March update
Hi friends and family
I know it’s been a while since my last newsletter. A lot has been happening over the last few months which has kept me busy but also brought about some exciting changes for me.
Last July I shared with you how our senior pastors Matt & Christy were taking a 5-month sabbatical to the States and I was stepping in to lead the church while they were away. This meant that I wasn’t able to visit many of you who support and pray for me in South Africa in 2025. Thank you so much for your faithfulness throughout this season!
Matt and Christy were due to come back at the beginning of January, but they have needed a few more months in the States so I have continued to lead the church and will do so until the beginning of April.
A new season
For those of you who know me well or who have sat with me when a rugby match is on, you will know that if Scotland is one of the teams playing – my Scottish roots will come out or at least be in turmoil if we are playing South Africa! My dad was Scottish, so Scotland has always held a special place in my heart.
When I came to Europe 10 years ago, I was actually on a 3-month sabbatical and the Lord had placed 2 countries on my heart – France and Scotland. I felt like God told me during that time that France was the next step for me after I brought a missions team from my church in Potchefstroom to Marseille in 2016.
Marseille has been an incredible experience for me these past 9 years, and I have grown so much in cross cultural ministry, leadership and in the French language! The people in the church here have also been lovely and treated me like family.
During this past year though and even leading the church over the past 7 months, I have been feeling a shifting for me. As I have been praying into it, I have felt like Scotland has been growing in my heart. I even did a little scout trip at the beginning of February to go to Glasgow and pray and walk the streets and visit the Every Nation Church there just to see how I felt actually being there.
I must say, even though it’s not sunny Marseille – lots of rain! – I still felt a sense of belonging.
I came back to Marseille and prayed more and processed things with others and I have come to the decision that I will be leaving Marseille in April and going home to South Africa for a much needed month long break and then from mid-May to mid-July I will be raising support to move to Glasgow, Scotland to join the Every Nation Church there.
A highlight for me about this church is that the pastors are dear friends that I started in ministry with way back in Grahamstown - Euan & Romona McCrindle.
My dear friends, Romona and Euan who I have known for over 20 years!
They planted the EN Church in Glasgow almost 4 years ago and it will be a huge joy and privilege to join them and their team later this year.
I know that this news might come as a big surprise to many of you so please reach out if you have questions. I am really looking forward to sitting down with many of you in South Africa and sharing more of this process and journey and all of the things I am looking forward to being a part of in Scotland!
A Promise…
This move to Glasgow is personally significant for me. Glasgow is where my father was born, and it feels like a fulfilment of a promise God gave me regarding my dad many years ago. To be able to preach the gospel and do ministry in this place will be very special.
I visited the house my grandparents owned in Glasgow, where my dad and his sister grew up
Thank You
Thank you so much for your consistently generous partnership, both financially and in prayer. It really means so much to me and I am deeply grateful to be able to do the work of the ministry full time because of your support.
I realise I have not shared much actual ministry news in this letter but I felt this personal update was significant and I wanted to share it before I leave for South Africa at the end of April. I can share ministry stories and photos when I see you in person!
For those of you in SA, please reach out if you want to meet up. I would love to catch up and hear your news as well.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. - Romans 15:13
Sending much love,
Fiona
Every Nation Marseille