Church Family,

Thank you for your faithful prayers for brother David and me as we travelled to Scotland to minister at the Pillar International Conference. We felt carried by your support every step of the way, and I’m grateful to share a brief but joy‑filled report of what the Lord allowed us to experience.

On Thursday, 21 May, I had the privilege of preaching from 1 Thessalonians 4:11–5:13. The message was titled “The Hope that Anchors Gospel Churches.” I emphasised that because Jesus died and rose again, we have a certain, unshakeable hope in His return — a hope that anchors gospel churches with courage, clarity, and comfort. This hope turns confusion into confidence and empowers ordinary believers to have extraordinary impact.

My prayer is that New Life Church will continue to be one of these hope‑anchored churches, shining brightly for Christ in our city and beyond.

Throughout the conference, David and I were able to connect with many other Pillar churches from around the world. These conversations were rich, encouraging, and full of potential. Please continue praying with us that the seeds planted during these interactions will grow into healthy, gospel‑advancing partnerships.

We were also blessed to spend time with Doug Van Meter (pastor of Brackenhurst Baptist Church) and his wife. Doug wrote the article below, and I wanted to share it with you as an encouragement.

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In 1910, a layman by the name of John Mott organised a ten-day missions conference in Edinburgh, Scotland. Some 1,355 delegates from various parts of the world gathered to focus on the goal, in Mott’s words, “to evangelise the world in this generation.” Mott, a remarkable Christian businessman (who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1946 for, astonishingly, establishing international Christian organisations) was instrumental in what was known as the Student Volunteer Movement, which focused on challenging young people to give their lives to take the gospel to the ends of the earth.

This initial missions conference in Edinburgh continued for many years, but over the years—primarily because it minimised the centrality of the local church—it was overtaken by theological liberals and died a necessary death. Though Mott, no doubt, was a genuine Christian, unfortunately, like so many caught up in missionary zeal in the late 1800s and early 1900s, he failed to appreciate that, when it comes to gospel integrity, there is a reason God has entrusted it to his local churches. The apostle Paul understood this and thus referred to the local church as “a pillar and buttress of the truth” (i.e. the gospel truth) (1 Timothy 3:15). So, why the history lesson? Because last week I had the privilege of being in Edinburgh with brothers and sisters who likewise are committed to evangelising the world through God’s appointed means of gospel-faithful local churches.

Three years ago, Brackenhurst Baptist Church joined the Pillar Network, an international association of likeminded local churches committed, to use its motto, “equipping, planting, and revitalising churches.” [New Life Church became members of this network 1 year ago]. The network was initially founded for churches in the United States that are a part of the Southern Baptist Convention. But a few years ago, the network expanded to Baptist churches internationally. There are currently 57 international churches among a total of 690 local churches. The international arm is growing rapidly.

It was an encouragement to meet many pastors from around the globe, hearing their stories, learning of their challenges, and sharing in their concern that our local churches be faithful “pillars” and supportive “buttresses” in the Lord’s mission. The preaching was sound and helpful. What a joy to hear our own Gareth Franks deliver one of the messages! The three days of fellowship reduced the size of the globe as, on numerous occasions, I said, “Yes, I know that church,” or, “I am aware of that faithful pastor.” When it comes to Reformed local churches, it is indeed a small world, and yet one where gospel fidelity is having a wide impact as local churches partner prayerfully and practically. (Actually, prayer is practical but that will require another article.)

After I participated in a panel discussion, a brother from Portugal sought me out asking me to put him in touch with Pedro in Angola. Another pastor, from Miami, Florida in the United States, asked me for our church’s name and said that he wants his church to pray regularly for us. I met a few pastors from North Africa and was encouraged by what the Lord is doing there as well as a brother who has planted the first Reformed Baptist Church in Denmark and is now planting a second church. Though less spiritual in nature, I also met a pastor from Kerala, India who was so excited to learn that we have an Oommen in our family!

The conference was held at the Charlotte Chapel, which ten years ago moved from their Rose Street location to the historic Saint George West Church building, where the likes of Robert Murry McCheyne, Thomas Chalmers, Alexander Whyte, Robert Candlish, and a host of other faithful pastors used to preach. Eric Liddell, after winning his gold medal at the 1924 Olympics and before heading to China as a missionary, also preached there. To see and hear Gareth preach from the same pulpit brought me great joy, not merely because of the historical connection but because, for over two hundred years, the gospel has been and continues to be preached in that part of Edinburgh.

After the conference ended, Jill and I toured the Edinburgh Castle and, from its vantage point, the steeple of Charlotte Chapel stands out with its turquoise- coloured copper tip resting high above the city. It truly is a lighthouse in a city darkened by secularism. Praise God for its long track record of being a biblical “pillar church.”

Though the 270 delegates at this year’s Pillar Conference is a far cry from the 1,355 delegates of the 1910 conference, we must not despise the day of small things (Zechariah 4:10). From what I experienced, I believe we should be encouraged by what the Lord is doing around the globe. The Lord is building his church!

At the Edinburgh conference in 1910, several well-known preachers addressed the large crowd. Praise God a lot of good came out of that. But one of the contrasts that struck me last week was that the Pillar Network is not loaded with “big name” pastors. The people who serve on staff of Pillar, for the most part, would be names most of us would not recognise. Though grateful for the Pipers, Washers, Sprouls, and MacArthurs, nevertheless the Lord is doing a wonderful work also through faithful servants who will never write a book, never be “featured,” and whose biographies will never be written. The Pillar Network may never be mentioned in future histories of the church and yet, as its churches partner together, they can anticipate the joy of one day singing God’s praises around the throne of the Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ who died and rose from the dead to save sinners from every people under heaven. To be reminded of this was a great buttress to my own faith and a motivation to do all I can to help Brackenhurst Baptist Church to remain a “pillar church.”

Doug