United Kingdom

Bristol, England

Bristol is an important port city in south western England. It is a large and lively place with major universities and well-developed media, aerospace, and electronics industries.

[Read about how God amazingly led us to the same person two different times in our February 2023 newsletter. It was such a cool experience!]

Bristol has a wonderful Christian history. George Muller’s faith run and funded orphanage was located here. It began in one residential house and expanded to 5 large commercial sized orphan houses in the second half of the 1800s. These buildings housed 2,050 orphans at one time and cared for over 17,000 over their life of service. All this was done through prayer and faith, to God’s glory.

George Whitfield mistered in Bristol with religious societies and doing outdoor meetings. John Wesley and his brother Charles took over this work in 1739. That same year, John Wesley founded his first chapel in Bristol.

Today Bristol looks and feels like any major western city. May Jesus be lifted up and glorified here once again!

• Bristol’s population is nearly ½ a million people. It is the 11^th largest city in the United Kingdom.
• John Cabot, the first known European to land on mainland North America began his journey from Bristol in 1497.
• During the 1700s, Bristol played a very large role in the slave trade.
• We do know one thing about the anonymous and edgy artist Banksy. He is originally from Bristol!
• Bristol hosts Europe’s largest Hot Air Ballon Festival.

Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

Edinburgh is a beautiful, historic city. King James of The King James Bible fame was born to Mary, Queen of Scots in Edinburgh Castle, a huge complex overlooking the city. The United Kingdom is not really known for its culinary prowess, but the food here is quite good. One breakfast, I ordered fresh squeezed apple juice which turned out to be the best apple juice I have ever drunk!

We visited in the winter. The weather is cold and the sun sets around 4 p.m. In such an environment, the people seem subdued, to say the least.

From the first moment that the Lord began to deal with us about Edinburgh, we saw the importance of following His plan and not man’s plan if we are going to be successful in these last days. So many people have such good ideas and thoughts about what the church must do to be successful. But only the churches that emphasize the full truth of God’s Word and humble cooperation with His Holy Spirit will be able to accomplish all that the Lord has planned for Edinburgh and beyond. Let’s heed His call and be faithful to all of His wishes. We will see His highest and best plan in Edinburgh.

• It is the second most populous city in Scotland and the 7th in all of the United Kingdom.
• Edinburgh castle is built on an extinct volcano. All the mountains surrounding the city are actually volcanos!
• Has the nickname of “Athens of the North.”
• Scone was the capital up of Scotland until 1437, then Edinburgh was chosen.
• Church of Scotland is the most prominent religion in Edinburgh and after that Roman Catholic.
• About 37% of the population is not religious.