Over this past weekend, two churches in Lewis played host to visiting speakers from SOLAS, an organisation based in Dundee, which is committed to help Christians ‘persuasively communicate Christ into today’s culture.’
Because sharing the Christian Gospel can frequently raise complex questions and difficult challenges, SOLAS partner with local churches, Christian Unions, and other groups to provide resources and training to enhance their effectiveness in sharing what Christians of every generation have described as the ‘Good News of Jesus Christ.’
So it was with anticipation of a good weekend that Andy Bannister and Steve Osmond were welcomed to Lewis by Back Free Church and the High Free Church, Stornoway.
Rev Hugh Ferrier, of High Free Church, said: “I am delighted to see Solas coming to Lewis. The Christian message is a message of good news. That’s such an important message to hear in a world where we are so often confronted with bad news. My hope is the Solas visit will encourage Christians, however old or young they are and whatever church they belong to, to be enthusiastic when it comes to sharing this good news.”
A full programme was drawn up by a small planning team which kicked off on Friday morning with an interview on Isles FM, followed by two café style events held in Stornoway later that evening being hosted in Kopi Java and the Woodlands. Saturday was taken up with another two events, an afternoon session in Back with an evening meeting held in Sandwick Hall. Both speakers fully engaged their audience.
On Saturday afternoon Andy & Steve both delivered a presentation on the theme of Confident Christianity. This is the type of event SOLAS has been providing across the country for several years. The focus of this session was clear as Andy said, “some of the big questions about faith can make us feel afraid, yet with a little training and some practice you can share your faith more naturally.”
Switching to Sandwick Hall in the evening brought the focus round to the great theme of ‘Hope in a World of Chaos.’ There are many issues that concern us and some that will disturb us. By faith, the church can face them with the hope of the gospel that does not disappoint!
On Sunday both speakers were active across the Island as they preached in Back, Garrabost, North Harris and the High Free.
Rev Colin Macleod, of Back Free Church, said: “This weekend has been really encouraging. Andy & Steve are excellent and engaging speakers who do a fantastic job in building confidence into local churches. It is about sharpening our thinking and practice so we are as fully engaged as we should be in sharing the Gospel with the people around us.”
It is hoped that SOLAS will make a return visit to Lewis next year.
