A New Column in NewLife

It is my privilege to be the new kid on the block. It is a joy to be able to share with you in this new column. My hope is to write on many things and most of all to engage with you the reader – please feel free to send any comments, suggestions or questions to theweeflea@gmail.com

But I thought I would introduce this by answering the question – What is a Scottish Presbyterian minister doing in Australia? I came to Australia in 2019, after 33 years as a minister in Scotland (in both a rural and an urban church), to try out some ideas I had about evangelism. I was based in Sydney and worked for two years with City Bible Forum and then with Sydney Anglicans in their Evangelism and New Churches organisation. I would like to tell you that everything worked out great – but then I would be lying. I found it difficult – and all those great ideas I had didn’t work! As the Scripture says, “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21).

About nine months ago myself and my wife Annabel accepted a call to work with a small and declining Presbyterian church in Newcastle, NSW. Scots Kirk is in a great situation for evangelism, but the church is small, and it was, and is, a real challenge.

But I love being here. It is good to be sharing God’s word on a regular basis and doing evangelism from a local church again. God’s word will not return to him empty. (Isaiah 55:11). It seems as though I am not the kind of person who gets called to big, established churches, but rather to small, struggling ones. My two churches in Scotland were like that – and in the mercy and grace of God he renewed and built them up.

I believe that it is through the local church, whatever size, that the good news of Jesus Christ is proclaimed, and people are brought to a living, lively and saving faith. However, he also encourages us to be all things to all people (1 Corinthians 9:22) and so in this social media and internet age I also use different means of communication. I have written several books – including two for teenagers (ASK and SEEK), a response to Richard Dawkins (the Dawkins Letters) and an introduction to Jesus Christ for modern post-modern people (Magnificent Obsession).

I regularly produce YouTube videos, have a blog (www.theweeflea.com), write articles, do TikTok and engage on Twitter (X). I don’t always get it right – but through these means I have come to make contact with many non-Christians. My nickname is the Wee Flea – something I took after I engaged with Richard Dawkins, and he called myself and Professors John Lennox and Alistair McGrath ‘fleas living off a dogs back’! I have a podcast called Quantum of the Wee Flea (https://theweeflea.podbean.com/) which looks at news, culture, music, sport etc. throughout the world from a Christian perspective. And another on , the ASK podcast, https://theaskproject.podbean.com/ which is more about bible studies. Along with a YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmtou0JDFAwTn3Cof5USY6A (latest YouTube Video below)

The whole reason for doing all of this is to both provide Christians with encouragement that our faith makes sense in todays world, and is ideally suited for it; and also, to encourage non-Christians to think about the claims of Christ. I am not really an expert in anything. In cricketing terms, I am more of an all-rounder than a specialist. But I look forward to sharing with you reflections on the way that the Christian Gospel speaks directly, and indirectly, to our world – in every aspect of its being.

Finally, I leave you with this thought. One of the reasons I came to Australia was that I believe it is in a unique situation – a Western country, with an indigenous minority, on the edge of Asia. It is not inevitable that we have to go the route of decline and decay that the US, UK and Europe seem to be on. I believe that the 21’st century will be the Asian and African eras of the Church. Australia is uniquely placed to benefit from both. May it be that the Lord renews, revives and restores his church in this wonderful country!

See you soon…. (and please do feel free to get in touch)

David.