SCOTLAND MISSIONS 2003

INTRODUCING THE COUNTRY OF SCOTLAND:
Scotland is one of four nation states which make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain, along with England, Northern Ireland, and Wales. The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy with Queen Elizabeth II being the present head of state. The British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and his cabinet lead the government and are part of, and answerable to Parliament, an elected body of representatives. The capital city of Scotland is Edinburgh. The standard of living is similar to that of most western democracies. Home and automobile ownership is the norm. Scotland has an excellent track record in terms of standard of living, housing, education, health care, etc. The British Isles lie in the Temperate Zone of the Northern Hemisphere where the dominant influence is the Atlantic Ocean. This produces a maritime temperate climate with warm, moist summers and cool, wet winters. The predominant religious groups are the Church of Scotland (Presbyterian) and the Catholic Church. Scotland is an old country with a proud, illustrious history. The great patriots, William Wallace and Robert the Bruce, secured independence for Scotland. James the VI of Scotland became King of the United Kingdom and in 1611 authorized the translation of the King James Version of the Bible. Scottish inventors like Alexander Fleming (penicillin) and Alexander Graham Bell (telephone), and authors like Robert Burns and Sir Walter Scott have impacted our world. Scotland is a land of wonder and beauty with mountains and glens, lochs and rivers, and the romance of antiquity - the kilt, the pipes, heroes like Rob Roy, and legends like the Loch Ness monster. The Scots are warm, hospitable people.

CHURCHES OF CHRIST IN SCOTLAND:
The churches of Christ in Scotland date back to the early 1800's and are contemporary with those established in the United States during the Restoration movement. Religious tradition and massive digression in the early 1900's have restricted growth and made progress for the Lord's church in Scotland fairly difficult. The last thirty years have brought a time of building for the churches of Christ in Scotland, with new congregations being established and existing churches being strengthened. At present, there are about twenty-four churches of Christ in Scotland. A few of those congregations number between 70 and 80 members. Most, however, are between 20 and 50 in terms of membership. Therefore, the total number of Christians in Scotland is around six hundred and ninety. Working with those congregations are about eighteen full-time missionaries. Those men range in age from their early thirties up to their early sixties.

THE CITY OF ABERDEEN:
Aberdeen has a population of approximately 220,000 people. It is the third largest city in Scotland and is located on the northeast coast. It is a port city and a center for oil-related industry, shipping, fishing, manufacturing, farming, government, and education, boasting two universities. Aberdeen is nicknamed the Granite City in reference to the large stone buildings and homes that were built in the 1800's. Aberdeen, in recent years, has become known as the oil capital of Western Europe. Due to the high demand for North Sea oil, Aberdeen has become an affluent city with its average income ranking the highest of any Scottish city. Again due to the influence of the oil industry, Aberdeen has become a cosmopolitan city. (Click here to view map)

THE ABERDEEN CHURCH OF CHRIST:
The church of Christ in Aberdeen first met in 1840. They continued to meet until 1969, when the last few members drifted into denominations. Praise God that faithful Christians, numbering about 30, can be found in Aberdeen today. The congregation which presently meets in Aberdeen has been in existence since 1979. They meet in an excellent facility, previously a bank, in the center of town. Because it is an inner-city building, it is easily accessible to people from all walks of life. Joe Nisbet, a retired native Scottish missionary, and his wife Beryl, are pillars of the church in Aberdeen. Among the other strong families, there are men who have excellent leadership potential. They have no full-time workers at this time. However, the church is doing all it can to reach the city of Aberdeen with the Gospel, as evidenced by their willingness to invite our team to come and serve as full-time missionaries.

OUR TEAM MEMBERS:

John Anthony was born May 7, 1976 in Glasgow, Scotland. His parents, John and Irene Renwick, are native Scots who established the church in Stirling, Scotland with which they presently work. Since his graduation from Harding University in 1999 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Bible and Religion, John Anthony has worked for the Lancaster, Ohio Church of Christ as an Associate Minister whose primary focus is the youth of the congregation. Other responsibilities have included teaching, preaching, counseling, Vacation Bible School, and personal work with the senior citizens of the congregation.

Kristen, who is Nathan’s sister, was born August 2, 1977 to Sperry and Gail Hogue. She graduated from Harding University in 1999 with a degree in Elementary Education and married John Anthony in July of 2000. Kristen is a fourth-grade elementary school teacher in addition to being a support to John Anthony’s ministry. She has been an integral part of the Lancaster congregation in the areas of teaching, organizing activities for the youth, and using their home as a basis for relationship ministry through small group Bible studies.

OUR HISTORY, EDUCATION, AND WORK EXPERIENCES:
Nathan Hogue was born October 14, 1975. He is the son of Sperry and Gail Hogue, former missionaries to Scotland (1980-1987) who currently work full-time with the Sharon Church of Christ in Hermitage, Pennsylvania. Nathan graduated from Harding University in 1997 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Resources and worked for one year at the Department of Human Services in Searcy, Arkansas. From 1998-2000, Nathan attended the University of Arkansas Little Rock and earned a Master's Degree in Social Work. Nathan has been working in the Little Rock public school system as a Mental Health Therapist for the last three years. In addition to his current employment, Nathan has had experience in working with adolescent sex offenders, procuring aid for the homeless, substance abuse rehabilitation, and providing resources for victims and families involved in domestic and child abuse issues.

Stacey Sams Hogue was born September 17, 1976. She is the daughter of Reece and Glenda Sams, faithful members of a congregation in Duluth, Georgia. She graduated from Harding University in 1999 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education and a Minor in Art. Stacey began teaching 3rd grade at Boone Park Elementary School in North Little Rock that fall and then accepted her current position as a 2nd grade teacher at Indian Hills Elementary School two years later. During the past four years Stacey has had experience working with an inner-city population and participated in developing curriculum for an elementary fine arts program.
Since our marriage in July of 1998 and moving to Little Rock we have been blessed to be a part of the Barrow Road Church of Christ. Our time here has afforded us many opportunities to serve and work alongside some godly mentors and friends. We’ve been involved in teaching Bible classes for adults and young people, leading small group ministries, and serving on the Missions Committee. Nathan has been an active leader in several aspects of the worship service. Stacey has been able to use her art background to paint murals in the children’s wing of the building. She also helped facilitate a teacher’s training workshop with other certified teachers. We’re excited to utilize these skills and interests in the work in Aberdeen.

THE PLAN
CLICK HERE for a compilation of concepts and ideas that have developed through our prayerful examination of the needs in Scotland. We believe that the Lord will lead us to be effective through ways we may not yet have anticipated. Above all, we are committed to doing God’s work “for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” (Phil. 2:13)