Following a mini tour of different geographical areas in Scotland by Nick McQuaker, the Gospel Partnership Development Officer, in May 2022, it’s great to report the establishment of the recently formed West Coast Gospel Partnership.
It was initially the vision of six churches and four church leaders in Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway, and has a huge potential for growth.
The steering-group members are Nathan Owens of Maxwell United Free Church, Kilmaurs, Daniel Sturgeon of Stranraer Baptist Church, and Lee Ballantine of Harvest Church in Ayr. Historically this vast, often rural, geographical region has struggled to establish resourcing churches, and to sustain meaningful partnerships between like-minded churches who can unite around a cohesive gospel vision.
John MacKinnon of The Word One to One spoke at their first gathering in March on the ‘Biblical Imperatives and Practical Benefits of Partnership’, encouraging them from Philippians to be: a Partnership in Gospel Proclamation and Biblical Faithfulness; a Partnership in Relational Depth; and a Partnership that is Mutually Beneficial, Practically Helpful and Prayerfully Faithful.
This was followed up in April with a ‘His Word in Our Hands’ conference in partnership with Cornhill Scotland.
Future plans
There are further plans afoot for a summer conference for their churches, a desire to prioritise pastors’ wives and their support, as well as some joint youth events with a youth intern and some early conversations with the 20 Schemes ‘Ragged School of Theology’.
As they finalise their charity registration their website will be wcgp.org and if you want to know more about their activities then contact nathanrowens@gmail.com
