Scotland 2009

As another gray blanket moves into place and hangs heavy, threatening to bring rain onto the lush green country of Scotland, members of Times Square Church begin to settle into their mission trip schedule.

Even in the hustle and bustle of their tight schedules they still smile, encourage and lift-up the spirits of their Scottish hosts.

“Everyone from your church is so nice and happy,” one Scottish employee noted to a team member, who replied “it isn’t us, it’s God in us that makes us so nice. Jesus died for us. Shouldn’t we be happy that God cares for us so much? Everything we have, it’s because of God.” “You are so right!” agreed the employee.

Jesus is the light of the world! 

This blog post was published on November 14, 2009

We arrived in Greenock, Scotland on Saturday.  After lunch we were given flyers announcing the crusade, conference and rally. We left for the local park at nighttime. Crowds of people would be gathered there for their Memorial Day. The park was packed with adults, children, and teenagers.  It was very dark even with the street lights on, and the weather was wet, and cold.

Right away you notice the teenage mothers pushing strollers, with plastic covers, and infants inside.  My eyes were drawn to the teenagers. Young teenage boys walked in small groups in the street close to the curb.  The beautiful fireworks banged, cracked, and popped across the sky, accompanied by military music.  The flyers were handed out to teenagers and adults.  We must pray for those teenagers to give their lives to Jesus Christ. The wayward life is a wasted life. Jesus gives new life and eternal life

That same night the Business Team leader talked to four teenage girls while the media team video taped them. He told them to get their parents to bring them to the Friday night youth rally at Town Hall.  They stood close together and leaned on the park brick wall and giggled and laughed and said, “we will come.”  At that moment I thought about the Gate at Times Square Church and the Christian teenagers, and how every Friday night they would bring their friends who do not know the Lord.

The next night we went to a worship service at Mt. Kirk Methodist Church. After the service the assistant pastor shared with us about why the young people no longer come to the church. The older adults are set in their ways, and see no need to make changes for the young.  I told him, about the aimless looking teenagers we saw in the local park and standing by the train station, while we waited on Saturday night returning back to our hotel.  He told us that there was nothing they could do.  The female teenagers were having babies, so that they could get their own flat. He said, “The teenage boys usually leaves the baby and mother.”

Pray Times Square Church for the people in Greenock, Scotland, and especially for the teenagers and the local churches.  Jesus, let those four girls go to the rally!!!

This blog post was published on November 13, 2009