Refuel National Conference Gordon Castle, Elgin, North Scotland - 23-28 July 2018 Precept Ministries Scotland attended the Refuel National Conference in Gordon Castle, Scotland from period 23-28 July 2018. We had an exhibition stand, led 2 seminars and had many opportunities to talk with numerous people about Inductive Bible study. The conference took place in the beautiful grounds of Gordon Castle, near Elgin in N Scotland Richard and Jo Fothergill are Directors of the organisation that hosts the event. Bruxy Cavey, a Canadian Pastor was the main speaker, Others included Jackie Pullinger and Eddie Lyle from Open Doors.
Ramone McKenzie, a volunteer with us manned the stand with Sandy Muirhead and Nigel Watts. A year ago, at the 2017 Refuel Conference we met Reverend Isobel Akers who, with her husband, runs Peterhead Methodist Church in NE Scotland. After showing real interest in Precept Nigel introduced her to Precept s studies at the conference. As a result, Isobel invited us to her church for 2 evenings of training in January 2018. It was a blessing to meet up with Isobel and Bob Akers again this year and also to meet members of her church, such as Ian and Fiona Hepburn (photo above right) who are continuing to study using Precept Bible studies. Indeed, Ian called us before the conference to ask us to bring along several copies of the next 40 Minute study which is starting in September 2018. We were given the opportunity to run 2 one-hour workshops. There was a real enthusiasm and interest shown during the training and afterwards at the Precept stand.
Ramone loved encouraging people who came to the Precept stand. The couple in the photo above (left) use 40 Minute studies in their church in Peterhead and love them. The man in the photo above right had not heard about Precept before but was keen, like many others, to get started. We also had the opportunity to talk to people about the Precept Bible School that we start in November and handed out numerous book marks pointing people to the website where they can book. The first course of the Precept Bible School in Scotland will start on 9 th November 2018 and run for 3 days. It will take place at Maryhill Evangelical Church. We gave out many of the newly produced Precept Bible School bookmarks (photo to the left). We also encouraged people to attend the one day training that we are running on 1 September in Inverness. Sandy Muirhead and Ramone McKenzie will be overseeing this training.
We did a number of Social Media posts, both on Facebook and on Instagram during the week. These included both video and photos. FB interview with Ian Hepburn Instagram - Ramone and Sandy FB post with Dr Andy Bannister We also interviewed 3 people for our forthcoming The Bible and Me podcast. Bishop Sandy Millar Pastor Bruxy Cavey Dr Martin Parsons Helped found the Alpha Course Main speaker at Refuel Works for the Barnabus Fund We sold a little over 500 worth of books during the week, which people paid for by cash or credit card. Some people wanted them for private study, others to start groups with. One grandmother bought the 2 Revelation D4Y studies for her 6 year old granddaughter who has a veracious appetite for reading.
In summary, it was a very worthwhile venture being at The Refuel Conference. Not only was the weather superb, but the conversations we had, the opportunities to train people in IBS and encourage them to take it further was very good too. We heard that there are plans to run the event again in 2019. It seemed that during the week the following Scripture kept cropping up, time and time again. It was an encouragement for Precept in Scotland to press on and fulfil its part in this: Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest. Matthew 9:36-38