Over 200 churches from central Scotland were actively involved in the Celebration weekend at Falkirk Stadium with Will Graham, from a total of 295 churches registered.

Before the Celebration, over 1550 took part in the Christian Life & Witness preparation classes held at 16 locations over 3 weeks in April, with 50 first-time commitments and 375 re-dedications and assurance of faith being made at these classes - 425 decisions even before the Celebration took place.

Attendance over the weekend was 9,500, with over 750 responses – 68% first-time decisions and 18% re-dedications plus others. Around 60% of Stadium responses were under 25 years, a trend that reflects what happened when Will was in Peterhead in October 2016 – of the 400 responses, half were under 25 years – there is definitely something stirring in that generation.

The evening sessions were live streamed and viewed in 87 countries, with over 31,500 devices registered as watching, resulting in 285 responses online – a total of 1,460 responses from the Celebration overall.

At the end of June, the meeting of the Falkirk ministers/leaders forum who invited Will and played a key role in the Celebration was ‘buzzing’, with each one present keen to share their highlight or personal story, sharing their joy at God working in so many lives!

Because it’s not just about the numbers. It’s about lives changed and transformed, it’s about family blessing and salvation; it’s about churches encouraged and many Christians having greater confidence in sharing their faith - seeing answers to prayer, seeing their ‘Be an Andrew’ invitations accepted and salvation resulting; and it’s about unity – the strong unity in the Falkirk Leaders Forum of around 25 ministers/pastors meeting monthly, forming friendships, praying for each other and their communities, creating the strong platform which resulted in the invitation to Will being accepted and from which God could operate so effectively; the unity amongst hundreds of counsellors, ushers and others from many churches serving together ‘As One!’ before and during the weekend; the unity of hundreds all around the nation and beyond praying faithfully for the Celebration.

Because of that unity, an outworking of Jesus’ prayer in John 17, God was true to his word (Psalm 133) and did command His blessing on the weekend and poured out His favour – especially with the Police, Council and Stadium authorities who were highly complimentary at the feedback meeting on how everyone had behaved and how tidy the Stadium had been left each day. “You are welcome back anytime,” was their overall view!

We are now in the crucial follow-up period. Please pray:

• that every referral to a local church will be followed up swiftly, so that none may be ‘lost’;
• that every new Christian will be warmly welcomed by their new church family and will be faithfully mentored and discipled;
• for the ongoing protection of the Falkirk leaders’ forum and their families, and that God will continue to use their unity to build His Kingdom in that region.

Alistair Barton, Director, Pray for Scotland