Welcome to the official web site of Sandy and Gwen Purdie

Sandy and Gwen Purdie are Christian prayer counselors. They have been married for almost eleven years and have worked together since spring 1996. 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 many years of counseling practice.

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...

Latest news June 2008

‘Forget the former things do not dwell on the past.  See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up: do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland’. Isaiah 43 18-19

These verses were made real to us afresh as we prepared this update.

• We will continue to counsel/pray/minister from our Edinburgh base for the long term and not be pulling out of Edinburgh as we had previously thought.  The flat at 21 Morningside Gardens is working out well despite being on the third floor.  There is free parking at the door and in surrounding streets and it is easily accessed from the city bypass.
• Our ministry continues in Holland and Germany with an invitation to speak next year on our book in Norway too.
• Both of us are well and rejoicing.
• Our rented home on the island of Cumbrae is coming to an end in the next few weeks. We have had a marvellous experience of island life.  For the last seven months we shared our home with another Christian lady, Barbara Ann Chase, who was in full time ministry.  Part of the Lord’s commission for us was to serve her as she grew increasingly unwell.  The Lord called her home to Heaven on Saturday the 10 th May 2008.  We had fully intended to remain on Cumbrae and to buy our own house but this is not what the Lord seems to be saying to us…
• Lethem Lodge, our Borders home, remains unsold as we write.  It has been on the market for over a year now and whilst there has been much interest, many viewers and five offers nothing has yet gone through to completion.  Right now three lots of people are interested and we would value prayer that the house will sell soon.
• Should Lethem sell we would still like to consider an island home, but maybe a different island.
• Should Lethem not sell by the time the summer is over we will have to consider taking up residence there once again, although we will continue to work in Edinburgh whatever happens.
• In all of this our trust is fully in our faithful and good Father whose timing is best.
• We remain utterly committed to hearing God’s voice and obeying His will.

New contact details for Sandy and Gwen Purdie in Edinburgh

21 Morningside Gardens, Edinburgh, EH10 5LE  07789681981
From August, 0131 446 0204
Email sandy-gwen@lethem-lodge.co.uk
Website 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... May 27, 2008