Find my Past
Many of us these days are fascinated by our family history. I did a bit of digging in my father’s paternal line and found the Sprotts hailed from Blantyre. George Sprott, a retired miner, constructed a row of tenements called ‘Sprott’s Buildings’ to house family above and a shoe shop, grocer and public house below. Modern technology has made researching much easier and it can be a rewarding hobby, connecting us with our roots, discovering the rich tapestry of our past, and ensuring valuable stories are not lost.
If this is true, what about our spiritual family history?
In May 1995, almost 30 years ago, I had an experience that continues to impact me today. Julyan and I had just returned to Glasgow from 15 years of church planting in Turkey, and I was sent by our mission agency, OM, to a large international conference in South Korea. It was held at the Centre for World Mission in Seoul and was organised by the AD 2000 and Beyond Movement. Four thousand delegates representing 186 nations came together for GCOWE a Global Consultation on World Evangelisation. Their goal ‘a church for every people and the gospel for every person’ gathered like-minded individuals representing denominations, mission agencies and churches to share perspectives and develop strategies towards finishing the task.
On the final day of the conference, we were invited to wear national costume. After living abroad for many years, it was thrilling for me to dress in tartan, and my outfit brought lots of attention. I couldn’t escape Scotland’s spiritual and missionary heritage. I was reminded of David Livingstone from Blantyre (did he know my great, great grandfather?) Mary Slessor‘s work in Africa, and of Alexander Duff’s pioneering education in India. There was talk of Morrison, who was the first to translate the Chinese Scriptures, and of Ross, who did the same for the Korean Bible. Then there was David Chalmers, who was eaten by cannibals in Papua New Guinea.
A large Māori pastor who was nearing 7 feet tall told me he thought he had some Scottish blood in him because his ancestors had also eaten a few Scots in their time. When he was a young boy, two Scottish women, living in his town had visited regularly and given them two pictures. One was Holman Hunt‘s famous ‘Light of the World’ with Jesus standing at the door knocking and the other was Jesus welcoming the children from different lands. They also brought pots of soup. The impact on this boy’s life had been immense. His ministry was to bring reconciliation among the various peoples of New Zealand, and there was always soup for everyone around his table! He seemed to feel really indebted to us as he added,
“Say thank- you to Scotland from me.”
That evening, David Bryant, Chairman of America’s National Prayer Committee, led us in a concert of prayer. The main auditorium was packed, and overflow halls were being used for simultaneous translation into a variety of languages. He began by announcing,
“Tonight, I’m wearing a tartan tie because it was the Scots who first coined the phrase ‘concert of prayer’ in the Cambuslang revival in the 1700s. Those concerts were always associated with spiritual awakening and missionary passion.”
John Knox was quoted in the final address when we were called to a commitment to world evangelisation like that of the Scot who prayed,
“Give me Scotland or I die.”
Find my Future.
On Sunday we’ll be looking forward and asking how we can strengthen the heart of the fellowship through world mission. As the centre of Christianity moves to the Global South, is God finished with us here in Scotland? Is there no place for us today in God’s big plan for the world? Or is God calling his prodigal daughter, the Scottish church, to a renewed passion for the glory of Jesus, for intercession and for the lost?
If God’s gifts and calling are irrevocable (Romans 11:29), then we Scots should be out front in the hard places, pioneering with, metaphorically speaking, our swirling, kilts and blaring bagpipes, terrorising the enemy with our fearless praise. Our own nation needs to see a vibrant church that has recaptured a healthy self-abandonment, serving God freely, both near and far.
Lenna