One Man’s Journey Into Saving Faith

I had the privilege of being brought up on the island of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides in Scotland in a Christian home where family worship was held morning and evening. I attended church twice every Lord’s day and was fortunate enough to hear some of the greatest Christian men in deep discussion and debate in the family home. My father was totally disabled with rheumatoid arthritis, and often in great pain, which he bore with great fortitude. He was a shining example as a Christian and greatly respected by all.

By the age of sixteen I was similar to the prodigal son, desperately wanting to get away from the Christian restraints of home. The only way I could see open to me was to leave Lewis and join the Army, a career I had always wanted to follow. After much debate and heart searching on the part of my parents they reluctantly allowed me to join the Army as a Boy Soldier.

In 1968 I was posted to the Persian Gulf for nine months and during that time there had been a revival in the Island of Lewis affecting many of my friends. In the village of Callanish most of the young men and many of the women were converted. Christians from all over the Island used to go to house meetings in the village virtually every night of the week.

During my time in the Gulf, I received a birthday card from a close friend. In that card was part of his testimony, ending with the words, “I know that if you were honest with yourself, you would love more than anything in the world to be saved.” I remember weeping bitterly that evening knowing that in my heart of hearts that was my desire. When I came back from the Gulf, we were given six weeks leave which I spent at home in Lewis. During the first four weeks I kept as far away from my former friends as was possible. I could not see how anyone could be a Christian in the army. I met a girl and we began meeting regularly. One evening towards the end of my holiday I had a date with her, but as had been my custom, I would borrow my mother’s car and drive around the town first. Whilst driving in town, my friend who had sent the birthday card, stopped me and asked if I could take himself and some friends to the village of Callanish to a house meeting. I was only too pleased.

Callanish, being only about sixteen miles from Stornoway, that would give me time to return for my date. Five young people filed into my mother’s small Morris Minor. On arrival, the house was full, mainly with young people. I was amazed. The meeting went on past midnight. That experience made a great impression upon me. So much so that when I returned to my unit two days later, I told my friends that I would no longer be going out on the town with them. That was six in the evening, by eight I was out with them. My conscience had been awakened. I no longer felt comfortable, but sadly only rebelled even more for about four months. I was under conviction of sin.

During this time my father’s health deteriorated and I was called home. I was given a few days compassionate leave. On the Lord’s Day evening while my mother was in church, he asked me to read, but little did I realise that he was asking me to read portions that were more relevant to my situation than to his. I was in tears reading but trying desperately not to show it.

I returned to my unit the next day to go straight on exercise. During the exercise every free moment I had I would read the Bible and a Christian book that I had been given. Often weeping over the words I was reading. Halfway through the exercise I was informed by the Padre that my father had passed away.

When I went home to Lewis, worship was held in the bereaved’s home for a number of nights. On my first night home I remember listening to Rev D. Gillies praying and found myself able to agree with all that he was saying. I went upstairs to my own room that evening knowing that the Lord had changed my life. I remember going on my knees and feeling a wonderful peace filling my soul. I recall praying that God would use me for His own glory. I thought that I would have to leave the army but that was not His will for me. He showed me that I was in the place of His appointment.

After coming to Inverness nine years ago, I was elected as an elder in Greyfriars Free Church and also elected onto the committee of the Lord’s Day Observance Society (LDOS). One of the committee suggested that I should give prayerful consideration to the position of Scottish Secretary. I gave it little thought initially. I was very happy doing my work and still had six years service to complete. As time went on I was kept from sleep and it took over my thinking until I began praying in earnest and realised that God was calling me and every argument that I produced was taken away. When I telephoned the Chairman to inform him of my decision he said that he was expecting my call. This was a great encouragement to me.

[This year Iain MacDonald was invited to become the Scottish and Borders representative of the Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Scripture Readers Association (web site www.sasra.org.uk). Iain’s testimony appeared in Ready, the journal of SASRA.]