A Place for Those Passing Through
In the heart of Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital city, and a 15-minute walk from the historic Royal Mile, sits an Edwardian red brick two-story building, the home of Bridge Family Church, planted by AGWM missionary David Goldschmidt and his wife Julie.
“Bridge Family Church (BFC) not only reaches Scottish people we are called to, but it has also become a temporary sanctuary for internationals passing through European cities,” Goldschmidt, 44, says. “Without a doubt, Edinburgh’s half million residents need the Lord.”
Secularism in Scotland has shot up to 51% of its population in the last decade. Many shun religion. Personal evangelism means numerous encounters with those who claim no interest in spiritual matters.
The Church of Scotland (Presbyterian) could lose up to 30-40% of its approximately 1,200 churches in the coming years. In contrast, immigrant congregations called “Diaspora churches,” and informal gatherings called “messy churches” have experienced growth, particularly Pentecostal assemblies.
The Goldschmidts landed in Glascow in 2007 where they learned that chipping away at Scotland’s rock-hard spiritual ground was going to be difficult. Despite periods of loneliness and a steep learning curve grasping how to minister in a new culture, they eventually launched a successful young adults ministry before moving to Edinburgh in 2011 to plant a church. They initially met in a community center run by a local non-profit charity.
At first the Goldschmidts stayed in B&Bs in Edinburgh’s Stockbridge neighborhood and then joined an ecumenical prayer group before finding an apartment. Searching for a long-term ministry place was their next hurdle. Renting temporary spaces in community centers and offices for Bible studies, outreaches, and other events were the only options.
However, progress was slow. Outreaches and small groups of young people were bearing meager fruit. Yet Goldschmidt refused to give up. “As difficult as it has been I knew this was where God had called my wife and two daughters, Lyla and Tessa,” he says.
Returning to Edinburgh in 2019 after eight months itinerating in the U.S. took a heavy toll on the family. They traveled more than 50,000 miles visiting and preaching in dozens of churches and ministering in 26 states.
As a result, Goldschmidt suffered a trifecta burnout - physically, mentally, and spiritually.
“I didn’t take care of myself,” he confesses. “But in the end the Holy Spirit allowed me to realize that my ministry was bigger than me, and not to rely on my own strength.”
His personal crisis and recovery in Scotland stretched to almost one year as prayer, counseling, medication, and God’s ultimate intervention brought restoration. Reliving the truth of Galatians 6:9 helped greatly, including resuming the search for a church plant.
But during these struggles, the Lord appeared to be safeguarding a specific property in a strategic location for an AG church.
The property turned out to be the former St. Phillip’s Church built by a prominent Scottish architect in 1908, which had not held regular services for 30 years. The vacant building had been previously used for a senior care home and other purposes.
In September 2021 BFC signed a lease contract allowing for major renovations to the sanctuary and a ground floor community café that opened in 2024. The congregation and U.S. supporters provided the funds. Today, the café draws up to 200 people weekly.
The new plant is a lighthouse for the gospel. Besides Sunday worship services, Bible studies, Sunday School, a monthly praise and prayer night, and youth meetings, BFC does outreaches aimed at annual spectacles such as the performing arts Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
On Sunday mornings, BFC comes alive. It hosts a multiethnic congregation representing attendees from around the world.
Graeme Green and his wife, Jacky, found BFC meeting in a community center in 2013 while searching for a Bible-based church. “We checked out 3 to 4 churches but liked how pastor Dave’s sermons were based on Scripture,” Green, 66, says.
Green teaches in the children’s ministry and helps BFC with bookkeeping and communications. Jacky prays with others on a 5 a.m. conference call every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
“We are excited; expecting the unexpected to see God doing more than we imagine,” Green says.
Felix Engmann, 20, a University of Edinburgh student from Manchester, England, joined BFC in 2024. Overwhelmed and anxious sometimes about his studies, he appreciates the pastor’s encouraging text messages. “Through fellowship such as the Grow Bible study group, the church has helped strengthen my walk with Jesus,” he says.
David Goldschmidt has more plans for church growth and more workers when he returns to Scotland in 2026 after his latest itineration term.
“Although we sometimes feel like an international airport, our focus has shifted from building something big to simply building up people and releasing them as they journey on,” he says.