Mark 3:35 (ESV) For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother
This past month at Grace Church Orkney has seen new arrivals and the family of God is growing here in Stromness.
Mez has carried on preaching through the Gospel of Mark and during the service of the third week of September this verse in chapter 3 of Mark became very clear to us.
On the 11th we were blessed and excited to welcome Andrew and Laura Huffmier and their 4 children to Orkney to be part of our team here in Stromness. Some of you will know the battle they have had over this past year and we stand in awe at the work the Lord has done in their lives and how He has provided and brought them here from Virginia, USA.
Another new addition to our team is Matt Lewis who has moved up to Orkney from North London. He has joined us as an intern after previously training as an outdoor activities instructor and football coach, as well as having good experience leading Christian camps and holiday clubs. With the skills he brings and his eagerness to serve he will be a vital part of our team here as we begin various outreach ministries over the coming months.
These new arrivals have brought a change to our Sunday services in our worship with Andrew playing guitar and Matt playing the Cajon. We have been blessed to have had Eileen who has faithfully played the piano on her own week after week and she now has the joy of playing accompanied by Andrew and Matt as they lead us in our singing to the Lord.
We have also seen Ricky move up from Middlesborough in England to relocate to Orkney. Mez and Miriam have known Ricky for many years and we have been pleased to welcome him to the Island. He has moved into the church manse with Matt and Cee and has already found a job in Stromness. Ricky is a saved born again believer in Christ and we are excited to have him with us as a serving member.
With the arrival of our new staff members we have started to gather as a team for morning prayer meetings every day as well as planning meetings for new ministries and all planning what we will be doing each week. This has been a good time for the team to get to know each other better.
We have also been able to take part in further training with Transforming Lives For good to enable us to mentor children in the local schools as well as take part in valuable safeguarding training.
As we look to start youth and children’s work soon the safeguarding has been a vital part of the preparation and planning for this.
Mez has been busy with Sunday preaching through Mark, Bible studies, planning, organising, flying back to Edinburgh as he teaches at the planters training and preparing for the 20 schemes Weekender which takes place on the 3rd and 4th October. He is already in Edinburgh before the conference where he is meeting and interviewing candidates, alongside meeting new and old friends who support 20 Schemes as we seek to serve Jesus in the schemes of Scotland.
Miriam has been busy in her gentle and patient service to God. She serves Him and His people in many ways here such as preparing and organising fellowship time which often revolves around food which she has prepared, discipling planters wives and leading them in book clubs and teaching sessions, meeting church members for regular one to ones, reaching out to find people in the community who don’t yet know Christ and looking after Nico, teaching him to love the Lord.
Pray that Mez and Miriam are able to carry out all the work the Lord has given them, that they do it well, that they stay strong in Him, and that they find time to rest in Jesus and with each other as a family. Please pray for Nico too that he looks to Jesus as he sees his mum and dad do, that he will be kept well and that he will grow in love for Jesus.
Mez and Miriam’s home has become a real display of the family of Christ. Currently they have Jason, Silas, Matt as well as Andrew and Laura and their 4 kids living with them.
Andrew and Laura are still looking for their family home here in Stromness and we ask that you continue to pray that the Lord provides. They are currently looking at new options and we are praying they can get their own place soon to cement them in the community.
Matt and Cee have seen people come and go this past month. Ricky has moved in with them. They were also able to offer a few days holiday to a couple from Hope Community Church Barlanark in Glasgow and have seen the lady from Edinburgh who was staying with them return home. Matt has preached one Sunday service as well as taking a lead in prayer meetings when Mez is away. Cee has led a teaching session at the 20 Schemes ladies online monthly fraternal and is talking at the ladies conference at the 20 Schemes Weekender. They have both been eagerly planning new ministries as well as doing one to ones and meeting new people in the community.
Please pray for them that in these next few months as things change and get busier that they keep their eyes on Christ, that they too find time to rest and take time to be together and, as they look to welcome more people into their home that they will serve them well and be good ministers of the word.
Another thing that has begun in September is the Orkney hub for the 20 Schemes and Grimké Ragged School. We have 9 people in total who have started the new degree course. Please pray for all who are doing this course – Andrew, Matt, Cee, Matt, Jason, Silas, Sarah, Carolynda and Tony. Some are staff and some are church members. The new course is really really good and is well received by everyone and we ask for your ongoing prayers as they study and grow in their knowledge of the Lord.
Do you feel called to : PRAY GIVE COME
PRAY Join us in praying the Lord blesses the work here and enables us to spread the Gospel in Stromness, Orkney and that souls are saved for His glory
GIVE Join us by giving financially so that the least, the last, and the lost in the community can hear the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ
COME Join us by coming to visit to encourage and see the work God is doing or to work on the ground serving serving Christ in the schemes of Scotland
To give to the ministry as a financial offering please use ban account details :
Name : 20schemes Ltd
Account number : 00147370
Sort code : 82-12-08
Reference : Grace Church Orkney
Or follow this link if you are in the USA and select Orkney