American Mission Team

From mid-June to the beginning of July was a busy time for us as we had the American Mission Team, the Kids Club Party, the Holiday Bible Club, and the Congregational BBQ. The team lasted from the 18th June to the 10th July with 6 team members: Charlie Butler (Team Leader), Ariana MacLaughlan, Jeremy Duke, Camden Adams, Arlen Halliday, and Sofia Greco. Sofia and Camden have written below about all the different activities the team was involved in.

Week One Summary – Sofia

After much anticipation, Scotland 2026 was finally about to begin. Two members of the team arrived Wednesday, June 17, and the rest of us arrived the following day, Thursday, June 18th. Stephen McCollum and Beth Bogue graciously picked us all up from the airport and brought us to Airdrie Reformed Presbyterian Church. After weeks of many of us only knowing each other through a screen during our team meetings, we finally met in person. Stephen gave us an orientation where we learned about the church and how we will serve. We went for a walk in Airdrie as we excitedly discovered things in Scotland that were foreign to us. Who knew that so much joy would be derived from simply going to a grocery store in the UK? After our continuous day of traveling, getting to know one another, and settling in, we were ready to rest and start week one off strong!

On Friday, the team prepared for the Kids Club Party scheduled for that night. We practiced our face painting skills and prepared crafts. Friday was also day one of distributing our Parish Newsletters, which allowed the team to see Scotland and to experience its beauty, all while sharing the love of Jesus at every letterbox. Later that day, the Kids Club party rolled around and everyone had a great time! The kids got their faces painted and got to do crafts, eat happy meals, and jump on the bouncy castle that was set up in the hall. This day was full of joy and excitement and it was lovely getting to meet the children and their families.

Saturday was the day where we ventured off to Wishaw to tidy up the church and evangelize on the streets. We got a tour of the church and strimmed around the building in preparation for the 2:30pm service on the Lord’s Day, while also evangelizing to share the gospel with the people in Wishaw and invite them to church. Taking a Greggs lunch break was a must, and we continued our work afterward, ending the day in Airdrie by distributing more newsletters.

The Lord’s Day began with Bible class and a prayer meeting, followed by morning worship. The congregation had a wonderful lunch afterward, with delicious food and great fellowship, during which we met many people from the church. Shortly after, we headed to Wishaw for our 2:30 service, where we got the chance to meet even more people. We concluded with evening service back in Airdrie, where we worshiped and conversed with one another. That night, Stephen and Brenda generously invited us to their home for dinner. It was a lovely way to end the night.

Monday was a very exciting day for the team because we were all taken to St. Andrews where Stephen gave us a tour of the town. Between seeing martyr sites, learning about the rich history of the Covenanters, trying new foods, exploring the landscapes, and running on the beach, we had an amazing day. Half of the team attended the Monday night MET in Wishaw as well! Then the whole team was invited to watch Chariots of Fire at the Manse because of our trip to Saint Andrews.

Tuesday started off with newsletter distribution followed by prep for Holiday Bible Club next week where we started to solidify our schedule and plan out our lessons and activities. We visited local elementary schools that afternoon to hand out leaflets to parents inviting them to send their kids to Holiday Bible Club next week. That night, Beth made us a delicious dinner, and we all had a meal together before our MET. To end our night, three of us ventured out to deliver newsletters and the other three stayed at the church for the MET.

Wednesday was another adventure where we were able to travel to Edinburgh for the day! The team took the train and met Peter Loughridge from North Edinburgh Reformed Presbyterian Church, who picked us up and invited us to his home to distribute newsletters for his church. He very kindly prepared lunch for us and sent us off to the train station where we spent the rest of the day exploring Edinburgh. There was an abundance of history, absolutely beautiful landmarks, delicious food, and gorgeous weather. Being able to assist another church and further explore Scotland was a blessing.

Thursday started off strong with newsletter distribution, and when we arrived at the church after a busy morning, Brenda made us a lovely lunch. That afternoon, we rehearsed our Holiday Bible club skits and lessons that we would be doing the next week. We also visited even more elementary schools to distribute leaflets. To wrap up our night, we went out to distribute newsletters, almost finishing the 4,000 that we started with! I can’t emphasize enough how grateful we are for the hospitality of the McCollums, Beth, and all those who have been hosting us, spiritually nourishing us, teaching us, and making us feel at home. God has truly blessed us with a wonderful week one of our Mission Team. We can’t wait to continue doing the Lord’s work while making once-in-a-lifetime memories.

Week 2 and 3 Summary – Camden Adams

Over the next couple of weeks, the mission team was kept busy with things like a Holiday Bible club, practical work, evangelism, and various opportunities to fellowship with God’s people.

On Friday the 26th, the team finished newsletter distribution in the morning, which meant the team had officially distributed 4,000 newsletters to 4,000 different homes in the area surrounding the Airdrie RP Church. In the afternoon, the team continued to become familiar with Holiday Bible Club by practicing skits and rehearsing the Bible lessons. In the evening, the whole team went to Edinburgh to help entertain the kids at the North Edinburgh Congregational Barbecue.

On Saturday, the 27th, the team had a free day to explore the city of Glasgow along with a friend from the Airdrie congregation. The team had further fellowship and prepared for the Sabbath in the evening.

On the second Sabbath, the team sat under the preaching of Stephen McCollum on The Most Neglected Commandment and Knowing God from Exodus 20 and Jeremiah 9, respectively. Following the former, the team was graciously provided with lunch, and following the latter sermon, the team had fellowship with the congregation and then with McCollums at the manse.

On Monday, the 29th, the Holiday Bible Club began with the team teaching the kids a Psalm along with actions and a memory verse. Then Arlen taught the kids about the Parable of the Sower. The kids all had a themed snack and then divided based on age and did crafts, games, and other fun activities. Once the team was done with Holiday Bible Club, they had the chance to further prepare for the upcoming skits or Bible lessons. Some of the team members went to the manse to do work on the garden and other practical needs, while others stayed at the church to do various office-related jobs. Then the team prayed for the application of the newsletters that were delivered the week before.

On Tuesday, the 30th, the team taught the psalm and memory verse, and then Sofia taught the kids about the Parable of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin. The kids were then entertained with related snacks, games, and crafts like the day before. Just like Monday, the team prepared for the rest of the week’s lessons and skits. In the evening, the team had a lecture from Stephen about the Mediatorial Kingship of Christ and Covenanting.

On Wednesday, the 1st, the team opened the day with Holiday Bible Club (HBC) as normal, with the psalm and memory verse. Jeremy taught the kids about the Parable of the Good Samaritan, and like Monday and Tuesday, there were Good Samaritan- themed snacks, games, and crafts. The team then prepared for the other Bible lessons and skits. Following the preparation for HBC, half the team went to do some landscaping at the Wishaw church while the other half did office work at Airdrie. Finally, in the evening, the team received a lecture by Stephen about Political Dissent.

On Thursday, the 2nd, the team led HBC with Camden leading the Bible lesson on the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Once the team was done with HBC, they completed their normal HBC preparations and also did evangelism in the Airdrie town center by handing out invitations to an Evangelical service on the upcoming Lord’s Day. After evangelism, some of the team baked desserts for the Barbeque on the 3rd. At the end of the day, the team was invited to watch a movie at the manse.

On Friday, the 3rd, the team led the last day of HBC with Charlie teaching the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders. It is important to note that multiple children memorized all the verses from 1 John 1:9-2:2, and all the children were able to sing Psalm 37 by the end of the week. Overall 25 children attended during the week with 6 of those from the Airdrie congregation, 5 community children that regularly come to the Friday night Kids Club, 5 children from Melville-Knox Christian School, and 9 new children from the area around the church who received the leaflets we gave out at the primary schools. Several parents and grandparents told us how much their children loved it, and some plan to come to the Kids Club when it starts up again in August.

After the last day of HBC, some of the team baked at the church to prepare for the barbecue that night, and others did practical work at the manse or cleaned the church after HBC. Then the team enjoyed fellowship with the congregation at the barbeque hosted by the Wynns.

On Saturday, the 4th, the team traveled to Lanark to learn about Covenanter history from Jimmy and Helen, and then, along with the McCollums, went to New Lanark. Once the team got back from New Lanark, the team went to Tim Duguid’s flat to celebrate American Independence Day with barbeque and fun.

On the Sabbath, the team, like the rest of the congregation, attended the prayer meeting, the morning and evening services, and engaged in fellowship. The morning sermon Stephen preached was titled We Need the Sun of Righteousness to Rise, while in the evening, he preached the evangelical sermon that the team was inviting the town to, titled Why are Christians Such Hypocrites? Like the other Lord’s Days the team was invited to the manse for some evening fellowship.

On Monday, the 6th, the team went to explore the Highlands along with the McCollums. The team visited Luss, Rest and Be Thankful, Inveraray, and Stirling. That evening, the guys were invited to have “Guys Night” with Stephen at the manse.

On Tuesday, the 7th, the guys worked at Wishaw to help do landscaping and clean up outside the church, while the girls did office work at the Airdrie church. Before the prayer meeting that night, the team was provided food by the Alexanders. Then the team helped set up and participate in the prayer meeting that was held that evening.

On Wednesday, the 8th, the team worked on various projects at the manse and at the church to finish up some last remaining jobs. Finally, on Thursday the 9th, the team did some last cleaning and practical work. The team also packed and got ready for their travel home the next day. In the evening, the team spent their last time together at the manse. The next morning, the trip concluded, and the team said their goodbyes and boarded their planes for home.