Justice was the theme of today’s National Prayer Breakfast for Scotland.
The event which took place at Prestonfield House, Edinburgh, was attended by Church representatives, organisations and MSPs from across Scotland. During the breakfast there was an opportunity to talk, as well as hear a keynote address from Pete Greig who founded the global prayer movement known as 24-7 Prayer. Celtic Worship led the time of sung worship.
Moderator Rev Alasdair Macleod, and the chair of the Public Engagement Group, Rev Stephen Allison, hosted a table. They were joined by Kate Forbes MSP, Liam Kerr MSP, Ruth Charteris KC (Solicitor General for Scotland), Jamie Gillies from the Free Church’s Public Engagement Group, Free Church staff, Andrew Giffen, Sarah Robinson and Sarah Johnson as well as Prof Bob Akroyd from Edinburgh Theological Seminary.
John Swinney MSP, First Minister of Scotland read two Bible passages: Isaiah 61: 1-4 and Zecheriah 7: 8-10. Representatives from a number of organisations prayed about the following; justice for people when homeless, justice for trafficked people, justice for the hungry, justice for the debt laden, justice for people with addiction and the church and the impact of the gospel. Videos by Christian charities including International Justice Mission, Christians Against Poverty Scotland and Bethany Christian Trust were shown for attendees to see the work taking place in Scotland.
Rev Donnie G. MacDonald from Portree and Bracadale Free Church prayed, via a livelink, for all those in authority, into places of power and roles of leadership.
Keynote speaker Pete Greig spoke about the need for justice and mercy, and highlighted issues affecting Scotland today. He said: “To be a follower of Jesus; it is to prioritise the poor and to fight against injustice.”
He spoke about the numerous newspaper headlines which show “very surprising but significant openness towards faith amongst 18 to 25 year olds”.
To conclude, he said: “If this is just a religious blip, it’s actually of fairly little significance- it will come and go – but if it results in a generation joining the mission of Jesus, spelt out in Isaiah 61 here in Scotland to bring good news to the poor, to bring freedom to those in captivity and hope for those who are oppressed, then we might just be on the edge of something magnificent. I believe we should pray today with great faith for a turning of the tide and with a great and enduring hope in the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, upon which this nation has been built. May his kingdom come and may his will be done.”
Following the National Prayer Breakfast for Scotland, Free Church Moderator, Rev Alasdair Macleod, said: “Being present with other church, charity and political leaders to hear about, and then pray for, various Christian missions was a privilege and an encouragement. A particular highlight was the livelink to Portree where Rev Donnie G. MacDonald prayed for those with leadership responsibility throughout Scotland.”
Do pray for the 400 hundred guests who attended the breakfast.
Catch-up on the prayer breakfast here.
