Earlier this summer, the sun shone on the North Harris Free Church building inside and out, as people involved in youth work from churches across the Western Isles had their first in-person meeting since the beginning of the pandemic. They were part of a group which had been meeting monthly on Zoom in a training programme run by Gordon Macleod, the Youth & Discipleship Support Worker of the Western Isles Presbytery. The programme provided stimulating and challenging Biblical teaching and discussion of real-world issues facing young people. It uniquely enabled colleagues from across the whole area to meet regularly without the challenges of ferry timetables, weather and lengthy road journeys.
However, as we say in Gaelic ‘cha b’e ruith ach leum’, when the invitation to meet together in Tarbert arrived. In keeping with the very current nature of the programme, the Healthy Gospel Church vision provided the framework for the discussion, reflecting on what our growth in health might look like individually, as teams and as congregations, and importantly, what support might be needed to see such growth.
The monthly online meetings and teaching continue, supporting this small army of workers who are now back out and about, faithfully and prayerfully serving young people and doing their bit to realise the Healthy Gospel Church where they are.
Click here to find out more about the Healthy Gospel Church vision.