OVER 200 Christian pastors and leaders from across the country gathered in Perth yesterday for the opening of a £2 million Christian centre.

Over the past few months a former supermarket in Riggs Road has been transformed into Scotland’s first National Christian Outreach Centre which will be the new operational base for the Perth-based evangelistic ministry, People With A Mission Ministries (PWAMM).

The design given to the architects was drawn up by senior pastor Mervyn Milne, who founded PWAMM with his wife Jane in 1985.

“To see a project coming to pass that has been living in your heart for three or four years is quite emotional,” Mr Milne said.

“Seeing the team work to make this a reality is amazing, I am very excited at the potential to reach out.”

Funded through donations, the centre in Glasgow Road houses a state-of-the-art conference suite for up to 250 people, church facilities, meeting rooms, creche, a Christian book shop, gift shop and a coffee shop.

It also forms the hub for a wide range of PWAMM’s outward-focused activities including gospel tent missions around Scotland, Challenger outreach bus for young people, monthly dinner meetings, television and billboard advertising, extensive work among senior citizens, choir and drama teams and monthly pastors and leaders meeting.

A series of launch events got under way on Wednesday night with an outreach meeting featuring pastor Bill Wilson of Metro Ministries in New York, the world’s largest Sunday school outreach.

PWAMM are to begin a joint venture with Metro Ministries this year with the introduction of mobile sidewalk Sunday school for primary age children using distinctive yellow trucks similar to those in use in New York.

A group of 26 young people from Perth will visit America in April for on the street training for this work.

A service of dedication takes place today at 7.30pm with representation from all the main churches in Perth.

A celebration service will take place tomorrow evening and a family praise and worship service on Sunday morning.