What happened at Yarmouth was to
prove that the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.
Jock boarded a
train for the North and before it had reached Crewe all those who were in his
compartment were led to Christ. When he arrived at Aberdeen, he then
transferred to the Fraserburgh train. At Maud two
fisherwomen came into the carriage and sat beside Jock. They had spent the day
selling their freshly caught haddock around the farmhouses in the country.
Baskets were strapped across their backs to carry the fish. The evangelist was
asked where he was going and what he intended to do.He replied, "I am going to Fraserburgh to preach," and told them how God had
spoken to him. "Where are you staying?" they asked him. Jock told
them that he had no idea. "Listen son, you come and stay with me,"
said one of the old fisherwomen.So
provision was made for him even before he arrived in Fraserburgh.
When he had
settled in and had eaten, Jock decided to go for a walk. He went down to the square
in Broad Street where a crowd had gathered. Standing on the steps of the drinking
fountain, he began to preach. Immediately the crowd moved around him in spite
of the cold. As the rain began to fall, the preacher asked if anyone knew where
a place was available for meetings.
"What about
the BaptistChurch?" shouted someone.
"I don't know
where it is," replied Jock. "We will soon take you there," came the answer from the crowd.Off they went along the way, joyously singing
with the evangelist. When they arrived at the BaptistChurch, the
Pastor with his elders were just leaving a specially convened meeting, where it
had been decided to send for Jock Troup to come and conduct a gospel campaign
in Fraserburgh. The secretary had a letter drafted
ready for posting, but that letter never needed to go through a letter box. God
had answered the letter before it had been sent off. To the amazement of Jock,
as the group of elders left the church, amongst them stood the man God had
shown him in the vision at Yarmouth. He had come face to face with the man who had prayed. The heart of
the revivalist rose to God in gratitude for leading him step by step. As he led
the singing of the old fashioned hymns, men and women began to weep their way
to the cross. Blessing flowed like a river. The tide of spiritual dearth had
turned and soon God's flood tide would flow.
Saltoun Square, Fraserburgh (Picture: St. Andrews University.)Scene at Fraserburgh harbour in the days of sail. (Picture: St. Andrews University.)Gutters hard at work in a Fraserburgh yard. (Picture: St. Andrews University.)Old view of Fraserburgh harbour. (Picture: St. Andrews University.)
