Men’s Group Trip
A Trip to Tiree
Rest, friendship and encouragement on Scotland’s beautiful west coast.
A few weeks ago, a group of ten guys from Glasgow City Mission had the chance to go on a “lads’ trip” to the beautiful island of Tiree.
We were able to go because of the huge generosity of our friends and supporters, and so we set sail up the Sound of Mull on a blue-sky evening to begin our adventure.
Time away together
Whilst we were there, we had the chance to experience the beautiful beaches of the island, go cycling, enjoy coffees together and meet with the local Baptist church, who have been great supporters of Glasgow City Mission over the last few years.
The guests who came were men who had been around the Mission for the last year or two, or more, had helped as guest trainees supporting the running of our food drop-ins, and had also been part of our weekly men’s group run by staff members Joe and Derek.
Reflections from the trip
Rest, welcome and community
Some of the guests had never been on holiday before, or certainly not for many years, and the trip provided an opportunity to rest and unwind from the stresses and strains of daily life in completely different surroundings.
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Though we ate well and took part in many activities, the consistent feedback from the guys was that what they loved most was the beautiful environment and the way they were made to feel so welcome by the people they met.
In particular, many expressed their gratitude to the members of Tiree Baptist Church, who showed us incredible hospitality and took a genuine interest in them.
Will Wright was again a great friend to us, and we really appreciated the time he gave, his kindness in hiring bikes and even an impromptu sports massage for one of our guests with a dodgy shoulder!
As part of our time together, we reflected on the words of Psalm 19, where we heard afresh about the way God speaks to us, both through the beauty of the world He has made and through His Word.
The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul.
Surrounded by Tiree’s stunning landscapes, we were reminded that, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (Psalm 19:1).
We also reflected on the truth that, “The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul” (Psalm 19:7), remembering that God’s Word continues to guide, encourage and transform us.
For many of the men, the trip was about much more than a few days away. It was an opportunity to build friendships, enjoy new experiences, rest from the pressures of daily life and experience the kindness and generosity of others.
As we made our journey home, we were grateful not only for the places we had seen, but for the conversations shared, the encouragement received and the deeper sense of community we experienced together.
We returned refreshed, thankful and reminded of God’s faithfulness, carrying with us memories that will stay with us for years to come.
Thank you
Finally, we want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped make this trip possible through their generosity, prayers and support.
The impact of those few days extends far beyond the island itself. For the men who came, it was a chance to experience belonging, encouragement and hope, and we are grateful for the opportunity to have shared that time together.
