We love a good conference!  And our visit to Edinburgh did not disappoint.

As well as the most gorgeous weather (I think even the locals were surprised!), in a stunning part of the UK, our day at Tron Kirk, Gilmerton and Moredun was very uplifting.

We are immensely grateful to Cammy Mackenzie and his team for hosting us at Tron Kirk and for organising us so well and keeping the refreshments flowing.

As can often be the case, we had a few technical challenges during the set up for the day, but thanks to Catherine’s husband, Dave, these were resolved in time for kick off! 

The conference was attended by 29 people, with one or two having travelled from Bristol and Birmingham, and was primarily focused on helping interested churches to set up a new Celebrate Recovery ministry.  We took them on a journey of what a Celebrate Recovery ministry, that is following the DNA, should look like and, having given an overview, we then held a General Meeting Night to give first hand experience of how that comes together.

We enjoyed great teaching from Cammy on the Step 1 lesson of Denial, before then holding a women’s Open Share Group – with some breaches of the guidelines for good effect! 

We were encouraged that people were asking some very pertinent and, at times, challenging questions as they sought to understand the DNA and ensure they would be starting off on the right footing.  It was also exciting to have the contributions of those who are already running CR, in sharing their own experiences and learning with one another. 

There is nothing better than hearing first hand how God is using CR in different settings and locations to change people’s lives!

During the breaks it was wonderful to see people using the opportunity to network with one another, share experiences as well as buy resources and materials that will help them and their participants in the ministry.

Feedback from those attending has been very positive and encouraging with comments such as: 

“I hoped to find out more about CR, and this expectation was met. Great to see Jesus at the centre of every aspect.”

“Liked the pace – relaxed and practical e.g. demonstrated a meeting”

“Inclusive, helpful, a great opportunity to meet people at different stages”

“The demo Large Group has given me lots of ideas to bring it to life while preserving CR DNA”

Overall, it was an excellent day, with a great atmosphere, and people went away with lots to think about for their next steps.

As we reflect on how God used our time in Edinburgh, we are very excited for the remaining Conferences in 2025.

We hope to see you there!