Leven Free Church is a church plant in Leven that wants to love Jesus and love those around them. Their desire is to be in the community and for the community with the good news of Jesus at the heart of it all.
Church planter Rev Geoff Murray, of Leven Free Church, has shared updates and encouragements about what has been happening in the church community. The core team which consists of a group of around 30, including the Murrays. They have been meeting regularly since March at a local hall in the centre of the town.
Geoff said: “As we get ready to enter year three of church planting in Leven and re-enter Mark’s gospel after a summer break, we re-enter at Mark 4:1-20, the parable of the sower.
“The parable of the sower is such an encouragement in ministry and church life. As I look back on the past two years of ministry and even on the past two weeks I can think of examples of every one of the grounds that the seed is sown on; the path, the rocky ground, the thorns, and the good soil, coming to reality before me.
“There are really encouraging things happening, where it would appear the seed of the gospel is bearing fruit in lives, good soil. Then there are hard discouragements of the gospel falling on deaf ears, the path (as far as I can see!), and then almost the more painful, the rocky ground/the thorns, dear ones in whom it seemed the gospel was bearing fruit but whether shallow faith or whether choked out by the cares of this world, the seed appears to have died.
“There have been those who have seemed so keen and enthusiastic who have fizzled out, there have been those who seem indifferent, yet there are those who are warmly embracing the gospel and are growing as Christians and that is a joy.
“Ultimately, we crack on with hope knowing our labour in the Lord is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58) and as we tarry on and are spent we do so for the greatest cause in the world – the glory of God.”
He shared: “One thing that God has done is bring a group of mature Christians and he has brought a group of professing believers who have never been discipled or mentored. We’re beginning the process of discipleship amongst the core team which is really exciting.”
It has been a busy time for the Murrays as they have welcomed their third son, Rory, in the world at the end of July.
As the team looks ahead, they have asked for prayer for the following:
- Give thanks for our encouraging start thus far and pray God may build upon what has started.
- Give thanks for the MTW family, the Brooks, and pray for them as they just moved into a new house in Levenmouth. Pray for their ministry that God would bless it with good fruit.
- Pray that we’d be able to continue serving one another in love and that our love for one another may be evident to those outside.
- Pray for us as we continue seek financial provision for the continuation of the work in Leven.