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may 2017

faith@workthe magazine of glenrothes baptist church

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CONTENTS

page

The (Senior) PaSTor’S PageS 1

FaiTh [STill] aT Work! 6

61ST anniverSary 16

BaPTiSmS (STuarT archiBald & ian mahaFFy) 18

TreaSurer’S rePorT 25

Women’S FelloWShiP 26

ouT and aBouT 27

‘The advenTure oF FaiTh’ 34

coming uP 35

‘aBandoned’ 37

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THE PASTOR’S PAGES

by Jacob Brothers (Senior Pastor)

One year ago to the day that I write this, Matthew and myself and our families were

meeting with Colin and Kirsten Brown. I recall good coffee and some spectacular homemade tablet which accompanied our conversations about many things—life, Jesus, family, and church. Then we began to make known the ongoing prayers and desires of the church at the time for new (or at least renovated) premises. Little did we know the plans

that God would have in store! A year on and we have experienced many changes. We have sold our

church home of nearly four decades, and have entered into a long-term lease of a large unit in the Town Centre formerly known as Unicorn House. Since August 2016 we have seen real devotion and servant-hearted faithfulness in action as our church has been busy demolishing and taking away literally tonnes of rubble, wood, carpets, ceiling tiles, old electrics, plumbing, and the like. It has been an amazing sight to behold—yet our people have not been alone. God’s people from all over the world have answered the call to help.

First on the scene to help us was a team from South Carolina, then Romania, followed by two teams from Kentucky, and one from California. Some of these have come as great-grandads on their first time on a plane! They have all sacrificed much time and money, and have given their hearts to serve the Lord and us. Our sixth international team—again from Romania—was here during the first week of May to help finish the Phase 1 plumbing and joinery. The relationships that have been forged over the times through your generous hosting continue to be a testimony of God’s grace. Many have left us in tears, expressing how thankful they have become to share life with you. God has also provided us with various local Christian partnerships. Through our friends at

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Cornton Baptist in Stirling, we have become connected with a Christian interior designer Gordon Yeaman, who has donated invaluable help and technical services throughout the process. We have also been blessed to hire Ross Brown, the minister—and joiner—from Inverkeithing Baptist.

More than the visitors, I have been overwhelmed by the blood, sweat, and tears of true sacrifice from the people of Glenrothes Baptist Church. Literally thousands upon thousands of man-hours and pounds have been invested in this new project. I began to write a list of names and jobs, but this article became so extensive that I decided to list none at this time. From knocking down walls to hosting internationals—or even just brushing the stairs or making coffee—every person and every position in God’s mighty army has been essential to the task. Many have given up holidays, days off, and even sacrificed weeks and months to help. I have seen others sell very valuable properties and possessions to give to this work of the Lord. Each person is giving and serving as the Lord leads—not under compulsion. God loves cheerful givers (2 Cor. 9:7), and that is what our people continue to be. I know you aren’t serving or giving to get accolades from men, so rather than to rob you of the Lord’s blessing I will just say thank you—you know who you are! I want to encourage you all and say well done good and faithful servants. Let’s keep running the race and sacrificing for the mission of the gospel of Jesus Christ in this place for generations to come. ‘And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus’ (Phil. 4:19).

It feels like we are seeing our church experience a mixture of both Acts 5 and Nehemiah 3 these days. In Acts 5, we see the people of God sacrificing for the mission. They are coming and selling their property and laying it at the apostles’ feet. In Nehemiah 3, we see an amazing picture of each and every one of God’s people doing his part to build the wall of Jerusalem—from the goldsmiths and the priests, right down to the commoners. Each was using their different gifts and talents in their area to work together on the wall. Both then and now, this is what I see God using his people to do—and it is an amazing sight to behold!

I do believe, however, that we find ourselves at a crossroads in this project. My mind has recently been fixated upon Nehemiah 4. After

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the people of God were led to begin the work all together of a huge undertaking in rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem, opposition began to truly take root. After an amazing picture in Nehemiah 3 of God blessing his people at work together, we come to Nehemiah 4. Let me encourage you for a minute to prayerfully and patiently read this chapter in your Bible. Pay close attention to the enemy’s tactics, and the way God’s people responded.

Nehemiah 4:1-3: The enemy seeks to whisper lies, division, and discouragement from outsiders.

Nehemiah 4:4-6: God’s people respond in faithful prayer and more hard work.

Nehemiah 4:7-8: The enemy brings others to agree with them; together they threaten, plot, and cause confusion.

Nehemiah 4:9: God’s people respond in prayer, and set a guard as a protection against them day and night.

Nehemiah 4:10: Then the enemy changes tactics and starts using God’s own people. God’s people are scared, grumbling:

‘The strength of those who bear the burdens is failing’ (we are tired and can’t go on!).

‘There is too much rubble’ (this is too big a job!)‘By ourselves we will never be able to rebuild the wall’ (we can’t do this

alone; why is nobody else is coming to help?) Nehemiah 4:11-12: The enemy outside then threatens to kill the people

and stop the work. God’s people are so afraid of the enemy that ten times they ask God’s people to stop working, come back, and help them.

I believe that we find ourselves in somewhat of a similar place. God is doing a great thing, and God’s people have been faithful in following. However the enemy is right in the midst seeking to steal, kill, and destroy. He is seeking to cause fears without and division and discouragement within. The enemy doesn’t just use outsiders to come against us—he often uses us as well. We can allow discomfort, pain, and fear to bring about in us anger, backbiting, gossip, or even just discouraging attitudes toward one another. We must watch our backs and watch out attitudes (I know I must!) and not let the devil get a foothold.

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We would do well to hear Nehemiah’s encouragement to the people in Nehemiah 4:14, ‘Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sisters, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.’

Brothers and sisters, we must ‘not be afraid of them’—we must not fear. We must take courage that the God who has brought us this far will not let our foot slip. He began this good work in us and he will bring it to completion. There are many times that I feel like Peter—we have stepped out of the boat and are on the water. We are walking by faith, but the wind and the waves are scary. We are tempted to look to the fears and problems rather than have our eyes fixed on Jesus. Let us not fight from fear, but from faith and victory.

Secondly, we must ‘remember the Lord’ in everything we do—whether it is serving cups of tea or hosting foreigners who don’t speak a word of English; whether it is giving money or having to sacrifice our preference of what we have known for years as ‘church’ décor and furnishings. We must not be distracted and take our eyes off the reality that this isn’t about any single one of us and isn’t about any of our personal preferences. This is about Jesus. We must ‘Remember the Lord’. Jesus Christ the Lord and King came to this earth with a mission of seeking and saving the lost. He laid down his life on the cross to save sinners. He came to glorify his Father—and he has given us the mission of proclaiming the good news of his kingdom to all. The work, labour, and decisions on this building are never to be motivated by any of our preferences or by how we may benefit from them—but by the glory of God. We must realise that true worship of God is offering our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to him (Rom. 12:1). When we take our eyes off the Lord, we begin to look to other things. Let us remember what is important here: the Lord Jesus—the glory of the Lord and his mission of disciple-making. He is great and awesome! These issues or problems or worries—they are all in his almighty sovereign hand!

Finally, we must fight. This is a spiritual war we are engaged in; as Christians we aren’t just in a building project. The spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms are against us. The world, our own flesh,

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and the devil are formidable foes, but the Lord is greater. By the grace of God, we must each work to put to death our pride, arrogance, judging others, inconsistency, hypocrisy, haughtiness, anger, disobedience, gossip, slander, evil thoughts, strife, lust, greed, and discontentment. We must put on the Lord Jesus and make no provision for the flesh (Rom. 13:14). As we grow in sanctifying the building, we must submit to the Spirit’s sanctifying work on us as living stones in the Lord’s building. Let us live as children of the light who are inhabited by the Holy Spirit as we grow closer and closer to preparing a building to inhabit as the gathered church. Let us not be discouraged, but fight the good fight of faith for our brothers and sisters in Christ and the new children in the faith in this town whom the Lord will add to his church.

Wherever you are in this project, let me encourage you that this is the Lord’s work and we must fight for—not against—one another. If you feel isolated and not a part, pray and do something to encourage those who are. As pastor Matthew challenged us in memorable form a few months ago—may none of us be a ‘whistle-blowing referee’ or a ‘life-sucking leech’! Let each of us ‘get in the game’ and play whatever part God has called us to—even if that is just the guy who takes out the rubbish. And maybe you are tired or discouraged and have your own stuff going on. Don’t allow the leaven to infect the whole batch. Don’t let the unwholesome talk or attitude you may struggle with be a joy killer. If you have real issues, absolutely deal with them and with others as soon as possible—but let’s be busy about the mission and not allow the devil to get a foothold (Eph. 4:27). I am praying for myself in this as well as you.

In the past months you have gone over and above what is required. I have never been so thankful to be called your pastor. Well done, and keep going. This is the Lord’s work—he will do it. And may we be willing participants who give it all for the mission of Christ.

Your brother and pastor,

Jacob

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FAITH [STILL] AT WORK!

The faithfulness of several teams of God’s people from around the world continues to be an example to us, as they have given themselves to real hard

labour on the Relocation Project at ‘Unicorn House’—alongside members of the congregation, as with one mind we have been ‘striving side by side for the faith of the gospel’ (Phil. 1:27). And, of course, we have made many new friends! This photographic record continues from that in the December 2016 magazine. (There are more pictures of the teams on pages 27, 30, & 32.)

17 DECEMBER 2016

A new location for carol singers (sustained by coffee!).

Creating a ‘stoor’ in the new sanctuary

6 & 16 FEBRUARY 2017 (WORK DAYS)

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Cleaning windows—inside and out

Dismantling walls Phew!

Floor-laying

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19 FEBRUARY—EVENING COMMUNION

21–28 FEBRUARY: TEAM FROM HARVEST, ARAD

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A day out in Anstruther

Morning devotions

In the children’s areaThe wallpaper-strippers

Putting up the store- and prayer-room partitions

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PROGRESS AT 9 MARCHSanctuary area

Children’s area

Paint preparation

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30 MARCH – 7 APRILTEAM FROM NELSON BAPTIST ASSOCIATION, KENTUCKY

Left:Not much privacy in the ladieS!

Right:The servery takes shape

Above and left:Painting in the children’s area

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16–23 APRILTEAM FROM CALIFORNIA CITY BAPTIST CHURCH, CALIFORNIA

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24–29 APRIL: WORK CONTINUES

Above and left: Priming the skirting boards.

Above: Demolition work for Phase 2 (2nd floor).

The sections of the main lift are delivered.The stairlift is installed.

Checking on progress after the Prayer Gathering on 25 April.

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3–6 MAY: ROMANIAN PLUMBERS & JOINERS

The 1st floor ladieS (left) ... but the tiling in the genTS is still in progress (right).

Above: The Strange Incident of the Left-handed Saw.Left: Ground floor demolition work.

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... to be continued

Wood panelling in the welcome area and sanctuary—the signature ‘look’?

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61ST ANNIVERSARY

The 61st Anniversary of the church was remembered on Sunday 30 April 2017—the final such occasion in the Church Street premises.

And with the passing to glory of Sam Stevenson in November 2016, this Anniversary was also the first to be held without the presence of a ‘founder member’ of the Church in the congregation.

Rev. Craig Dyer, Director of Training for Christianity Explored, was the guest preacher. His role with CE is to provide evangelism training for gospel-centred churches around the world by developing a network of qualified trainers. He describes this as ‘equipping hundreds to train thousands to rescue millions’. Craig was encouraged by the number in the congregation who indicated that they had been brought to faith in Christ through a CE course.

Craig’s message was based upon Philippians 3:1-11. Here is the key to joyful eternal life. As a church we look back on sixty-one years of having ‘no confidence in the flesh’ (verse 3); sixty-one years of people finding that there is nothing to compare with the ‘surpassing worth’ of the Lord Jesus Christ (8)! As we go on to Year 62 and beyond, we must be ...

1. Trusting Jesus for eternal life. We must beware of the implications of a false security. Paul had the ‘perfect’ educational, ethnic, and religious pedigree (6); this had been the greatest treasure of his life. But he realised, like Luther, that he had hated God, because God demanded a perfection he could not deliver. He saw that Jesus had fulfilled all righteousness for him, accessible through faith (9). His old ‘life-jacket’ was sunk without trace! For the gospel is infinitely better than people think. We go through life trying to gain credibility—and we think God will be impressed. But he knows the truth about us: ‘You can only belong to Christ when you know that you are worse than everyone else.’

We find that there are pressures to trust in other things than simply

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to have faith in what Christ has done. At Philippi it was the physical rite of circumcision (2). What must be ‘cut away’ from us is all confidence in the flesh (3). A renewed heart is the true circumcision. It is this inward reality that matters.

2. Treasuring Jesus for everyday life. The reason there are some miserable Christians is that they treat the Lord Jesus as just a ‘fire escape’, or ‘insurance policy’. They find him restrictive, unfashionable in today’s society – but necessary to escape hell. They find him an encumbrance on their liberty, but they do not treasure him and delight in him as the source of their greatest joy. ‘The way we know we are trusting Jesus for eternal life is that we are treasuring him in everyday life.’

My soul thirsts for God,for the living God. PSalm 42:2

How can we treasure Jesus like that?1) By finding our joy in him (1). He should be our deepest and indestructible

joy, a joy that endures no matter what is going on in our lives. This is a work of the Holy Spirit in us.

2) By keeping it ‘real’ with him – giving him worship (‘worth-ship’) with our whole life (3).

So shall no part of day or night,from sacredness be free. horaTiuS Bonar

We worship Christ as all-worthy. He is our champion! 3) By losing the lot for him (8). If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.

mark 8:34, 35

It is tough to follow Jesus. Do we treasure an easy life rather than treasuring him?

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BAPTISMS

Stuart ArchibaldBaptised 8 January 2017 by Matthew MarshallReceived into membership 5 March (see page 30)

‘I realised I needed to be baptised to follow the Lord Jesus’ teachings.’

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Stuart’s testimony

I was an only child and lived with my Mum and Dad. We attended West End Congregational

Church in Kirkcaldy, where I came under the in-fluence of the gospel and was a member of Boys’ Brigade. When my Mum and Dad died, I strayed away from the church and its teachings.

I met new friends and that made me want to be like them. But I met Katriona, who told me I was a sinner and had to be changed. After a service in the church I was convicted, and asked help from the Minister.

I went to Christianity Explored with Kat, at Rachael’s home. I realised I needed to be baptised to follow the Lord Jesus’ teachings. So thanks to the prayers and help from others I am here today.

Praise the Lord!

Stuart & Kat, due to be married in the new church premises on 15 July.

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Ian MahaffyBaptised 26 February 2017 by John Belton

‘one morning as I was reading John’s Gospel I knew that any doubt I had had disappeared. I went outside on a dark, stormy morning, gazed up at the sky, and submitted my life to the Lord, asking for forgiveness for my sins. I had become a Christian.’

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Ian’s testimony

The upbringing I had as a young lad was on the farms. I loved that life! I remember sitting in

the tractor with my Dad steering it as my feet could not reach the pedals. I remember Kim, our collie, making sure my younger sister and brother did not escape the garden.

Then we moved to Penicuik, and that for me was the start of a different way of life. There were temptations that did not exist on the farm. I attend-

ed Sunday School for a while; then I became the dreaded teenager, left school, found work, and started to party—music, beer, girlfriends, etc. I would disappear with no contact with home—gone for weeks some-times—with no thought for anyone except myself. I cannot imagine the worry I put my parents through, and although I was in the mountains or on the islands up north, I was doing no harm—I thought. How wrong could I be!

By this time I was twenty-four. I then met a girl whom I married, and had two beautiful girls. That went wrong too! So off I went again, off the rails and on a path of self-destruction—again running away looking for excitement, and never looking back; leaving a trail of destruction yet again which lasted the best part of twenty-five years.

I lost touch with my girls, and that hurt. But I thought with the way I was living, it was no place for two young girls! Wrong again! We saw each other for a brief time when they were teenagers; then another failed relationship set me off again.

It all came to a head last year when one day I woke up and said to myself, ‘I need to change!’ How I was going to do that I had no idea. I was in a foggy, misty place. The burden of sin was too much. I was stay-ing with my sister and Duncan, trying the best I could to survive, but I knew there were huge empty holes in my life that I needed to fill—also an empty soul. I was drained, lethargic, down. I was at this point thinking, ‘all I want is to be happy, loved, and having some stability in my life’—so I guess that was the beginning of silent prayers.

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I was at Errol Car Boot Sale with my sister and Duncan, wandering around, when I looked up and saw Carol speaking to a young woman. Bang! It hit me who that young woman was—my daughter Suzanne! We fell into each other’s arms with a few sobs and tears. My silent prayers were being answered.

I was at that point beginning to believe that there is a God after all. Then one day standing outside Duncan’s house I met John Belton for the first time. He asked if I was busy the next evening, and when I said ‘No’ he quickly asked—in a very nice way—if I would be interested in giving the church a hand to do some work in Unicorn House. I accepted and went down to Unicorn House as I said I would. I met some of the people from Glenrothes Baptist Church—Matthew, Jacob, David Mc-Namee, David Belton, to name a few. I felt good afterwards that I had helped the church in a small way.

John and I chatted a few more times and we became friends. Then John asked if I would like to come along to a meeting—a little group called Christianity Explored. I thought, ‘why not?’, and attended the 8-week study which was based on Mark’s Gospel. While reading Mark’s Gospel, this jumped out at me:

And [Jesus] said, ‘What comes out of a person is what defiles him.

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For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sex-ual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.’ [Mark 7:20-23]

I just thought, ‘Wow! That was written about me! That’s me—a sinner.’No-one likes to admit that they

have sinned or are a sinner, but we all have and are—like it or not. It does not matter how big or how small your sin has been, sin is sin. And try as we might, we will con-tinue as human beings to sin from time to time. In fact, we are so good at committing sin that God put his only Son on earth, know-ing he was going to be crucified on a cross to make it possible for

man to repent of his sin. All we can strive to do is to try and live more like Jesus.

So I completed the 8-week study and thought to myself, ‘I need this in my life.’ On the 9th week we all met up for a relaxing evening with Rachael’s great cooking (boy, she makes a mean cake!). And it was there I met Kev for the first time—my brother in arms. He asked if I would like to attend his baptism [see faith@work, December 2016, pp. 13-16]. I did so, and have attended church every week since. But just after that week 9, one morning as I was reading John’s Gospel I knew that any doubt I had had disappeared. I went outside on a dark, stormy morning, gazed up at the sky, and submitted my life to the Lord, asking for forgiveness for my sins. I had become a Christian.

Since that morning, my life has changed quite a bit. I have my own home, and a job, so things are looking up. I have new friends in my church family who I believe were all praying for me even before I com-mitted myself to the Lord.

I would like to thank you all, and especially John and Rachael, for your

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support and understanding, for all the gentle little nudges, and for just listening. Thank you for all your prayers, and for accepting me into your hearts through the Lord.

Dear Lord,I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for filling me with

your Holy Spirit, for bringing forgiveness, peace, and love back into my life. I know that without your grace, Lord, in accepting me and forgiving me for my sin, I would still be like a lost ship with no rudder by which to steer its course. You have put a new meaning into my life and given me stability, security, and faith. Lord, I will try my utmost to please you, to follow your Word, as you are my only king. King of kings! I pray that you will continue your good work in me as I grow stronger in your Word. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

Amen.

I now feel that I am beginning to understand what has been missing in my life, and my faith in the Lord has grown stronger day by day. The strength of prayer is amazing—I have witnessed it first-hand. Through Christ I have found hope, love, peace, and a new meaning to life. It is almost like I have become a new person—born again!

Ian with family and friends after his baptismLeft to right: John Belton, Aunty Avril, Ian & Margaret (dad & mum),

Ian, Carol (sister), Suzanne (daughter), Rachael Golz.

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FROM THE TREASURER

It is some time since you had a Treasurer’s Report in the magazine, so the following list of average offerings covers the period since August

last year. I am very pleased to say that over the first six months of this financial year (apart from a bad start in October!), offerings have improved and were above the budget target of £2222 per week for February and March. This is particularly encouraging in light of the financial demands of the Relocation Project, and the generous giving to that, in both cash and pledges. Thank you to everyone for your faithful giving—please keep it up!

Month Average weekly offering (£)August 2016 2226.23September 1936.42October 1681.61November 2184.18December 1937.56January 2017 1980.81February 2275.06March 2391.45Budget £2222 per week

The Anniversary Thanksgiving Offering this year will be towards the Relocation Project, with a target of £6000.

Helen Clarkson

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

2200

2400

2600

£/w

eek

Average Weekly Offerings against Budget (April 2016 - March 2017)

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WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP

Monday evening, 27 March, was a momentous evening for the ladies of the Women’s Fellowship—our last meeting as a group before

the move to Unicorn House!! The WF of our church have been meeting for 59 years and one lady present, Mrs Wright, was at the first meeting, which she started. Jane Larkins, our longest-serving member was also present. How is that for a record??!!

Our original title was Women’s Auxiliary to the Baptist Union—meaning ‘help’ to our national body in the United Kingdom. This vision started over 100 years ago and of course our constitution has been updated since then as well as our title.

Look out for our birthday celebrations next year when our WF will be 60 years old, and along with Girls’ Brigade, who are also 60 years old in 2018, we plan a joint event.

‘SERVING GOD IN EVERYTHING’ is our Motto and with God’s help we try to do this.

Ella Walls

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OUT AND ABOUT

The above advertisements appeared in Solas magazine, Winter 2016 (top) & Spring 2017.

LOOK WHO’S STUDYING AT ETS!

ROMANIAN WORK TEAM

The team from Harvest Metanoia Church, Arad, who worked in Unicorn House 21–28 February

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DEDICATION SERVICE

A special Dedication Service was held for the Brown family—Colin & Kirsten, Innes, Keir, and Lara—on 29 January.

Colin & Kirsten with baby Lara, born 29 September 2016 Not one cake, but two!

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BABY BURNS

Tucker, a son for Gary & Kirsty Burns.Born: 2 March 2017 at 11.00 am | Weight: 5.3 kg (11lb 10oz)

Gary & Kirsty with the rest of the familyleft to right: Taylor-lee, Tucker, Maddox, and Keyara

“Children are a heritage from the Lord”PSalm 127:3

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MEMBERSHIP

MOUNT MORIAH WORK TEAM

Stuart Archibald was welcomed into membership on 5 March 2017

A small Unicorn House work team from Mount Moriah Baptist Church, Bardstown, Kentucky, was welcomed on 5 March by Assistant Pastor Matthew Marshall and Elder John Belton

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A NEW SONG

Singing group A New Song visited on 11 March

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MORE WORKERS!

... from Nelson Baptist Association, Kentucky (30 March – 7 April)

... and California City Baptist Church (16–23 April)

... including a Brothers family trio at the evening service on 23 April!

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I’m sorry if there’s a Significant Event missing from this selection. Over to you, Readers, to give me the pictures and details! — Ed.

MOVING DAY—18 APRIL

The pews come out ... but where do you put the fittings?!

ENGAGED!

CONGRATULATIONSto John Belton and Rachael Golz, who announced their engagement on 30 April

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‘THE ADVENTURE OF FAITH’

104pp | paperback | illustrated | £5.00*Available from the Editor, Colin Roworth

124 Ralston Court, Glenrothes, KY6 2PU | colin.roworth@gmail.com

Using as his main source the Newsletters published by the church between 1958 and 1993, Neil Allison (pastor 1993-1998) tells the

story of the 34-year ministry of his predecessor Rev. Alexander Wright, the first pastor of Glenrothes Baptist Church.

The brief history presented in these pages will show that the atten-dances were tremendous at Glenrothes Baptist Church because of the vision of a few, sheer hard work, dynamic leadership, and prayer—all within the sovereign providence of God. From the very beginning Glenrothes Baptist Church had one key goal: to make Christ known and win Glenrothes for Christ. — From The inTroducTion

* All proceeds will go towards the Relocation Project.

COPIES STILL AVAILABLE

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COMING UP

presented by

2nd Glenrothes Girls’ BrigadeFriday 23 June 2017 at 2pm

Saturday 24 June 2017 at 2pm and 7pmRothes Halls (Hall B)

Glenrothes

Cost adults—£7 adults | children—£5

family tickets (2 adults + 2 children)—£22

Tickets are available from the Rothes Halls box office as well as from GB leaders.

Come and enjoy a wonderful evening as you watch the girls perform the award-winning musical Annie Jr. This is certainly a show not to be missed, so come along and support the girls as they tread the boards and display their stunning singing, dancing, and acting skills.

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27 June – 2 July 2017The Faith Mission Bible College,

Gilmerton Road, Edinburgh EH17 8QGWith a programme for all ages, centred around solid, relevant Bible teaching, the Convention aims to encourage God-glorifying, contagious gospel living.

SpeakersBarnaby Alsop – pastor of Bulford Chapel in Wiltshire.

David Cook – former principal of Sydney Missionary and Bible College.Andy Hunter – Scotland Director for the Fellowship of Independent

Evangelical Churches (FIEC).Sandy Roger – minister of Brucefield Church, Whitburn, and formerly prin-

cipal of the The Faith Mission Bible College.Charles Price – former senior pastor of The Peoples Church, Toronto.

David Robertson – minister of St Peter’s Free Church, Dundee. John Townend – general director of The Faith Mission.

Stephen Walker – team leader with The Faith Mission in the South East English District.

More information at www.faithmission.orgBrochures available from the Editor

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ABANDONED

‘Be filled with the Spirit.’ ‘He will guide you into all the truth ... he will glorify me.’ (Eph. 5:18; John 16:13, 14)

Utterly abandoned to the Holy Ghost!Seeking all His fullness, whatever the cost;

Cutting all the moorings, launching in the deepOf His mighty power—strong to save and keep.

Utterly abandoned to the Holy Ghost!Oh! The sinking, sinking, until self is lost!Until the emptied vessel lies broken at His feet; Waiting till His filling shall make the work complete.

Utterly abandoned to the will of God;Seeking for no other path than my Master trod;Leaving ease and pleasure, making Him my choice, Waiting for His guidance. Listening for His voice.

Utterly abandoned! No will of my own;For time and for eternity, His and His alone;All my plans and purposes lost in His sweet will,Having nothing, yet in Him all things possessing still.

Utterly abandoned! It’s so sweet to beCaptive in His bonds of love, yet wondrously free;Free from sin’s entanglements, free from doubt and fear,Free from every worry, burden, grief, or care.

Utterly abandoned! Oh, the rest is sweet,As I tarry, waiting at His blessed feet;Waiting for the coming of the Guest divine,Who my inmost being will perfectly refine.

Lo! He comes and fills me, Holy Spirit sweet!I, in Him, am satisfied. I, in Him complete.And the light within my soul will nevermore grow dimWhile I keep my covenant—abandoned unto Him!

Anon. From Streams in the Desert by L B Cowman. Contributed by Betty Morran.

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GLENROTHES BAPTIST CHURCHMeeting temporarily at 8 CHURCH STREET, GLENROTHES KY7 5ND

Aim: “to glorify God through worship and witness”

Sunday worship at 10:30 am and 5:00 pm

Senior Pastor: Rev Jacob Brothers Tel. 07872 385633 pastorjacobbrothers@gmail.comAdministrator: Loma Robertson

Tel. 01592 569921 russ.loma@hotmail.com

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this issue of faith@work.The Editor can be contacted at

colin.roworth@gmail.com or on 01592 755773 or 07977 234046.

Front Cover: left—Rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem under Nehemiah. [Oil on canvas. William Brassey Hole (1846-1917)]; right—At work in the

new church building, February 2017. See also pages 1-5.

www.glenrothesbaptistchurch.org.uk

LET THERE BE LIGHT! Assistant Pastor of Mission (and Project Manager for the Relocation Project)

Matthew Marshall explains the new sanctuary lighting to Paul & Catherine Greer during a site tour following the Prayer Gathering on 25 April.