Colin Ross
Cornerstone Gilmerton | Gilmerton, Scotland
Tell us about your family.
Kat and I have been married for seven years, and we have one incredible daughter, Annie, who is five. As a family, we love trips away to places by the sea (or anywhere warmer than Scotland!), where we can enjoy unhurried and uninterrupted time together. At home, we like to play games with our daughter and to have friends and family round for a meal.
How have you seen God working in your family?
Planting a church alongside Kat and our daughter Annie (5) has been a great blessing. Kat has been used by God not only as my encourager and confidant, but also as someone who has helped shape a culture of gospel care within the church in her role as a Biblical Counsellor Intern. Additionally, her creativity has enabled us to create meaningful ways for people in our community to connect with the gospel.
It has been a real privilege to have Kat by my side and to watch Annie grow in her understanding of the gospel. We are deeply thankful for the loving community God has given us. In hard times, they have prayed with us and supported us through care packages and meals; in good times, they have celebrated with us.
Not only have we seen God bless us with a great community, but as we’ve lived together on mission, we’ve also seen how God has grown us in a deeper appreciation for each other’s gifts.
How have you seen God working in your life?
Every day I gladly experience God’s grace and when I notice it, I want to give God praise but amazingly even when I fail to notice his grace, his heart is so full of grace, that he chooses to allow that grace to continue to pour into my life.
As we begin this church-planting journey, much of it can feel weak and fragile from a human perspective. It’s easy to wonder how God could use something so small and vulnerable to bring blessing to our community. Yet, time and again, God provides encouragement at just the right moment—whether through someone taking a step forward in their faith, a word of thanks from a church member, a community event going better than expected, or countless other small and significant reminders of His faithfulness.
How have you seen God working in your church?
One of the clearest ways God is at work in our church is through the love and care members show to one another and to those who come to worship with us. There are countless examples of people visiting one another, providing meals in times of joy and difficulty, spending time together, and intentionally welcoming newcomers into the community.
One example is our janitor, who had not been attending church. Over time, through mutual care and friendship, he began attending services and is now an integral part of our community life.
Furthermore, our community events have been warmly received and well-attended. During our first summer, we ran a VBS with 20 local children. On the final evening, we hosted a community meal attended by 40 non-Christians, many of whom heard personal testimonies of God’s grace.
What is your church’s mission/vision?
To plant a new and vibrant congregation in Gilmerton that:
Reaches non-Christians and connects them to the gospel.
Nurtures and grows Christians in knowing Jesus.
Has a focus on excellence.
And will become a church that plants churches.
How can we be praying for you?
1. That we would continue to deepen relationships with the community and that these relationships would lead to spiritual renewal.
2. That we would be blessed with some more Christians who would help us on our mission to reach the people of Gilmerton.
3. That in all things we would seek God's glory.
To send Colin a note of encouragement, write to HelloCP@spanishriver.com.