28 Sep 2026, 17:05SM CommunicationsDunfermline, Fife, Scotland, United Kingdom
Scottish Mission Celebrates 1,000-Member Milestone at Day of Fellowship
The Scottish Mission celebrated a significant milestone at its Day of Fellowship on Saturday, 26 September 2026, marking the growth of its membership beyond 1,000 during a day of worship, testimony, music and fellowship at Hope City Church, Dunfermline.
All 730 available tickets were reserved ahead of the event, reflecting the continuing growth of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Scotland. The contrast with earlier gatherings is striking. In 2012, almost 400 people attended the Mission's Day of Fellowship at Wallace High School in Stirling, when Scottish Mission membership stood at just over 500. Fourteen years later, with membership now exceeding 1,000, this year's gathering has demonstrated the need to think even bigger when planning future Mission-wide events.
Joining members from across Scotland were British Union Conference (BUC) President Dr Kirk Thomas, together with other BUC officers and departmental leaders, who offered their support and encouragement as the Mission continues to grow and develop.
A particularly special moment came as five former Scottish Mission presidents – Bob Rodd, Llew Edwards, Bernie Holford, Paul Tompkins and Jimmy Botha – came together on stage to reflect on the Mission's journey.
Together, the five presidents represented 35 years of Scottish Mission leadership, stretching back to 1991, when Bob Rodd became president following the reconstitution of the Scottish Mission. Sharing memories from their respective periods of leadership, they expressed gratitude for the many people who have served faithfully over the years and reflected on how God has worked in ways they could not always have imagined.
They also recalled the resilience demonstrated by churches and members through the COVID-19 pandemic and the growth that has continued since. The celebration provided an opportunity not only to look back, but also to look ahead as the Scottish Mission continues its journey towards becoming a Conference.
Stories of God's Provision and Transformation
The morning programme also featured powerful testimonies from Laura Kazuwa and Alison Wilson.
Laura recalled the difficult period after her family first relocated to Scotland. With her family struggling financially, there came a night when they thought they might go to bed hungry. Unexpectedly, a social worker arrived at their door with two bags of food – a moment she remembered as a tangible reminder of God's provision.
Alison shared openly about her journey from feeling worthless and living without direction, including experiences of violent relationships, to discovering her identity and worth in Christ. Letting Jesus into her life, she explained, brought a transformation that gave her a new sense of purpose and hope.
Guest speaker Shawn Boonstra delivered an energetic and engaging morning message centred on two questions: "What's the right way to live?" and "What's your greatest need?"
Through Scripture, humour and personal stories, Boonstra challenged listeners to consider the direction of their lives. Recalling a high-school friend who celebrated scoring a goal before realising he had scored for the wrong team, he warned against reaching the end of life only to discover that we have been "playing for the wrong side".
He encouraged members to take a three-day soul challenge: turn off the distractions, spend intentional time with God and ask Him those two fundamental questions. Drawing on the apostle Paul's ambition to please God, Boonstra ultimately brought the questions together into another: Does my life bring a smile to God's face?
Sharing Jesus Authentically
The day's emphasis on purposeful Christian living continued with OneVoice27, encouraging members to find authentic and practical ways of sharing Jesus with the people they encounter in everyday life.
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In the afternoon, Boonstra turned to Acts 14:8–17 and the idea that "God gets there first." Rather than approaching evangelism as though Christians are bringing God into someone's life for the first time, he encouraged members to listen, build genuine relationships and recognise what God may already be doing in the lives of those around them.
"What people need is not a religious know-it-all, but another sinner who knows Jesus Christ," he said.
The afternoon also featured a rich variety of music presented by soloists, choirs and ensembles, reflecting the different ages, cultures and backgrounds represented within the increasingly diverse Adventist community across Scotland.
With membership now beyond 1,000 and the Mission moving towards Conference status, the day marked more than a milestone. It celebrated how far God has led the Mission while pointing firmly towards what comes next: a growing church, looking outward and committed to multiplying its impact across Scotland.
The Scottish Mission celebrated a significant milestone at its Day of Fellowship on Saturday, 26 September 2026, marking the growth of its membership beyond 1,000 during a day of worship, testimony, music and fellowship at Hope City Church, Dunfermline.
All 730 available tickets were reserved ahead of the event, reflecting the continuing growth of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Scotland. The contrast with earlier gatherings is striking. In 2012, almost 400 people attended the Mission's Day of Fellowship at Wallace High School in Stirling, when Scottish Mission membership stood at just over 500. Fourteen years later, with membership now exceeding 1,000, this year's gathering has demonstrated the need to think even bigger when planning future Mission-wide events.
Joining members from across Scotland were British Union Conference (BUC) President Dr Kirk Thomas, together with other BUC officers and departmental leaders, who offered their support and encouragement as the Mission continues to grow and develop.
A particularly special moment came as five former Scottish Mission presidents – Bob Rodd, Llew Edwards, Bernie Holford, Paul Tompkins and Jimmy Botha – came together on stage to reflect on the Mission's journey.
Together, the five presidents represented 35 years of Scottish Mission leadership, stretching back to 1991, when Bob Rodd became president following the reconstitution of the Scottish Mission. Sharing memories from their respective periods of leadership, they expressed gratitude for the many people who have served faithfully over the years and reflected on how God has worked in ways they could not always have imagined.
They also recalled the resilience demonstrated by churches and members through the COVID-19 pandemic and the growth that has continued since. The celebration provided an opportunity not only to look back, but also to look ahead as the Scottish Mission continues its journey towards becoming a Conference.
Stories of God's Provision and Transformation
The morning programme also featured powerful testimonies from Laura Kazuwa and Alison Wilson.
Laura recalled the difficult period after her family first relocated to Scotland. With her family struggling financially, there came a night when they thought they might go to bed hungry. Unexpectedly, a social worker arrived at their door with two bags of food – a moment she remembered as a tangible reminder of God's provision.
Alison shared openly about her journey from feeling worthless and living without direction, including experiences of violent relationships, to discovering her identity and worth in Christ. Letting Jesus into her life, she explained, brought a transformation that gave her a new sense of purpose and hope.
Guest speaker Shawn Boonstra delivered an energetic and engaging morning message centred on two questions: "What's the right way to live?" and "What's your greatest need?"
Through Scripture, humour and personal stories, Boonstra challenged listeners to consider the direction of their lives. Recalling a high-school friend who celebrated scoring a goal before realising he had scored for the wrong team, he warned against reaching the end of life only to discover that we have been "playing for the wrong side".
He encouraged members to take a three-day soul challenge: turn off the distractions, spend intentional time with God and ask Him those two fundamental questions. Drawing on the apostle Paul's ambition to please God, Boonstra ultimately brought the questions together into another: Does my life bring a smile to God's face?
Sharing Jesus Authentically
The day's emphasis on purposeful Christian living continued with OneVoice27, encouraging members to find authentic and practical ways of sharing Jesus with the people they encounter in everyday life.
Content blocked following your privacy preferences
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YouTube – Video playback via YouTube embeds
In the afternoon, Boonstra turned to Acts 14:8–17 and the idea that "God gets there first." Rather than approaching evangelism as though Christians are bringing God into someone's life for the first time, he encouraged members to listen, build genuine relationships and recognise what God may already be doing in the lives of those around them.
"What people need is not a religious know-it-all, but another sinner who knows Jesus Christ," he said.
The afternoon also featured a rich variety of music presented by soloists, choirs and ensembles, reflecting the different ages, cultures and backgrounds represented within the increasingly diverse Adventist community across Scotland.
With membership now beyond 1,000 and the Mission moving towards Conference status, the day marked more than a milestone. It celebrated how far God has led the Mission while pointing firmly towards what comes next: a growing church, looking outward and committed to multiplying its impact across Scotland.
