Just back from 4 days on a leaders retreat; spending time thinking and praying with dear friends, all other leaders with a heart for Scotland and a vision for what God is doing and about to do in this nation. It is time! God is calling us together, the clans are uniting, the lines between our ministries are blurring and we are moving forward with one heart. We are motivated with a heart for God and for His Kingdom. No personal agendas, no empire building, just His name, His glory and His desires for this land. We are becoming a movement. An organic, Holy Spirit movement of ordinary people, nameless and faceless, passionate for Him and desperate to see Him reigining as King and Lord over Scotland. I am excited at all God is doing and totally convinced that our time is now and our day has come; we will not blow it and we will not drop the baton. We are going to win this nation, one person, one community, one village, one town, one city at a time! As you read this if what I am writing makes your heart beat faster and you resonate with these words, you will know what you need to do and what your part to play is in Scotland's calling, in your life and ministry. So go for it! Join the Jesus Revolution! Blessings Jim

Well, we did it!! Our Homecoming Day, 'A Day to Change the Nation', took place last Saturday 28th November, and what a day it was!! A combined gathering of between 1500 and 2000 attended the 4 sessions on the day as we worshipped with passionate abandon, heard God's word shared powerfully and prophetically, listened to His voice for us as His people in this time and cried out to Him with one voice for Scotland! It was just awesome, as people young and older stood together for the sake of our nation and the glory of our God. I have had so many woenderful emails, texts and calls since the day from people whom God encouraged, challenged and took deeper through the event. We feel a sense of momentum gathering and a new day dawning, and what is in my spirit now is 'Seize the Day!'. As we stood to sing our new song, 'This is our time', I truly believed we sensed this as God's people in Scotland in a new way. So let's keep going Scotland, keep going after the Kingdom with passion and purpose and see that new day come. If you have a memory or an encouragement to share from the day please add it to our guestbook and both encourage so many people and share what God has laid on your heart for this time. Every Blessing. Jim

3 Days to go!! The 'Day to Change the Nation' is nearly upon us. The sense of anticipation in our team is tangible and God is pouring so much into our hearts as we prepare for this day. Please do whatever you can to be there as this is for ALL God's people in Scotland to come together and cry out to Him for this nation we live in and love. We really do believe that as a nation, This is Our Time! We have had so many dashed dreams and disappointment as a nation, so many reasons to be downcast and pessimistic- in everything from the economy, to the weather, to football and of course in the church. But we are absolutely convinced that this is a new day and there is a new dawn approaching. So come join us as we pray for it, prepare for it and be ready to usher it in! Come King Jesus, come back to Scotland in Kingdom power!!

3 Weeks to go! The excitement is mounting as we get closer to A Day To Change The Nation on Saturday 28th November! Hoping all those reading this have either got the day ringed in their diary or will make sure they do so! I have been thinking about the event in the book of Joshua Chapter 10, where in the midst of a crucial battle against the Amorites Joshua prayed that the sun and the moon would stand still to allow God's people to finish the job and defeat their enemies, the opponents to their destiny. God responded to this outrageous faith and unparalleled prayer request from Joshua and the Bible records, "The sun stopped in the middle of the sky, and it did not set as on a normal day. The Lord fought for Israel that day. Never before or since has there been a day like that one, when the Lord answered such a request from a human being" Wow!! This is awesome! Could we dare to be so bold for Scotland? That in the spiritual realm we ask Jesus, the Son of God ,to stop over our nation and not move until God's Kingdom is fully restored here and this battle is won? Not move until we see with our eyes the spiritual liberation of our nation and our destiny unfold? To ask God to fight for us in this and believe that as we join our faith, and like Joshua, pray outrageous prayers, He will act on our behalf and for the sake of this nation? If we don't ask, if we don't cry out, if we don't show up for the battle, if we don't step out in faith, we will never know. Be Blessed. Jim

Exciting times for The Scotland Trust; exciting times for Scotland! It is now just 4 weeks until our first national day, our Homecoming Day, 'A Day to Change The Nation'. I can't wait! Why 'A Day To Change The Nation'?. Throughout the Bible and the history of God's people, particularly revival history, there have been destiny moments when things were altered forever - a moment, a choice, a battle, a prayer ,a day when God's people took him seriuosly, sought him with all their heart and obeyed his call, no matter the cost., because they were desperate to see things change. Then God did as only He can, and moved in power in response to his people's faith and obedience and history was changed. I believe that as we come TOGETHER as his people in Scotland to worship, hear his word and the voice of his Spirit and cry out to him for our nation, something significant is going to happen, something 'abundantly more than all we could ask or imagine'. We have recently added a new prophetic word on our prophetic page which God gave to our prayer director Donna Macneil about preparing for a coming harvest. Go and read it, it will encourage and excite you! So come on people of Scotland, let us respond to God's call, and get the 28th November in your diary if you haven't already done so, as this is a day which we can truly make a difference to our nation's destiny! God Bless. Jim

jritchie1 2009.9.1 10:11

Scotland Trust Homecoming Day - 'A Day To Change The Nation'!! I am excited to announce that The Scotland Trust will be hosting our first national day on Saturday 28th November at The Vine Church in Dunfermline, as part of this year's Homecoming Celebrations. The day will consist of a leaders lunch, where we will invite key church and business leaders to come together, share, dream a dream for the nation, strategise how we can work together as effectively as possible and then pray into this. Then there will be afternoon sessions for the whole church; inspiring and equipping God's people for the calling upon us to be the Kingdom people God will use to transform Scotland. And finally to bring the whole day together, we will have an evening prayer and worship event for our nation. This will be for everyone who can come and will be led by myself, Tommy Macneil, Kenny Borthwick, Andrea Wigglesworth, Donna Macneil our prayer director and our music team including Dawn and Sam Hocking. We will worship our awesome God for who He is and for all He has done and is doing amongst us, and we will also truly cry out together with passionate hearts for God to move in power in Scotland in our time! Please come and be part of this. God always responds to faith and vision, to spirit and truth worship and to the fervent prayer of his people as they cry out for his glory. Put this date in your diary, speak to your pastor or leader, organise a bus or cars and get there. Together we can see this nation change! Together we can do it!! Look out for more publicity over the next weeks and be part of this historic day. God Bless

Like millions around the world I watched the Michael Jackson Memorial yesterday. I flicked between the coverage on BBC and CNN, which in itself was interesting to see the different ways the British and American media were interpreting this event. After the BBC coverage had finished I went back to CNN and saw the Jackson's famliy Pastor lead the arena in a moving and inspirational prayer in which he said 'now the King of Pop has to bow the knee to The King of Kings'. It was a shame the BBC missed this as it closed the whole event in the right way and put it all into its proper perspective. I have since been interested to reflect how we as a church might interpret this world event and what it says to us about the culture in which we live today and the world we are trying to reach in Jesus' name. The first thing that struck me was that the whole Memorial was a mix of showbiz event, religious ceremony and a public outpouring of human grief. In the midst of this there were moments when I felt deeply sorry for this family on two levels; on one level just as human beings in the midst of their loss. Who couldn't have been moved by the words of his brothers and in particular his daughter. I believe that Jesus would have us show true compassion for them and pray for this family rather than mock and ridicule them as some cruelly have. Yet I also felt sorry for the Jacksons on another level, as people whose lives have become so abnormal in their showbusiness world that their grief had to be played out in front of a watching world in the way of such a public spectacle. There were times I felt uncomfortable and times I felt moved. In the midst of it all I felt one thing came through very clearly; people were made to worship, and if they don't worship Jesus they will worship something or someone else. This Memorial was above all an act of worship. There were many within Michael Jackson's Memorial who loved the Lord and wanted to clearly worship Him and point to Him on such an occasion. There were others, both contributing and watching who appeared to almost worship Michael, and there were others who seemed to worship the cult of celebrity itself. I think we saw a similar response in the aftermath of the death of Princess Diana. I believe all of this tells us as a church two very important things: The notion that people in our contemporary world are totally secular with no sense of either spiritual hunger or the need for significant gathered events of worship is a falacy. People are still the same beneath the surface; they were made to worship, they need significance and they need to gather together to express their inner feelings. And the days of large gatherings of people seeking to do just that have not passed, and in this the church has a real opportunity to touch and meet that inner need. I now live right next to Balado where T in the Park will take place in a few days time. Every day I see the huge amount of work and preparation that is taking place to accommodate the tens of thousands who will be drawn to the area to celebrate in this music event. No-one can tell me that for many this huge event is not just a sociological gathering for people to replace their inner need to worship something bigger than themselves in a communal way. However, there is also a huge challenge in all of this to the church. Why if people are clearly made to worship and are drawn to large events like this, do they so quickly reject the church and its worship today? In my life and ministry I meet people on an almost daily basis who are clearly spiritual, clearly seeking significance and what we in the church would call fellowship, yet who reject the church and all it has to offer as boring or irrelevant. I talk to people all the time who have no problems with Jesus but equally can't find what they are looking for in the church and find it elsewhere. I think one of the problems in this is that the world does its worship better than the church does! It's a poignant thought that the idolatry that the world offers is more appealing to many than the worship the church has to offer! Surely as God's Kingdom people we have to take stock of all of this and offer people the opportunities they need, and I believe deeply want, to find what they are really looking for in a living encounter with Jesus. We are so afraid of 'big events' or doing things extravagantly for fear we somehow dishonour God. But we need to get over that. Is Jesus not worth it? Is He not worth the sort of attention that was lavished on MichaelJackson yesterday?Is He not worthy of the sort of crowds that will turn up at T in The Park on Friday? Church this is our time, this is our moment, let's seize the day and truly let the world see Jesus in all His glory and splendour as we worship Him, the one and only King of Kings.

Like millions around the world I watched the Michael Jackson Memorial yesterday. I flicked between the coverage on BBC and CNN, which in itself was interesting to see the different ways the British and American media were interpreting this event. After the BBC coverage had finished I went back to CNN and saw the Jackson's famliy Pastor lead the arena in a moving and inspirational prayer in which he said 'now the King of Pop has to bow the knee to The King of Kings'. It was a shame the BBC missed this as it closed the whole event in the right way and put it all into its proper perspective. I have since been interested to reflect how we as a church might interpret this world event and what it says to us about the culture in which we live today and the world we are trying to reach in Jesus' name. The first thing that struck me was that the whole Memorial was a mix of showbiz event, religious ceremony and a public outpouring of human grief. In the midst of this there were moments when I felt deeply sorry for this family on two levels; on one level just as human beings in the midst of their loss. Who couldn't have been moved by the words of his brothers and in particular his daughter. I believe that Jesus would have us show true compassion for them and pray for this family rather than mock and ridicule them as some cruelly have. Yet I also felt sorry for the Jacksons on another level, as people whose lives have become so abnormal in their showbusiness world that their grief had to be played out in front of a watching world in the way of such a public spectacle. There were times I felt uncomfortable and times I felt moved. In the midst of it all I felt one thing came through very clearly; people were made to worship, and if they don't worship Jesus they will worship something or someone else. This Memorial was above all an act of worship. There were many within Michael Jackson's Memorial who loved the Lord and wanted to clearly worship Him and point to Him on such an occasion. There were others, both contributing and watching who appeared to almost worship Michael, and there were others who seemed to worship the cult of celebrity itself. I think we saw a similar response in the aftermath of the death of Princess Diana. I believe all of this tells us as a church two very important things: The notion that people in our contemporary world are totally secular with no sense of either spiritual hunger or the need for significant gathered events of worship is a falacy. People are still the same beneath the surface; they were made to worship, they need significance and they need to gather together to express their inner feelings. And the days of large gatherings of people seeking to do just that have not passed, and in this the church has a real opportunity to touch and meet that inner need. I now live right next to Balado where T in the Park will take place in a few days time. Every day I see the huge amount of work and preparation that is taking place to accommodate the tens of thousands who will be drawn to the area to celebrate in this music event. No-one can tell me that for many this huge event is not just a sociological gathering for people to replace their inner need to worship something bigger than themselves in a communal way. However, there is also a huge challenge in all of this to the church. Why if people are clearly made to worship and are drawn to large events like this, do they so quickly reject the church and its worship today? In my life and ministry I meet people on an almost daily basis who are clearly spiritual, clearly seeking significance and what we in the church would call fellowship, yet who reject the church and all it has to offer as boring or irrelevant. I talk to people all the time who have no problems with Jesus but equally can't find what they are looking for in the church and find it elsewhere. I think one of the problems in this is that the world does its worship better than the church does! It's a poignant thought that the idolatry that the world offers is more appealing to many than the worship the church has to offer! Surely as God's Kingdom people we have to take stock of all of this and offer people the opportunities they need, and I believe deeply want, to find what they are really looking for in a living encounter with Jesus. We are so afraid of 'big events' or doing things extravagantly for fear we somehow dishonour God. But we need to get over that. Is Jesus not worth it? Is He not worth the sort of attention that was lavished on MichaelJackson yesterday?Is He not worthy of the sort of crowds that will turn up at T in The Park on Friday? Church this is our time, this is our moment, let's seize the day and truly let the world see Jesus in all His glory and splendour as we worship Him, the one and only King of Kings.

I am excited that tonight we host a vision night in Perth and Kinross to launch our Community Transformation Team there. Local pastors, church and ministry leaders and community workers will join with us as we share the vision and look forward to starting the local work over the summer. We are delighted that Dawn and Sam Hocking have joined our team as Creative Directors and will lead our music team 'One'. One will perform in the schools and lead worship and sing locally and nationally. Dawn is my daughter and is an immensely gifted singer and communicator. She worked with Oldmachar Church and The One Trust for two years, leading our first One Band, after which she spent a year at New Generation Music and Mission in Bristol when she was lead singer of 'Thundershock'. Sam is my new son in law and is a multi-talented musician, live sound engineer, studio engineer and producer. He also worked at NGM, where they met as a couple, and did live sound for 'Luv Esther' as well as many other live music and studio productions. They bring a great passion and vision for the work as well as real excellence in all they do. Our 'One' music team will be joined after the summer by a YFC Kick team who will work with local schools, churches and community groups in sports outreach. This is exciting and as we launch the Community Transformation Team with the two-pronged resources of music and sport we know we are going to make a huge difference in the lives of many young people offering hope, purpose and a future full of possibilities. Isn't that just the Kingdom!! Be Blessed. Jim

Have you checked out the 'Latest News' item yet? How cool and exciting is that? I am so thrilled that we are now seeking to recruit the first volunteers for our new schools and youth band, The One Band, who will become part of our Community Transformation Team in Perth and Kinross. This is an exciting moment for The Scotland Trust and we know God is going to do great things through this. The One Band will play full time in schools, churches and community venues around Perth and Kinross and will also get involved in local missions around the country from time to time. If you are out there with a musical or singing gift, a burning passion for God and this nation, and a longing to serve Him then perhaps you are the person God is calling to this!! We are looking for volunteers to serve for a year and come live and work in Perth with me and the team. Or if you are a church leader reading this and God is putting someone on your heart whom this might just be perfect for, then get them to have a look at the advert and connect with me. These are awesome days to serve God in and This is our time!! Let's go for it together and see God do amazing things in our land. God Bless. Jim.

Our family have just moved to Kinross!! Over the last few months it became apparent to all in The Scotland Trust that our living in Aberdeen and me travelling all over the country was not feasible long-term, but we also felt that God was calling us to be located more centrally in the nation. With both these things in mind we sought a new home in the heart of Scotland and found it in Kinross. I will also press on now with one of our core visions to plant Community Transformation Teams in major cities and towns in Scotland over the next months and years. We are excited to be speaking to church leaders in Perth and Glasgow as the first two possible locations. Please pray for us, this is a key and exciting time. There's hardly a day passes when I don't receive a call, email or letter from someone who has read my book, 'This is our time', and the response is always the same; encouragement for our vision and a shared heart and sense of all God is doing and going to do in our nation. There are so many kindred spirits and fellow bravehearts out there with a passion for God's honour and for this nation of Scotland. Please connect with me and share your heart if you want to be part of what we are doing or seek our support for your ministry. And for all of you who serve the Lord out there in our nation, keep going, be encouraged and keep believing that this truly is our time and we will see the Kingdom come! Blessings

Jim

For those of you who are in or around Perth this Sunday 8th March I am leading worship with my wonderful band and speaking at Trinity Church of the Nazarene in Perth at 6pm. Would love to see you there. Jim

Dear Friends. Hope God is continuing to do great things in your life. I have recently been struck afresh by how much He loves us in two very different settings; my daughter's wedding and a funeral service for a new friend. My daughter Dawn was married recently to my new son in law Sam and I was honoured to do the ceremony. It was really moving to be there with them at that moment as they committed their lives to each other. It reminded me of how Jesus loves the church; his people, whom He indeed calls His bride. I always see that at weddings I officiate at; but this time I was not just the minister, I was Father of the bride, giving my lovely daughter away. I felt first hand to some extent how much God loves us in giving away Jesus to us to give HImself for us and to us forever. What a gift! But HIs gift is not just with us in the happy days, but in the sad, difficult ones too. Last week I was helping lead a funeral service of a man who died tragically young. Again I saw first hand that Jesus promise to comfort us and always be with us is as real as it gets. He is the Lord of new life and the Lord over death. Wherever your life is at right now may you know how loved you are by God in His Son Jesus. God Bless. Jim

Happy New Year! This is the year of the Lord's favour! I pray God's richest blessing on you, your church, your family, your ministry, your business, your career and your hopes and dreams. God is in control and as Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us He has great plans for us and a wonderful hope and future! Isn't it good to know this at such a time of uncertainty and insecurity in the world. And what an opportunity for us to hold out the hope of Jesus to our nation in these uncertain days. I was reminded yesterday of Psalm 118:8 which says, 'It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man'. Our hope is in God and He will not disappoint us, so here's to an awesome 2009! I have started a Scotland Trust friends list on my facebook and invite you to join this on-line community to pray and support each other as we reach out in Jesus name. Go to facebook and search under 'Jim Ritchie Scotland Trust' and join us!! God Bless

Jim

Well our first year as The Scotland Trust is just about over! We have been amazed at all that has happened in this first year as we have stepped out to launch this new ministry and God's faithfulness is truly incredible! In the last 12 months our main features have become: 1. Working with churches - training, equipping and serving the church in our nation; starting 'fires' and inspiring God's people to be all they can be in their community 2. Working with business leaders; helping those in the marketplace to be all they can be to make this nation great under God; working on funding for community transformation projects 3. Sharing resources with the church; my book, 'This is our time' was the first step in this, but in the years ahead there will be more books andmusic/worship cd's from God's people in Scotland 4. Networking with churches and national ministries with the same heart to see God's name great in our nation again and our nation become great under Him! In 2009 we will push on with our vision to place 'community transformation teams' all over our land working in partnership with the local church, other national ministries and local community ventures in music and sports to reach the young people of Scotland and deliver real change in our cities and towns. This is a big year and we are excited to see how this develops. God is a God who changes things! Christmas is the story of how He sent His Son as a gift to the world to change things and see His Kingdom established and His rule and reign come on earth. How awesome to be participants in that story as it continues until Jesus returns to the earth once more. Have an awesome Christmas and a truly prosperous New Year. Jim x

I have been travelling a lot lately throughout the country speaking, preaching and singing in many diverse places. God is on the move all over this land of ours!! I am so excited that people are getting the vision of The Scotland Trust so clearly and enthusiastically. In particular our vision for local transformation teams working in schools and local communities through music and sports programmes is catching the immagination of the church, the community and business leaders. We now need two things: 1. The right local partnerships to work with 2. Financial support. If your church/ministry is looking to be involved in cutting edge outreach in your area please contact me on the enquiries email and we'll start talking!! And if you feel called to give financially to the work to change this nation then go on to 'support the work' for long-term support or 'donate to the work' for a one-off gift. We need your help! These are destiny days! This is our time! God Bless. Jim

God is doing a new thing in Scotland today! Everywhere I go throughout the land I see the fruit and hear the stories of what God is doing and it is an exciting time to be alive. Two of the main features of what is happening right now particularly interest and encourage me. Firstly, I see God's people become less and less defined by ''church'' or denomination and more defined by the Kingdom. We all know that in many places ''church'' as it was hasn't worked for decades and the people of Scotland have by and large ignored it or rejected it. But wherever the Kingdom breaks out it is both irresistable and uncontainable. The Kingdom is what Jesus was all about (just read the Gospels) and it is what he called us to be part of. The Kingdom transforms individual lives and communities to the point that we really can see things on earth as they are in heaven. This is both the will of God and the secret to the ministry of Jesus. He only did as the Father asked Him and we need only do the things Jesus calls us to. How liberating that is from all that we can sometimes be tied up in through church politics and endless activity. What are the Kingdom things he calls us to? To love God with all our heart, soul mind and strength, and to love our neighbour. This shows itself in worshipping in spirit and truth, then sharing the good news, healing the sick and setting the captives free! The second thing I am extremely encouraged about is the growth of unity and togetherness that is developing throughout the church in the land; in communties, cities and at a national level. We are realising that we really do need each other, that our togetherness works, and it both impacts the world around us and blesses the heart of our Father God. When you think of it they're no-brainers really, aren't they? So let's do it!

Just to let everyone know that we are changing the launch day from November 29th until early 2009. More details will be announced on the website, so watch this space. The reason is that during the summer I was ill for a couple of months and this put everything on hold for a while and as always there is a bit of catching up to do after such a time. This has put us behind a bit in our planning, so we decided that rather than rush things on we will postpone the launch until a later date. I am sure you will all understand and we are sorry if this has caused anyone any inconvenience in their church plans. I am really well again and things are going amazingly in the ministry, we are all so encouraged and if possible, even more convinced of all that God has called us to and the real need for The Scotland Trust in our land at this time. Keep going wherever God has called you and keep believing that this is our time to win this land and transform our communities for the Kingdom. God Bless, Jim

Prayer changes things!!

You will see from the Homepage that our prayer Director, Donna Macneil has added a prayer partners page to the site. I am so exited about this as we all know how foundational prayer is to this work and to how God renews our church and revives our nation. But prayer is not an activity for the weak-willed, it is a battle for the committed; he warriors of God, as we wrestle for the heart and soul of our nation. Donna wants prayer partners to join us, so if God has laid this vision on your heart and you are up for the battle, sign up on the prayer page and unite with us as we cry out to God for his honour, favour, healing and restoring power to be released again in Scotland.

I was also at a leaders prayer day and strategic planning day in Stirling yesterday and I am so thrilled that so many of those whom God has given spiritual oversight to some of the country's most influencial ministries are talking and praying together to ask God how we work in partnership in reaching our nation. Great things are happening and even greater things are coming. These are exciting days and more and more people are coming to truly believe that this indeed is Scotland's time!!

I have been thinking a lot today about what Jesus said right at the start of His public ministry in Luke 4 when, quoting from Isaiah 61, He said He had come to set the captives free. I see this as Jesus' mission statement and the reason the Father asked Him to come on His mission to earth. All of His ministry; His life, death and resurrection served this calling. This says two things to me; firstly is shows God's heart , a heart that above all else is totally committed to reaching the lost and broken. And secondly, if we want to be part of Jesus' mission and in tune with the Father's heart we need to be as passionate about setting the captives free as He is! Anything else is just doing church and that won't change the world. We speak and pray a lot about revival and that is right and proper, but let's never forget that revival is not about making the church better for us, it is about setting the captives free and bringing the prodigals home. And we should be encouraged that as much as we long for this, God longs for it even more! So it will surely come. So let's make sure we are ready to love, receive and restore those God will bring to us as He turns our nation back to Him. God Bless, Jim.

It has been really encouraging to receive so many positive comments about the book. Thanks to everyone who's been in touch. Thanks also to those who have pledged financial and prayer support for the Scotland Trust. However there is still a huge job to do and many more bravehearts are needed to stand with us to see our nation become great again under God. So please pray and ask the Lord how you can become involved and support the work for this, 'Our time'. Praying you have a great weekend and God really moves in your church tomorrow. God Bless, Jim.

Hello everyone. It seems a long time since I wrote anything on the blog! The launch of the book at Clan was very successful and many people have been really encouraging in how they have felt the book has stirred them and they have connected with the heart of our vision. Of course the key concept in it all is that this is our time and this is our moment to see the Kingdom of God come in power in our land and we are the people who will both see it and be part of its coming.New things are happening all over Scotland today and this is an exciting time to be alive. So I just want to encourage you today that whatever you're doing and wherever you are do it with a sense of Kingdom urgency and expectancy that our God is on the move. God Bless, Jim.

Well my book arrived today, just in time for Clan! It was exciting to see a vision become a reality! I have also just come back from two days as a guest speaker at Andrea Wigglesworth's counselling Summer School in Carberry. What an awesome time I had amongst a great bunch of people with the same heart for God and for our nation. I shared with 80 wonderful people on the course who are following their dream to heal the broken hearted and love people in Jesus' name. All of them are life-savers for the captives God promised He would liberate through Jesus in Isaiah 61. Most of them live and minister in Scotland and Ireland, with one sister all the way from South Africa. God is raising up an army of His people in the land who understand the times and know what to do; just like the sons of Issachar God raised up in David's day (see 1 Chronicles 12:12-38, esp. v32). And like that 'army of God' the army He is calling together today have just one cause; to overthrow a Kingdom. That is our calling as a church; to overthrow the kingdom of darkness that steals, kills and destroys, and has held sway in our nation for too long, and replace it with the Kingdom of God that brings life, hope, healing, light, joy and causes a nation to flourish. Jesus prayed that this Kingdom would come as God's will is done on earth as it is in heaven. Let's become an answer to Jesus' prayers where we live and follow the dreams God has placed in each one of us!

These are exciting days for me! I am waiting for the first delivery of my book, 'This is our time'. I am led to believe it will arrive imminently and this arrival represents a number of things for me: the symbolic mark of a new day in my life and ministry; a dream realised as I have wanted to write for years but never managed; and the public start of the work of The Scotland Trust as we begin to articulate who we are and what we're about to the church and the nation! These are also exciting times for the church in Scotland! I may be a 'glass half full' kind of guy at heart, but I cannot remember a time when there was as much optimism that a new day was dawning for the church here as I meet people around the country; and the thing is there is nothing visible to justify that other than faith and hope. This is good, as the Bible tells us that faith can overcome all things and hope never disappoints us! In all the turmoil that's happening in our country right now with crime, violence, fear, credit crunches etc. there appears to me to be a recognition amongst people that we are missing something. Again and again I hear people speak of the need for 'community', 'respect', and 'accountability' to reappear in the towns and cities of the UK. In case anyone hasn't noticed these are all Kingdom values that should be enshrined in who the church is and what it does. In all the discussions and community shaping efforts that happen locally we should make sure that the church is positively active in making our unique contribution and offering what we have to those around us that no-one else can! Scotland needs the Kingdom of God to break out in loving, compassionate power today. Can we dare to believe that 'This is our time!'

Two stories in today's news grabbed my attention; the tragedy of six young people killed in a car crash and the continuing nightmare of knife crime as another six people (5 of them under 21) have been stabbed to death in the last 24 hours. What keeps coming to my mind is the words of Jesus in John 10:10, 'The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy. But I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly'. So much that happens in today's world kills life, steals hope and dreams and destroys families and communities, praticularly for our young people. Is there an answer? Is there any hope? Is it not time that we started to look at Jesus and what he said and did? I don't mean religion, as that won't give us any answers. I mean the sort of life Jesus lived and taught; community where we love our neighbour and treat those around us with love and respect; community where hope abounds and a positive future for our young people is possible; a place where people have abundant life. The Scotland Trust is passionate about putting this kind of community, hope and purpose back in Scotland. For this to happen we need the church in our nation to get out behind our walls and believe in the transformational Gospel Jesus gave us to share with the world and start really making a difference in the communities in which we live. It is time that we confidently shared the hope that we have and stopped apologising for what we believe in. People need hope and they need answers. In Jesus, we have them. And what's more I believe that local government, police and community groups would be delighted to see and hear us get more involved. You can change the world around you! Together we can make a difference and start to write a different story in our land in our time.

I love sports; both playing and watching. I am mostly into football but can enjoy most sports when they are played with passion and commitment. Like millions of others I really enjoyed watching the Wimbledon Men's Singles Final on Sunday when Rafa Nadal beat Roger Federer in a display of unbelieveable tennis which many are now calling the best final ever! These two guys are at the very top of their profession, and they gave a match of absolute excellence; but it wasn't always that way. For years they must have practiced, struggled and worked in obscurity before they became who they are now. Paul often compares the Christian life to that of an athlete, in that training, commitment and sacrifice are required to be all we can be and achieve all we can with our lives for the King and His Kingdom. That's the only way that excellence can be born. Isn't it time we took this seriously in the church and showed the world around us that we are indeed a display of God's splendour? If tennis players can do it, surely so can we as we offer to the world the word of eternal life!

I was in Greenock last night leading worship with my band and speaking at an awesome event called 'Streetreach' and God was with us. It was great fun and very powerful. I wanted to say 'hi' and keep going to Dave and Margaret, Chris and all the team there. You are living, shining lights in that place and wherever you go, Jesus goes, to those you are reaching out to in His name.

This is a new time for the church in Scotland and we need people of courage and conviction, like those in Greenock, all over the land to get out of our comfort zones, onto the streets and reach those who think their life has no hope or purpose. The great news is when we go there we discover God is already there working!

Just been to church this morning and one of the songs we were singing had the line, 'what can I say? what can I do? but offer this heart O God completely to You'. Is that not what being a Christian is all about? Being wholeheartedly sold out to Jesus and His Kingdom. If we do church or try to live our life with any other motivation it's just not a Kingdom heart is it? And it won't change the world that's for sure!

Jim

Hi Everyone

Welcome to the new website for The Scotland Trust! These are exciting times in the church in our nation and I am looking forward to sharing what I see God doing throughout Scotland as I minister and travel in this new role as National Director of The Scotland Trust. We are going to be at Clan Gathering from 19th-26th July when I am really buzzed to announce that I will be releasing my first book, 'This is our time!'. This has been an exciting journey for me and as I have written it over the last 4 months I have felt God giving me things to share for this time in the church in Scotland. So come and see us at Clan and buy a book! Praying God's abundant blessing on you and your church.

Jim Ritchie

******THE ONE EVENT******

Sunday 18th April 2010

Perth Concert Hal l@ 6.30

Free Admission

'Homecoming Day a huge success as many people form all over Scotland come together on 28th November to worship, hear from God and cry out to Him for this nation'

PREPARING FOR THE HARVEST - Latest Prophetic word ...

The Scotland Trust is launching an exciting new full-time sports outreach 'Activ8' in Perth and Kinross to work along side our National Director, Jim Ritchie, and our music team 'One'. - Find out more on the Activ8 page...

Prophetic Words - We are needing a release of the Joseph’s in this day...

(see the new Prophetic Word page for full details)

I am so thrilled that we are now seeking to recruit the first volunteers for our new schools and youth band, The One Band, who will become part of our Community Transformation Team in Perth and Kinross. Click on Menu Tab for more details...