Contents

Treasure in Jars of Clay

Douglas B. Clawson

Christian Education

The Next Generation of Ministers

Foreign Missions

My Personal Testimony

Home Missions

A Tough Climb in California

Prayer Calendar

November

Stewardship

Information about the Thank Offering

News

Reviews

Announcements

New Horizons
in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church
November 2013 • Volume 34, Number 10

© 2013 by The Committee on Christian Education of The Orthodox Presbyterian Church

Editorial Board: The Committee on Christian Education’s Subcommittee on Serial Publications

Editor: Danny E. Olinger

Managing Editor: James W. Scott

Editorial Assistant: Patricia Clawson

Cover Designer: Christopher Tobias

Proofreader: Sarah J. Pederson

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Articles previously published may have been slightly edited.

New Horizons (ISSN: 0199-3518) is published monthly except for a combined issue in August-September by the Committee on Christian Education of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, 607 N. Easton Road, Bldg. E, Willow Grove, PA 19090-2539; tel. 215/830-0900; fax 215/830-0350.

Send e-mail correspondence to the editor. Letters to the editor are welcome. They should deal with an issue the magazine has recently addressed. Their language should be temperate, and they may not charge anyone with an offense. They should be brief, and they may be condensed.

Views expressed by the writers do not necessarily represent the position of the magazine or of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.

The OPC website contains an archive of previous issues.

Print copies are distributed free to members and friends of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Nonmembers are asked to donate $20.00 annually. Foreign subscribers must remit USD 40.00 annually to receive the magazine (USD 30.00 in Canada). Anyone may request a free e-mail PDF subscription. Requests for a print or e-mail subscription (and address changes) should be sent to CCEsec@opc.org.

Your gifts to the 2013 Thank Offering will help to fund home missions works like Providence OPC in Tulsa, Oklahoma (Jim Stevenson, pastor), pictured at the left.

Treasure in Jars of Clay

Douglas B. Clawson

“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us” (2 Cor. 4:6–7).

Recently I had an opportunity to open God’s Word and pray with a dear saint in the hospital. She was so thin and frail that I wondered if she might not soon be with our Savior in glory. As she spoke of her faith, I marveled again that our God has blessed such weak vessels as us with his glory and so much grace. Of course, we see the contrast between the frailty of Christ’s servants and the glory of Christ all the time. But sometimes that contrast is sharper than at other times. Christ displays his glory in people who are sometimes poor or powerless, and sometimes rich or influential, but they are always people who get old, get sick, and die. His treasure is in jars of clay.

Jesus spoke about treasure on several occasions. He spoke about good treasure and evil treasure. He spoke about the treasure of this world that can be stolen by thieves or consumed by moth and rust. Most importantly, he spoke about the treasure in heaven that the Father has given to us. In contrasting the two, he warned, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Luke 12:34).

For those outside of Christ, their treasure, like its container, is perishable. It may consist of dollars, shares of stock, properties, artwork, or precious metals. It may even consist of cows, crops, wives, or children. Some people find their treasure in educational attainment or in holding influential positions in society. However, not one of those things lasts. All of them will eventually be destroyed or die.

In contrast, we who are in Christ have a different sort of treasure. It isn’t the sort of treasure that an unbeliever would consider valuable. Our treasure is Christ, his kingdom, and all of his wealth of blessings. It cannot be stolen from us. It cannot be extorted from us. It is a treasure that has been stored up for us in heaven. This treasure, like the place where it is being stored, cannot spoil or fade. This treasure is not subject to the damage brought about by time and the elements. However, while Jesus speaks of us having treasure in heaven, here in 2 Corinthians Paul tells us that our treasure may also be found in another place—a perishable one. It may be found in us.

In writing about his ministry and its fruit, Paul has assured the Corinthians that the unfading glory of Christ, which is displayed in the gospel, is at work in believers to transform them from one degree of glory to another. Therefore, Paul is not discouraged. It is true that there are those who hear the gospel and remain unchanged. Nevertheless, Paul does not alter his message in an attempt to persuade more people to embrace the gospel, as if the message is the problem. Rather, the problem for those who do not see the glory of Christ in the gospel is that their minds are blinded by Satan.

Unlike those who remain blinded, God has enabled us to see. As surely as God’s word made the light shine out of the darkness on the first day of creation, he has caused the light of the knowledge of his glory in Christ Jesus to shine in us. He has removed the veil that covered our hearts. He has made us gaze on the glory of God by making us see Jesus Christ in the gospel. This is true treasure! Our eyesight could be stripped from us, and we would still see it. We could be buried in a dark, windowless prison, and we would still see it.

This treasure is promised in the gospel. It is communicated in the knowledge of Christ and his works, which we are given in the ministry of the Word. But, more than the mere words, which many others hear and do not believe, God has given us the reality that those words promise. The gospel promises that in Christ we have eternal life, forgiveness of sins, Christ’s righteousness, and the resurrection. And more than that, we are promised Christ himself, as Paul says in Colossians 1:27, “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

God has placed this treasure in those who are afflicted, perplexed, persecuted and struck down. He has placed it in those who are dying for the sake of Christ and whose mortal flesh is wasting away. God has placed his treasure in jars of clay in order to demonstrate that it is God’s power, not ours, that has given us life and will one day raise us from the dead to the glory of God. We may be beaten and persecuted, starved and oppressed, but we have within ourselves a message of glory. This is the treasure that is preached from your pulpits. This is the treasure that your pastors, interns, church planters, and foreign missionaries preach each Sunday and teach every opportunity that they get.

Missionary Eric Tuininga preaching in Uganda

At the risk of having it taken from them or having it ruined, most people do not put their treasure on display, let alone into a place that is easily destroyed. But in the preaching of the gospel and the Spirit’s work in us, God has displayed his treasure—the glory of Christ.

Believers may lose all of their material wealth in this world. Believers may lose all of their physical family in this world. Believers may lose all of their resources for a comfortable retirement in this world. Believers may lose all of their health in this world. But they won’t lose this treasure because the glory of Jesus Christ, which lives in each and every believer, cannot be lost. It is a glory proclaimed by the gospel and a glory that lives in those who are made alive when the Spirit unites the gospel with faith.

All who truly believe have this treasure.

As we approach the Thank Offering this year, we may wonder what will happen to Christ’s church when she refuses to redefine marriage. We may wonder what will happen to her when the incomes of our members continue to shrink in relation to the rising costs of education, health care, and insurance. But our true treasure is no less secure, even as God determines to make us trust him more and ourselves less. God is glorifying himself in us by making the glory of Christ increasingly greater in us. And God is glorifying himself as he removes the veil that covers the hearts of those who do not believe.

The goal of this year’s Thank Offering is $850,000. With the Thank Offering, we help to enable more men and women to hear the gospel, by which they will obtain the knowledge of Christ. With the Thank Offering, we help to make sure that more men and women hear the gospel, by which the veil is lifted in the hearts of those to whom God gives the gift of faith.

In 2013, there have been sixteen summer and eighteen yearlong interns supported by the Committee on Christian Education. In 2013, there are five new church planters for a total of thirty-nine church planters being supported by the Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension. In 2013, there are five new missionaries for a total of twenty-one foreign missionaries who are supported in whole or in part (some only administratively) by the Committee on Foreign Missions.

Without a generous Thank Offering, there will be fewer new interns, fewer new church planters, and fewer new foreign missionaries in 2014. The treasure that God has placed in us and in those who proclaim the gospel has been displayed throughout the earth to the glory of Jesus Christ. Although we may be afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, or struck down, we are not crushed, driven to despair, forsaken, or destroyed. Christ’s glory shines brightly through our weakness. Pray for Christ to use us to faithfully proclaim the message by which he lifts the veil of darkness from the hearts of those who do not believe. Pray for Christ to use us to faithfully proclaim the message that he uses to transform us to be like Christ, who lives in us.

The author is the associate general secretary for the Committee on Foreign Missions.

Christian Education

The Next Generation of Ministers

David VanDrunen

The OPC Timothy Conference, which began in 2008, is a relatively new addition to the work of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Yet in its first six years, the OPC Timothy Conference has introduced about one hundred young men, professing members of OP congregations, to the privileges and responsibilities of the gospel ministry. Several of these men have already entered seminary in hope of pursuing ordination in the OPC. With another OPC Timothy Conference a few months away, the Committee on Christian Education is thrilled to continue to support and promote this program.

Near the end of his life, Paul exhorted Timothy, a young pastor: “What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2:2). It is noteworthy that Paul requires the church to be proactive in seeking out and training future ministers. This means, in part, that the OPC as a whole, and especially its pastors and elders, should be on the lookout for godly, mature, and intelligent young people within our churches who may be precisely these “faithful men” of whom Paul speaks— faithful men who may receive special training for the ministry and may in turn be able to instruct many others.

Adrian Crum, shown here at the 2009 Timothy Conference, was a summer intern this year at Branch of Hope OPC in Torrance, Calif.

Most OP ministers did not grow up in the OPC. We thank God for bringing so many faithful men from outside our ranks to serve us, and we pray that he will continue to provide such servants in the future. Yet we also acknowledge our responsibility, even as we seek to train all of our youth in the fear of the Lord, to identify those sons of our churches with potential for the gospel ministry, to encourage them to consider the Lord’s calling, and to support those who pursue training toward this end. What a blessing from God it is when he uses those baptized and catechized in OP churches to baptize and catechize the next generation of believers in our congregations.

In order to continue assisting the church as a whole with this great task, the Committee on Christian Education is now planning the 2014 Timothy Conference, scheduled for April 9–12. The OPC Timothy Conference has been held at different locations across the United States, and this coming year it will meet in the Southeast. Matthews OPC, near Charlotte, North Carolina, has graciously agreed to be our host. Three OPC pastors—Nathan Trice, Boyd Miller, and Stephen Oharek—as well as Danny Olinger, John Muether, and David VanDrunen from the Committee on Christian Education, will give lectures on a variety of topics, including the office of the minister, the call to the ministry, the nature and purpose of seminary education, the process toward ordination in the OPC, and how the participants can begin preparing for the ministry even now. The participants will also make a trip down to Greenville, South Carolina, where they will have the opportunity to attend a couple of classes at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, in order to get a small taste of what seminary studies involve. In addition to these formal events, the OPC Timothy Conference also provides wonderful opportunities for informal fellowship among the participants and conference speakers.

There is much to learn at the OPC Timothy Conference (Pastor Bruce Hollister speaking here).

Offerings to Worldwide Outreach of the OPC support the Timothy Conference, so there are no costs for those who attend.

All sessions in the OPC are encouraged to consider whether there is a young man (ordinarily between the ages of 16 and 21) in their congregation who is a good candidate to participate in this year’s conference. For more information on the OPC Timothy Conference and instructions for nominating a young man, see the Christian Education page on the OPC website, www.OPC.org.

Please pray for this year’s OPC Timothy Conference. Ask the Lord to raise up good candidates to attend and even to use some of these young men one day to serve his church in the gospel ministry.

Four Favorites

Books on Redemptive-Historical Theology for Everyone

1. G. K. Beale, We Become What We Worship. IVP Academic, 2008.

Beale gives an exemplary illustration of redemptive-historical exegesis in this work. He masterfully unfolds the theme of idolatry in the Old Testament, the Gospels, Paul’s letters, and Revelation, among other portions of the Bible. The last section of the book is filled with searching and penetrating application.

2. Vern S. Poythress, The Shadow of Christ in the Law of Moses. P&R Publishing, 1995.

Poythress gives the reader a guided tour through the Law of Moses and how it points us to Christ. He shows how the tabernacle, the sacrifices, and the Mosaic case laws picture Christ. Very accessible and informative, this book will deepen every reader’s appreciation for the all-sufficiency of Christ, from the very first books of God’s inerrant word.

3. T. Desmond Alexander, From Eden to New Jerusalem: An Introduction to Biblical Theology. Kregel Academic, 2009.

Alexander’s book is probably the best place to start if you’re just beginning to investigate the seemingly elusive creature called “biblical theology.” Alexander walks the reader through basic redemptive-historical themes found in the Bible. This is a great book for group study.

4. Geerhardus Vos, Grace and Glory. Banner of Truth, 1994.

Last, and far from least, are the sermons of “the father of Reformed biblical theology,” Geerhardus Vos. He preached them in the Princeton Seminary chapel during his tenure there, and they represent redemptive-historical preaching at its best. Two OPC founders, J. Gresham Machen and Cornelius Van Til, acclaimed Vos as the single greatest exegete of the Bible they had ever known. His sermons here bear out this conclusion.

Much more could be recommended. For those who want to go deeper, Vos’s Biblical Theology is the classic benchmark work. From there, the writings of Richard B. Gaffin, Jr., Herman Ridderbos, and Meredith Kline are indispensable for a true and full understanding of the Scriptures. May God grant that the astonishing, Spirit-produced unity of his word, which always takes us to the Word incarnate, will be more understood because of these works.

Gabriel N. E. Fluhrer

Out of the Mouth …

Two-year-old Isaiah has been memorizing the Catechism for Young Children. While going through it with him, I asked, “What is God?” He responded, “God is a spirit, and has not a potty like men.”

—Mandie Stahl

Atlanta, Ga.

Note: If you have an example of the humorous “wisdom” that can come from children, please send it to the editor.

Congratulations

The Shorter Catechism has been recited by:

• Roy Reid, age 92 (Westminster OPC in Hamden, Conn.)

Foreign Missions

My Personal Testimony

Octavius Delfils

Editor’s note: Earlier this year, the Committee on Foreign Missions appointed the Rev. Octavius Delfils and his wife, Marie, as associate missionaries to Haiti, under a cooperative agreement with Calvary Presbytery (in upstate South Carolina) of the Presbyterian Church in America. They have joined OP missionaries Ben and Heather Hopp in the OPC Haiti Mission.

Octavius Delfils

Iwas born on March 15, 1968, in a village in the north of Haiti, to fervent Roman Catholic parents, though they were also fervent Vodou-practicing people. It was like that in my village and in most rural towns in Haiti. Most people would go to the Roman Catholic chapel in the village on Sundays to pray, attend the Mass, and take part in the Eucharist. They would get their children baptized and make regular confession before the priest, but at the end of the year they would offer sacrifices to appease the Vodou spirits. If a child was ill, they would go to a Vodou priest because, according to their beliefs, illness is always an attack from an enemy. My parents were no different than these people.

In the early 1960s, Baptist missionaries planted the first Protestant church in the village. They founded a school, which was far better than the Catholic school. My parents decided to send my brother to that Protestant school. He completed some classes, but also heard the gospel. He came to faith through Bible teaching in the school. Having understood the gospel, he was constantly talking to my parents, who refused to listen to him. Finally, in 1972, my father responded to the call of the gospel, followed by my mother three months later. The whole family started to worship at the Baptist church in the village, and we were growing under the teaching, preaching, and Christian principles that we received in that church.

I completed my third grade in the Protestant school, and that was the last level that the teachers were able to teach. I moved to Port-au-Prince to continue my education. I completed elementary school and then high school in Port-au-Prince. I graduated from high school in 1987. In 1988, I was admitted to college in Port-au-Prince. I completed the courses for a bachelor of arts degree in business administration in 1997. I also completed a degree in law at the state university of Haiti. While I was studying, I worked part-time as a school teacher and then as a school director in Port-au-Prince.

I attended another Baptist church in Port-au-Prince while I was at school. I grew a little bit more in the knowledge of the Bible. I was able to serve the church as a Sunday school teacher, as youth director, and then as the secretary of the church committee. I sang in the choir and made some good Christian friends.

In the church in Port-au-Prince, I met my wife, Marie Véronique, and we were married in August 1995. God has blessed us with two children: Carlens, a boy born on February 4, 1997, and Farah, a girl born on September 27, 2000.

In 2003, God opened doors for me to study theology at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Greenville, South Carolina. I graduated in 2007 and was ordained as a teaching elder by Calvary Presbytery (PCA) in the Greenville area in South Carolina. Then I returned to Haiti and worked for Presbyterian Mission in Haiti as a pastor and teacher. In 2010, some months after the earthquake, I was part of the team that started the first Reformed Presbyterian church in Port-au-Prince. This church—the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Delmas—is a joint effort between myself, as a PCA pastor, and OP missionary Ben Hopp. Adoration Christian Center also played an important role in the establishment of the church.

I am glad to be part of the OPC Haiti Mission and join with other brothers and sisters to build a solid team for Christ in Haiti.

Since October 2010, I have concentrated my efforts, as have my colleagues, on the development of a Presbyterian and Reformed denomination in Haiti. I spend my time teaching, preaching, pastoring, and translating Reformed literature from English into French or Creole. I love translating Reformed materials and writing about Reformed theology. I am glad that the Lord is giving me more time to translate some good materials into the language of my people.

Please pray for the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Delmas, where the Lord has put us to preach and teach the Word and to shepherd the congregation. Please pray also that the gospel might go forth to those who need to hear the Word of God. My hope is that the Reformed faith will take deep root in Haiti with churches established, a presbytery formed, several books translated and published, a Reformed seminary planted, and men trained to preach, teach, and defend the faith. The Lord is faithful and he will do it. To him be all praise and glory!

With the Hopps (left) are Octavius and Marie Delfils with son Carlens and daughter Farah

My Personal Testimony

Marie Véronique Delfils

My name is Marie Véronique Delfils. I was born on March 15, 1968. My parents were Roman Catholics; that means I grew up in the Roman Catholic Church. I was baptized as an infant and was later admitted to the Eucharist. I went to school in Saint-Marc, two hours north of Port-au-Prince. That was where my parents lived and where I was born. I completed my elementary school years in that city and then, when it was time to move to middle school, I lost my mother. My father, who was not a faithful husband, did not dedicate enough time to raising us. I moved to Port-au-Prince in 1981 and lived with my older sister. Life was not easy and I lost some school years.

In 1986, I was able to go back to school and complete middle and high school. I found some work to do that enabled me to meet some needs, pay for some living expenses, and pay for my studies. After high school, I went to nursing school and completed three years of studies. I was very glad to reach my goal, since I had dreamed of being a nurse since my younger years. Now I could work more and be more useful to myself, to the community, and to the church. The Lord used me as a nurse for his own glory, as I was able to help people in general and to provide my services as I could to the brothers and sisters in the faith. I acknowledge that the talents that the Lord gives us are his gifts to us and we need to use them for his glory.

When I moved to Port-au-Prince, I did not know the Lord. My sister with whom I lived was not a believer. In fact, none of my siblings were believers. I became friends with a young lady who was a seamstress and whom I helped during my leisure time. She was the instrument that the Lord used to bring me to him. She presented the gospel to me and invited me to church. Some young people in the church invited me to come to their youth group, and that was where I heard the gospel that changed my life. I was baptized in 1987 and continued to grow in the knowledge of the Bible.

In the church, I met my husband, and we got married in 1995. The Lord gave us two children. Carlens, our son, was born in 1997, and our daughter, Farah, was born in 2000. I am glad to see how they are growing and are serving the Lord.

In 2003, the Lord called my husband to theological studies, and he was ordained to the gospel ministry in 2007. He is serving now as a pastor in the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Haiti. My calling is to serve alongside him and encourage him in the work that the Lord has called him to do. Besides that, I am glad to help with the children and the women in the church. I am praying that the Lord would continue to use me for his glory in the church and in the Mission to Haiti. To him alone be all praise and glory.

What’s New

Appointments

• The missionary associate appointments of Miss Erika D. Bulthuis (Providence OPC, Temecula, Calif.) and Miss Leah J. Hopp (Parkwood Presbyterian Church, PCC, Ottawa, Canada) in Karamoja, Uganda, have been extended for two years.

Comings/Goings

• Rev. and Mrs. David A. Okken and their three children are scheduled to return to the U.S. this month to begin a seven-month furlough.

• Missionary associates Mr. and Mrs. Michael W. Caldwell (Woodruff Road Presbyterian Church, PCA, Greenville, S.C.) and Mr. Eric J. Hendrickson (Escondido OPC, Calif.) in Asia, and Miss Emily G. Pihl (Rochester Presbyterian Church, RPCNA, East Rochester, N.Y.) in Karamoja, Uganda, have completed their terms of service and returned to the U.S.

Home Missions

A Tough Climb in California

Richard R. Gerber

Asteady, forward development is what every congregation wants to see—new adult members being added, children being born, people growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ and using their gifts to bless others. But all too often this is not the reality. Already in Jesus’ letters to the churches in the book of Revelation we see congregational decline.

Throughout its history, the OPC has faced its share of congregations that thrive for a time, plateau, and then decline. In 2012, fourteen congregations and mission works closed—an unusually high number. But as one looks across the church today, there are many more congregations struggling to keep the door open.

Grace OPC in Carson, California, was in that class. Twenty-five people who loved the Lord and loved each other gathered each Sunday for catechism, worship, a fellowship meal, and a second worship service. The majority of them were senior saints. A part-time stated supply ministered the Word to them. The property was looking tired and faded.

It wasn’t always this way. Because of growing pains in the 1940s, Grace Church moved out of the building it had outgrown and met in a tent. One hundred and fifty people met in that tent, which served the congregation for eighteen months. But sixty-five years later, the issue was survival.

Intern Joshua Lyon was serving at Branch of Hope OPC (BoH) in nearby Torrance. On Christmas Sunday in 2011, he was asked to lead the worship at Grace OPC. He returned several more times over the next few months. Josh got to know Grace member Jim Shank, who started teaching him how to surf.

Grace OPC in Carson, Calif., at worship

Ruling elder Frank Liu of Harvest OPC in San Marcos suggested the idea of a Grace Church revitalization with assistance from Branch of Hope. At the same time, ruling elder Mic Hirtzel of BoH had the same idea. BoH is a larger, thriving congregation pushing the limits of its building. Josh and Jim talked about the idea on surfing trips. BoH pastor Paul Viggiano, ruling elder Norman Byer of Grace Church, and regional home missionary Dave Crum were brought into the conversation.

The plan to undertake a revitalization continued to unfold. The session of Branch of Hope would become the overseeing session of Grace Church. Intern Josh Lyon would become the organizing pastor. Families from BoH would be asked to become part of Grace Church for a minimum of two years. At present, five families have made that commitment. As others still consider whether to make that commitment, please pray that God will bring other families willing to share in this effort. The ruling elders from BoH take turns worshipping at Grace.

BoH is also lending the services of their media coordinator to help develop a style for Grace’s print materials and electronic media.

Worship attendance is now often in the fifties and sixties. BoH has made a financial gift to Grace to paint the exterior of the main building. The lawn is now green. The building is becoming a hub of activity. The sound and activity of children at church once again brings smiles to the faces of the senior saints. A Labor Day picnic had one hundred people in attendance, including neighbors from the nearby apartment complex. Revitalization is under way.

Pray for organizing pastor Josh Lyon. He says it is hard, hard work seeking to pastor the congregation and fostering its revitalization. He asks you particularly to pray that he would manage his time well.

After his conversion in 1999, Josh became part of what is now Mount Rose Reformed Church (OPC) in Reno, Nevada. Josh found Pastor Andy Preston to be a great mentor. Both the congregation and Pastor Preston were important parts of his faith pilgrimage.

Josh met Jessica, now his wife, while rock climbing. She, too, was from Reno, the fourth generation of her family to live there. Jessica started attending Mount Rose OPC and was converted. Josh and Jessica became friends. Two years into their friendship, they started talking about marriage. Now with two children, they love to talk about rock climbing. The outdoors continues to be a big part of their family’s life. Jessica works from home as a financial advisor. Josh credits her financial acumen with getting them through seminary with no debt.

Pray for visitors to begin coming to worship. Praise God for the gracious spirit of the original people of Grace Church. The new leadership and the new people have been warmly embraced. A spirit of unity is very evident as everyone prays and works for a new era of vibrant life and ministry for Grace Church in Carson, California.

Mercer Island, Wash.

Hope OPC was launched in the spring under the oversight of Westminster OPC in Monroe, Washington. Pastor David Inks had been holding out the idea of planting a church there for some time. Westminster OPC is not a large congregation, but it desired to see Christ proclaimed and people gathered into the church in other areas of Greater Seattle.

In the providence of God, Pastor Dan McManigal’s family became part of Westminster OPC. The family had come to the Seattle area to better facilitate the education of their oldest child. Dan had been the organizing pastor in Roseburg, Oregon, when his child was born profoundly deaf. A search began for necessary and appropriate medical and educational assistance.

That search took Dan and Jill and their family to Portland, Oregon, where Dan labored to plant a congregation of the United Reformed Churches and became its pastor. Next they came to Seattle, so their son could be enrolled in a total communication school. Praise God that he is now thriving!

As the McManigals settled into Westminster OPC, Pastor Inks began to talk with Dan about church planting. As plans were made to begin a Bible study, the question of location had to be faced. The OPC has several congregations in Greater Seattle. With Lynnwood, Bothell, and Monroe in the north and Kent in the south, the target became the center.

Ultimately a meeting space was located in Mercer Island, which is a city and an island. Taking Interstate 90 east out of Seattle and exiting at the first ramp outside the Seattle city limits puts you in Mercer Island. This location fits Hope Church in between the other OP churches.

Approximately forty people gather for Sunday worship. The group, about equally divided between adults and children, is mainly made up of young families, with some single individuals and senior saints sprinkled in. Weekly potluck meals after worship are helping the growing group to get to know one another better.

Children at Hope OPC in Mercer Island, Wash.

Holding Sunday school is too costly in the current meeting facility. As this is being written, negotiations are under way to secure a more affordable facility. Once Hope OPC is in a new facility, the Sunday school ministry will be put in place. Three classes for children and an adult class will be offered. To help the limited number of teachers not get overwhelmed, classes will meet for blocks of time with breaks in December, April, and July-August.

Pastor McManigal asks you to pray that the people of Hope OPC will reflect Christ, grow in Christ, and love one another and the lost. Pray, too, that the Lord would give them a pianist of their own. Westminster Church has been sharing a pianist with Hope Church.

Pastor McManigal praises God for Westminster Church. It has been an awesome congregation. The people and the session have been very helpful and supportive.

Home Missions Today

For up-to-date Home Missions news and prayer updates, e-mail HomeMissionsToday@opc.org. New editions: November 6, 20.

Prayer Calendar

November

1. Mark and Jeni Richline, Montevideo, Uruguay. Pray for increased interest in the outreach ministries of the local church. / Brian and Sara Chang, Cottonwood, Ariz. Pray that God would strengthen and establish Verde Valley Reformed Chapel. / David Haney, director of finance and planned giving for the Committee on Coordination.

2. Jonathan and Kristin Moersch, Capistrano Beach, Calif. Pray that Trinity Presbyterian Church will have a bold and faithful witness to the surrounding community. / Mark and Christine Weber, Mbale, Uganda. Pray for Mark as he oversees the diaconal ministry in Mbale. / Air Force chaplain C. Phillip (and Melanie) Hollstein III.

3. Eric and Dianna Tuininga, Mbale, Uganda. Pray for young Christians in the village churches and also for the pastors who labor among them. / Chad and Katie Mullinix, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Pray that God would bring new families to Holy Trinity Presbyterian Church. / Jeremy Logan, yearlong intern at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Mansfield, Ohio.

4. Christopher and Della Chelpka, Tucson, Ariz. Pray for Covenant OPC’s discipleship and ministry. / Pray for missionary associates Christi Zekveld and Joanna Keilson, Mbale, Uganda, as they assist our missionary families. / Pray for the work of OPC administrative staff members: Doug Watson, Jim Scott, Jan Gregson, Kathy Bube, Pat Clawson, and Char Tipton.

5. Brian and Dorothy Wingard, South Africa. Pray for their witness to students at Mukhanyo Theological College. / Home Missions associate general secretary Dick Gerber. / Pray for short-term missions coordinator David Nakhla as he investigates ways to improve the OPC’s disaster response and short-term missions efforts.

6. Christopher and Ann Malamisuro, Cincinnati, Ohio. Pray that new families at Good Shepherd OPC will bond with the established families. / Bob and Martha Wright, Nakaale, Uganda. Pray for their health and strength as they labor in a tropical climate. / Caleb (and Erika) Smith, yearlong intern at Bethel Presbyterian Church in Wheaton, Ill.

7. Al and Laurie Tricarico, Nakaale, Uganda. Pray for Al as he provides pastoral care at Nakaale Presbyterian Church. / Stephen and Catalina Payson, Mifflinburg, Pa. Pray that December outreach efforts will bring visitors to Providence OPC. / Jeff (and Dawn) Scott, yearlong intern at Covenant Grace OPC in Roseburg, Ore.

8. Joseph and Carla Fowler, Gastonia, N.C. Pray that God’s elect will be brought in to Reformation OPC. / Missionary associates serving in Nakaale, Uganda: Erika Bulthuis, Taryn Dieckmann, Leah Hopp, and Jesse Van Gorkom. / Shane (and Rachelle) Bennett, yearlong intern at Knox OPC in Silver Spring, Md.

9. James and Jenny Knox, M.D. and R.N., Nakaale, Uganda. Pray for the staff at the medical clinic. / Philip and Jenny Dharmawirya, Philadelphia, Pa. Pray for unity and fellowship among the people (Indonesian) of Emmanuel Chapel. / Tony (and Mica) Garbarino, yearlong intern at Covenant OPC in San Jose, Calif.

10. Drew and Sonya Adcock, Williamsport, Pa. Pray for unity and growth within the congregation of Omega OPC. / David and Sunshine Okken, Nakaale, Uganda (on furlough). Pray that they will be refreshed and strengthened for future service. / Steven (and Sarah) Moulson, yearlong intern at Trinity OPC in Hatboro, Pa.

11. Affiliated missionaries Jerry and Marilyn Farnik and missionary associate Mary York, laboring in Prague, Czech Republic. / Kim and Barbara Kuhfuss, Eau Claire, Wis. Pray that Providence Reformed Church will find ways to make its presence known in the community. / Kevin (and Marianne) Olivier, yearlong intern at Pineville OPC in Pineville, La.

Pray for the new mission work in Gaithersburg, Maryland, where twenty or more, mostly young people meet every Friday night for Bible study and every other week for worship in a middle school. Trinity Reformed Church is being planted in a densely populated part of the Washington, D.C., metro area with the opportunity to involve different races and nationalities guided by the Presbytery of the Mid-Atlantic. They are eager to learn about the Reformed faith and how to be the church as they fellowship and use their networking skills to share the gospel of God’s grace with friends. For more information, go to www.joiningtheharvest.org.

12. Home Missions general secretary John Shaw. / Cal and Edie Cummings, Sendai, Japan. Pray that contacts who are hearing the gospel for the first time will respond in faith. / Danny Olinger, Christian Education general secretary, serving as director of the Ministerial Training Institute of the OPC.

13. Kaz and Katie Yaegashi, Yamagata, Japan. Pray for Kita Yamagata Chapel’s evangelistic outreach programs. / Joshua and Jessica Lyon, Carson, Calif. Pray for boldness for those at Grace OPC as they proclaim the gospel to family and friends. / Pray for the Psalter-Hymnal Committee, working with the URCNA Songbook Committee.

14. Todd and Julie Wagenmaker, St. Louis, Mo. Pray that visitors to Gateway OPC will desire to become members. / Missionary associates Adam and Sarah Thompson, Sendai, Japan. Pray for their efforts to present Christ through their teaching. / Sarah Pederson, New Horizons proofreader.

15. Affiliated missionaries Craig and Ree Coulbourne and Linda Karner, Japan. Pray for the ministry teams with which they work. / Mark and Michele Winder, Collierville, Tenn. Pray for officers to be raised up at Wolf River Presbyterian Church. / David (and Amanda) Franks, yearlong intern at Covenant OPC in Orland Park, Ill.

16. Home Missions staff administrator Sean Gregg. / Pray for Woody and Laurie Lauer, Numazu, Japan (on furlough), as they speak to OP congregations. / Jeremy (and Maricruz) Boothby, yearlong intern at Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church in Amarillo, Tex.

17. Pray for Foreign Missions general secretary Mark Bube as he presents the work of foreign missions to OP congregations. / Jonathan and Lauryn Shishko, Queens, N.Y. Praise God for his continued blessing on Reformation Presbyterian Church. / Pray that churches would consider sponsoring an intern in 2014.

18. Ben and Sarah Miller, Huntington, N.Y. Pray for Trinity OPC’s officer training class. / Foreign Missions associate general secretary Douglas Clawson. Pray for those considering careers in foreign missionary service. / Pray for stated clerk George Cottenden as he participates in NAPARC and the Committee on Ecumenicity and Interchurch Relations meetings today through Nov. 21.

19. Pray for Foreign Missions administrative assistant Linda Posthuma and for secretary Abigail Cory as she settles into her new job. / Ken and Cressid Golden, Davenport, Iowa. Pray that God would send more families to Sovereign Grace OPC. / Jeffrey (and Jennifer) Shamess, yearlong intern at Harvest OPC in Wyoming, Mich.

20. Andrew and Billie Moody, San Antonio, Tex. Pray for God’s blessing on San Antonio Reformed Church’s efforts to reach the lost. / Retired missionaries Betty Andrews, Greet Rietkerk, Young and Mary Lou Son, and Fumi Uomoto. / Thomas (and Erin) Tkach, yearlong intern at Calvary OPC in Glenside, Pa.

21. Heero and Anya Hacquebord, L’viv, Ukraine. Pray for the new leadership of the church’s student ministry program. / John and Wenny Ro, Chicago (downtown), Ill. Pray for new visitors to come to Gospel Life Presbyterian Church. / Army chaplains: Earl (and Susan) Vanderhoff, Paul (and Mary) Berghaus, and Chris (and Virginia) Wisdom.

22. Kent and Laurie Harding, Doniphan, Mo. Pray for fruit from recent outreach events at Sovereign Grace Reformed Church. / Ben and Melanie Westerveld, Quebec, Canada. Pray for Ben and the session as they contact people who have visited St-Marc Church. / Broc (and Morgan) Seaman, yearlong intern at Providence OPC in Temecula, Calif.

23. Ben and Heather Hopp, Haiti. Pray for Heather as she homeschools the children. / Daniel and Jill McManigal, Seattle, Wash. Pray for the efforts of Hope OPC to bring people under the ministry of the Word of God. / Josh (and Kristen) McKamy, yearlong intern at New Life OPC in Montoursville, Pa.

24. Sacha and Martina Walicord, Mt. Vernon, Ohio. Pray for the discipleship and ministry of Knox Presbyterian Church. / Associate missionaries Octavius and Marie Delfils, Haiti. Pray for Octavius as he leads the congregation in Port-au-Prince. / Micah Shin, yearlong intern at Cedar Presbyterian Church in Hudsonville, Mich.

25. Mr. and Mrs. F, Asia (on furlough). Pray that they will give a vision for missions to the churches they visit. / Tim and Joanne Beauchamp, Bridgton, Maine. Pray that the congregation of Pleasant Mountain Presbyterian Church will grow in spiritual maturity. / David (and Kathryn) Landow, yearlong intern at Emmanuel OPC in Wilmington, Del.

26. Brandon and Laurie Wilkins, Crystal Lake, Ill. Pray for wisdom in identifying officers at Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church. / Mr. and Mrs. M., Asia. Pray for Mr. M. as he assists in the teaching ministries of the young local church. / Justin (and Hannah) Rosser, yearlong intern at Matthews OPC in Matthews, N.C.

27. Tentmaker missionary T. L. L., Asia. Pray for spiritual growth and understanding for those attending Bible studies. / Eric and Donna Hausler, Naples, Fla. Pray for many visitors as worship services begin at Naples Presbyterian Church. / Pray for the Subcommittee on Internet Ministries as it oversees OPC.org.

28. Jeremiah and Elizabeth Montgomery, State College, Pa. Pray for personal contacts between members of Resurrection OPC and unbelievers. / Missionary associates E. C. and T. D., Asia. Ask God to use them in reaching young people for the Lord. / Yevgeni Koh, yearlong intern at Bonita OPC in Bonita, Calif.

29. Missionary associates H. L. and M. W., Asia. Pray for opportunities to witness to students at the university where they teach. / Everett and Kimberly Henes, Hillsdale, Mich. Praise God for blessing Hillsdale OPC with new families. / Mark Lowrey, publications editor at Great Commission Publications.

30. Pray for regional home missionary Jim Bosgraf as he labors to plant churches in the Presbytery of the Midwest. / Pray for missionary associates Mr. and Mrs. M., Asia, as they provide guidance and encouragement to our mission team. / Andrew (and Elizabeth) Barshinger, yearlong intern at Faith OPC in Elmer, N.J.

Stewardship

Information about the Thank Offering

Every year the Worldwide Outreach ministries of the OPC (Foreign Missions, Home Missions, and Christian Education) rely upon the generous support of the members and friends of the OPC, not only in regular contributions, but also in the Thank Offering. In this way we help to carry out the Great Commission to spread the gospel.

Thank Offering packages were sent to the churches in the OPC during the second week of October. They contained the Thank Offering poster, bulletin inserts, and remittance envelopes. If your church has not received this package by the time you are reading this, or if you need additional material, please contact Jan Gregson at the OPC Administrative Office (215/830-0900).

The bulletin inserts are intended to be distributed on consecutive Lord’s Days prior to the collection of the Thank Offering. We suggest that churches use them from October 27 to November 17, with a collection on November 24. Some churches collect the Thank Offering on consecutive Sundays, throughout the month of November, or at a special Thanksgiving service.

Checks collected in local offerings should be made out to your local church and designated for the Thank Offering.

If you are unable to participate in the Thank Offering at your local congregation, or if you are a friend of the OPC who would like to give to the Thank Offering, included in this issue of New Horizons is a remittance envelope. Using that envelope, checks made out to “The Orthodox Presbyterian Church” and designated “Thank Offering” can be mailed directly to: The Orthodox Presbyterian Church, 607 N. Easton Rd., Bldg. E, Willow Grove, PA 19090.

As the chart below indicates, we need a strong Thank Offering this year to keep our denominational ministries financially healthy, heading into the new year.

Requests for 2014

The 2013 General Assembly of the OPC determined to make the following requests for the financial support of denominational ministries (generally to be made through individual congregations):

Worldwide Outreach $3,790,000

This averages out to $170.15 per communicant member. Smaller churches may not be able to meet this average, so larger churches need to give more than the average.

Thank Offering giving at the end of the year goes to Worldwide Outreach. Ideally, it takes these missions and education ministries beyond the budgeted goal.

GA Operation Fund

Churches are requested to give $20.00 per communicant member.

GA Travel Fund

Churches are requested to give $12.00 per communicant member.

Diaconal Ministries General Fund

Churches are requested to give $25.00 per communicant member.

Send contributions to: The Orthodox Presbyterian Church, 607 N. Easton Rd., Bldg. E, Willow Grove, PA 19090. Checks should be made payable to The Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Contributions are credited to Worldwide Outreach and support all its ministries, unless designated for a particular fund or committee.

News

Mission Tejas 2013

Andrew Moody

Remember the Alamo? This historic landmark serves as a reminder of the missions that helped found San Antonio, Texas. The need for the gospel of Jesus to go out into “the River City” is just as great today as it was when Colonels William Travis and James Bowie fought to defend the Alamo against the Mexican army led by General Antonio López de Santa Anna.

San Antonio Reformed Church put out a call for teams to come help in reaching out to their community on the northeast side of town. This call was answered by Providence Presbyterian Church in Pflugerville (Austin).

The first major project they undertook was to help clean up the portion of the facility that the church rents for worship. The ugly cracks in the wall were patched, the dirty carpets were cleaned, and a fresh coat of paint freshened up the room where services are held. The storage room was cleaned out and organized, so everything could easily be found on Sunday mornings. Outside, the deck received some TLC as team leader Michael Spranger screwed down loose boards, and the younger boys applied a coat of paint to the railing. Not only does our church benefit directly from these improvements, but we are also able to be a blessing to the Seventh-day Adventist church from which we rent.

On Saturday we held an outreach BBQ on a major street in our area. We received permission from an auto parts store to set up in their parking lot! Our grill-meister, Marshall Moody, cooked up 120 hamburgers and 160 hot dogs that we gave away! Ruling elder Dave Hall helped serve up 200 snow cones, while his wife Donna used her artistic gifts at the face-painting table.

A successful outreach effort at San Antonio Reformed Church

Several people also came over from Grace OPC in northwest San Antonio to serve! Everyone pitched in to hold up signs to the cars passing by, serve food and drinks, and supervise the bounce house. Most of the locals who stopped in were surprised that everything was free and that we weren’t accepting donations.

Our literature table was stocked with lots of free books and church information. Most who attended left with a book or church card in hand. We were also able to collect contact information from many families, which allowed us to send out a follow-up letter inviting them to come and worship with us.

It was a joy to meet people in our community and to have the opportunity to serve them as a church family. We pray that this will open doors for us to develop closer relationships with those with whom we have further contact. Several of the team members were able to return and worship with us on Sunday, which was a great encouragement to our church.

We thank the Lord that we have grown closer to our sister church through mutual service and encouragement in the Lord. We are so grateful for their generosity. They have given of their resources to build up the body of Christ in northeast San Antonio. Their team helped us to successfully pull off a great community outreach event, which we had wanted to do for some time, but lacked the resources to make it happen.

They are already talking about sending a team again next year. That would be great! Keep your eyes out for short-term mission opportunities, which are posted at opcstm.org. Maybe the Lord will open the door for your church to bring a team down to the Alamo City next year.

There is always a need to reach out to others with the love of Jesus. May the Lord use our humble service to bless and build up his church as his gospel goes out to create new missions in San Antonio and to the ends of the world.

The Ark of the Covenant Found—in Boulder Creek?

Dennis Fullalove

Movies have been made about it. Explorers have been looking all over the world for it. Some think it is hidden away in a U.S. government warehouse. But we know where it is. The ark of the covenant, the altar of incense, and the high priest himself (Aaron, a quiet and reserved man) were at Redwood Christian Park in Boulder Creek, California, during the Presbytery of Northern California and Nevada’s Summer Bible Camp, July 15–19.

We gathered together under the beautiful redwoods in the Santa Cruz mountains to hear the Rev. Carl “Erick” Erickson, pastor of New Covenant OPC in South San Francisco, speak on “Christ Our Priest Fulfills the Feast: A Study of the Tabernacle and Its Celebrations.” He spoke on eight topics: Christ our prophet, Christ our Priest, Christ our passover, Christ our king, Christ and the tabernacle, Christ and the feasts of Israel, Christ our cover-man and mediator, and Christ and the feast of tabernacles. With such great visual aids and great teaching, we were able to grow in our understanding of what the feasts of the Old Testament mean for those who are chosen in Christ today. We even had a Seder service during the week. The young (and those not so young) enjoyed the lessons.

Ken Kitts (left) and Carl and Kathy Erickson join Cohen Aaron ben Levi (seated) with the ark of the covenant and the altar of incense

Ken Kitts, a member of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Marina (Monterey Bay), California, built the ark of the covenant and the altar of incense according to the Bible’s specifications. Kathy Erickson, wife of the speaker, made the garments for the high priest.

I encourage you to learn from Pastor Erickson, just as we did, by going to ssfopc.wordpress.com to see the videos. You can also visit New Covenant OPC at 186 Country Club Drive in South San Francisco, California. We might be persuaded to show you the ark.

Update

Ministers

• John Currie, formerly director of student development and alumni support at Westminster Theological Seminary, was installed as pastor of Redeemer OPC in Ada, Michigan, on September 8.

• Edward E. Jensen was ordained as a minister an installed as pastor of Grace Reformed Presbyterian Church in Des Moines, Iowa, on September 27.

• Cecil R. “Cris” Simpson III was ordained and installed as a teacher at Cornerstone Presbyterian Church in Ambler, Pa., on September 30.

Milestones

• Robert L. Reymond, 80, retired minister and theologian, died on September 20.

Reviews

Christ’s Glory, Your Good: Salvation Planned, Promised, Accomplished, and Applied, by Ryan M. McGraw. Published by Reformation Heritage Books, 2013. Paperback, 144 pages, list price $12.00. Reviewed by Pastor Geoffrey Willour.

“There are many versions of Jesus Christ presented in the world, but the only Christ that matters is the one whom God has revealed in Holy Scripture” (p. vii.) How true indeed, and Ryan McGraw, pastor of First OPC in Sunnyvale, California, sets out in this wonderful little book to show us that this biblical Christ is an amazingly glorious person. In this deeply pastoral, evangelistic, convicting, and edifying book, written in rich devotional style, McGraw masterfully expounds the glory of Christ by tracing God’s plan of salvation from its inception in the eternal covenant of redemption all the way through to its ultimate goal in the consummation of all things in Christ.

What makes McGraw’s book masterful is that he explains these deep doctrinal truths of redemptive history in a simple, direct way that even many newer converts and less theologically inclined readers can grasp, all without sacrificing content or depth. Throughout the chapters of this book, he roots these truths in the faithful exegesis of relevant passages of Scripture, centering them on the glorious person and saving work of our Lord Jesus Christ. This book originated as an extended gospel tract written as a seminary assignment (see p. xi), but it ended up as a miniature systematic theology, centered on the glory of Christ and accessible to the layman.

The chapter titles of the book reveal how the author traces the plan of salvation by centering it on the glorious Christ: “The Eternal Christ,” “The Christ of Genesis 3:15,” “The Incarnate Christ,” “The Obedient Christ,” “The Suffering Christ,” “The Resurrected Christ,” “The Exalted Christ,” and “The Reigning Christ.” Of particular significance for contemporary discussions within churches of the confessionally Reformed and Presbyterian family (including the OPC) are McGrath’s emphasis on the eternal covenant of redemption, his exposition of the bicovenantal structuring of God’s historical dealings with mankind (i.e., the covenant of works and the covenant of grace), his emphasis on the importance and centrality of union with Christ, and his defense of the active obedience of Christ, showing how Christ by his active obedience fulfills the covenant of works on behalf of his elect.

Another fine aspect of McGraw’s book is his frequent highlighting of the importance of the Trinity. For example, on p. 13 he writes: “We cannot understand the glory of Christ or the glory of the gospel without a God who is triune. If there is no Trinity, then there is no gospel and no Christianity.”

I heartily recommend this edifying book.

* * *

A Puritan Theology: Doctrine for Life, by Joel R. Beeke and Mark Jones. Published by Reformed Heritage Books, 2012. Hardback, 1060 pages, list price $60.00. Reviewed by Pastor Michael W. Bobick.

When David was poised to cut down the proud timber Goliath, Saul encumbered his warrior with armor and sword. They seemed to be Israel’s best weaponry. But “I cannot go in these, because I am not used to them,” replied David. And so unbelief was felled, not by the sharp edge of man-shaped metal, but by God’s round stone. A rock smoothed in nature’s brook, launched in faith, was mightier than the anvil’s product. The weapon must fit the work.

Smooth stone versus sharp edge: this is a lively debate about the history of Reformed theology. Did seventeenth-century “Reformed Orthodoxy” cast aside the smooth stone of the pristine Reformed faith? In his Institutes, Calvin is the popular preacher, not the scholastic logician. But Thomas Goodwin, for example, argues for three stages in justification, while distinguishing between God’s work “by Christ” and “in Christ.” Does this keen logic blunt the force of truth? Calvin knew that smooth and simple thoughts are not only biblical, but also more powerful in battle. Did others burden a vibrant Calvinism with unwieldy Philistine philosophy?

Joel Beeke and Mark Jones contend that Calvin and his descendants stand together. They insist that essential confessional unity prevails over any minor differences, even among the Puritans themselves. All the Reformed troops rallied to the same clarion call of divine grace. They might even remind us that the stone slinger finished the job with the enemy’s own blade! Smooth and sharp can work together.

Some scholars will question the confident assertions of Beeke and Jones. Some pressing questions of theological method go unmentioned. And surely there are more Puritan warts than we find identified here. But the academy is not their first audience. Instead, as preachers, the authors aim to serve the well-read person in the pew. Beeke and Jones cite many primary sources while making their case for essential unity. This promotes a deeper study (and application) of Puritan theology. Thus, this volume has the feel of a standard systematic theology, joined to an anthology of specialized topics. From this perspective, the accolades this book has received are well deserved. The chapters that are strong on application (like “Providence”) are solid food for the soul.

At over a thousand large pages replete with footnotes, this book may be read from cover to cover by few readers. But as a compendium of mainstream Puritan thought, as David said of Goliath’s sword, “there is nothing like it.” If you would prefer a less technical survey of Puritan-era doctrine with application, go to Wilhelmus à Brakel’s The Christian’s Reasonable Service in four volumes—or download some of the many free Puritan books available in PDF from www.internetarchive.com. Thank you, Drs. Beeke and Jones, for putting so much mind-stirring material within easy reach. You have worn your armor well.

* * *

Suffering and Sovereignty: John Flavel and the Puritans on Afflictive Providence, by Brian H. Cosby. Published by Reformation Heritage Books, 2012. Paperback, 176 pages, list price $25.00. Reviewed by Pastor Jonathan Holst.

A decade ago in the U.K., my peers scowled when they heard I had been “licensed to preach the gospel.” They asked whether such practices were found in Scripture or in British church history. I named John Flavel and their confusion just deepened. I am sorry to say that many Americans know British church history better than we Brits do.

Brian H. Cosby, pastor of Wayside Presbyterian Church (PCA), has written a book that is historically and pastorally beneficial. Cosby’s short examination of afflictive providence in Puritan thought revolves around the extensive writing and preaching of John Flavel (1627–1691), who, in addition to being married four times, was an heir of the Westminster Standards. His life was a crucible in which suffering and theology met the refining fire of the Holy Spirit. Even if a reader ignored the preface of Suffering and Sovereignty, it would be obvious that the book is a summary of a larger scholarly work. This slimmed-down book is both readable and concise, and includes limited but informative interaction with other scholars.

At the beginning of the book, Cosby asks, “How does a Christian make sense of suffering today?” He then answers this well-worn question in seven chapters, looking back through the lens of Puritan theology to the Scriptures. Each chapter is a well-organized, self-contained unit, helpfully broken down into clearly headed subsections. Cosby begins by presenting Flavel’s teaching on the origin and nature of human suffering, and then he considers related issues of divine sovereignty and our suffering. These weighty matters lead to a more pastoral assessment of God’s purpose in man’s afflictions and the correct response to such suffering. The final two chapters are dedicated to Flavel’s own ministry to sufferers, concentrating on a believer’s assurance of salvation and the cessation of suffering.

Many of you reading this review are familiar with Reformed teachings, such as union with Christ. If you seek to experience such heavenly truths, particularly in times of suffering, devote a few hours to this work. You may not be overly interested in Puritan history, but in modern times, which are saturated with the “misery of that estate into which man fell,” you will find this book filled with helpful teaching on your own struggles as they work out your relationship with your Savior. I recommend Suffering and Sovereignty to all who seek a better understanding of Christian suffering. This work would be particularly beneficial to recently ordained men and licentiates as they shape their own theological perspectives and sharpen their pastoral tools at the “coal face” of the local church. Thank you, Pastor Cosby!

* * *

A Month of Sundays, by Glenda Mathes. Published by Reformation Heritage Books, 2012. Paperback, 128 pages, list price $10.00. Reviewed by Pastor Curtis Moleterno.

Unlike many contemporary devotional books, Glenda Mathes’s A Month of Sundays is securely tethered to Scripture and respectful of our Reformed confessional heritage.

As the back cover states, she “helps us to see that we must be true Sabbath keepers, understanding that God has called us to develop daily attitudes of worship and rest we enjoy on Sunday.” Heidelberg Catechism Q. 103 (which asks what God requires of us in the fourth commandment) provides the orientation for the thirty-one brief devotionals that follow.

The devotionals are arranged according to the order of the books of the Bible, so that, as one progresses through the month, one also progresses from Genesis to Revelation. Sixteen devotionals are based on the Old Testament, and fifteen on the New.

Mrs. Mathes is able to distill her thoughts down in a way that makes reading her devotionals profitable without becoming burdensome. Her writing is transparent, and one can tell that her insights into the Scriptures were borne out of a sincere piety and commitment to her Lord. She clearly has a gift for creative writing, but in a way that complements rather than detracts from the content she seeks to communicate.

For example, in the first devotional, from Genesis 2:2–3, she describes the beauty of the world God had just created: “Puffy clouds floated in blue sky above a rippling sea. Fruit ripened on supple fruit branches. Plump heads of grain undulated in gentle breezes. The sun’s golden globe daily bathed the earth with its warm rays. The moon’s silver disk nightly shimmered among sparkling stars. Squawking gulls skimmed past spurting whales. Deer grazed fearlessly beside calm lakes.”

Many such evocative images reinforce the message of each devotional and contribute to the book’s overall theme, that true Sabbath rest is grounded in trust in our sovereign, triune God. Mrs. Mathes is careful to point out that Sabbath rest isn’t a life of listless inactivity, but one of spiritual growth and of overcoming fears and temptations. A Month of Sundays is a Christ-honoring devotional book written from a heart singularly devoted to God.

Announcements

Positions Available

College President: Providence Christian College is searching for its next president: an individual who is deeply inspired by a biblical and Reformed world-and-life view, is equipped to creatively implement the college’s mission and vision, and will be significantly committed to the long-term success of the college in a way that brings glory to the living God. A complete prospectus for the position is available at presidentsearch.providencecc.edu. Inquiries, nominations, and applications may be directed to presidentsearch@providencecc.edu or Providence Christian College, Attn: Chair, Presidential Search Committee, P.O. Box 93074, Pasadena, CA 91109-3074.

Study Cruise with Pastor Gerald Malkus

Join us on a seven-day Eastern Caribbean study cruise on the Celebrity Reflection, sailing out of Miami, Fla., March 1–8, 2014. Gerald Malkus, pastor of Hope OPC in Syracuse, N.Y., will be lecturing throughout the journey on “The Lord’s Prayer.” Cabins are limited. Members and friends of the OPC who are interested in a time of wonderful fellowship, teaching, and spiritual renewal may contact Sovereign Cruises at 1-877-768-2784 ext. 112 or visit www.opccruise.com.

OPC.org

Too soon to think of Camps and Conferences for 2014?

Don’t let the calendar sneak up on you.

www.opc.org/cce/camps.html