Scotland 2009

The Haven

The Haven is a Christian residential program to help young men overcome addictions which is located on a beautiful farm in the rolling green hills above Greenock Scotland. The business team had the privilege of worshipping with about 15 of the men staying at The Haven. The sweet songs brought down a powerful presence of the Lord. We could have spent the entire day singing and praying basking in the preciousness of the Holy Spirit.

We shared a meal with the young men and got to hear their personal stories. They were each a miracle; lives that had been raised from the dead. One of the men who had been there for nine weeks told us his story: he had been doing heroine for 15 years and one night he had a medical emergency. His leg turned black after shooting up into a vein in his groin. He called every relative and friend he could think of to pick him up and no one would come. A man from The Haven had given him his card and in desperation he pulled it from his back pocket and dialed the number. Much to his surprise the man answered and dropped everything to pick him up and bring him back to his home. He was stunned and amazed that a total stranger could care about him to that extent.

He now lives at The Haven, 31-years old, free of drugs, living a life he never knew was possible. He said that he has never been so happy in his life and the changes that he is experiencing now as a Christian are almost surreal. He said if his life has changed this much in nine weeks, he could hardly imagine what his future could hold. His eyes danced with wonder, joy and expectation.

Appropriating these experiences of God’s glory for our own is addictive. While we were there visiting, two of the lads who were newcomers to The Haven prayed to invite Jesus to be Lord of their life with the members of the business team. Indeed whom the Son sets free is free indeed.

This blog post was published on November 14, 2009

The day began for the business team sharing about seeds being deposited in our new friends’ lives and likewise seeds being deposited in our lives; and this is what continues to happen each day that we are here.

Relationships that began on Monday at the Businessmen’s Fellowship Dinner continued to flourish and develop depth while new friendships were also made. Once again, it is the one-on-one conversations that define the most special moments. Hearing our Scottish friends’ transparent hearts humbles us as we learn that we are the same in spite of being an ocean apart amidst different cultures and accents. (We decidedly prefer the Scots’ accent!) We all find ourselves somewhere in the same cross-sections: believers who are struggling in need of encouragement; people discovering or rediscovering their faith; seeking to conduct their professional lives with purpose, integrity and humility. The divine intersections are developing something in them and in us as we speak into each other’s lives and most important, listen to each other’s stories. The more we listen to them, the more we hear God’s voice: “I have heard of you by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees you.” (Job 42: 5)

This blog post was published on November 13, 2009

The business team joined the prison team to an all-male prison: Kilmarnock Prison. Some on the team had never been to a prison before and they had a 45 minute drive under a grey sky, with biting wind and rain in a van driven by a friend from Prison Fellowship to anticipate what awaited them.

The team was given the floor for two services: one from noon to 2:00pm and after lunch at the prison, a second service from 2:00pm to 4:00pm.  Patience is evidently the operative word when visiting prisons as we learned from seasoned prison visitors as the security is quite rigorous. We left all of our personal belongings besides our ID in the van. We were told not to even bring in scarves or pens for example. We had to go in about five at a time. Our first check-in point was to hand over passports/photo ID to the security guard behind glass; second check-point remove shoes, belts, coats before placing our thumbs on an ID machine where we then waited at another checkpoint. After waiting for our group to gather before entering many locked doors, we waited for the inmates to join us. Turns out that there are no locks on the bathroom doors which made us realize the lack of privacy and personal freedoms that are removed, making prisoners vulnerable in a way.

A few team members shared their testimonies and brought a word to the inmates. The team also had an opportunity to socialize with them one-on-one and some of their stories were heart-breaking. There were stories of victimization; stories of “first-timers;” stories of men who had been in/out prison more times than they could count; stories of murder (one man killed his wife); stories of physical abuse; stories of alcoholism, drug addiction, drug-dealing; stories of revenge; stories of regret; and stories of despair and depression.

At the end of one of the services, the prisoners were invited to raise their hands with all heads down and eyes closed if they wanted a relationship with Christ; if they wanted to be truly free. Seven men out of approximately 25 men at one service, raised their hands. In some cases it was just one finger carefully disguised from the other inmates; nonetheless, God sees the heart.

One man from South Africa said that he was arrested the first time he ever attempted to be a drug mule because he was out of work and his family had no money.

Another man gave his life to God after he said earlier that he had made a mess of his life due to drugs.

Another man said that he felt a burning in his chest as someone spoke about God.  A team member asked a young lad who reminded him of his own son if he thought that he was a sinner and he said yes and later prayed to accept Christ.

Another inmate who was blind said that he had done terrible things to his son and while his son would not forgive him he felt God forgiving him. When someone prayed with him, he said he felt God and he felt encouraged.

One man who was in prison for homicide, who was one of the last to raise his hands, wanted a physical manifestation of angels. He was sincerely looking for a sign that they were real and we encouraged him to trust that God would make Himself real to him.

One man who was clearly older than the others with eight years to go, shared that many inmates have no home and prison was a better home than if they were living on the outside. He had a lovely home with horses that were being vandalized by drug associates from his past dealings. He seemed so sad and hopeless that nothing awaited him on the outside. One team member prayed with him and told him that she would not forget to pray for him even though he might think that she would. She encouraged him to have hope and to allow God restore his life even though he could not understand how that was possible. He was clearly moved that someone cared and would promise to remember him as his eyes welled up with tears and he kissed her cheek goodbye.

On the way home, the team prayed thanks to God for the men they met and those who came to know Him. We asked God to hold and keep them.

This blog post was published on November 11, 2009

God can show up anywhere. Even at a businessmen’s fellowship dinner.

Only this night, He wasn’t after the head of some fortune 500 company, or a top executive: God was after three little boys ages 11, 12 and 14.

It all started as a normal evening for our photographer from the Media team.  Already tired from a long day, he went dutifully to his last assignment of the day, covering a Businessmen’s Fellowship Dinner at the Tontine Hotel. 

There’s not much to shoot at business dinner meetings, but he did sense that the presence of the Lord was there.  So he snapped away.

As the event ended, a little (“wee”) boy dressed like a little businessman approached him.  He had apparently been watching him all evening and was fascinated with the camera and especially his light diffuser that looked funny to him.

Our photographer then started sharing a few tips and explanations to him, even letting him play with the camera. He was soon joined by two other young boys, his brothers.  He then shared his testimony, and how he had accepted the Lord at just about their age.  As their mother showed up, he told her that she should speak to them about making a decision for the Lord.

The father, who had recently recommitted himself to the Lord, then joined them.   He asked one of his sons if he wanted to accept the Lord.  And he did. Then a second spoke up, and then the third.  All wanted to accept the Lord.

He lead them in the sinner’s prayer and prayed for them, which prompted the very moved father to give him a big hug. The mom then embraced him, and then the younger son raced over.  He too wanted a “huggie”.

Three wee boys were saved at a business dinner meeting.

This blog post was published on November 11, 2009

Tonight was a night where God showed up. The Business Team held a fellowship dinner for the business community in Greenock. And while there were people both from New York and Greenock that have surely mastered their professional fields, it was clear who dominated the room. The presence of God was palpable and powerful. The evening started with two 5 to 10 minutes testimonies followed by the main speaker.

The business team leader shared his personal path of discovery to following Christ. He explained the truth of Christ historically, factually and scientifically, as well as sharing his own personal experience. The audience was gripped by the reality of the presence of God on multiple levels. By the end, hearts were pounding and a moment of truth was presented that would have taken a rigorous effort to resist. People came up for prayer at the end and pockets of deep conversation began all around the room.

Perhaps the most moving and poignant part of the evening was watching three wee lads, ages 9, 12 and 14 who happened to be at the Business Men’s Fellowship Dinner with their parents. They prayed and asked Jesus to come into their hearts. Praise God!

This blog post was published on November 9, 2009

The business team stepped out of a brisk chilly night into the arms of the warm and cozy congregation at the Mount Kirk Methodist Church. The worship was tender and joyful. Our team leader preached a message about the accessibility of God; that we can go directly to the throne of God with our problems because any other resource or solution does not have the power to help us.

After the service, the team enjoyed a time of hospitality prepared lovingly prepared by some of the ladies from Mount Kirk. The biscuits and hot tea served in real china cups as opposed to New York paper cups initiated brief introductions that turned into meaningful conversations. We shared about each other and talked about the upcoming conference in town hall. No one wanted to leave, however, we finally bid farewell, promising to look for our new friends throughout the week. Their hearts were stirred with expectation in anticipation of what God is going to do in Greenock.

This blog post was published on November 8, 2009