Every day is a blessing

PIONEER ministry was launched by the Ministries Council of the Church of Scotland in 2015 on a pilot basis. It is one of a number of initiatives aimed at developing new ways of sharing the Gospel and growing faith which has been implemented by the Church.

This month five of the pioneer ministers share their experience. The sixth, the Rev Dr Liam Fraser, features in our profile on page 22.

The Rev Chris Blackshaw Is Pioneer Farming Minister in the Presbytery of Ayr.

“I minister to the agricultural community across Ayr presbytery and beyond, helping farmers who are experiencing difficulties such as relationship break ups, financial problems, suicides and fatal farm accidents. Mental health and depression is also a key issue, which is worsened by the isolation in which farmers live. I work in partnership with other agencies such as the Rural Payment Agency, Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution, National Farmers Union Scotland, Police Scotland and Trading Standards, enabling me to mediate between farmers and authorities.

“Pastoral visiting to farm steadings is a priority and is greatly welcomed and appreciated by farmers. These visits give people opportunities to speak to someone instead of keeping issues to themselves. Sometimes people have wept as they share about their difficulties, whilst others have been angry with God.

“During the year we have two farm based acts of worship – a farm walk and praise and carols in the sale ring at the mart. Both events attract 250 people of all ages from church and non-church backgrounds.

“I am greatly encouraged by the warm welcome I receive from the agricultural community, be it on farms or in the market. The feedback that I receive fully supports the work the church is doing in this ministry. The words of one farmer sums it up: ‘You might not think people appreciate what you do, but we do appreciate it, greatly.’

“My work has also sparked massive interest across rural presbyteries in Scotland and I have been invited to speak at many meetings. Some presbyteries are now planning to put into place a similar role in their area so it is encouraging to see the Church supporting the farming community in this way.”

The Rev Peter Gardner is Pioneer Minister Visual Arts Communities of Glasgow

“My pioneer ministry is among the artists, galleries, workshops and studios of Glasgow, where there is a wonderful vitality and creativity.

“I believe that creativity is an essential part of being human, of being made in the image of the Creator. I believe that God’s love for Glasgow’s artists is beyond doubt and beyond measure and that the Holy Spirit is at work among them. Therefore, the tasks of Pioneer Ministry are to love those whom Christ loves, to discern what the Holy Spirit is doing among Glasgow’s visual arts, to get involved, and to nurture supportive, faith-filled community

“Some artists describe what they do as a ‘calling’, a ‘vocation’, saying, ‘this is who I am, I can do no other’ and their work is a way of exploring the deepest questions of existence. Yet, at the same time, many of them struggle, they work incredibly hard, working long hours, feeling isolated, undervalued and misunderstood. Their art is often created at huge personal cost, it comes with a lack of income and an insecure future.

I am greatly encouraged by the warm welcome I receive from the agricultural community, be it on farms or in the market. The feedback that I receive fully supports the work the church is doing in this ministry.

“I work in a studio in The Briggait studio complex, keeping the studio door open in welcome as much as possible, valuing listening more than telling. I meet with artists in their studios, off ering pastoral care and a listening ear. My wife Heidi and I work together under the artists’ name, Gardner & Gardner. We have developed an art practice in site-specific art installations, choosing to share the Gospel through making rather than preaching. I am part of The Morphē Arts Glasgow group, which meets in my studio, preferring to nurture faith-filled community in partnership with other Christian organisations, rather than in competition with them.

“The last two and a half years of Pioneer Ministry have been incredibly exciting and utterly challenging. I constantly feel overwhelmed and surprised by where God has taken me in ministry and have to keep reminding myself to be brave and to trust the Spirit that God has given us, who is not timid, but a Spirit of power, of love and a sound mind’”

For more info www.gardnerandgardner.co.uk

The Rev Stuart Davidson, Pioneer Minister, Paisley North End, incorporating Ferguslie Park.

“Sometimes in life, you see yourself written down on paper.

“This was my experience on seeing the job description for Pioneer Minister some two years ago. My wife (Lesley) and I had begun to sense a move from St Mark’s in Stirling. The next step took us from congregation, manse, unrestricted tenure, into a place financed by the central church, overseen by the Presbytery of Greenock and Paisley, working almost alone, purchasing our own house, an end of employment date of December 2021, ministering within a geographical area across parish boundaries.

“As I reflect on these two years, I recognise that I enjoy an element of freedom. Although I have preached on Sunday, carried out funerals, baptisms, celebrated communion and helped in congregations I am connected with, some of the expectations of parish ministry no longer come my way.

“What I focus upon is re-engaging with the One who keeps my faith relationship with Jesus alive and well. I try not to be so work driven and through faith, His word and prayer, I rely upon His help. I’ve moved from being surrounded by Christians to having a balanced life connecting with people and the culture outside of church in the places I walk and talk.

“Some things remain: housegroup; informal family church and an annual holiday club. Other things include: giving out copies of ‘Father’s Love letter’; a weekly ‘Drop In’ at the Tannahill Centre, attended by friends with addictions as I, and others, seek to embrace them back into community and into His kingdom; off ering a ‘Listening Ear’ weekly in the town as I build relationships with those I meet.”

Janet Foggie, Pioneer Minister, University of Stirling

“Pioneer ministry at the University of Stirling is a person-centred ministry refiecting the life and teaching of Jesus to the students of the university. I do this by trying to live the gospel message that Christ has no hands in our modern world but our own. Based in chaplaincy, I work with the whole Presbytery of Stirling, the Students Union at the university and, of course, the students themselves.

“I came to this role with experience in both busy, city-centre parish ministry and Mental Healthcare Chaplaincy which gives me a range of gifts and skills to bring to those students who are struggling or need to talk. It is also good to understand university life, through my own studies, and through walking with and listening to staff.

“I base my work in community building by gardening with the students in their community garden run by the Students Union. Teamwork, co-operation and caring underpin the values we share as we tend the plants. Here we see the plants grow as we grow together in better relationships and in a mutual appreciation of the created world. The garden has a polytunnel in which we are growing carrots, beetroot, tomatoes, cucumbers, a cucamelon and a row of cheery sunfiowers.

“The story of Dorcas in Acts inspired the Patches 4 Peace sewing group where I teach the students to sew and we upcycle and repair items together. God gave us a beautiful planet, and it is up to us to ensure as little as possible of our clothing goes to landfill, so repairing and repurposing is vital to keeping our consumption of new items down. The sewing group students filled in feedback forms for me at the end of term and everyone gave the group a positive score with comments such as: ‘Talking to someone or as a group is the high point of the meeting.’ And ‘Always we have interesting conversations, it’s a good place to relax and enjoy sewing.’ And finally, ‘I look forward to them every week. It’s like a society but you learn something as well as making friends.’

“The quality of the conversation, the feeling of inclusion expressed by the participants shows how we build our faith in each other as we find activity together. In all this we care for our world, care for each other and share our resources as the early church did.”

https://pioneerministrystirling.com/

The Rev Elisabeth Spence is Pioneer Minister at Hopefield Connections, Bonnyrigg

“Working and living as a pioneer minister in a new build housing area of 1,200 houses with a primary school as the only other building is quite a challenge. So finding an identity and making a presence are key. To help do this the project is called Hopefield Connections – Making Connections, Building Community, Sharing Faith. I use social media extensively and the title Hopefield Connections is key to establishing an identity to the work.

The quality of the conversation, the feeling of inclusion expressed by the participants shows how we build our faith in each other as we find activity together. In all this we care for our world, care for each other and share our resources as the early church did.

“When people move into a new build estate they often begin with no real connection to the area. Getting into your car and driving out of the area to work, for leisure activities and for shopping is very common. To help develop some sense of community I began organising community events such as car boot sales, pop up picnics, Christmas carol singing around the estate and Easter Egg Hunts. For a week we organised a Pop Up Coff ee Stop on the school car park, where we served home baking and coff ee all day. These activities have brought people together and begun to help develop a sense of community and have helped give Hopefield Connections an identity and a presence.

“Hopefield Connections Does…is a Sunday afternoon event taking themes such as Harvest, Remembrance, Christmas, Easter and bringing people together to share activities and crafts on the theme and then come together for a shared time to explore further in terms of faith and belief.

“Finding ways to connect with people is key to the work of pioneer ministry. I use the principle of ‘Let’s follow this idea and see where it takes us’ to develop the work. Every day is an adventure. Every day is an opportunity to share the Gospel message in one way or another. Every day is a blessing.” 

A conference focussing on Pioneer Ministry will take place at Bridge of Allan Parish Church from 10am to 4pm on Saturday October 26.