Missions: The Full Report
- Elizabeth Onilude-David
- Apr 6, 2025
- 5 min read
Updated: Dec 31, 2025
Missions is trending again and people are on the move...
People are being stirred to get up and go, or uproot and move to new places in the UK and around the world to launch new, or support existing Gospel initiatives or projects.
Initiatives include planting new or supporting existing churches, community projects/events, prayer walking/surveying, evangelistic ventures, short missions, and even innovative Online campaigns. All aiming to serve, support, inform, or educate communities, or to make, mature and mobilise disciples, or just to pray for/with others.
Mission to the North - The Tools
Technology is a critical tool in this wave of missions.
It enables speed and precision, and like ‘the men of Issachar’ who understood the times, it serves us well to harness and do all we can to optimize and maximize it.
Christians should be renown for creativity, innovation, and design in every sphere of endeavour. And, recruiting, retraining, upskilling, and upscaling operations are essential requirements of excellence to effectively serve contemporary society, and to engage and inspire the next generation.
The times and the task are critical.
Organisations like the Revitalise Trust, London are already leading in this wave of missions and church planting. The impact of their work in the first six years of launching is commendable. And, the use of digital technology to propagate the message and the mission have contributed to the depth and breadth of success.
Also, a well-known author/ministry completed an extensive Book Tour and Mission to Europe spanning Macedonia, Serbia, and Germany at the end of March, and on an individual level, an 84-year old lay-leader recently returned from a Mission to Kenya, where his professional experience in strategic growth analytics and governance helped an established ministry in Kenya navigate a period of succession and time of growth.
In October while planning for the mission an article titled Mission to the North was published.
Here is the Full Report of the Mission itself.
The Mission was inspired by a visit to Inverness in October 2023, and after a lot of reflection and preparation, launched in November of 2024.
The natural landscape of Scotland is amazing. And, very different in the north, south, east, and western parts. Though the people are all warm and open. London to them a huge enigma!
Mission to the North - Scouting
Over three months, I visited churches, listened to people's stories, stayed in interesting places, met amazing people, and discussed the issue of seeing the region revived again. Also with Alpha Scotland via Zoom.
The purpose of the Mission was to look, listen, and Pray.
Arriving at Glasgow on a cold winter evening, I took a train to Helensburgh, a scenic coastal village facing the Firth of Clyde, a sea inlet and estuary on West coast of Scotland, where the River Clyde flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
The first visit was to Hope Community Church. A very friendly church community that serves the Naval Base. I met naval families and a couple, both doctors and missionaries with YWAM but recently relocated to the region.
Having heard about Bethesda Christian Fellowship, I visited the next Sunday. An Evangelical church in the centre of the village square, with a first-class Café. The service was lively and inspirational. And, I met a few people who had relocated to be there. The stories were always very similar. They felt they were 'walking with destiny'.
After staying in Helensburgh and enjoying the seafront views for some time, the next stop was Power Church in Paisley, Glasgow. The international prophetic hub of Scotland - GPA.
I was in Perth on Christmas Day and attended Perth Baptist Church. Very memorable.
After Christmas, I attended the GPA Annual Conference in Glasgow.
HeartSong Live is a Christian online radio station based in Glasgow. We had some very meaningful conversations on different matters.
My birthday at Bellshill, Strathclyde was quite significant, before the long drive from Glasgow to Aberdeen - The motorways are thankfully free flowing in the north.
Collieston in Ellon is one most interesting places in Aberdeenshire. It is a coastal village situated on a hill facing the North Sea. The landscape and view is amazing.
Mission to the North - Final Impetus
On observation, apart from Ellon Baptist Church, there was no other obvious body of Christian believers in the area. The next town, Newburgh also had no obvious vibrant church. I was later reassured:
There is much work going on in Scotland and we have a number of people that we work with regularly as part of our National Church Planting Network group. I think the best person for you to be in touch with to start with ...has a great overview of all that is happening in Scotland and works ecumenically with other Scottish church leaders…
I was planning to be Edinburgh shortly after that and on arrival at a magnificent building, was warmly welcomed.
We discussed the various local missions and outreaches they did. My thoughts were, if necessary, I could move to Edinburgh and help with the need there.
The response I received on making enquiries helped me tremendously to understand in depth the nature of the situation, and the purpose of the mission.
... The situation and context in Scotland is very different to England - both in society and in the church. We have much to learn from what God is doing in other parts of the world, including south of the border.
The way is yet to be prepared and paths made straight for what is required to revive a people to vibrant Christianity. Therefore, the task at hand is to prepare.
The Need is for:
Different moving parts/people required to connect, communicate, collaborate and share information and resources across different borders.
Urgency and intentionality for creative, innovative and proactive contextualising of the Gospel for contemporary society.
The reiteration of the whole Gospel, grace and truth.
Critical events that need to happen at strategic times.
The stage to be set and ready for the Appointed Time.
The Big Question...
Are you (or someone you know) one of the essential moving parts? If so, please stand up and step forward...
YOU ARE NEEDED!
Mission to the North - Good News
An organisation in Glasgow called Give Us Scotland, says:
We are delighted to say that we are now working with 7 church plants from our pilot year (23-24) and are adding 5 so far this year (24-25). They are a great bunch of folks doing amazing things…
Rays of hope and signs of things to come.
Mission to the North - Conclusion
We know the story of John Knox, the Great Reformer of the1500s. Whatever happened since that significant reformation, it befits us to seek the Lord to restore His Fame in our land again.
And, it befits the South to rise up and take the rich spiritual capital that is taken for granted to the North, and to the ends of the earth, wherever that may be for you and I. That is the great task of our generation, before we hand over to the next.
Considering the mission done, I parked the car, boarded a plane, and returned to do the work required.
(March 2025)
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