Harry & Mary Jane: 6 weeks in Stranraer

Harry and Mary Jane Ward, an elder and his wife from the Shawnee (Kansas) RP Church were with us for 6 weeks from late April through to the end of May. While they were here, they were involved in all aspects of church life. Harry led a weekly Bible study and did some practical work around the church. Mary Jane continued to teach the second Sabbath School class which had been begun when Rita Lyon was with us.

On their final Lord’s Day with us, they were presented with a clock, the background of which is a map of the local area. We are very grateful for their willingness to come and their investment in our lives.

Living between D-Day and VE Day

Today marks 80 years since VE Day. There have been and will be street parties, proclamations, RAF flypasts and more. Eighty years have passed since the moment when, eight days after Adolf Hitler’s suicide, his successor authorised Germany’s surrender. And on this eightieth anniversary, I want to suggest two lessons we might draw from it.  

The first one comes from Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s speech to the House of Commons eighty years ago today. He noted that after the end of WWI, the House ‘did not feel inclined for debate or business, but desired to offer thanks to Almighty God’. Churchill then moved:

‘That this House do now attend at the Church of St. Margaret, Westminster, to give humble and reverent thanks to Almighty God for our deliverance from the threat of German domination’.

Those who lived through those terrible days knew that God had sustained them, and that nothing would be more fitting on the day of victory than to acknowledge their thanks to him. If that is not our own first reaction eighty years on, I would suggest that it is not a change for the better.

There is however another lesson that we can take, or at least an illustration that we can draw, from VE Day. And that is that it came almost a year after D-Day. D-Day was the military name given to the Allied invasion of France on 6 June 1944. It was the largest seaborne invasion in history. The operation began the liberation of France, and the rest of Western Europe, and laid the foundations of the Allied victory on the Western Front.

And yet as incredible as that victory was, it would be almost another year until VE Day. For eleven months, the fighting would continue, and many more would die. D-Day guaranteed that VE Day would eventually happen. But much conflict lay in between.

Christians have often used this as an illustration of the time in which we are now living. Jesus’ death on the cross was D-Day. On it, he won a decisive victory over Satan, sin and death.

And yet the war is not over. One day, VE Day will dawn and Jesus will return. But until that day, the battles will continue. Suffering will still be a reality. We will still face temptation. And yet in the midst of that, it helps to know that VE Day is coming. In fact, D-Day guarantees that VE Day will happen. Jesus’ victory on the cross guarantees that one day he will return.

This also helps us respond when people use the reality of suffering to try and disprove God’s existence. For one thing, the Bible is clear that suffering was not part of the world as God originally made it. Suffering and death feel so wrong to us because they weren’t part of God’s original plan.

On top of that, the D-Day/VE Day illustration helps answer the question: ‘Why doesn’t God DO something about suffering?’ The answer is that he has. He sent his Son to earth. Jesus’ miracles are also described in the Bible as ‘signs’. They’re not things that we’re meant to try and recreate, as some well-meaning Christians suppose. Rather, they’re signs pointing to the world as it once was – and one day will be again. They’re little glimpses of the ‘new heavens and new earth’ (2 Peter 3:13) breaking into this broken world.

And so as we mark the eightieth anniversary of VE Day today. We’re thankful for those who fought – many of whom sacrificed their lives. We honour those remaining veterans. But may we not forget to give, as Churchill put it, ‘humble and reverent thanks to Almighty God’ for the deliverance granted then, and the peace we enjoy today.

For those interested in finding out more about Christianity, the gap between D-Day and VE Day helps explain how Christians look at the world today. Suffering and temptation are an ongoing reality. Battles will be lost. And yet ultimate victory is guaranteed because of what happened at the cross.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, there was much optimism about human progress. This was shattered by two world wars. It would be hard to read about those conflicts and to deny that ‘good’ and ‘evil’ are objective realities. And yet according to the Bible, ‘no-one is good but God alone’. So how can we be ready for Jesus’ return on the ultimate VE Day? Only by responding rightly to D-Day, and the victory won for us then.

Published in the Stranraer & Wigtownshire Free Press, 8th May 2025

A Reflection on Three Months in Stranraer

Bob and Rita Lyon have recently returned home to Kansas after being with us for three months (February to April). Below are some of Bob’s reflections on their time here. We hope it will be useful for others considering doing something similar, and also provide a window into congregational life.

When we arrived in Stranraer, Scotland, we came with no specific expectations—only a desire to settle in, become part of the congregation, and help wherever we could. Our intention was simple: to quietly support the church by bolstering its numbers, contributing where needed, offering encouragement, and not to be a burden.

From the very beginning, we were warmly welcomed, accepted, and loved by the congregation. It was a joy to find how easily relationships formed with so many individuals. The church felt like home far quicker than we imagined. In joining the daily rhythms of this faithful body, we quickly saw the depth of commitment and effort poured in by the two elder families, the Steeles and the Frasers. Their leadership carries the full weight of responsibility for the congregation, and their dedication is tireless, though it often stretches them thin. If in any small way we were able to ease that burden—through helping with child care, offering friendship, or simply being present—we are deeply thankful for the opportunity.

The church is made up of a mix of individuals, many of whom are single and elderly. It was clear that visits, invitations, and personal attention meant a great deal to them. Small gestures of care seemed to go a long way, and we were blessed in return with rich conversations and shared moments of faith.

Throughout our time there, we were entrusted with a variety of responsibilities. We led adult Bible studies and children’s Sabbath School classes, participated in Bible distributions, visited schools, and assisted with infrastructure projects. We helped with congregational meals, and intentionally built relationships within the community—whether with local shopkeepers or individuals who had once been connected to the church. In these simple tasks, we saw the Lord open doors to extend the visibility and reach of the church within Stranraer.

We also had the privilege of coordinating two others who joined us for a 10-day short-term trip. With their help, we completed a number of physical projects on the church building and parsonage—an encouraging example of how even short visits can leave a lasting impact when guided by a shared vision.

Though we came to serve, we were the ones who were blessed—again and again. We had no particular gifts or expertise to offer, only a willingness to be present and available. And yet, God multiplied those small efforts. The experience deepened our walk with the Lord and taught us much about the beauty of quiet faithfulness, perseverance, and love lived out in community.

Spending three months in Stranraer felt like a good amount of time to truly integrate into the life of the church and to develop meaningful relationships. It was a joy and a privilege to work alongside the Steeles and Frasers, to share in their labor, and to witness the fruit of their long-term commitment.

We are deeply grateful for the time we were able to spend with the church in Stranraer. It was a wonderful season—one marked by service, growth, and genuine fellowship. We leave thankful, encouraged, and hopeful for the ongoing ministry in that part of Scotland.

Milestone Birthdays Celebrated!

Members and friends of the Reformed Presbyterian Church recently celebrated three significant birthdays: a 70th, 80th and 90th! A lunch was held at the Bay House on Saturday 5th April to celebrate these significant milestones reached by Bob Lyon, Robert Dabner, and Margaret Clark. Bob, from Kansas, but in Stranraer for three months along with his wife Rita, reached the age of ‘threescore and ten’ in March. Robert completed his eighth decade in January, and Margaret, turned 90 at the end of December. The congregation’s minister, Rev. Stephen Steele, spoke of his gratitude for each of them. The memorable lunch ended with the cutting of a cake and the viewing of some old pictures that Robert had digitised for the occasion.

Published in the Stranraer & Wigtownshire Free Press, 17 April 2025

Kansas Mission Team

From 28th February to 10th March we hosted a ‘Kansas Mission Team’. Bob and Rita, already with us for 3 months, were joined by a man from each of the two Kansas congregations Stephen where Stephen had spoken during the summer: Jim (Winchester) and Paul (Shawnee).

On their first Saturday with us, the team helped organise an American style men’s breakfast, before starting into painting around the church building, which would form the bulk of their work for the week.

The team participated in the various aspects of church life during the week: the monthly church lunch on the Lord’s Day, the Monday evening Bible Study and our Wednesday Bible Study and Drop In.

On the Tuesday evening, they got to experience a Stranraer FC match with some of the congregation.

On the Thursday, they helped us with our World Book Day outreach - giving out free Bibles and gospels in the town centre. 48 Bibles and around 20 gospels were given out, and some good conversations were had.

On their second Saturday, we took the team to see Covenanter martyr sites at Wigtown and Glentrool.

On each of their two Lord’s Day evenings with us, a team member shared their testimony over supper after evening worship.

We are grateful for their work and their partnership in the gospel!