BOOK OF THE MONTH: ‘A Family We Belong To’, Evan Macdonald
Sometimes in the Free Church we can fall into the trap that we already know our history, that there is little more to learn. Evan Macdonald in A Family We Belong To shows clearly that we have so much more to discover. His history of Crow Road Free Church is meticulously researched and encompasses three histories: those of the original Gaelic congregation of 1824 stretching through Hope St, St Vincent St and on to Crow Road, then also the histories of Partick Free Church and Milton Free Church.
The book is full of interesting stories and uncovers details and insights of the people of these congregations and the remarkable impact they had not only on the city but across the globe. There are many photos dotted throughout, including some very impressive and serious sideburns!
This is a beautifully written history, and really sets the standard for others to be inspired by. It also should be an inspiration to each one of us, that we stand on the shoulders of giants who went before. Our predecessors faced all kinds of challenge and difficulty, and with their trust in the Lord’s leading, presented the Gospel to a city that flourished through the faithful preaching of the Word.
This really is a remarkable volume, and I would encourage you to obtain a copy while they are still available. Crow Road Free Church has a remarkable history, but at its heart it is a family, one you will recognise as A Family We Belong To.
This book is available from Evangelical Books & Stornoway Christian Bookshop.
Neil DM MacLeod, St Columba’s Free Church
‘What was the Tabernacle?’, Danika Cooley
Danika Cooley displays a real gift of writing for children in the series of Who? What? Why? This book on the Tabernacle surely must top the list. Few read about the tabernacle, even fewer understand it and rarely will it feature on a children’s reading list. The introduction is a whistlestop tour through the Bible, giving a solid foundation for understanding the reason Jesus had to die. Passages from Hebrews flesh out the necessity of blood sacrifices for the author is not afraid to address the more squeamish amongst us.
We are taken on a tour of the tabernacle, stopping off at each major area and given a wonderful explanation of the reason for its existence as well as a practical message for us today. Every single article or concept points to the Lord Jesus; powerful lessons for 8-12 year olds. Children are seen picking up manna and at the same time collecting gifts to make parts of the temple. This is community giving on a grand scale that culminates in the worship of an awesome God and over it all stands the very presence of God in a cloudy pillar. The picture images are in simple black and white but lend a sense of reality to the narrative that is childlike yet deeply moving.
There is an astonishingly simple yet profound explanation of atonement which has crossed the time zones, making sense and meaning out of the complex concept of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. There has to be a call to make this real in the readers’ heart and you will not be disappointed.
This book is available from Christian Focus Publications
Ruth Aird, Trinity Community Church, Penicuik