David Greenaway    (Pastor)    

Reared in Northern Ireland I had the privilege of being introduced to the Gospel at a very early age. I was taught to attend all the children’s meetings and services regularly. However, Thursday, 29^th January, 1970 became a very special date in my calendar. That evening, at a Faith Mission children’s meeting, I invited the Lord Jesus Christ to become my Saviour.

A few years later, after having completed my 'A' levels I went to work in the East End of London with a Mission church among such communities as one-parent families, the Asian community, drug addicts, prostitutes and the alcoholic vagrants. During this time in London I backslid. However, the Lord kept His eye upon me.

On returning to Ulster I began attending the local Baptist church. I also joined what has now become the Royal Irish Regiment of the British Army. During this time the Lord graciously brought me back to Himself. I also married Pearl and we enjoyed a glorious year in European Bible Institute, near Paris. On our return I entered the Irish Baptist College and Queen’s University, Belfast. Philip, our son, was also born.

Then, after successfully completing my course, I came to Scotland in 1987, becoming responsible for the Pastorate in Glenburn, Paisley, February 1988. I served the Lord there until 1994 when I became Pastor of the Baptist churches in Girvan and Maybole, Ayrshire.

In 1999 the Lord led me to the Pastorate of Pathhead Baptist Church, and my family and I look to Him as we serve Him along with the congregation there.

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Terry Cole

I can confidently say with the Apostle Paul, "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day".  (2 Timothy 1:12)

This verse became a reality to me in 1960 whilst studying at university. It took some time, however, as I reflected on my early life, before I was conscious of how the Lord had been working in my life, protecting me and directing my footsteps. I can now praise Him for this.

One does not have to live a riotous life to be classed a 'sinner' for Scripture says, "All have sinned". I am a living proof of this. I lived a very sheltered life, mainly ignorant of the 'pleasures of the world'; I was taken regularly to church from a tender age of 10 days; I did not drink or smoke or 'flirt' with girls; drugs and the like were unknown. Yet, I was so conscious that something was wrong; something was missing; I found no fulfilment in the church services of the day.

There followed a number of years when 'my' plans for my life were reversed completely and I found myself lodging as a student in a Christian home, sharing a room with someone who was to be my future brother-in-law. (The Lord has wondrous ways of bringing His purposes to pass!)

Through the faithful witness of my 'room mate' and other Christians in that home, a specific day came when I suddenly realised that I was now in possession of the 'Truth'. The reality of the Cross had dawned upon my soul - I was a sinner and Jesus had become my substitute. He had taken upon Himself my sin and had borne the punishment for my sin.

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Gordon Stewart    (Church Treasurer)

Early in 1980 at the age of 38, there was a change in my life, - I came to know Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. The consequences of having Jesus as the centre of life means that the whole emphasis changes from being totally self-centred to having a perspective of Who God is and what He requires of us, His creation. This does not make Christians perfect but gives a heightened awareness of how our wrong doings offend God.

How did this change come about? At work, a workmate needed first aid for his eye and as the nearest first-aider I attended to him. During our conversation he said he had given his life to Jesus three years before. I somehow knew what he meant having attended a Baptist Church in St. Albans in Hertfordshire where I had been brought up, but I passed no comment.

Quite apart from this conversation at work my two children had asked why we did not go to church, both these incidences prompted me to take the children to the local Baptist church. We were then living in The Deepings in Lincolnshire. My wife showed no interest as she was, - and still is a Roman Catholic, - but did not object (at least at first) to my taking the children to the services. I must say, at this point, there was - nor had there been, - any crisis in my life. My marriage was stable, I was in a reasonable job and in good health, ... God simply chose the moment.

I told the man at work that I had started to attend the local Baptist Church and he challenged me directly as to what I believed. I replied that I believed Jesus rose from the dead and that there was some power there, he then asked why I did not ask Jesus to forgive me and come into my life. That was a 100% commitment and I was not prepared for that. However, a few days later whilst working overtime I put my tools down, left the factory and as I walked alongside the building I asked Jesus to forgive me and take control of my life.

How to describe the moment, … it was like walking to the edge of a high diving board, looking at the water and knowing there was no turning back once leaving the diving board, I ‘dived in’ and have never regretted that moment. There was from then no argument in my mind about God, His Son the Lord Jesus Christ or the work of the Holy Spirit.

Since that time I have found Jesus to be a faithful Guide and Friend, but above all the Sovereign Lord to whom I owe everything, for without Christ we are truly lost both in the sense that our direction is self-centred and our eternity is without hope.

Life as a Christian is not all plain-sailing, my wife found it difficult to cope with the changes in my perspective and actions. I was no longer addicted to cigarettes, nor did the idea of a night down at the Pub appeal to me. The problem has eased as she has accepted the changes though, after these last twenty two years, she still does not fully understand, which brings me to the point that no one can understand fully until they also surrender to Jesus.

I have through work, found myself living in Scotland and now attend Pathhead Baptist Church. It was a wonderful experience to walk into a Church where the Gospel is preached and find myself immediately at home in the company of others that to whom God has given a testimony of Saving Grace.

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Cecil Fleming

Although I didn't realise it at the time I had the privilege of being born to Christian parents. The family comprised of mum and dad, two older brothers and me. We all went to church on Sunday, the same church that I still attend, - Pathhead Baptist. My parents guided the three of us in the right direction, but it was a day school teacher  named Janet Lindsay who was the greatest influence in my life. She introduced me to Scripture Union, a Christian meeting for people of all ages. 

One night the visiting preacher talked about the Second Coming of the Lord, and at the end of his talk he asked the question, "If the Lord came back tonight would He take you with Him or would you be left behind?" The question bothered me and all the way home I tried to convince myself the Lord would not come back that night.

When I arrived home I had supper and went to bed. Normally I fell asleep right away, but that night I couldn't sleep because the question was still on my mind. Eventually to get peace and rest I got up and knelt at the side of my bed and asked the Lord to be my Saviour and forgive me my sins. That was many years ago when I was twelve, now I am old, but being old brings the privilege of looking back over your life and seeing how the Lord has worked and planned and supplied your every need.

Being a Christian has brought great happiness to me, especially in my marriage. I remember taking my wife and family to one of my uncles for a holiday. He agreed with me that it was good to go to church but advised me not to become a member, though I did enjoy the fellowship and meeting with other believers in the Lord. However, the Lord had different ideas for me, and one night as I traveled home from work I was filled with an overwhelming desire to be baptised and come into membership of Pathhead Baptist Church. I had been taken there as a child. I had been married there, and it is the fellowship in which I have sought to serve the Lord.

As I conclude this short testimony I leave with you the words of an old Wayside Pulpit,

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