Fred Drummond
Fred has been an ordained minister of the Church of Scotland for more than 20 years. He has led both traditional and new churches and has a postgraduate degree in missional leadership and a diploma in pastoral theology. Fred is passionate about storytelling, the power of prayer, the gospel, and unity for extending the kingdom of God. He is an author and writer and has led conferences on new church in various countries. Fred seeks to give focus to the prayer support that is so vital to the work of the Evangelical Alliance.
What did you say?
1 April 2024In the face of this fast-paced, new communication lifestyle, could it be that we are losing the ability to listen? I want to suggest that cultivating listening skills is a necessity for deep relationships – both with God and with one another. To only speak at, or speak to, is to deprive ourselves of the possibility of growth in our relationship with the Lord and with others. Let me give you a few examples. A disillusioned, and uncertain man was walking in the countryside. He reflected as he…
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A tribute to Andy Bathgate
24 October 2023It was with huge sadness that we at Evangelical Alliance Scotland learned of the sudden death of Andy Bathgate. Andy was a wonderful example of a godly man. He was humble, servant-hearted, passionate and prayerful, with a great sense of humour. He loved Jesus, studied and handled scripture with wisdom, and believed wholly in the power of the gospel. Andy was also passionate about evangelical unity. He served as a board member of Evangelical Alliance Scotland for many years and his wisdom and…
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Reflections: The SNP leadership race and the importance of religious freedom in the corridors of government
24 February 2023Originally I wasn’t going to bother. Firstly, because so many Christian commentators and reflectors have already highlighted the important points of the situation. Secondly, so much of the political journalism is so farcical that it is hardly worth the time to comment. However, I felt I should write something. So here are a few quick reflections. I am so grateful for the example of Kate Forbes, who must have known the reaction of some to her faith, but still wanted to serve. It is not easy to…
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Joy comes in the morning
30 September 2022At another time, we prayed for the British royal family in their time of sorrow and mourning, asking that God might strengthen them. Rich or poor, influential or unknown, part of our human existence is that we all face mourning and sorrow. Nobody escapes tears, pain and a deep sense of loss. When I was a parish minister in Scotland, I sometimes had to lead up to 50 funerals in a year. I have visited those who have lost loved ones after a long battle with illness and others who lost someone…
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What kind of follower?
6 January 2022The major point that came across was that it’s not easy to follow Jesus. The challenges are large and many. The benefits of His presence are huge. His grace and love and power are indescribably wonderful. But trying to stay close to Him and live in the radical manner He described is not easy. If you are struggling to follow Jesus, if you sometimes feel like giving up, if you struggle with the pressure to conform to the cultures we live in, you are not alone. As we seek to follow Jesus, we find…
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Wounded leadership series: Waiting on God
8 June 2021However, I have learned the hard way that in church leadership sometimes waiting is more important than moving. God doesn’t always work to our timescale. This can be difficult for the many activists in the church. Have you ever noticed how often the words wait, remain and stay appear in the Bible? Let’s use Isaiah 40:31 as an example: “Those who wait upon the lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not grow…
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Wounded leadership series: Rest
8 June 2021Church and Christian leaders have shared with me that the pandemic has made them realise just how fast they were moving and how many things they were involved in. Coronavirus stripped away much of the activism and exposed their own spiritual poverty. Could it be that many of the plates you have been spinning were never given to you by the Holy Spirit in the first place? That does not mean that they were bad activities, but were they the best thing for you? Many church leaders get into the trap…
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Wounded leadership series: Vulnerability
8 June 2021This season has been hugely challenging. For church leaders, the demands have been constant and complex, leaving many feeling useless and wracked with both frustration and exhaustion. I want to let you know that it’s okay to cry. Your tears are not a sign of weakness; they can be a sign of passion, care and commitment. We follow someone who wept. Jesus wept as grief gripped a family in their desperate sense of sorrow and loss (John 11:35). In the story of Lazarus being raised from the dead,…
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Wounded leadership series: Comparison
8 June 2021Maybe in the back of your mind that is the type of leader you wanted to be. Maybe that’s the image you compare yourself to, the image of a successful, driven spiritual leader. Maybe you make comparisons subconsciously. You look at the apparent list of gifts and successes and you just don’t measure up, especially after the year you have had. Comparing yourself to others is often unhelpful and discouraging. You may compare yourself to someone who appears to be doing worse than you are, which…
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Abba, Father...
28 April 2021By lament I mean an honest, heartfelt conversation with God. This is based on the belief that God is just, faithful and steadfast in His love for us. It is the sharing of who we are and how we feel, believing that something needs an upfront articulation. It is a bringing forth of our perplexity, our lack of understanding, our confusion – sometimes with bitter tears – into the realms of our relationship with the God we trust. However, I sense that it is an area of our spirituality and…
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Church and the new lockdown: Evangelical Alliance Scotland response
8 January 2021Our gathering demonstrates our love for one another and opens a window on the new reality of the kingdom of God. We pray and share sacraments together and we remember the Lord together. The gathering of believers is not just about the growth of our faith but also about spiritual and emotional wellbeing as we unite with friends and come together in a commonality of life and belief. It is family and it is where many people feel recognised and affirmed. For all these reasons and many more the…
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