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Trustee Report 2024
We started the year with our motto text from Romans 12: 12 – “be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” and have sought to maintain these attitudes in all our work. This last year has turned out to be one of major challenges and choices regarding the church’s future. We have continued to lose members and have sadly said goodbye to two of our oldest, Tommy Sandford and Gertie Hamilton. They are dearly missed and much loved friends who have made significant contributions to the life of our church over the years.
Last summer we had another link with the English-Romanian camp in that Billy and Andrew McQuillan joined Timothy Houston and Adam Skinner along with Romanian friends and a large group of children. The Gospel was shared each day and various activities organised to amuse the young people. It was a great camp with some unfortunate experiences of illness, but a blessing to all nonetheless. We thank God that we had a part in it as a church with financial support and other practical expressions of love from our fellowship.
Last summer we held a farewell-commissioning service for Timothy Houston who has since gone on to become assistant pastor of Dundonald Baptist church for two years. We wish him and Claire well, though we miss their gifts and fellowship.
Also last year Iain Sanders began working with Seafarers Christian Friends Society in their office. This has since led to opportunities to serve in our ports, engage in deputation for the mission, and further preaching for him. We are delighted that he has been issued an invitation to start a chaplaincy for the mission in Aberdeen and hope to hold a commissioning service soon. We wish him and Rosie God’s richest blessing. Stephen Sandford has begun working with Prison Fellowship. We commend him for this and keep him in our prayers for a valuable ministry.
Finally, our meetings have continued and I wish to thank members for their faithfulness. We have struggled to understand the will of God but our coming to major decisions in that regard. Losing members through death and Christian service and by other ways has left us asking appropriate questions about what next. God is in control and will lead us aright and always according to His purposes. We remain joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.