On Friday, the Free Church of Scotland officially launched its new rural initiative, the Centre for Rural Ministry. The Centre was initiated by Skye and Wester Ross presbytery but with a Scotland-wide remit to resource remote and rural Free Church congregations. The aim is threefold: firstly to contribute to the foundations of rural ministry through serious reflection on the theology and practice of rural ministry. Secondly it will help to match up under resourced churches with resource- rich congregations and para church agencies. It will also provide specialist help to assist congregations develop their full potential. Thirdly it will also contribute to ministry recruitment in innovative ways such as summer “Gatherings” on a Skye croft where the call to rural ministry will be discussed.
The Centre has no building but instead has a team of nine who are committed to the growth of Christ’s kingdom in rural Scotland. The team are drawn from Aberdeenshire, Inverness-shire, Lochaber, Edinburgh, Wester Ross and Skye and held their first meeting on Saturday in Perth. The following day the Director, Rev Ivor MacDonald participated in a Harvest Thanksgiving event in Dingwall organised by Rev Calum Iain Macleod in conjunction with Dingwall and Highland Marts. Two hundred, many from the farming community attended. Calum Iain preached, guest speakers spoke on the theme of resilience in the farming community and the Highland Harvest Band led uplifting praise.
Ivor said: “I am excited to think of what God may be pleased to do as we offer ourselves in the service of Christ’s rural church. The event in Dingwall highlights the encouragement that comes when church and community come together in this kind of way.”
Click here for more information about the Centre for Rural Ministry, and how you can support it.