Friends on Mission
Here are some of our church members who are involved in either full time or part time mission.
John, Pearl, Natalie & Katie Aitken
John and Pearl formerly worked with Overseas Missionary Fellowship for 14 years in Bristol, first as regional directors for West of England and South Wales and then as Director of Mobilisation. (www.omf.org.uk)
Since June 2008 John has been a full-time Trustee of Echoes of Service with a job title of Operational Director. Echoes of Service is a missions service organisation working to facilitate mission and support missionaries from Brethren Churches in UK and Ireland (www.echoes.org.uk). Pearl earlier this year began work assisting in the management of Filwood Hope, a Christian advice and drop-in centre, in Knowle West, Bristol. The centre serves the local community and is supported by churches in the area. As part of its function, surgeries are run in the centre by other charities such as Shelter and Debt Advice which can be accessed by local residents.
John and Pearl have been associated with Bothwell Evangelical church since their marriage in 1982. They were both involved in the church as members helping run mothers and toddlers, leading services, preaching etc. In 1986 John was invited to be part of the leadership team and continued in this role until moving to Edinburgh in 1991. The church has supported John and Pearl since they went to Bible College in 1986 and continued to support them during their years with OMF 1994 -2008 and now with Echoes of Service.
Ralph Gunn
Ralph Gunn, an elder at BEC, has become a volunteer representative for Zambesi Mission. Prior to his early retirement, Ralph was the Assistant Principal (Academic) at Bell College in Hamilton. Part of his responsibilities was to oversee the College’s Malawi Project. He became aware of the work of Zambesi Mission and made friends with the then Field Director whilst in Malawi with the College. When he retired an opportunity arose to join ZM to help promote God’s work in Malawi and Northern Mozambique. Ralph now has the privilege of telling churches and other groups about the mission and its work. If you would like to hear what God is doing in Malawi please contact Ralph by email at
The Zambesi Evangelical Church came into being back in 1894 as a result of the original Zambesi Industrial Mission’s work in what was then known as the British Protectorate of Nyasaland. For most of its first century ZEC was a rural Church but in recent years it has established a very significant presence in Blantyre, Lilongwe and other townships.
To find out more please visit the Zambesi Mission’s website at,
Iain McPhie
Glasgow City Mission (GCM) is a Christian charity that has been working in the city since 1826 and was the first City Mission in the world! GCM’s work exemplifies the Christian message in action: showing love and serving those in need whilst sharing the Gospel, seeking to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of Glasgow’s homeless and vulnerable individuals.
Iain started working for GCM in December 2007 as the Marketing and Fundraising Manager and his work involves promoting the charity and getting support to finance projects. Iain also volunteers at the city centre project on a Wednesday night and this gives him an insight into the front line of GCM’s work.
If you would like to find out more about the work of GCM please contact Iain at
or on www.glasgowcitymission.com.
Dave Brackenridge, Andrew Gunning and Jillian Reid
Are involved in Scottish Christian Rock Band Royal Foundlings. They take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to schools, churches, youth groups and the festivals of Scotland. The deliver a very strong message through their music which has also seen them invited to many countries throughout the world.
For more info on the band go to www.royalfoundlings.com