Fraserburgh Community Church

A Summary of FCC's Past History & Present Ministry

[The following article was published in the Elim Pentecostal Church's monthly magazine, 'Direction', in May 2008]

Fraserburgh Community Church - A Light in the Community

Fraserburgh Community Church, located in the rural setting of North East Scotland's beautiful coastline, is seeing a huge impact on the residents of its community. Pauline Passmore, the Senior Pastor's wife, tells the story of a dedicated group of Christians committed to using every means to reach people with God's love.

Fraserburgh is a picturesque fishing town situated on the Aberdeenshire coast. With a population of 12,000 residents, the area boasts some of the most beautiful and unspoiled beaches in Scotland, and is a surfer's paradise. Fraserburgh has a bustling harbour upon which much of the town's industry and economy is based. Like many towns in Britain, Fraserburgh has its share of drug addiction and poverty, and yet, in the midst of a community that has known many challenges stands Fraserburgh Community Church, Elim's most northerly Church in the UK.

A lot has happened in the life of this pioneering and creative church in the last 12 years, since it's opening in 1996. Seven days a week, Fraserburgh Community Church reaches into the heart of its locality, bringing hope and help to over 1000 people regularly impacted by contact with its meetings and ministries.

Power House Kids Club, started by Rev. David Ritchie, Children's and Youth pastor, along with his wife Elizabeth, sees over 200 kids attend every Friday night and alternate Saturday mornings. David, recently installed as Elim's national 'Serious4 Kids' co-ordinator, has seen many children and families lives changed throughout the years as he and his team of 50 workers strive to 'reach in and reach out' to the community.

Power House runs a community shop which is open daily and run by volunteers from the church. It sells anything from clothes, toys, books and the like. Profits are ploughed back into the community to help the vulnerable and needy, in addition to providing sponsorship for children to attend the Scottish Regional Kids Camp, run by David, and the Region's Youth Camp, organised by Senior Pastor and Serious4God Scottish Director, Rev. Neil Passmore.

The Power House Kids Club programme is lively, energetic and fun-filled, bringing the heart of Jesus to the children in a safe, loving environment. Many of the kids who have come into Power House are now leaders and junior leaders who have committed themselves to Christ and are now serving Jesus in ministry in the community.

In autumn 2007, David felt God's leading to start up another Power House in a nearby village, and now an additional team takes the Kids Club theme into a new district. David says, "The success has been phenomenal. This is just the beginning, as my desire is to see teams go into many nearby towns and villages where there is no Pentecostal witness."

Rev. Gavin Chittick, Assistant Pastor at the Church, also has the privilege of taking teams into local schools to lead assemblies, teaching the children Christian values. This has been well received by the children and teachers.

There are many other exciting events that happen during the week. Parents and Toddlers see over 50-60 parents bring their children, Radi8 dance group reaches scores of children and teenagers, Underground youth programme tackles discipleship and life issues facing young people, and Destiny Club caters for those aged fifty and over. In addition, the Wednesday Cafe brings in three hundred people from the town and local schools for soup and toasties, while the Alpha Course, prayer and House groups, Community Kids Sunday School and a Saturday night Youth Club reaching over 70 teenagers adds to the vibrant and passionate desire of the Church to impact lives of all ages and backgrounds in the area.

Neil Passmore, the Church's Senior Pastor, says, "Reaching out into our community is the main priority in our church. We're an incredibly proactive Church, and we try to meet the needs of as many different people as we can though as many different outreaches as possible. Our church motto is, 'A Light in the Community', and we see it as a privilege to minister to the many hundreds of people connected to our Church. "

Every other month on a Saturday morning the Church hold a 'ReachOut' open air presentation in the town centre. It attracts a lot of attention, with involvement Radi8 Dance Group, lead by Miriam Morgan, whose team over the last few years have been privileged to dance at Elim's national youth event, 'The Gathering', Power House Puppets, live music and the gospel presented through illusions. It is a fun-packed hour, bringing a vibrant sense of life and faith to the Saturday morning shoppers.

The most recent activity to be added to the already packed Church programme is a state-of-the-art fitness gym. 'Elevate - raising to a Higher Level', has all the latest and high spec equipment. The venture is run by Church member Phil Dunbar, and a committed team of staff who all underwent an intense training course to qualify as gym instructors. Phil says, "This is my passion, and it is yet another way to reach out to this generation. Our aim is to open the door to the public, develop relationships and to build a bridge between the unsaved community and the church so that God will work in their lives and they will be saved. We want to build the Kingdom of God and extend the church body in a new and exciting way. I am dedicated to the running of this work and feel my ministry is not only to our gym but also to help and inspire other people who feel called to this aspect of evangelism in their own churches."

The gym has over 200 members, and this number is increasing weekly. 75% of its members are unchurched and through this bridge into the community, it has lead to some people joining the Church's 'Alpha Course' and committing themselves to God.

Fraserburgh Community Church is a thriving 'Light in the Community', and God has blessed them with many exciting things that are happening in their Fellowship. They feel so blessed to be given the opportunity to reach out to the people of Fraserburgh.