[Ruairidh MacIlleathain] Chaidh mise a thogail ann an Glaschu, ann an Ibrox, agus bha sinn a’ dol dhan Eaglais Shaoir ann am Baile a’ Ghobhainn agus tha cuimhneachain gu math cùbhraidh agam air an eaglais ann an sin. Bha deagh theagaisg againn. Tha cuimhne agam cuideachd air a’ chiad dùsgadh spioradail a bh’ agam. B’ anns an eaglais a thachair e. Dheàlraich solas a-staigh gu mo chridhe agus chunnaic mi cho soilleir ’s a ghabhas an dèidh na beatha seo gun robh sgaradh a’ dol a bhith ann.
[Ruairidh MacIlleathain] Dh’fhàg mi an sgoil agus chaidh mi dhan oilthigh agus rinn mi Beurla ’s psychology ’s feallsanachd mhoralta. Thòisich mi a’ smaoineachadh an uair sin uill carson a tha mise a’ creidsinn nan rudan a tha mise a’ creidsinn? An e dìreach tachartas a bh’ ann gun robh mise air mo bhreith a-staigh gu teaghlach a bha a’ creidsinn ? Bha iad a’ dol dhan eaglais agus an Eaglais Shaor. Nan robh mise air a bhith air mo bhreith ann an Afraga no Ameireaga cò bhiodh annam? Bha mi a’ sireadh. Agus an uair sin thachair mi ri mo bhean agus chaidh ise iompachadh agus an uair sin chaidh mi gu Cnoc Iòrdain ’s chaidh mo bhean ’s mi fhìn a dh’obair ann an Tiriodh. Bha dà eaglais ann an Tiriodh, an Eaglais Bhaisteach agus Eaglais Stèidhichte. A’ chiad turas a chaidh sinn dhan Eaglais Bhaisteach às dèidh dhuinn gluasad a Thiriodh san Iuchar dh’ainmich am ministear baisteadh. Niste, bha mi air a bhith a’ smaoineachadh mu dheidhinn ’s tha cuimhne agam nuair a bha mi air mo bhaisteadh nuair a bha mi beag oir bha mi trì bliadhna a dh’aois. Bha mi riamh a’ smaoineachadh carson a chaidh sin a dhèanamh orm ’s dè a’ chiall a bh’ aige? Agus uill dh’ainmich am ministear, you know, mas e Crìosdaidh a th’ annad bu chòir dhut a bhith air do bhaisteadh agus tha e soilleir bho na sgriobtaran gum feumadh tu a bhith air do bhaisteadh ma bha thu ag aideachadh Crìosd. Agus chaidh mise suas agus bhruidhinn mi ris – “bu toigh leam a bhith air mo bhaisteadh” - agus thuirt mo bhean an aon rud agus bha sinn a’ smaoineachadh gum biodh baptistry aca, gum biodh e san eaglais agus bha sin ceart gu leòr ach thuirt e “uill tha sinn a’ baisteadh anns an abhainn faisg air an taigh agad” agus thuirt mi “ò uill glè mhath”. So thachair sin. Thàinig sluagh mòr a-mach ’s rinn sinn, bha sin math.
[Ruairidh MacIlleathain] Tha e cunnartach a bhith a’ rannsachadh. Uabhasach cunnartach. Dè tha ceart? Dè tha ceàrr? Ach ma tha thu airson gluasad air adhart san Fhìrinn agus barrachd a thuigsinn tha e a’ dol a bhith goirt, agus tha e goirt a bhith a’ sireadh na Fìrinn. Ach an trioblaid a th’ ann, dh’fhaodadh tu a bhith a’ dèanamh rudan ’s tu a’ smaoineachadh gu bheil e ceart agus tha e ceàrr. Tha sinn cho beag-tuigsinn.
[Ruairidh MacIlleathain] Fhuair mi cothrom a dhol a Ghlaschu agus thòisich mi a’ dol dhan Talla Shoisgeulach an uair sin agus chòrd sin rium. Bha mi a’ faireachdainn gun robh iad a’ feuchainn ris na sgriobtaran a choileanadh agus a bhith cho faisg agus ’s urrainn. Bha rud no dhà ann cuideachd nach robh mi a’ tuigsinn. Chanainn ri daoine “carson nach eil sibh a’ seinn nan salm?”. Bha iad caran an-fhoiseil mu dheidhinn agus ... ach airson rudan eile bha farsaingeachd ann a thaobh, mar a bha mise ga fhaicinn, a thaobh nan sgriobtaran ’s chòrd e rium a bhith ann.
[Ruairidh MacIlleathain] Chan eil ’s dòcha aon eaglais ann a tha “ceart” mar sin. Tha pìosan den Fhìrinn aig a h-uile h-eaglais. ’S dòcha gu bheil barrachd aig feadhainn na th’ aig feadhainn eile agus an uair sin nuair a tha thu a’ cur a-staigh dhan mhix, mar gum biodh, càirdeas, comann, an seòrsa dhaoine ris a bheil thu a’ coinneachadh. Tha e uabhasach doirbh uaireannan obrachadh a-mach càite am bu chòir dhut a bhith.
[Ruairidh MacIlleathain] Thàinig sinn a Steòrnabhagh. Thàinig mi ann an seo a chionn ’s gun robh mi a’ creidsinn gun robh an Tighearna gar stiùireadh. Uill tha cùisean an-dràsta, tha mo bhean ’s mi fhìn dìreach a’ coinneachadh aig an taigh agus bidh sinn a’ seinn nan salm ’s bidh sinn a’ leughadh a-mach às a’ Bhìoball ’s bidh mi fhìn a’ toirt teachdaireachd seachad agus bidh sinn a’ briseadh arain. Tha mi a’ smaoineachadh gur e sin, rud a tha air iarraidh oirnn mar Chrìosdaidhean a bhith a’ cuimhneachadh air bàs Chrìosd. Chan eil cothrom agam coinneachadh ann an eaglais an-dràsta agus tha mi an dòchas gun atharraich sin agus gum faigh sinn comann còmhla ri Crìosdaidhean eile.
[Ruairidh MacIlleathain] Tha Dia a’ gealltainn far a bheil dithis no triùir a’ cruinneachadh Na ainm gum bi Esan nam measg. Tha E a’ toirt dùbhlan dhut a bhith a’ cur do chuideam air Dia agus gun a bhith a’ coimhead ri duine eile airson cuideachadh agus aig deireadh an latha ma tha do neart no do shlàinte ann an daoine, brisidh sin agus tha mi glè chinnteach gu bheil Dia ag iarraidh air a h-uile Crìosdaidh an leasan sin ionnsachadh – gum feum sinn ar dòchas agus ar creideamh a chur Annsan agus chan ann ann an daoine. Ged a tha sinn a’ coinneachadh air an talamh tha ar n-adhradh a’ dol suas gu h-àrd agus chan eil e gu diofar càite am bi thu a’ coinneachadh. Chan fheum thu a bhith a’ coinneachadh ann an cathedral no cathair-eaglais no togalach mòr, brèagha. Rùm. Seòmar. Sin, tha tòrr air a bhith a’ coinneachadh ann an àiteachan gu math iongantach ach tha iad ag ràdh gun robh Dia còmhla riutha so ann an dòigh chan eil e gu diofar càite am bi thu a’ coinneachadh cho fad ’s gum bi thu a’ coinneachadh ann an ainm an Tighearna.
[Ruairidh MacIlleathain] Tha creideamh cudromach agus tha mi taingeil gu bheil, gun robh rudeigin agam ri thoirt seachad dha mo theaghlach, mar a thug mo theaghlach fhìn rudeigin seachad dhòmhsa. ’S e dìleab a th’ ann.
Chaidh am prògram seo, Alleluia, a chraoladh an toiseach ann an 2009.
[Ruairidh MacLean] I was brought up in Glasgow, in Ibrox, and we went to the Free Church in Govan and I have very pleasant memories of that church. We had good teaching. I also remember my first spiritual awaking. It was in the church that it happened. A light shone into my heart and I saw as clearly as could be that after this life there was going to be a seperation.
[Ruairidh MacLean] I left school and I went to university and I did English and psychology and moral philosophy. I began thinking at that time well why do I believe the things that I believe? Was it just an occurance that I was born into a family who believed? They went to church, to the Free Church. If I was born in Africa or America who would I be? I was searching. And then I met my wife and she was converted and then I went to Jordonhill and my wife and myself went to work in Tiree. There were two in Tiree, the Baptist Church and the Established Church (Church of Scotland). The first time that we went to the Baptish Church after we moved to Tiree in July the minister mentioned baptism. Now, I had been thinking about it and I remember when I was baptised when I was wee as I was three years old. I always thought why was that done to me and what meaning did it have? And well the minister mentioned, you know, if you are a Christian you ought to be baptised and it is clear from the scriptures that you must be baptised if you accept Christ. And I went up and I spoke with him – “I would like to be baptised” – and my wife said the same thing and we were thinking that they would have a baptistry, that it would be in the church and that was alright but he said “well we baptise in the river near your house” and I said “ oh well very good”. So that happened. A large crowd came out and we did, that was good.
[Ruairidh MacLean] It is dangerous to research. Very dangerous. What is right? What is wrong? But if you want to move forward with the Gospel and understand more it is going to be painful, and it is painful to search the Gospel. But the problem is, you could be doing things and thinking that it is right and it is wrong. We understand so little.
[Ruairidh MacLean] I got an opportunity to go to Glasgow and I started going to the Gospel Hall then and I enjoyed that. I felt that they were trying to fulfill the scriptures and to be as close as possible. There were one or two things that I didn’t understand. I would say to people “why don’t you sing the psalms?”. They were quite uneasy about it and ... but for other things there was breadth with regards, as I saw it, with regards the scriptures and I enjoyed being there.
[Ruairidh MacLean] There isn’t perhaps one church that is truly “correct”. Every church has parts of the Gospel. Perhaps some have more than others and then when you put into the mix, as it were, relationships, fellowship, the sort of people that you meet. It is very difficult sometimes to work about where you ought to be.
[Ruairidh MacLean] We came to Stornoway. I came here because I believed that the Lord was guiding us. Well matters just now, my wife and myself just meet at the house and we sing the psalms and we read from the Bible and I do a sermon and we break bread. I think that is something that we’re asked to do as Christians to remember Christ’s death. I don’t have an opportunity to meet in a church just now and I hope that that will change and that we’ll get fellowship with other Christians.
[Ruairidh MacLean] God promises where two or three people gather in His name that He will be amongst them. He challenges you to put your weight in God and not lookto anyone else for help and at the end of the day if your strength and your health is in people, that will break and I am very sure that God wants every Christian to learn that lesson – that we must put our hope and our faith in Him and not in people. Although we meet on earth our prayers go up above and it doesn’t matter where you meet. You don’t need to be meeting in a cathedral or a big, beautiful building. A room. Lots have been meet in very surprising places but they say that God was with them so in a way it doesn’t matter where you meet as long as you meet in the Lord’s name.
[Ruairidh MacLean] Faith is important and I’m thankful that, that I had something to give to my family, like my own family gave something to me. It’s a legacy.
This programme, Alleluia, was first broadcast in 2009.
[Ruairidh MacIlleathain] Chaidh mise a thogail ann an Glaschu, ann an Ibrox, agus bha sinn a’ dol dhan Eaglais Shaoir ann am Baile a’ Ghobhainn agus tha cuimhneachain gu math cùbhraidh agam air an eaglais ann an sin. Bha deagh theagaisg againn. Tha cuimhne agam cuideachd air a’ chiad dùsgadh spioradail a bh’ agam. B’ anns an eaglais a thachair e. Dheàlraich solas a-staigh gu mo chridhe agus chunnaic mi cho soilleir ’s a ghabhas an dèidh na beatha seo gun robh sgaradh a’ dol a bhith ann.
[Ruairidh MacIlleathain] Dh’fhàg mi an sgoil agus chaidh mi dhan oilthigh agus rinn mi Beurla ’s psychology ’s feallsanachd mhoralta. Thòisich mi a’ smaoineachadh an uair sin uill carson a tha mise a’ creidsinn nan rudan a tha mise a’ creidsinn? An e dìreach tachartas a bh’ ann gun robh mise air mo bhreith a-staigh gu teaghlach a bha a’ creidsinn ? Bha iad a’ dol dhan eaglais agus an Eaglais Shaor. Nan robh mise air a bhith air mo bhreith ann an Afraga no Ameireaga cò bhiodh annam? Bha mi a’ sireadh. Agus an uair sin thachair mi ri mo bhean agus chaidh ise iompachadh agus an uair sin chaidh mi gu Cnoc Iòrdain ’s chaidh mo bhean ’s mi fhìn a dh’obair ann an Tiriodh. Bha dà eaglais ann an Tiriodh, an Eaglais Bhaisteach agus Eaglais Stèidhichte. A’ chiad turas a chaidh sinn dhan Eaglais Bhaisteach às dèidh dhuinn gluasad a Thiriodh san Iuchar dh’ainmich am ministear baisteadh. Niste, bha mi air a bhith a’ smaoineachadh mu dheidhinn ’s tha cuimhne agam nuair a bha mi air mo bhaisteadh nuair a bha mi beag oir bha mi trì bliadhna a dh’aois. Bha mi riamh a’ smaoineachadh carson a chaidh sin a dhèanamh orm ’s dè a’ chiall a bh’ aige? Agus uill dh’ainmich am ministear, you know, mas e Crìosdaidh a th’ annad bu chòir dhut a bhith air do bhaisteadh agus tha e soilleir bho na sgriobtaran gum feumadh tu a bhith air do bhaisteadh ma bha thu ag aideachadh Crìosd. Agus chaidh mise suas agus bhruidhinn mi ris – “bu toigh leam a bhith air mo bhaisteadh” - agus thuirt mo bhean an aon rud agus bha sinn a’ smaoineachadh gum biodh baptistry aca, gum biodh e san eaglais agus bha sin ceart gu leòr ach thuirt e “uill tha sinn a’ baisteadh anns an abhainn faisg air an taigh agad” agus thuirt mi “ò uill glè mhath”. So thachair sin. Thàinig sluagh mòr a-mach ’s rinn sinn, bha sin math.
[Ruairidh MacIlleathain] Tha e cunnartach a bhith a’ rannsachadh. Uabhasach cunnartach. Dè tha ceart? Dè tha ceàrr? Ach ma tha thu airson gluasad air adhart san Fhìrinn agus barrachd a thuigsinn tha e a’ dol a bhith goirt, agus tha e goirt a bhith a’ sireadh na Fìrinn. Ach an trioblaid a th’ ann, dh’fhaodadh tu a bhith a’ dèanamh rudan ’s tu a’ smaoineachadh gu bheil e ceart agus tha e ceàrr. Tha sinn cho beag-tuigsinn.
[Ruairidh MacIlleathain] Fhuair mi cothrom a dhol a Ghlaschu agus thòisich mi a’ dol dhan Talla Shoisgeulach an uair sin agus chòrd sin rium. Bha mi a’ faireachdainn gun robh iad a’ feuchainn ris na sgriobtaran a choileanadh agus a bhith cho faisg agus ’s urrainn. Bha rud no dhà ann cuideachd nach robh mi a’ tuigsinn. Chanainn ri daoine “carson nach eil sibh a’ seinn nan salm?”. Bha iad caran an-fhoiseil mu dheidhinn agus ... ach airson rudan eile bha farsaingeachd ann a thaobh, mar a bha mise ga fhaicinn, a thaobh nan sgriobtaran ’s chòrd e rium a bhith ann.
[Ruairidh MacIlleathain] Chan eil ’s dòcha aon eaglais ann a tha “ceart” mar sin. Tha pìosan den Fhìrinn aig a h-uile h-eaglais. ’S dòcha gu bheil barrachd aig feadhainn na th’ aig feadhainn eile agus an uair sin nuair a tha thu a’ cur a-staigh dhan mhix, mar gum biodh, càirdeas, comann, an seòrsa dhaoine ris a bheil thu a’ coinneachadh. Tha e uabhasach doirbh uaireannan obrachadh a-mach càite am bu chòir dhut a bhith.
[Ruairidh MacIlleathain] Thàinig sinn a Steòrnabhagh. Thàinig mi ann an seo a chionn ’s gun robh mi a’ creidsinn gun robh an Tighearna gar stiùireadh. Uill tha cùisean an-dràsta, tha mo bhean ’s mi fhìn dìreach a’ coinneachadh aig an taigh agus bidh sinn a’ seinn nan salm ’s bidh sinn a’ leughadh a-mach às a’ Bhìoball ’s bidh mi fhìn a’ toirt teachdaireachd seachad agus bidh sinn a’ briseadh arain. Tha mi a’ smaoineachadh gur e sin, rud a tha air iarraidh oirnn mar Chrìosdaidhean a bhith a’ cuimhneachadh air bàs Chrìosd. Chan eil cothrom agam coinneachadh ann an eaglais an-dràsta agus tha mi an dòchas gun atharraich sin agus gum faigh sinn comann còmhla ri Crìosdaidhean eile.
[Ruairidh MacIlleathain] Tha Dia a’ gealltainn far a bheil dithis no triùir a’ cruinneachadh Na ainm gum bi Esan nam measg. Tha E a’ toirt dùbhlan dhut a bhith a’ cur do chuideam air Dia agus gun a bhith a’ coimhead ri duine eile airson cuideachadh agus aig deireadh an latha ma tha do neart no do shlàinte ann an daoine, brisidh sin agus tha mi glè chinnteach gu bheil Dia ag iarraidh air a h-uile Crìosdaidh an leasan sin ionnsachadh – gum feum sinn ar dòchas agus ar creideamh a chur Annsan agus chan ann ann an daoine. Ged a tha sinn a’ coinneachadh air an talamh tha ar n-adhradh a’ dol suas gu h-àrd agus chan eil e gu diofar càite am bi thu a’ coinneachadh. Chan fheum thu a bhith a’ coinneachadh ann an cathedral no cathair-eaglais no togalach mòr, brèagha. Rùm. Seòmar. Sin, tha tòrr air a bhith a’ coinneachadh ann an àiteachan gu math iongantach ach tha iad ag ràdh gun robh Dia còmhla riutha so ann an dòigh chan eil e gu diofar càite am bi thu a’ coinneachadh cho fad ’s gum bi thu a’ coinneachadh ann an ainm an Tighearna.
[Ruairidh MacIlleathain] Tha creideamh cudromach agus tha mi taingeil gu bheil, gun robh rudeigin agam ri thoirt seachad dha mo theaghlach, mar a thug mo theaghlach fhìn rudeigin seachad dhòmhsa. ’S e dìleab a th’ ann.
Chaidh am prògram seo, Alleluia, a chraoladh an toiseach ann an 2009.
[Ruairidh MacLean] I was brought up in Glasgow, in Ibrox, and we went to the Free Church in Govan and I have very pleasant memories of that church. We had good teaching. I also remember my first spiritual awaking. It was in the church that it happened. A light shone into my heart and I saw as clearly as could be that after this life there was going to be a seperation.
[Ruairidh MacLean] I left school and I went to university and I did English and psychology and moral philosophy. I began thinking at that time well why do I believe the things that I believe? Was it just an occurance that I was born into a family who believed? They went to church, to the Free Church. If I was born in Africa or America who would I be? I was searching. And then I met my wife and she was converted and then I went to Jordonhill and my wife and myself went to work in Tiree. There were two in Tiree, the Baptist Church and the Established Church (Church of Scotland). The first time that we went to the Baptish Church after we moved to Tiree in July the minister mentioned baptism. Now, I had been thinking about it and I remember when I was baptised when I was wee as I was three years old. I always thought why was that done to me and what meaning did it have? And well the minister mentioned, you know, if you are a Christian you ought to be baptised and it is clear from the scriptures that you must be baptised if you accept Christ. And I went up and I spoke with him – “I would like to be baptised” – and my wife said the same thing and we were thinking that they would have a baptistry, that it would be in the church and that was alright but he said “well we baptise in the river near your house” and I said “ oh well very good”. So that happened. A large crowd came out and we did, that was good.
[Ruairidh MacLean] It is dangerous to research. Very dangerous. What is right? What is wrong? But if you want to move forward with the Gospel and understand more it is going to be painful, and it is painful to search the Gospel. But the problem is, you could be doing things and thinking that it is right and it is wrong. We understand so little.
[Ruairidh MacLean] I got an opportunity to go to Glasgow and I started going to the Gospel Hall then and I enjoyed that. I felt that they were trying to fulfill the scriptures and to be as close as possible. There were one or two things that I didn’t understand. I would say to people “why don’t you sing the psalms?”. They were quite uneasy about it and ... but for other things there was breadth with regards, as I saw it, with regards the scriptures and I enjoyed being there.
[Ruairidh MacLean] There isn’t perhaps one church that is truly “correct”. Every church has parts of the Gospel. Perhaps some have more than others and then when you put into the mix, as it were, relationships, fellowship, the sort of people that you meet. It is very difficult sometimes to work about where you ought to be.
[Ruairidh MacLean] We came to Stornoway. I came here because I believed that the Lord was guiding us. Well matters just now, my wife and myself just meet at the house and we sing the psalms and we read from the Bible and I do a sermon and we break bread. I think that is something that we’re asked to do as Christians to remember Christ’s death. I don’t have an opportunity to meet in a church just now and I hope that that will change and that we’ll get fellowship with other Christians.
[Ruairidh MacLean] God promises where two or three people gather in His name that He will be amongst them. He challenges you to put your weight in God and not lookto anyone else for help and at the end of the day if your strength and your health is in people, that will break and I am very sure that God wants every Christian to learn that lesson – that we must put our hope and our faith in Him and not in people. Although we meet on earth our prayers go up above and it doesn’t matter where you meet. You don’t need to be meeting in a cathedral or a big, beautiful building. A room. Lots have been meet in very surprising places but they say that God was with them so in a way it doesn’t matter where you meet as long as you meet in the Lord’s name.
[Ruairidh MacLean] Faith is important and I’m thankful that, that I had something to give to my family, like my own family gave something to me. It’s a legacy.
This programme, Alleluia, was first broadcast in 2009.