Looking BACK…

I can hardly believe how quickly the past eight years have passed.

In 2001, I came to Scotland for 3 months. I’m still here.

It started as a short sabbatical for study. I went to International Christian College to pursue some further learning, and I fell in love with Scotland.

I soon returned to finish a degree in theology, with a speciality in Cross-Cultural Ministries. While I was here, I also worked with Riverside Gospel Church in Kirkintilloch from 2003 to 2005. We experienced a time of great blessing during those years. The church about doubled in size, but more importantly a lot of new people came to know Jesus Christ in a real and personal way. I also made a lot of wonderful friends, both at Riverside and at the college, who will always be important to me.

After I finished my degree in 2005, I soon went back to America for a year to preach in missions across the States, as well as in other countries. But Scotland soon called me back…

In 2006, I came back and led the launching of a new church in Moodiesburn. In the next two and a half years, I experienced all kinds of amazing adventures. Working in a rough town, I met all kinds of people…from hardened criminals to sweet little old ladies…and made friends with them all. The church here got off to a wonderful start, and it is now opening up a beautiful new coffee house for the community, the first and only safe place for people to hang out in Moodiesburn.

In addition to the degree and the churches here, I also got to be part of a wonderful team of people who were pioneering the first full-time radio station in Scotland, which started about the same time we started the new church in Moodiesburn. Together with Graeme Adams, who is also the worship leader in Moodiesburn, I had a lot of great times doing our program, “Nothing Is Impossible,” on Revival FM.

I also started an Iranian men’s group and developed a wonderful relationship with the people at Glasgow Iranian Church, where I will be speaking again this Sunday afternoon.

There were plenty of trips away from Scotland during this time as well. During the same time frame, I had the privilege of helping to launch a number of new churches in Tanzania and also training church-planters in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. The work there also branched out during this time to help many of the churches to start practical work in their communities, making it possible for the communities to grow corn, raise cattle, raise chickens, etc, and thus helping people rise above poverty. We also saw thousands of people come to know God in a real and personal way.

Then there was India in 2006. That was amazing. We saw thousands come to know Christ and had the privilege of taking part in one of the most amazing movements I’ve ever seen.

In addition to all the work, however, I have been particularly blessed with a number of amazing friendships here in Scotland. God has blessed me with the opportunity of knowing some of the most amazing people I have ever met and establishing friendships that I know will last for life.

Of course, the most special of those friendships was with Karen Bell, who became Karen Lewis recently when the two of us were married. We are very happy together and are looking forward to the next phase of our life-adventure in México.

Karen and I are getting ready to leave Scotland this May. Our plan is to spend some time with my family in America, whilst also getting ready to start a new work in México very soon. Before we move to México at the end of the year, however, we also plan to be a part of some amazing works in Africa, Spain and America.

So it looks like it’s going to be an exciting year.

I’m leaving Scotland, but I’m also taking part of Scotland with me. This nation has changed me, and Scotland will always be a part of me. Besides, my wife is Scottish.

And who knows when Scotland may call me back again.