Neil MacMillan, who has been working closely with Acts 29 Western Europe, gives us an insight to the country of Scotland.

A COUNTRY THAT PUNCHES ABOVE ITS WEIGHT
Amongst Scotland’s rock ‘n roll contributions to the world are Presbyterianism, golf and capitalism. To provide a bit of yin to our yang we also gave you whiskey and the television. We think the world has much to thank us for. We are a small nation of 5 million people, but we punch above our weight.

The theological and philosophical history of Scotland is often represented by two contrasting figures: John Knox, the fiery Calvinist, and David Hume, the sceptical humanist.  To contemporary Scots, Calvinism is a shameful blemish on our nation’s history.  It is the worldview of Hume not Knox that has captured the hearts and minds of the Scottish people. Scotland views itself as a modern European nation; liberal, secular and tolerant.

In the past Scotland was a country which thrived on its maritime trade and heavy industries.  As traditional industries declined recent prosperity has been built on oil and banking. This has brought great wealth to a number of people but many towns and cities have been left behind. Levels of poverty, premature death and drug addiction are the worst in Western Europe.

THE SCOTTISH CHURCH
But it’s not only the poor who have been left behind by the shift of power, wealth and influence in Scottish culture. The church has been left disorientated and marginalised.    50 years ago 40% of Scottish people attended church every week. Today in Edinburgh, our capital city, less than 2% do so.  The Reformation in Scotland was an astonishing work of evangelism. Today Scotland waits to be re evangelised.  It is said that planting 7000 churches in Scotland would simply take us back to the same number of churches we had 20 years ago.

CHURCH PLANTING IN EDINBURGH
Leith is the harbour district of Edinburgh. It has a population of 80,000 people but few gospel churches. Decades of decline are being reversed by a process of urban renewal. ‘Grace Church Leith’ is seeking to mirror this process spiritually. Church Planter Athole Rennie is leading a core group of about 12 people in seeking to establish a gospel centred church; reformed in its theology, relevant in its ministry. We hope that this will be the first in a wave of similar church plants across Scotland that learn to break the ‘missional code’.

PRAY FOR SCOTLAND
Pray for Athole Rennie and Grace Church Leith. We hope that as they launch their church and engage the people of Leith with the gospel that they will provide us with key insights to help initiate many more church plants.

Give thanks for growing cooperation amongst Scottish evangelicals. Scottish church history is littered with splits and conflict. This is being turned around by a recognition of the need to work together to bring the gospel to the nation.

Pray for the people of Scotland.  Many have encountered the church as a place of legalism, moralism or worse. Christians and non Christians together need to rediscover the church as a community of gospel grace on mission for the glory of God. 

Pray for a pipeline of young men with a passion for planting churches in Scotland.