Aviemore is Scotland’s fastest growing town and the UK’s top ski resort. It’s also home to a new FIEC church.
Launched in August 2021, Hope Church Aviemore has just celebrating its first birthday. Since their launch, numbers have tripled and a man who has come to faith is due to be baptised. Pastor Kenny Rogan is really encouraged by all God is doing: ‘The team have been so enthusiastic and full of love as they have stepped up and worked hard to run everything and welcome everyone. Seeing folks grow in their faith has been wonderful.’
A core team of 11 have been integral in the launch and quick growth at Hope Church. Once a month the church hosts an all-age service to give those serving a break. In those services, worship videos are used instead of musicians and children stay in the whole service.
The church are also keen to be effective in witness and outreach. For example, Aviemore is the biggest town in the Strathspey Valley area, but the only one without a toddler group. Kenny added: ‘We prayed about starting a toddler group, then chatted to the team, and then started planning. God has blessed that, with many folks coming and some showing interest in church.
‘Probably the most important thing – which we are still trying to grow in – is equipping folks to witness to their friends. Most of our guys are involved in sports or work stuff, or school stuff locally, so they have good circles of friends. Helping them connect the gospel to conversations with these guys is big.’
For Kenny, prayer has been an integral part of the story, from those first conversations more than five years ago, through to him and his family moving up to Scotland, and now the ministry in the town.
‘Hope Church has been a very prayed-for plant – with folks from across the globe praying for us. We’ve also prioritised this from the early days,’ he added. ‘Now the hard work and privilege of living as a church open to everyone begins. We’d value your prayer!’
