Thanks to God for His Goodness

(Pastor's Letter November - December 1970)

Explanation - 37 years ago Pastor Seaton, Mrs Seaton and the children returned to Inverness when Pastor Seaton accepted the pastorate of the Reformed Baptist Church, Inverness. What follows below is a letter of thanks to God that appeared in the November-December 1970 edition of the Wicket Gate Magazine. Give thanks with us for the sustained goodness of God to the church and to the work of this "wee" magazine over all these years.

Dear friends,

I trust you will bear with us this month in the "Lateness" of this issue of the Wicket Gate. In fact, we have decided to forego the November issue as such and produce a slightly larger edition to cover both November and December. This way, we shall be able to resume production for the beginning of each month from the New Year onwards, and we would again commend the work of the wee magazine to your prayers.

The reason for the delay, of course, I think most of you will appreciate and understand. Our move back to Inverness and to the Church here has been a time of busy-ness for us. We are, however, beginning to see our way more clearly and, so far, have been greatly encouraged by the blessings that God has been pleased to show us. The actual "foundation" membership of the church stands at only twenty-four, but we have rejoiced in seeing this number mostly doubled and almost trebled at our times of worship. We look to the Lord to bring many more under the sound of His truth and to a knowledge of sins forgiven through Christ our Lord.

The premise that have been made obtainable to us for our services are, to say the least, luxurious; however, we have begun to seek out a "permanent" home where we can best work in a neighbourhood and expand the witness of the church. This, again, we would commend to your prayers and interest. The undertaking is, of course, very great, but we believe the Lord will be with us. At some later date in the Wicket Gate we may feel inclined to give a review of the whole emerging pattern of individual "separated" churches that are beginning to come into existence in Scotland – we have heard of yet another within the past week. At this present time, however, we would simply seek your prayers and interest for them and us at this juncture in our lives.

And now, my dear friends, may we take this opportunity of extending to you the season's greetings. May the Lord of heaven and earth be your portion, and my you be enable, by His matchless grace, to ascribe that "Glory to God in the Highest" and find that "Peace" in your hearts that was promised through His Birth and Endless Life.

Sincerely,
W.J. Seaton

You will find the origins and background of the Reformed Baptist Church at the following web address