The Acts 29 Rural Collective exists to promote, recruit, develop, coach, and resource rural church planting and church planters. To that end, each month we want to highlight a rural planter in our network so you can be praying for and supportive of the vital work they’re doing to bring the good news of Jesus to their small, isolated, or forgotten community.

Hope Church Aviemore begins meeting for public services this week, on Sunday 7th November 2021. This is an exciting stage in their journey of prayer and conviction to see a church planted in this rural town in the Scottish Highlands…

Where Do You Serve?

Hope Church is in Aviemore, Scotland. Aviemore is home to about 3,500 residents. The main industry is tourism, particularly outdoor pursuits (skiing, hiking, mountain biking, climbing, canoeing). Aviemore can swell up to 20,000 people at the height of tourist season.

There’s three main groups in Aviemore. The first group is made up of those who grew up here in low income families, and who now work in hotels, restaurants, etc. They’re often paid low wages and experience some of the social problems associated with poor areas. The second group is comprised of those who have moved here because they love the outdoors. They’re typically more educated and have more wealth. The third and most recent group are those from abroad (mostly Eastern Europe) who’ve come here to work in tourism. They’re lower income, hardworking, cheerful, and well liked in the community. 

What Is Your Church Like?

We have a tiny core team—6 properly committed adults, and about the same number of adults on the fringe. We usually meet from 4:00 pm – 6:15 pm on Sundays. We begin with a meal (some will come straight from work or a hike), then a brief worship service. We’ve not yet launched publicly because as soon as we do, we’ll get lots of tourists dropping in and out. But we invite locals to come and join us. We have one unsaved regular attender already! Our church plant wants our city to know the hope of eternal life that’s ours in Christ!

Our church plant is driven by three key beliefs:

1) The good news—Jesus is the foundation and focus for all we are and do.

2) Growing in love is the purpose of our lives.

3) Everyone needs to hear this good news! 

Our church plant wants our city to know the hope of eternal life that’s ours in Christ!

Our church plant emphasizes four convictions:

1) Hearing: we prioritize hearing from God’s Word.

2) Asking: we believe God does extraordinary things through extraordinary prayer.

3) Togetherness: we see church as a family we belong to, not as an event we go to.

4) Going: we don’t put on lots of programs as Hope Church, but seek to get to know people through prioritizing the life of the wider community. We love Aviemore! 

What Are Your Needs?

Pray for God to send laborers for the harvest. Our team is tiny; we need mature, keen Christians to join us.

Pray for God to send laborers for the harvest. Our team is tiny; we need mature, keen Christians to join us. We have around 20 non-Christians interested in coming to our services or joining a discussion group. Please pray God leads us in working through the gospel together. We also have 10 kids coming to our small services and the non-Christians I mentioned represent another 20 at least! We need space and helpers to love and teach these kids while their parents hear God’s Word. Please pray they’d all love coming to worship the Savior with us!

Click here to learn more about the work of Hope Church in Aviemore. Or follow them on Facebook here.