Symposium Spotlight - Andrew Ritchie

                                                             Andrew Ritchie

Preferred Name to be Listed as and State or Country you live in: 

ANSWER: I feel comfortable with Andrew in the beautiful country of  Scotland

Age: 

ANSWER: I am 50 years old

When you accepted Christ as your Savior: 

ANSWER: I remember the day like it was yesterday. It was Sunday Jan 22 2012. I remember our pastor was teaching out of Matthew 22, and the verse that changed my life was verse " For many are called but few are chosen" That day I surrendered this life to the Lord, I could feel his hand on my life that day. The following week something happened that ties into an event in my life where I cursed God. Two years before I was diagnosed with glaucoma and I remember cursing God, when I was diagnosed. The week after I was saved, the glaucoma was gone. Praise God for the healing

Years in and areas of active ministry, past and present: 

ANSWER:For many years before I turned all my life to the Lord, I was the member of a church choir, since being saved I have lead the service, taught Sunday School, visiting Pastor, and help out in which ever way I can at church.

Favorite scripture and why?

ANSWER: Luke 9:23 "Then He said to them all If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily,and follow Me" It is my favorite because when we pickup our cross, the cross represents our sin and we follow Jesus and lay our sin at his feet. We are dead to the sins of our past and are a new creation in Jesus Christ. When I think of thepain and suffering that Jesus endured and the separation from the Father, it pains me to commit those sins again.

Your Wake Up Call to your Generation:

ANSWER: As one of the babyboomers, the younger generations look to us for wisdom and guidance we need to stand up for Jesus and be soldiers in the Lord's Army

Three things we’d be surprised to know about you:

ANSWER:  I spent 10 years as a truck driver and in that role I met drivers from all over Canada and the U.S.  I was a certified sport diver and have dove several times in Hawaii. I was born in Scotland, moved to Canada at a young age, lived in the U.S. for 2 years and moved back to Scotland.

What are your hobbies outside of ministry?

ANSWER: Part-time Sax player. Learning to play the Bagpipes. Have taken up golf, in the land of golf courses!!, I love to swim and go for walks and of course avid read. Also an author currently rewriting first book and writing a novel.

List some of your past achievements and current projects that you are working on:

ANSWER: Currently I am writing a screenplay for a church documentary on George Matheson. Involved in teaching and a visting pastor. In the near future I will be going to a church in my village where I will teaching, home visits,and one of the leaders, working various outreaches including Fisherman's mission and street pastor

Share your experience in marriage, as the head of your home:

ANSWER: divorce proceedings

What do you hope to accomplish by participating in this MMofV Symposium? 

ANSWER:  To share our life experiences with each other and all that visit the site, that through that we grow as men of God. Each man has a path but all paths are laid down by God. He has given us the choice to follow that path or not. I pray that this site will show others the joy of walking with Jesus and how our life is complete when are walking with Him. For Him all the glory belongs.

What does your relationship with Jesus mean to you? 

ANSWER: my first thought of the day and my last thought at night is reaching out to the Lord with love and joy. Love because what He does in my life each day, and joy because through Him all things are possible. Last year was an interesting year especially but I remember the day that my dad was taken home the warmth and peace that I felt transcends all understanding. It is that peace and harmony that I want everyone to know and cherish, because it is a gift that never ends

What area have your struggled with most in your walk with Christ? 

ANSWER: I would say that the one area that I have struggled with the most is selfish pride. It is so easy to put I into the equation. Things like I want, I need, I have. But when we are reborn in the image of the Lord and follow Luke 9:23 we are a new creation. But I still some times struggle with pride, until I remember what Jesus taught me in Ezekiel 17:22 "Thus says the Lord God: “I will take also one of the highest branches of the high cedar and set it out. I will crop off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and will plant it on a high and prominent mountain."  The application that the Holy Spirit revealed to me was that the high cedar was my selfish pride and that by replanting a twig on a high mountian was the Lord starting a new creation in me. And the mountain signifies putting my faith and trust in the ROCK Jesus and He will grow in me and the high cedar will wither away and die.

What message of hope would you like to share with our reader?

ANSWER: The pain I feel knowing that is was my sins that created the nails that crucified our Savior. Knowing that an innocent Man endured the pain that I deserve. Knowing that He is building mansions for all of His children because He loves us so much. Each day is a new creation that we can glorify our living God for every precious gift. We have the hope that one day we will join our King in is heavenly home and spend an eternity in His presesnce.

If you had a theme life motto, what would it be and why?

ANSWER: Child of God; when I am taken home I dont want to be remembered for any books that I have written or any sermons preached or any outreaches that I have been involved in. I just want to be remembered as a child of God