Edinburgh City Mission

Cultural Ministries

Literature Table - Edinburgh University

An estimated 12% of the cities population are students, 26,000 of which are part of the University of Edinburgh. Although the university was founded by John Knox and the Reformers, the Enlightenment of the 18th century gave birth to the Humanism, Evolution and Atheism of Hume and Darwin. Today the University probably stands as the world stronghold of humanistic evolution, and the International Science Festival gravitates around it.

ECM has a table outside the library and hot drinks are served to hundreds of students. Using literature and thought-provoking questions on posters, a natural bridge is built along which the Gospel is freely shared. By this means a small, but growing number of students are becoming Christians, and many are being deeply challenged.

The Celtic Christian Tour - The Royal Mile

"Out of the pages of Scottish history spring forth two indomitable characters: Cuthbert and John Knox. Both were visionary Christians and both were men of destiny. And they're back again!
Come and join them as they weave their way in and out of the Royal Mile telling dramatic, supernatural and heart-rending stories of the Celtic Saints, the Reformers, the Covenanters, and others. Come prepared for a challenge!"

Thus reads the flyer for the Celtic Tour that ECM runs every year. It is a great opportunity for people to hear the Gospel in an informative and unusual way, and hundreds have had a challenging time, with many going away at the end, deeply moved and clutching Gospel literature.

Eternity - Chamber Music Group

As part of this creative ministry ECM now runs Christian Chamber Music concerts, with music, song, anecdotes and a PowerPoint presentation. The vision is to reveal the faith of the great composers through this programme, and by so doing, reveal the Gospel of Christ clearly.

Eternity is now becoming more popular with a growing number of invitations to perform at Festivals and at special events, such as the National Prayer Breakfast.

Edinburgh Fringe Festival

In the midst of this heaving mass of people ECM is seeking to develop a growing and strategic ministry to reach as many as possible with the Good News of Jesus, by all means. This includes street-theatre, the Celtic Tour, a drinks and literature table and other methods.

As well as networking together with other Christian groups, such as Carrubbers (Room 65), the Beach Mission, and YWAM, in this huge task, ECM is now spearheading another outreach, based at St. Columba's Free Church on the Royal Mile.

Part of the outreach includes the Mela Festival, which takes place on the last weekend of the Edinburgh Festival. Teaming up with Asian Concern, ECM seeks to reach many Asians with the Gospel. An estimated 70,000 people come to this growing event from all over Scotland and the north of England. The Festival happens in Pilrig Park, just along from our HQ, and as such, it is a golden opportunity to reach hundreds of Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and others with the Gospel in our stall there.

New Age & Pagan Outreach

Prayer and Litrature stall at a New Age fayre

The Royal Mile is home to at least seven ghost and witchcraft tours. Almost every pub in that area claims to have a resident ghost, and there are real witchcraft temples in the "underground city" near South Bridge Street.

In Edinburgh there are a large number of occult shops, a Ghost Festival, a Dark City Goth Festival and two large Pagan Festivals. There is a movement to promote Edinburgh as "Europe's paranormal capital."

ECM brings the Light of the Gospel right into the heart of darkness. Every year a team goes up to Calton Hill to reach out to the multitudes of Pagans, New Agers, revellers and others at Europe's biggest Pagan Festival, Beltane. Specially written testimony books are given out to seekers and conversations about the Lord abound. By this means hundreds are hearing the message of salvation and some are finding Christ.

Beltain Fire Festival

Again at the Samhuinn Festival (Halloween), which takes place outside St. Giles Cathedral on the Royal Mile, the team is out, serving hot drinks, and sharing what Jesus has done for them, and giving Gospel and testimony books.

At other times during the year ECM has a table in the heart of the Royal Mile with a sign reading Supernatural Tales, to draw in the New Agers and spiritual seekers to hear the Word of God. Sometimes the team goes into the New Age Psychic Fayres, right amongst the occult, to bring the Gospel to all those who will listen.