In December we celebrated Barnton’s 25th Anniversary. I wonder if, like me, you were inspired by what Fiona had to share about the original vision of the church. I was particularly struck by the story she told about the McLean family coming to faith and how, 25 years on, we are still enjoying the blessings of that; small decisions with long lasting consequences.

As we look forward to 2012, I have found myself drawn to Deuteronomy 1: 6 – 8, part of Moses’ final address to the people. They had started so well and had left captivity and slavery in Egypt but had still not entered the Promised Land. There was more to come but the people had to do something about it. That something meant change they had grown accustomed to the wilderness and it also meant stepping out in faith again. God said to the people, You have stayed at this mountain long enough. It’s time to break camp and move on … Look I am giving you all this land. Go!” I firmly believe that this will be a year when we step out in faith again as a fellowship and begin to take possession of the land. I am aware that some folk who, like me do not live in the Clermiston area, may have questions about where they fit in. In Deuteronomy 3 we see that the tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh already possessed the land that God had given them to the East of the Jordan (v18); they all had to cross the Jordan and help the other tribes enter into their inheritance. They lived in different areas but were one people, which is just how I see things developing with Barnton. We may live in different areas but we are still one church following God, going where He leads. We actually have a similar picture in Nehemiah where each family worked on the portion of the wall nearest to their house but they all worked and worshipped
together as a community.

Just as the church saw amazing and lasting fruit when they took their first steps of obedience some 25 years ago, I genuinely believe that, as we again prepare to step out in faith, in another 25 years there will be families that will be part of the church as a result of our faithfulness and obedience in this coming year. We have been around this mountain long enough; it’s time to move and to move forward together.