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Autumn 2010

In the last three years we feel we have been having an Abraham type of experience where the Lord clearly moved us from Lethem in the Scottish Borders, to the Island of Cumbrae where we had the privilege of being with a friend at the end of her life on earth; to the Isle of Bute where we set up home and thought we would be there for a long time. We loved our island experiences and they brought beauty to our souls. We loved walking with all the waterscapes round about! In Abraham’s case he was told to go but not specifically where to. Genesis 12:1 The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.” We can truly say the Lord has led us every step of the way. We now find ourselves back in the city of Edinburgh having miraculously sold our Bute home and purchased a new flat in Edinburgh with easy access to everything!

Being in Edinburgh city centre will help us enormously with getting to and from Europe where we seem to spend a good lot of our time these days in a variety of situations. We are excited about the ministry God has called us to and feel encouraged at the doors that are opening. Already our book, No More Hurting – Life Beyond Sexual Abuse is in four languages, English (already reprinted), Dutch, German and Norwegian. The book is also with a Korean and a Czech Republic publisher – please pray that these languages will go ahead if this is the Lord’s plan.

This last year we were in Greifswald in the former Eastern part of Germany for the first time and it was really moving to see and hear the people’s stories and the heart ache behind them. We are to return there in 2011 again. We were in Europe no less than 14 weeks in 2010 and have four ministry contracts in Norway, the Netherlands and Germany.

Another exciting development is that we have taken on five trainees with a view to encouraging them in their own ministry and to transfer some of the skills we have learned over the years. All of them are younger than we are and it seems the Lord has called us to ‘grow’ others who are able to pray with people who have significant issues and difficulties. One is in Norway, one in USA at present and three in Scotland. One lady is actually our apprentice. However long or short this next season of our ministry is we believe it right to encourage others to work to biblical standards.

Because of the above developments we are now unable to take on any new work in Scotland and can no longer take on individual referrals. Being out of the country so much means we are unable to offer continuity which is integral part of a good prayer/therapeutic relationship.

Newsflash November 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 healing practitioners with a 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 have experienced emotional or relational issues at some time in their lives. 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. Normally the sessions are one and a half hours long.

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 possible to come via Prestwick Airport, or Rhubodoch in North Bute (from Colintraive) for people from the Oban direction. We also pick people up from Rhubodoch at no extra charge if need be.

We have ongoing ministry contracts in Germany and launched the publishing of Gwen’s book in Norway in October 2009. Now the book is in English (first reprint came out in September 2009), Dutch, German and Norwegian as well as on MP3 for the blind. Over the years we have ministered in Holland and we are still on Pastoral Care Schools ministry team, founded by Mrs. Leanne Payne.

Latest news December 2006

With great joy we can truly report that we are in good health, with all cancer treatments behind Gwen and Sandy having had a successful double hernia operation on 31st August 2006. Gwen has had a very recent mammogram which was all clear and showed no sign of cancer at all. It seemed a long year while it was happening but now looking back we can see the Lord's sustaining hand, His faithfulness, presence and love throughout. The promise He gave us from Psalm 118:17 is very precious – ‘I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done.’

We now look to the future and want to share with you what we believe is the way forward for our ministry. We are working again at full strength!

It is our joy to work with individuals/couples who are in need of prayer and counsel. We do this at Lethem in the Scottish Borders where we live and people come from quite a distance. We feel confirmed in doing this prayer counselling and plan to offer the same service in Edinburgh, hopefully from April 2007 for a maximum of eight days per month for the foreseeable future. Opening a work base in Edinburgh will mean we will be able to offer two venues for seeing people, one in the Borders and one in Edinburgh. This is exciting. The cost of counselling is £40 per hour. However we would never wish this to be a barrier to someone getting help. Therefore special arrangements can be made for those who are unwaged, on low incomes or receiving benefits. Also churches, Christian foundations and employers can sometimes contribute to counselling costs where an agreement is reached. This might mean that an organisation or church might agree to pay for so many sessions or to contribute part of the hourly rate. At any given time we have a number of people who are being helped free of charge. We rarely see people on a weekly basis, but usually fortnightly or to suit the person’s needs. This discourages dependence and allows us space for other aspects of our ministry. Normally appointments last for two hours, which is long enough to have plenty to work on between sessions. It also means we can do a fair amount of work in one session.

Our retreat house is now permanently closed. Therefore the main focus of our ministry is counselling and various kinds of consultative work. We are continuing to promote Gwen's book, No more Hurting - life beyond sexual abuse. 2000 copies were sold in the first year!

June 2006

Praise the Lord, my treatments for breast cancer are just about over with. I am just recovering from the last chemotherapy on the 6th June 2006 which was the hardest of them all. The reaction in me was profound because my immune system and bloods were at an all time low due to all the treatments received to date. There is only one more week of having to be careful not to pick up any infections and then my blood will be getting back to normal.

We are keenly aware and grateful that the Lord has delivered me from a potentially much worse situation through routine breast screening. In the first place we did not choose this trauma and in the second place we have got through all the ups and downs of it not having a clue what was really facing us in the early stages. How did we get through it?

By the grace and power of God Excellent medical help and support at every point Spiritual help and prayer from many Christians who stood with us The love of family and friends Life-long changes to diet and nutritional help to enhance the effect of conventional therapies, to decrease side effects and to completely discourage any reoccurrence of cancer in the future For whatever part you played in this battery of support we give you our heartfelt thanks. We are deeply thankful to the Lord for His constant presence, love, support and leading through all the choices to be made and then walking through those choices.

The prognosis is excellent because this cancer was found and treated at a very early stage. Cancer treatments can be hugely successful and we do not intend to live in fear of cancer for the rest of our days! I have been healed through surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, nutritional advice and the Lord worked through all these avenues to bring about this healing. I am to have five years of hormonal treatment but this is routine. There have been wonderful answers to prayer and we have been strengthened in our faith. Cancer changes things and we have taken a long hard look at priorities and count each day as another gift from God (Jeremiah 29:11). No-one ever knows what might happen in any given day and our trust in God has deepened and we hope will continue to deepen.

What now? We have had a lot of time to think and pray about the future, our ministry and what the Lord requires of us. We will need time to gather strength and to prepare for Sandy’s hernia surgery which has been rescheduled for late summer, all being well. We feel strongly that the Lord would have us work again in counselling as soon as our health issues are behind us.

In closing, thank you once again for everything.

Love, Sandy and Gwen

Prayer Letter 2004

Dear friends,

We are so grateful to the Lord for His faithfulness in every area of our lives. We have seen His hand of blessing as we have established our consultative ministry based on our counselling skills. There is such a sense of rightness about the way our ministry has unfolded and there has been no shortage of work. We have recently done four successful Healthy Relationship Seminars in Harrogate, Kilsyth, Selkirk and Perth. It has been good to meet up with old friends as we have travelled.

Quite a number of Christian organisations have requested that we draw alongside and help. It has been a pleasure to work with them and some churches that have sought specific training or input. We still lecture each year at Tilsley College, Motherwell and are involved with Pastoral Care Ministries (PCM) in Europe and America. In March we were with PCM in Germany for a weeklong conference where we worked as prayer counsellors. In July this year we are to be in Chicago for another PCM conference. Another aspect of our ministry, which is growing at this time, is to do with email support and telephone consultancy. We are supporting a number of people in this way. Sandy continues to be involved with Christian Listening (Acorn Christian Foundation) and Gwen with Bethany Christian Trust. We are also regularly asked to take church services, church weekends and ladies weekends. In fact, we are just back from church weekends in Biggar and in the Lake District. There are always new opportunities coming up and filling our diaries fro which we are grateful to the Lord.

Since our last letter, we have decided to use the counselling rooms in our house as a retreat for Christians. People can come for B&B, holiday or for specific times of quiet in the countryside. Details are on the other side of this letter, but do contact us if you know of a group or individuals who might want to come and visit Lethem.

Gwen’s book is now re-edited and goes back to the publisher at about the same time you will receive this prayer letter. We have no idea whatsoever when the book will be published but will keep you informed. We are keen to set up a web site and hope to do this in the near future so that the book can be accessed in that way.

Thank you to those of you who have an ongoing prayer and financial support for our ministry. We are deeply grateful to you and because of your generosity we are able to continue this work for the Lord. If you would like information about how you can support us, please be in touch. Every blessing, Sandy and Gwen.

Prayer Letter 2003

Sandy and Gwen Purdie

Lethem Lodge, Jedburgh

Scotland, TD86PS Tel 44 (0) 1835840684

sandy-gwen@lethem-lodge.co.uk

We are keen to keep you informed of developments and to thank you for all your prayers on our behalf. The first part of our sabbatical has been incredible. There is no doubt that we were more exhausted than we realised, but we have rested and have reflected on past years. Our main thought is deep thankfulness to God for all that He has done. There have been opportunities to be still and listen to God as well as doing ordinary things like days out, baking bread and reading.

Already the Lord has given us the blueprint for our future ministry and we wanted to share it with you. Gwen’s book will be published but not right away. There is to be some revision of the text, which will make the entire book better. No date for publishing has been set but we are confident that it will be on the day the Lord has pre-planned. Much of our time will be given over to working with the editor for as long as that takes.

After sabbatical, we will be Christian Counselling Consultants, developing the consultative aspects from our skill base of counselling that we mentioned in our last letter. Some of the specifics are

A six-week working trip to Phoenix, Arizona from mid-December 2003 to end January 2004, where we will be involved in people work under the umbrella of the Lutheran Evangelical Sisterhood of Mary. They have a large outreach centre there.Some consultancy with Dove Christian Counselling, which Gwen founded.Lectures at the Training for Service course at Tilsley College, GLO, Motherwell.Sandy will be involved in Christian Listening work in Perth and in the Borders.Gwen will become part of the Bethany Christian Trust Governing Council.We are to prepare four weeks of Thought for the Day for Borders Radio.Other consultancy as it unfolds. Already we have speaking dates in a few churches. We are available for conferences. We are also looking at preparing occasional one-day seminars. Plans are in process for a seminar on “Healthy Relationships” in Leeds/Harrogate (28th June 2003), Glasgow and possibly elsewhere. If you would like a “Healthy Relationship” seminar do ask.We have sought the Lord about how we live financially and can confirm that we will continue to live by faith, as has always been the case. By this we mean we are not salaried. Also, our ministry does not receive any funding from the Social Work Dept. or the government. Neither will be charging large consultancy fees! We look to the Lord for all monetary provision to finance our ministry. We know from feedback from our last letter that we were not clear enough on the issue of finance. Sorry!

Also, at this point we would like to mention that Sandy will be 53 years of age in June 2003. It is our intention that we will retire when Sandy reaches 60 and that our formal ministry will come to an end at that time. So, in essence, this means we will be continuing for about 7 years after sabbatical before we both retire together at the same time.

For all your prayers on our behalf, we cannot thank you enough. For those of you who are at present part of God’s provision for us, we are deeply grateful. This allows us to concentrate on our ministry. Should you feel led to support our ministry, we have enclosed details for your information.

We are particularly looking forward to the remainder of our sabbatical. The refreshment will help us to be prepared thoroughly for our ministry thereafter. We are tremendously excited about God’s plans for our future. Thank you SO much for your prayers, ongoing love and support. May the Lord bless you one hundred fold!

With love, In Christ,

Sandy and Gwen (Purdie).

Prayer Letter 2002

Proverbs 19:21 “Many are the plan’s in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails”. Proverbs 20:24 “A man’s steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand his own way?” Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

Dear Prayer Supporter,

The Past – as it has been.

As many of you will know, Gwen has been involved in Christian counselling for over twenty years and prior to that was involved in social work for ten years. Sandy has been in care and counselling work for twelve years, before which he worked as a senior Academic Registrar in higher education. We have been working together now for six years. How awesome the works of God have been in many lives! We could not quantify all that the Lord has done. It has been incredible!

Some of our clients comment: - “ God has moved powerfully in the lives of my wife and myself in the period that we have seen Sandy and Gwen. We have both received considerable healing from past hurts and have been enabled to hear God speak in and through our circumstances. We are both extremely excited about our future together and are so grateful to God for bringing us into the sphere of Sandy and Gwen’s ministry”….“Thank you both SO much for your help earlier this year (and last!), your patient listening and prayers and wise counsel. Things are clearer now with better attitude and more sense of direction, plus I think more willingness to change.”….“Christian counselling was my chance to tell someone about the silent things inside which had caused me so much pain over the years, but coupled with a new hope that I would get healed”….“I’ve spent a lot of my life trying to run it myself and failed! Eventually after the Lord got a hold of me and started to reveal the past (I had blocked it out of my life), I went for Christian counselling and realized that I could get my past sorted out, and I could be a better witness as a Christian, husband and father. Now with God’s help I am on the victory side and I can tell you, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else!”

As you can see, our clients are changed people because they let the Lord do a mighty work in them. We give you our heartfelt thanks for the sacrificial part you have played in our ministry thus far, be it in prayer, or in financial or practical support. Only Heaven will reveal the fruit of your prayers.

The Present – how it is now.

We believe the Lord has told us that it is time to have our first ever, long awaited sabbatical! In response to this, we will continue with our present working arrangements until the end of August 2002. This includes our weekly commitment to run a discipleship group (Redeemed Lives) in Leeds with ten people, which is going really well. From September 1st 2002 we will embark on a sabbatical through to the end of May 2003. We see this sabbatical as a special season in our lives when we will spend much time in prayer, self-development and study. Self-development for us would include a programme of reading appertaining to our call, writing and input. We believe that this will be the beginning of a new chapter in our lives.

The Future – how it will be.

We are excited about all that the Lord has in mind for our future ministry. Gwen’s book “There is LIFE after Abuse” is ON THE WAY! Christian Focus Publications are hopeful that it may be published 8in the autumn of this year. Please pray that it will be published at the right time and that the first run of three thousand copies will sell like hot cakes. We believe that when the book is published it will generate much work e.g. speaking engagements, promotion, and consultancy about the subject of abuse.

As a general rule much of our ministry is a “hidden” work. We think this will also be the case in our ongoing service for the Lord. Having spoken to the Lord about the future it would not surprise us if, after our sabbatical, we were to develop some of the other aspects of our ministry, which have been growing a lot in recent years. This would include consultative work; addressing Christian meetings, lecturing; short courses on specific subjects; seminars; four to six week teaching modules; prayer ministry at Christian healing conferences (For the last six years we have been serving on the European team of Pastoral Care Ministries, whose founder and President is Mrs. Leanne Payne); work arising out of the publishing of Gwen’s book; radio talks; Sandy’s work as a tutor with Christian Listening (Acorn Christian Foundation); writing articles etc.

Around the end of our sabbatical we will let you know what the future shape and form of our future ministry will be. Do pray for us, as the Lord prompts you, as we move on into the next season of our lives.

With grateful thanks, and prayers for you too, Sandy and Gwen (Purdie).

Prayer Letter 2001

Dear Prayer Supporter,

This is the first letter we have typed ourselves. It is a miracle. Gwen does not even use an electric kettle! The Aga does all that for her. Now we are fully computerised and can hardly believe it.

It has to be said that this is only one of a series of miracles that we have seen unfolding before our very eyes. Many of the miracles are in people’s hearts, ours included. To be prayer counsellors, to see the Lord at work, is an utter privilege. We are humbled as we see folks coming in at the end of their tether and going home changed. Only God could do this.

We see Christians and non-Christians; people from the locality and from further afield. The way we work is an appointments system where we assess on a first appointment whether or not we can help. So much of counselling is about relationship. The people who come have to feel they can relate to us as well. We run fully booked and with a waiting list most of the time. For the most part we work together because of the very clear joint call from God to do so. There is no charge made. Should people want to contribute financially, they can do so as the Lord leads. Our ministry is a work of faith, with no external funding from organisations, such as the Social Work Department. This is a Christian work where we are happy to be fully dependent on the Lord, who is our Provider. Pray that the right people will be directed to come for counselling and that the Lord will give us all that we need to minister effectively.

Gwen’s book, ” There is LIFE after Abuse“ is due for publication this year-another miracle! Christian Focus Publications will publish it. It is intended primarily for those who have suffered abuse but would also help people who are in a caring role with people who have been either sexually or emotionally abused. Church leaders may also find it helpful in their pastoral work. Our heart is that it will reach people who have been abused but may not ever seek counselling. Pray that the editing will go smoothly and all the other final processes involved in publishing a book. It is very likely that we will let you know when the book is published so that you can purchase a copy!!

We also do some mission work in Europe with Mrs. Leanne Payne and Rev. Mario Bergner. Please pray for the following: -

July 15-22nd Austria Redeemed Lives Conference.

August 12-18 Oxford, England Pastoral Care Ministries.

October 1-6th Leeds, England Redeemed Lives Training Programme.

November 4-10th Holland. Pastoral Care Ministries.

Please pray that we will be strengthened and helped to do this work.

Apart from counselling individuals and couples, we run a Redeemed Lives Group for people who want Jesus to be Lord in every part of their lives. The next group will be in Leeds, from October 2001 to June 2002. During each of the thirty evenings we worship, have a lecture, and then small group work to pray the issues through together. If you would like further information, do get in touch.

Personally, we are still awed at the wonderful house that the Lord gave us last year. We are finding that it suits us very well, and allows us to work and live very comfortably in the same place. We are situated just one mile from the A68, which makes it convenient for people to find and are surrounded by the most beautiful countryside. We are equidistant between Edinburgh and Newcastle, which means people, can come from north, south, east or west. Most days we try to go for a walk. We feel it is a priority to have a balance in our lives between being and doing. This is also a recurring theme with our clients.

Another theme is the need for people to practice the presence of God, a biblical truth that many people do not apply to their own lives. We just need to be aware of the news these days to see how little attention people pay to the standards God has set for us.

Another big change has taken place in our lives. With the blessing of our church, Selkirk Baptist, we are worshipping locally at Edgerston Parish Church for the foreseeable future. It has a very small congregation, on average about 12 to 14 people weekly.

How can we thank you for all the imaginative ways you find to support us. We all have a part to play in God’s great scheme of things. Thank you for your significant part. We are deeply grateful. We pray for you, that the Lord will bless you one hundredfold.

This comes with our love, Sandy and Gwen Purdie

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