunity to minister to the local congregation
It was a delight to be present for the installation of my close friend, Lyndon Bowring as the first Chancellor of Regent's Theological College. The service was convened by Elim's Director of Training, Nigel Tween.
Two letters of commendation were read at the packed service. The first was from Dr. R.T. Kendall and the second from Rev. David Coffey OBE the current leader of the world Baptist Alliance. Lyndon, who is the Chairman of Care and an Elim minsiter for over thirty years, is one of the most influential Evangelicals in the UK. I have no doubt that his inauguration to this role will bring much added value to the life and ministry of the College.
Many will remember a recent report in Direction magazine about the first Elim Conference in India that was hosted by the 5000 strong Grace Gospel Church pastored by Dr Arthur Paul (pictured) and his four sons.
This week the church was attacked by an anti-Christian mob of many hundreds of people. One of the pastors, Samson Paul, was attacked for preaching the Gospel. Not only did the police not intervene but even refused to register the incident. Their only involvement was to arrest two women for giving out Christian literature and now face a three year prison sentence.
I had been invited to pray at the inauguration of the churches new Internet ministry that now streams their services live world wide via www.samsonpaul.com I was able to address the church via phone while linking visually via computer. This has been a critical week for the church and they very much need our continual prayers. One of my cousins. Herbert Glass from Northern Ireland flew into Bangalore to minister at the church a few days later. Paul Hallam (Manchester and Elim IMD coordinator for India) and Mike Robins (Elim Newquay) have close and supportive links with this great church
