Free Church of Scotland Missions in Galilee

S

Sam Jer

Puritan Board Sophomore
I have heard scattered references to missions of the Free Church of Scotland in Tiberias and perhaps other locations (they seemed to have purchased the properties of the English missionaries in Safed), as well as something at some point relating to the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland being in the region. It would seem a Wee Free named M'Chayne was involved at some point. I could not by googling find information, though, on any Scottish missions in Israel except for those of the official Church of Scotland.

Does anyone here know something about these Free Church Missions? What happened to them, as it seems they have lost whatever presence they may have had before?
 
This isn't my area of expertise but there was certainly great interest in Jewish evangelism in the Church of Scotland in the 19th century, and I think Robert Murray M'Cheyne was known as a strong advocate (though he died right before the Disruption). Could that be the "McChayne" you have heard about?

Much of the missions work was in Central Europe (I seem to recall a work in Hungary), as that is where many Jews lived at the time. I would imagine that the Free Church of Scotland would have maintained that interest and picked up some of that work. The Free Presbyterians don't come along until the end of the 19th Century, so I don't know where they would fit. This particular missions emphasis was often linked with Postmillennialism, anticipating an ingathering of the Jews in the last days. Others can probably fill in more of the details. When I was in the UK in the 1980's and 90's, the mission organization "Christian Witness to Israel" was led by a Free Church Minister, John Ross.
 
iainduguid said:
This isn't my area of expertise but there was certainly great interest in Jewish evangelism in the Church of Scotland in the 19th century, and I think Robert Murray M'Cheyne was known as a strong advocate (though he died right before the Disruption). Could that be the "McChayne" you have heard about?
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That's him, yes. It's the guy behind the bible reading plan, no?

iainduguid said:
Much of the missions work was in Central Europe (I seem to recall a work in Hungary), as that is where many Jews lived at the time. I would imagine that the Free Church of Scotland would have maintained that interest and picked up some of that work. The Free Presbyterians don't come along until the end of the 19th Century, so I don't know where they would fit.
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In 1842 when the Anglo-Prussian Bishopric was established they built a church which was "the first Protestant Church in the Middle East" (now the mission had a chapell since the 1820s but I guess that counts as part of it). Islamic law, which forbids the building of new churches, was the law of the land and only in the 1840s was the tyranny of the Turks weak enough to get passed that (and even then by an amazing collection of providential "coincidences"). So late 19th century is a perfectly reasonable date for Presbyterian missions.

iainduguid said:
This particular missions emphasis was often linked with Postmillennialism, anticipating an ingathering of the Jews in the last days. Others can probably fill in more of the details. When I was in the UK in the 1980's and 90's, the mission organization "Christian Witness to Israel" was led by a Free Church Minister, John Ross.
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That makes sense. The Anglican mission was also planted on Postmillenial grounds.
 
John Ross wrote a book on the nineteenth century Scottish missions to the Jews, Time for Favour (Tentmaker, 2012) (here, eg). It was a big thing in the early Free Church (see some of their writings here, 'The Sea of Galilee Mission'). The Free Presbyterians have also maintained a huge interest in evangelising Jews. There have been FP missionaries to the Jews on and off over the years, as well as people continuing to give financially. There is a strong feeling of affinity with and affection towards the Jews. At a CWI talk some years ago the speaker described it as wanting to give back what was originally theirs - Gentile believers are effectively house-sitting until the original owners come back.
 
CathH said:
John Ross wrote a book on the nineteenth century Scottish missions to the Jews, Time for Favour (Tentmaker, 2012) (here, eg). It was a big thing in the early Free Church (see some of their writings here, 'The Sea of Galilee Mission'). The Free Presbyterians have also maintained a huge interest in evangelising Jews. There have been FP missionaries to the Jews on and off over the years, as well as people continuing to give financially. There is a strong feeling of affinity with and affection towards the Jews. At a CWI talk some years ago the speaker described it as wanting to give back what was originally theirs - Gentile believers are effectively house-sitting until the original owners come back.
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What was the fate of the wee-free works in Galilea? It isn't here today so it must have been either forced out in 1914 or 1948 or faded away somehow.
 
I don't know, I'm afraid. As a guess, maybe it morphed into Christian Witness to Israel, which is now merged into International Mission to Jewish People (https://www.imjp.org/) but that's pure guesswork. Perhaps someone else on the board would know.

(Just as an aside, it's preferable to call them the Free Church, 'Wee Free' is a nickname which doesn't tend to come across as respectful.)
 
CathH said:
I don't know, I'm afraid. As a guess, maybe it morphed into Christian Witness to Israel, which is now merged into International Mission to Jewish People (https://www.imjp.org/) but that's pure guesswork. Perhaps someone else on the board would know.

(Just as an aside, it's preferable to call them the Free Church, 'Wee Free' is a nickname which doesn't tend to come across as respectful.)
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Yea International Mission To Jewish People:

International Mission to the Jews – Free Church of Scotland

Supporting Global MissionInternational Mission to Jewish People UK & Worldwide Global Mission Cambodia Greece India Latin America Nepal Poland Serbia South Africa Turkey International Mission to Jewish People International Mission to Jewish People (formerly Christian Witness to Israel)...
freechurch.org freechurch.org
 
CathH said:
(Just as an aside, it's preferable to call them the Free Church, 'Wee Free' is a nickname which doesn't tend to come across as respectful.)
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Oh, I didn't know. This is te first time I hear as much as a hint that the term is problematic. I have a lot of respect to the free-churches
 
Can an admin change the name of the thread to "Free Church Missions in Galilee"? (and correct the spelling of Galilee while wer'e at it)
 
CathH said:
John Ross wrote a book on the nineteenth century Scottish missions to the Jews, Time for Favour (Tentmaker, 2012) (here, eg). It was a big thing in the early Free Church (see some of their writings here, 'The Sea of Galilee Mission'). The Free Presbyterians have also maintained a huge interest in evangelising Jews. There have been FP missionaries to the Jews on and off over the years, as well as people continuing to give financially. There is a strong feeling of affinity with and affection towards the Jews. At a CWI talk some years ago the speaker described it as wanting to give back what was originally theirs - Gentile believers are effectively house-sitting until the original owners come back.
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This book, which was recommended to me in the past week or so by someone else in another context, is currently out of print, but John Ross tells me that "a second, revised and enlarged edition is coming out mid-year, published by CFP."
 
PeterR said:
This book, which was recommended to me in the past week or so by someone else in another context, is currently out of print, but John Ross tells me that "a second, revised and enlarged edition is coming out mid-year, published by CFP."
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Who are CFP?
 
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