Welcome to the official web site of Sandy and Gwen Purdie

Sandy and Gwen Purdie are Christian consultants with a healing ministry that has spanned many years. They are mainstream Christians with a real heart for people. They view themselves as ordinary people with a strong belief in an extraordinary God. People who are broken and hurting can be mended – this is the hallmark of their ministry which includes a variety of skills and experience acquired over years of listening to and praying with numerous people.

Sandy Purdie is a Scot who was born and brought up in Edinburgh. He became a committed Christian in 1972 which refocused his life. After pursuing a career in higher education Sandy felt a real call from God to help the ‘poor and needy’. Initially Sandy worked with Aids sufferers and in addiction before working with his wife in the field of Christian counseling more...

Gwen Purdie (formerly McDowell) was born and raised in Scotland. Her life changed dramatically when she became a Christian and this took her into professional social work, desiring to see people made whole. After ten years as a specialist with adolescents and alcoholics, Gwen was one of the first pioneers in Christian counseling in Scotland, founding Dove Christian Counseling It was as though Gwen heard the deep cry of people’s hearts to be set free from emotional pain and the very real symptoms that come from inner turmoil more...

Newsflash June 2009

We felt we should update you with changes we have made within our ministry in the last few months.

Early in the new millennium we changed our ministry name to Lethem Christian Consultancy as the emphasis of our work was already changing at that time.  We felt counselling was no longer a term that best described our ministry.  Today we increasingly feel the same way.  We are Christian consultants with a healing ministry that offers careful listening to a person or a couple along with Christian healing prayer if the person so chooses.  Most people who come to see us experience emotional or relational issues.  We could be called emotional doctors or doctors of the soul as we have specialised over the years with quite complex issues as they have been presented to us. It is our joy to serve people in this way. Indeed we know the Lord has called us to do so.  We see all sorts of people with all kinds of issues and faith or no faith. 

We have two work bases, one in Edinburgh on the east coast and one on the Isle of Bute in the west of Scotland.  Edinburgh is accessible by car, plane, train and bus.

The Isle of Bute is an easy train or bus ride from Glasgow (Central Station for trains) to Wemyss Bay, where the ferry leaves every three quarters of an hour for Rothesay Pier on Bute where we collect people by car.  It is also possible to come via Prestwick Airport, or Rhubodoch in North Bute (from Colintraive) for people from the Oban direction.  We pick people up from Rhubodoch at no extra charge.

Normally the sessions are one and a half hours long.

Contact details for Sandy and Gwen Purdie

21 Morningside Gardens
Edinburgh
Scotland
EH10 5LE
Tel 0131 446 0204 (Edinburgh)

Rothesay
Isle of Bute
Scotland
Tel 01700 502 694 (Isle of Bute)

Mobile 07789 68 1981
Email sandy-gwen@lethem-lodge.co.uk
Web www.lethem-lodge.co.uk

Life-changing book No more Hurting – life beyond sexual abuse
Christian Focus Publications ISBN 185792-679 X

Gwen’s book was published in November 2004. After working with sexually abused people for thirty years, Gwen felt motivated to write this book to reach people who may have had an abusive experience but may be short of hope in getting some of the symptoms sorted in his or her life. Her goal is to break the silence that surrounds sexual abuse, to challenge the denial and to help those who have been hurt in this way to give voice to their pain and be relieved of it. Gwen’s book is readable, affordable and accessible, priced at £7.99.

The beginning of the book attempts to blow a few myths about sexual abuse by defining it and looking at its effects, the difficult issues of denial, suppression and regression – all survival techniques in coping with abuse.  Chapter three launches into the catalogue of pain that can be experienced as a result of being sexually abused. The book then changes gear as it looks into how people can move on through the other side of abuse and have a quality of life that the media tends not to talk about!  Rebuilding trust both vertically and horizontally with God are challenges that are explored in detail along with how to mend damaged sexuality.

Above all else Gwen’s desire is to reach wounded people with tangible hope.  Life can get better and there is healing after sexual abuse even when it has been so devastating. That’s why the book has quite a lot of actual stories of people who have bravely walked on the road to healing and well-being.
The last few lines of No more Hurting reads ‘God reaches down and takes hold of the person (male or female) with never-ending love and compassion.  He has a tailor-made healing programme to suit every individual.  He gathers all the tears of pain and with compassion and love turns them into pure drops of gold.’

No more Hurting – life beyond sexual abuse has brought hope and encouragement to many.  It is also clear that the book can be applied to any kind of brokenness and the principles of healing which it contains are universal.  The book can be purchased via the Internet or in any good booksellers.  It has helped people in Europe, Greenland, Siberia and the USA.  Sandy and Gwen use the book when they are counseling if appropriate more... 

Site last updated... June 9, 2009