Rev. Scott Kirkland, the newly appointed minister at the Lucaya Presbyterian Kirk, recently arrived on the island.

Rev. Kirkland takes over from Rev. John A. Fraser, who completed his contract in September and has accepted a call from St. Mary's Presbyterian Church, St. Mary's, Ontario. He takes up his duties on December 1.

Rev. Kirkland was born and brought up in Glasgow, Scotland. He began his working life as a chartered management accountant. The Lord called him to faith at the age of 21 and he joined the Church of Scotland, was accepted for the ministry, and studied at Aberdeen University, where he was awarded an Honours Degree in Divinity in 1995.

His studies at Aberdeen were interrupted when he attended Westminster Seminary in Philadelphia, where he was awarded a Master of Arts in Religion.

His wife, Anita, also was engaged in post graduate studies at Westminster, and she attained a Master of Divinity degree.

Anita is from Hong Kong and her goal was to teach at a Hong Kong Seminary. However, God intervened and she and Scott were married in 1994 and they moved to Scotland, where Rev. Scott assumed the responsibilities of a minister in the Church of Scotland. His last charge, before coming to Freeport, was Brightons Parish Church in Falkirk.

The couple have two children, Priscilla, nine, and Sarah, seven. The girls attend Discovery School and the family are settling in, adapting quickly and enjoying life in Freeport.