The first day of the Holiday Bible Club at Loch Gilphead
Baptist went smashingly. Though there was a strong downpour most of the morning
outside (and slight drips in a couple of roof leaks inside) the main room of
the church building housed five classes of children. That open space is about
2/3 the size of the sanctuary at Long Green Baptist. There were probably 45
children participating plus the club staff members from the American and
Scottish teams.
The theme is “Show Stoppers” and incorporates music and
drama as means ofproclaiming the good news about Jesus Christ. He was and is
the true “Show Stopper.”
As I write this, we are at a community athletic facility
which is quite nicely equipped with Astroturf, soccer (football) goals and
tennis courts. Whitney and Scott are directing activities for twelve youth on
the soccer field. All but one of the youth are members of the Holiday Club
staff. It’s an encouraging time for them as the church does not have any
ongoing youth ministry for them at this point. There are also ten young
Scottish men playing a game of soccer on the court next to ours and four more
playing tennis just a wee bit down the way. Maybe in the evenings ahead we’ll
have more interaction with some of them.
Tomorrow should be much like today in terms of activities.
There will be a talent show Wednesday afternoon when we’ll hold an audition for
the budding stars of the club. That evening we are scheduled to travel with out
Scottish counterparts to Oban, about an hour away, for the Berlin Circus,
touted as the best in Europe. We shall see, but since it will have been the
only circus in Europe I have seen, I may
simply have to take their word for it.
Please pray that we will be filled with the Holy Spirit,
demonstrate humility and unity with our Scottish brothers and sisters and that
God will open hearts to the gospel of those we have opportunity to interact
with.