Faithful ambassadors 

Barry Douglas writes: Picture the scene that I faced earlier this month; Katie MacKinnon, Netty Sinclair, Molly Coventry, Isobel Kempsell and Miriam van Reenen, who is our Personnel Director, all in a room together sharing their experiences of missionary service in Africa. Some may say that I was brave sitting in with them all, however a lump formed in my throat as I realised that here in that room was a total of over 100 years of missionary service in various forms, from the Indian Ocean Islands, Kenya, Mozambique, and Uganda.

As I come to the end of my ministry with Aim International here in Scotland I have been so blessed sitting in the company of missionaries who, many years ago, heard the call of God and went and served in Africa. It has been a privilege to sit and listen to their stories both good and bad and how God has sustained them throughout their years of service, to Him and the African church. Are they finished with the mission? Of course not, they are our greatest ambassadors and advert for the mission of God, as well as fervent prayer supporters for our younger missionaries and for the church in Africa. I have been so grateful for the wise words I have received from many of them during my three years of service in Scotland.

It has also been wonderful to see people going from Scotland to serve God in Africa. The opportunities are so varied to use the gifts and skills that God has given to them for service in Africa. The latest recruit is Neil White, a young man from St Vincent Street Free Church, who has been accepted into full membership to hopefully serve in Uganda as an Agroforester.

Missionaries on home assignment

Moira McInnes has been travelling around the country doing deputation where she has been speaking about the work she was involved in at Nagishot in Southern Sudan. Many of you will know that Moira felt it right to hand over that work to the church in Nagishot and seek the Lord for her next assignment. She is in Romania at the moment, visiting churches and her many friends from the time she served with Aim in Bucharest.

Moira is now starting to explore the possibilities of working here in the UK and perhaps also in Romania under Aim International’s ACE programme, which is headed up by Bill Rettie. Pray for Moira as the details of her new assignment are finalised.

Marsali Campbell, who is now home for further studies at International Christian College, is currently travelling around the UK on her deputation tour. She has managed to tie in some of her tour with Rita N’Kemba, the founder of Dwelling Places who was over to raise awareness of Dwelling Places, and the needs of street children in Kampala.

Molly Coventry and Isobel Kempsell were home for a short break before returning back to Kuluva. Molly’s health has been good as she gets regular tests. Both have been so grateful for all the prayers and support shown to them at home and abroad.

Michael and Joan Barfoot were also home for a flying visit to pack up Joan’s father’s house. They are now back in Kenya and involved in the Africa Based Orientation programme helping new missionaries as they prepare to take up their first assignments in Africa.

Joan MacKenzie has now finished her deputation and is planning on going back out to Africa in August. Her actual assignment is still being finalised, however due to location there will be very little information given about her. She will need our prayers as she takes on what she believes God is calling her to do.

Richard, Barbara, James and Libby, arrived home in mid-July for a well deserved break. They are considering a new assignment in Marseille, France, and hope to join the team there in  2008. Education is now a real factor for them as Barbara has been home schooling the children up until now. Pray that they can find a good French school for James and Libby.

Synergy News

The summer teams are now full and a number from Scotland have just left for Kenya, with Mediquest, as well as Uganda, to Dwelling Places and the Sese Islands where Kathleen Burns works.

We have two ladies going out for gap years. Donna MacDonald, who is a school teacher from Glasgow, has been given a year off work to help with the curriculum development at Dwelling Places in Uganda. Donna has visited Dwelling Places in the past and has a real heart for children in need. Louise Thompson from Glasgow was out with Aim a number of years ago on a summer team and is now going out to Africa for a gap year. We are currently working on a possible assignment for Louise and we will keep you informed.

We have another couple from Perth, James and Helen Frazer, who have been accepted for service up to one year. James is a Water Engineer and Helen is a GP. They plan to go this summer and have been very open to where gifts and skills can be used and where God wants them to go. Pray for them as they depart later this summer for their year’s assignment, that they will be kept safe, and that they will bless the Africans and the church in their service to the Lord.

Scottish Conference

Due to my departure it has been felt that it best to cancel the Scottish Conference which was due to take place at the end of August.

Scottish Advisory Group

Some changes have taken place within the Advisory Group and it is always sad when we see people leaving, however special thanks has to be given to those who give of their free time to serve on this group. Matthew Lang felt it right to step down after some 30 years’ service which we have all appreciated and he will be missed as he was able to bring a huge amount of experience to the mission. Recently Shelia Black has had to step down from the group due to ill health. Sheila has been a wonderful supporter and advocate of the mission and attends the same church as Moira. As much as Sheila was on the Advisory Group, special thanks has to also go to her husband Alistair who has been a real support, often being the chauffer for the committee and missionaries alike. Thanks for all your years of service to the mission at this time.

Moving on…

Bill Rettie writes: We have all been surprised and somewhat saddened by the news of those who are soon to be leaving Aim. As I write this, Barry is completing his last day as our Director for Scotland. No sooner had we began to come to terms with Barry’s leaving when John Brand’s announcement, that he too would be moving on, left us feeling somewhat stunned. Both men have made very significant contributions to the work of Aim and we will miss them greatly. Aim’s loss is definitely Gilcomston Church and the Faith Mission Bible College’s gain and we wish them and their families the Lord’s rich blessing in their respective new ministries.

Barry has developed the work in Scotland in an exceptional way and he will be a hard act to follow. As we began to think and pray about his replacement  yet another surprise was looming. I was asked to consider being that replacement! As I spent time with Barry in Scotland it became clear that I could, and should, accept this new assignment. However that acceptance comes with some strings attached.
I still have my responsibility for coordinating the ACE (African Connections in Europe) programme and am really only now getting to grips with that role. Rosemary has her work in the Nottingham office and, apart from anything else, Nationwide would be none too happy with her giving that up! Paul and Andrew are working towards GCSEs and ‘A’ Levels respectively – definitely not a good time to relocate again, even back to Scotland.

The arrangement therefore is that for the next two years I will take on the Area Director for Scotland role on a part time basis. I plan to devote 50% of my time to ACE and 50% to the work in Scotland. Out of that time I expect to be in Scotland for at least one full week on average each month. Ken Mizon, now settled back in Scotland, has agreed to assist me with some of the work of representing Aim in Scotland. He already has experience of this from his time spent in the south of England. My grateful thanks in advance, Ken!

I do not see this arrangement as a long term solution to Aim’s representation in Scotland. I take the assignment on the understanding that the situation be fully reviewed in a two years time. As you probably know Aim is facing some considerable financial constraints at the moment and the immediate appointment of a full time replacement for Barry is simply not an option. I believe that the present arrangement is therefore the right way forward at this time. However for this to be effective I do need the support of all of you who hold the work of Aim in Scotland and our ministry in Africa and at home close to your hearts. I hope to see many of you before too long and would very much value your prayer support as I take up this new challenge.

The address for the ‘Aim Scotland’ office will be the Halifax Place office in Nottingham. I have made arrangements to receive mail, emails and telephone calls there even when I am away from the office. The telephone number is

0845 270 4416

and the email address remains the same

scotland@aimeurope.net