The phrase “a return to Edinburgh please” is one I have used all my life.

I noticed a few changes at the train station, Dunfermline Town, was now Dunfermline City.

The fare was surprisingly cheap, £8.20!

It seems the government subsidises travel until September. Every day is a “cheap day return.”

Arriving in Edinburgh yesterday, it was very busy, especially on the Royal Mile.

I learned that King Charles and Queen Camilla were at St. Giles Cathedral for the Order of the Thistle Service.

I headed down to the BBC Studios for a Radio interview.

On returning home, I was asked to represent the church at a discussion series for BBC Radio 4, Beyond Belief, to discuss the place and nature of faith in today’s world.

The question to be explored in the programme was about evangelism today.

𝑬𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒎 – “the spreading of the Christian gospel by public preaching or personal witness.”

What does it mean to different people/ traditions/ groups of people of faith?

What is the task for those still committed to spreading the good news face to face, or how has the task changed?

Is it a religious obligation?

What are the techniques favoured in 2024, do they work and what are the practical, moral and spiritual issues they raise?

After presiding over the Belgium Netherlands Mission with Monic for the last 3 years, I’m certainly familiar with “evangelism” or in more familiar lingo, missionary work and preaching the gospel.

Other panel guests located in different UK studios, included a Church of England (Anglican) Minister, a lecturer in Islamic studies and chaired by a journalist/broadcaster who was also an Anglican Vicar.

It was a fascinating discussion.

I very much enjoyed it.

Although, I think I was a little rusty and out of practice and I may have dropped a clanger or two!

To hear more, you’ll have to tune into next week’s “Beyond Belief” episode!

Afterwards, I headed back up the Royal Mile to meet with my good Belgian buddy, David Geens.

We’d worked side by side in Public Affairs/Communications in Europe for many years.

Although we’d met a few times over the last three years whilst in Belgium and the Netherlands, the demands of mission life were such, that we’d never been able to really catch up.

Slowing down to have lunch together, was a real joy.

Another joyful reunion and a wonderful return to Edinburgh!