pulling together

Scripture Union is another 'para-church' organisation. We're glad to stand shoulder to shoulder with this fine body as well in the work that they do.

We do that in various ways. And this week's provided a useful sketch of the various ways our involvement with them finds expression.

Today, of course, being Thursday, saw me once again along at the school. First for the morning assembly; and then at lunch for the SU group which meets each week in the library.

There are SU groups in lots of schools, and they all rely on volunteers. Some of our folk are involved in this way in various schools throughout the city. Some are teachers themselves. Some are parents of children at school. Some are just glad to give of their time to engage with the children thus.

Every group is different. The one I run had some 20 young pupils along today and they all seem to like it a lot. There's the chat at the start as they all arrive, there's a game for a while and then we get down to the 'bible bit'.

It's short and the time flies by. But it's a fruitful and important sort of ministry which SU has within the schools, up and down the country - and right across the world. And we're glad to be involved like this.

On Monday evening past we hosted here a Prayer Supporters' evening. It's God who makes things grow. We recognise that fact. And so we seek to get behind the work that SU does by making sure we pray. We seek God's fullest blessing on the work which SU does and pray that he would really be at work in children's lives.

Committed and continuing regular prayer is thus a second way in which we share in all that Scripture Union does.

A third important aspect of the way in which we stand alongside all that SU does is through our financial giving. We budget each year to be giving away to various sorts of Christian work some 12% and more (something like £30,000) of our annual income. Scripture Union is one such Christian ministry to which we give.

I've been dealing this week with a kind cash donation which someone gave. The person, who wished to remain quite anonymous, asked that £500 be given to Scripture Union. The person values the work which SU does and is glad to give. That cash donation is a striking illustration of our 'shoulder-to-shoulder' involvement with the work of SU.

We've also been trying to explore this week the possibility of housing a 'Gap' year student who's coming to work for SU.

The person concerned is not your average 'just-left-school' sort of student: she's a 40 year old with a lot to contribute, and SU Scotland was keen to make use of her gifts. All that they needed was somewhere for this 'Gap' year student to stay.

When they sent out an urgent e-mail intimating this pressing need, we thought it worth exploring, since we've got a spacious cottage (presently used by a lovely Nigerian student at Heriot Watt) and we're keen to see it used in the service of the Lord.

Our vision statement identifies six God-given priorities, of which the sixth is stated thus -

servant leadership: we see God growing a church here whose resources (of people, premises and wealth) and resourcefulness inspire, enable and encourage the whole people of God, in this land and beyond. We aim thus to exercise a significant ministry in the wider church, demonstrating a servant attitude, a global perspective and a sacrificial commitment.

Using the cottage like this meanwhile seems entirely in line with what we've been called by the Lord to be and to do.

That's one of the reasons we have a vision statement, of course. It helps direct our thinking and it helps inform our decisions.

The cottage adjoins our halls. It's a graphic sort of picture of the way in which we work with Scripture Union in a shoulder-to-shoulder way.

Yoke-fellows in the service of the Lord.