Pastors Desk - January 2009 

 2008? When was that? It all seems a long time ago as this year gets into a swing with frenetic energy. January saw us meeting for concerted prayer for the Church and our community. Be absolutely assured that God will honour that as long as we continue to pray.

I am truly burdened for our community, it does seem that bad news follows the previous bad news and that Hawick is at the bottom of the pile when it comes to fame and fortune. However, we need to remember that Hawick has had its good times. That Hawick was a very prosperous area with full employment when other places were struggling. What did the people of Hawick do with that prosperity? It would seem to me that when the prosperity was in Hawick, most of the town’s people turned their backs on God. The churches emptied and the Gospel was preached nominally from pulpits, but largely not lived by the community. “Community” took place in the pubs and clubs and the traditions of men. Even today huge celebrations are held to commemorate 1514 and the Common Riding. Easter that holiest of holy Christian festivals is completely sidelined by worldly festive activities. Satan is wide-awake and extremely sharp. He is able to turn even our Christian witness into something completely unholy, because we, the keepers of the Gospel, are asleep.

Who’s to blame? Well we can squarely blame the church and the Ministers and Pastors whom God has called to shepherd the flock in Hawick over the years. Faithful men of God seeking to care for the flock but proclaiming an unclear message. Often a message of “we’re OK, we’re saved.” Rarely a message of urgency for the spreading of the Gospel message. Certainly not enough urgency to persuade congregations that God wants to use them to win His world.

We can squarely blame the Councils, of years gone by, for the way in which worldly pursuits are supported and pubs, clubs and off-licences are tolerated. Open consumption of alcohol is allowed in public streets, and sales of cut-price alcohol is permitted in supermarkets and corner shops. None of which helps the situation.

It feels good to pass the blame to others! As a minister of the gospel, called by God to minister in Hawick, I carry my share of blame with the others, BUT honesty tells me that we are all to blame! Ultimately it is not the Pastor’s or Minister’s job to spread the Gospel to the community, his job is to inspire the flock over which he has charge to do that. So, sadly, I have to say that small churches with rapidly dwindling congregations is a direct result of Satan’s efforts to blind the believers. We can hide our heads in the sand as long as we like. We can pretend that all is well. We can look back in history and remember the “good times”, but none of that will help. All that can do is give us excuses for each other because they certainly will not be excuses that God will want to accept!

Wow That’s all the past. God is doing some amazing things in Hawick. We have been called to establish a completely new work. The “Open House” will soon be a reality in the town. This year Hawick will see a Mini-CLAN gathering in May. Some churches are making conscious decisions to work together on the grounds that God has called us to win souls for Him.

My prediction for 2009? Those of us who are truly seeking God’s glory and can put behind us things of the past will be used by God to change Hawick radically. Will you work with me to make this happen for God’s glory?

Your friend and Pastor

Alex