Buckie Baptist Church role opens new doors for Graham
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BUCKIE churches have welcomed clergy from far and wide over the years, but for one local church a few miles down the coast will do just champion.
Taking up the vacant minister's post at Buckie Baptist Church is the weel kent face of Pastor Graham Mair, who lives in Cullen and is a well-known preacher with over 30 years' experience behind him.
The opportunity to take over the reigns at the church from the previous incumbent, Rev Gavin Hunter marks a new path in life for Pastor Mair.
He said: "This is something I've always wanted to do.
"I trust God with my life and He had led me here and opened up this door.
"I've done a lot of lay preaching over the last 32 years, travelling everywhere to preach and across the denominations, too.
"I had a close relationship with Buckie Baptist Church before this; I've done a lot of preaching there and I've got to know a lot of the congregation over the years."
Taking over a new role of any kind brings with it challenges, but Pastor Mair arrives at a time when Covid has stripped away so many things once take for granted.
"I'm limited as to what I can do because of the Covid regulations," he continued.
"I'm trying to keep in touch with people and the congregation are looking out for each other, especially the elderly and vulnerable. There are different ways we're keeping in touch, including our Thursday evening prayer meeting on zoom and the church Facebook page.
"We're continuing to spread the Word online and I'd encourage anyone to listen. Buckie Baptist Church has its own YouTube channel and everyone is welcome to join in."
Pastor Mair is very clear where his priorities lie once society begins to open up again once the mass vaccination programme allows a return to a more normal way of living.
“Reaching out with the good news of the Lord Jesus, teaching God’s word, prayer, welcoming people back to church, and caring for different needs.
“Buckie Baptist Church normally has so many things going on for young and old alike. Some of the things are Little Fishes, Little Lights, Lighthouse and Teatime. Carole Reid, our youth worker, runs various youth activities.
"We're a welcoming church and we want to get the good news of Jesus out to the community and the wider area round about. It's the mission statement of our church.
"If anyone has queries about faith, prayer, anything really, please get in touch with me, I want to be accessible to everyone."
Pastor Mair can be reached by phone on 07592 018493 or via email at grahammair7@gmail.com
Away from the day to day running of the church, he has been taking a leaf out of his own book that "every day of our lives should be spent in the classroom".
Pastor Mair explained: "I've started studying for accreditation to be a Baptist pastor.
"I have previous study experience as I gained an Honours degree in mathematical sciences
"I'm working with the Scottish Baptist College and will be with the Highland Theological College in future, although obviously that all being done on Zoom at the moment due to the Covid regulations.
"The course is modular which we can study at our pace. At the moment, I've just started a module called Pastoral Care.
"I'm loving the course so far, it's really helpful and insightful."
Carrying on the flame of previous generations at the church is another important facet to Pastor Mair's fledging Baptist ministry.
"We're only carrying on the work of a church which has had great testimony in Buckie," he said.
"We're continuing what generations of faithful men and woman have done since the church began.
"I want to continue to lift high the name of the Lord Jesus and glorify God in our church."
