Contents

The Benefits of Short-Term Mission Trips(and Some Advice)

Eric R. Hausler

Intentionally Presbyterian Short-Term Missions

David Winslow, Jr.

Short-Term Missions at the Boardwalk Chapel in Wildwood

Elizabeth Horst

Base Camp: Opportunities for Young People

Nathan Nguyen

Home Missions

Getting Ready for Ministry

Christian Education

Laying a Firm Foundation, Part Two: K to Grade 2

Foreign Missions

Opportunities in Ethiopia and Europe

Stewardship

The Fount of Giving in the Goodness of God

Prayer Calendar

June

News

Letters

Reviews

Announcements

New Horizons
in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church
June 2016 • Volume 37, Number 6

© 2016 by The Committee on Christian Education of The Orthodox Presbyterian Church

Editor: Danny E. Olinger

Managing Editor: James W. Scott

Editorial Assistant: Patricia Clawson

Cover Designer: Christopher Tobias

Proofreader: Sarah J. Pederson
Editorial Board: The Committee on Christian Education’s Subcommittee on Serial Publications

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.

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Team members from the Presbytery of the Midwest helping out at Faith Bible Church (OPC) in Brick, New Jersey, in July 2015: standing: Jason Alsum, Samantha Beezhold, Lydia Hamstra, Kelly Rose, Paul LeMahieu; kneeling: Sara Grace Baugh, Pete Onnink, Allison Mazzarella, Jessica Baugh, Abigail Mazzarella, Katie Baldwin, Westin deRu. Hurricane Sandy relief work was still ongoing almost three years after the storm. Pete (a carpenter by trade), Kelly, and Paul led “Team Brick” in responding to a request for assistance with a weeklong service trip.

The Benefits of Short-Term Mission Trips
(and Some Advice)

Eric R. Hausler

Over the last thirty-five years, the Lord has given me the opportunity to lead numerous short-term mission teams, both domestically and abroad, and to receive teams where I’ve labored as a church planter. What follows is some of the fruit of what the Lord has taught me about short-term missions: the benefits of short-term teams for those sending and receiving them, as well as some suggestions. These matters are fresh on my mind, as I recently returned from leading a short-term trip overseas and am presently hosting a team to assist our church-planting work in Naples, Florida.

Benefits of Short-Term Mission Trips for the Sending Body

1. Short-term mission trips give participants an opportunity to see a larger picture of the church. Many short-term teams visiting other cultures and cities see for the first time that the glorious church of Jesus Christ encompasses people “from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Rev. 5:9).

2. Often participants return with a greater “confidence in the faith” (1 Tim. 3:13) because they have served the Lord in new ways and have been stretched beyond their comfort level. I personally know many people who have sensed God’s call to full-time ministry or missions because of their short-term mission trip. Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Luke 10:2). A visit to the mission field can be used by God like the man from Macedonia in Paul’s vision: “Come over … and help us” (Acts 16:9).

3. Men who are being considered for office have a chance to be observed and tested on short-term teams for their gifts in serving the Lord, whether as overseeing elders or in diaconal service (1 Tim. 3:10). I can think of many dear brothers now ordained as officers in the church who had the opportunity to be tested in ways that stretched them and revealed their heart for ministry.

4. Team members often come home vividly seeing “every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ” because they’ve had new opportunities to share their faith (Philem. 6).

5. Sometimes the fields are just as ripe at home, but they’re hidden until we leave our familiar surroundings. The Lord regularly uses his Word and Spirit in a new setting to say, “Lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest” in your own neighborhood (John 4:35).

Team members in Haiti practicing English conversation with high school students

Benefits of Short-Term Mission Trips for the Receiving Body

1. The bonds of love and fellowship between our churches can be strengthened by receiving a team to labor among your flock, creating the kind of joyful memories that Paul had when he thought of the Philippian believers because of their “partnership in the gospel” (Phil. 1:5). Given the geographical distance between some of our churches, this can be a wonderful encouragement to church members who are new to the OPC.

2. When a local church sees the enthusiasm and readiness for ministry of a visiting team, it can be used by the Lord to inspire those who may have become slothful in serving. You may later write to the sending church, “Your zeal has stirred up most of them” (2 Cor. 9:2), as Paul wrote to the believers in Achaia.

3. Visiting teams can be used for special ministry outreach, or simply to bless your neighbors with self-sacrificing love. Just this week, we informed 367 families in our neighborhood, through an online bulletin board, that a service team was in town from Michigan, offering to wash exterior windows at no charge. Within a few hours, we had over twenty responses! What a wonderful open door this was to share the love of Christ and show our neighbors that we follow him who “came not to be served but to serve” (Mark 10:45). As the team finished each house, they left a thank-you note that included information about our church and our Biblical Counseling Center. Their humble service and Gospel-seasoned words have introduced us to many neighbors we never knew, and truly brought the love and joy of Christ to many who needed a taste of God’s refreshing grace. Comments posted today on our neighborhood website confirm that the reputation of Christ was clearly honored by the team.

4. We have also used visiting teams to introduce a new hymn or psalm to our church-planting work. This past Sunday the Michigan team taught a hymn before the call to worship, both in the morning and in the evening. As they head home, I know I will be able to say to them, “The hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you” (Philem. 7).

5. Receiving a mission team also gives the host pastor or missionary a concentrated occasion for real disciple-making. Think of the unique opportunity to model for visiting youth and adults who are eager to grow: your enthusiasm for the gospel, your love for the lost, your willingness to talk to strangers, your commitment to prayer, your thanksgiving to God, your zeal to build the kingdom, and your joy in the Lord. Short-term teams are a wide-open door for discipleship training as the Lord makes people into “fishers of men” (Mark 1:17).

Part of the team from Zion Christian School in Byron Center, Mich., washing windows in Naples, Fla.

Advice for Sending or Receiving a Short-Term Mission Team

1. Be prepared. As with any endeavor involving the testimony of the Lord Jesus and the lives of those under your care, leading or receiving a mission team out of their hometown is a serious matter that takes careful planning. Think through every single step from beginning to end, and strive for excellence: “Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31).

2. Commit your plans to the Lord in prayer every step of the way, remembering that “unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain” (Ps. 127:1), and “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established” (Prov. 16:3)—and then trust the Lord to bring his plans to pass.

3. Make sure the receiving body takes the lead. Much harm has been done by short-term teams that have their own ideas about what is helpful. I recommend reading When Helping Hurts, by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert, to prevent unintentionally causing more harm than good, and to make sure that your team serves with great care, “not as unwise but as wise” (Eph. 5:15).

4. Create an application form and a detailed list of expectations. I learned the hard way that some youth join a team only because their parents see it as a needful experience. Now I have a lengthy application for participants and a list of expectations, each line of which must be initialed by the applicant.

5. Make the Word of God a priority for the team because “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17). So fill the endeavor with Scripture from beginning to end, that Christ would be honored, his people would edified, and those without faith would be drawn to the Savior.

The author is the pastor of Christ the King Presbyterian Church in Naples, Fla., and a part-time missionary to Haiti.

Intentionally Presbyterian Short-Term Missions

David Winslow, Jr.

How does the Presbytery of Southern California do short-term foreign mission work in a way that might be helpful for others in the OPC to consider? Over thirty years and some forty teams, I have observed a conscientious effort to do things in a Presbyterian fashion, and along the way we have created a culture of summer service on the mission fields. Most often we, as a presbytery, send pastor-led teams to places where “come over and help us” OPC missionaries are laboring.

An Eager OP Missionary

Our mission teams began with gusto in 1987, when the first Team Baja was sent to Tijuana, Mexico. The presbytery’s Youth Committee, with the blessing of the presbytery’s Missions Committee, worked with the presbytery’s foreign missionary, Dave Crum, to plan and develop a strategy for having a team of young people each summer. The goal was to work with the Mexican Presbyterian churches, where Mr. Crum was already ministering.

So the first important ingredients were the eager OP missionary and the consenting and consulting presbyters. And boy, were Dave and Jane Crum, with their children, eager to have teams for the next twenty years! But they have not been alone. The Farniks in the Czech Republic, the Hopps in Haiti, the Falks in Uruguay, and the whole Karamoja team in Uganda have gone out of their way to host our teams and think of creative ways to put them to work on their fields. Write to your missionaries and ask them whether they desire a team from your presbytery.

Dave Crum with Team Uruguay teaching what?!

Missionary-Directed Service

It is important that teams prepare with the goal of meeting the missionaries’ vision for the work on the mission field. It takes a good listening ear to “hear” what the missionaries are telling you through their emails. The teams of eight to ten people, as we like to send, are not for every mission field, and that needs to be respected. It is important that teams be tailored to fit the missionary’s desires, both as to size and makeup, as well as his service goals on the field. Construction projects may be a “guy” thing, but so is teaching the Bible or the catechism to little children, and young men have excelled in each of these areas as well.

A Presbytery Team

A team sent by a single congregation is certainly doable for our largest churches, but the blessing of a presbytery team is that members of smaller churches have the opportunity to participate. Almost every church in our presbytery has had a representative on one of our teams; we take church membership into account in choosing the team members. We often do a presbytery send-off from one of the local churches, in connection with the Sunday evening worship, with a sermon fit for the occasion; and the prayer burden for the team is spread across the entire presbytery. An added benefit is the development of solid friendships among the young people of the presbytery.

Pastor Peter Sim, Team Haiti leader

A Pastor-Led Team

Pastoral leadership, with essential help from an assistant leader, is our goal. First we look for a pastor or a ministerial candidate. Then we look for a female assistant leader—the pastor’s wife, if possible. A pastor provides spiritual leadership for the team, keeping it focused on the Lord and the ministry at hand, and keeping the team members accountable for their conduct and words. He can also be a source of fellowship for the missionary and can share some of the teaching and preaching load while there.

We have always been able to find a female assistant leader to help in the nitty-gritty detail of organizing the team and its teaching materials before the trip and to serve in a supporting role. Some leaders come home saying, “I felt like I did practically nothing, since my assistant handled everything so efficiently.” Jane Crum could write a book about what it took to support her husband who was serving as both the team leader and the host missionary. In fact, she was actually writing living letters, as several young women she trained went on to assist in the leadership of teams to other countries.

A Pastorally Screened Team

We look for spiritually mature young men and women who are eager to share their faith and willing to serve in any way to help the team fulfill its ministry goals. We require communicant membership and want to know how an applicant has already served in the local and regional church. A good, candid pastoral reference is part of the application process. In addition to debriefing the team before coming home, we have begun requesting missionaries and team leaders to evaluate the team members.

A Session-Supported Team

Fund-raisers and fund-raising letters are not always a needed part of scraping together the $1,500–2,500 necessary to serve on an overseas team. We ask each applicant whether their session is supportive of them serving on a team and will encourage congregational financial help.

In my own congregation, the session sets a goal each year for gifts to our Short-Term Mission Fund, which are to be over and above regular giving, so that those who are serving may be supported according to each person’s need. That way, those who gather little do not have too little, and those who gather much do not have too much, because the fund serves all. Fees are set by the Youth Committee so that the leader’s expenses are fully covered, along with a portion of his assistant’s expenses. Our goal is that each team be fully funded and break even. In 2006, the presbytery’s Youth Committee was given $10,000 to help fund our first overseas team. A decade and $260,000 later, we still have about the same amount in the fund because of overwhelming support from families and churches.

Team Praha on a Slovakian mountain with Czech youths

A Prepared Team

We are always working to improve the preparation and orientation of our teams. Prior field experience is invaluable, and for that reason we always try to select some team members from prior teams. A person like Rosie Perkins from Prescott, Arizona, with four Team Haitis under her belt, is a diamond we want to keep polishing! We use language CDs or MP3s for beginning language acquisition. The Internet has provided useful ways for teams to meet and pray at a distance and also for the leaders to review the preparations of those who will be teaching. But in-person meetings are strongly encouraged as a way to build unity and competence before embarking.

If you would like help in organizing a team from your presbytery, we would be glad to consult with you.

The author, an elder at Westminster OPC in Westminster, Calif., wrote this article together with his daughter, Kathleen Winslow.

Short-Term Missions at the Boardwalk Chapel in Wildwood

Elizabeth Horst

How do believers effectively fulfill the Great Commission when average Americans spend their lives chasing entertainment? Why bother witnessing to sinners vacationing on the Jersey Shore, one of today’s most noticeable hot spots of blatant rebellion and youthful corruption?

Theologically speaking, where sin abounds, grace abounds much more. More concretely, Jesus still calls his disciples today. He calls us to take up our cross and follow him. Christ calls his church to bring his message of faith and repentance to the whole world, even to those who are the most hardened to truth. This is what our Lord and Savior has called us to do at the Boardwalk Chapel.

A History of Faithfulness

In the early 1940s, Rev. Leslie Dunn stood on the Wildwood Shore and counted the cost of bringing the gospel of Jesus to the lost souls who traveled from near and far in search of fame and happiness. With the oversight of the Presbytery of New Jersey, a boardwalk property was purchased, the Gospel Pavilion was built, and the seasonal ministry of proclaiming Jesus through nightly programs began in July 1945.

As years passed and the outreach became today’s Boardwalk Chapel, staff continually sought to shine as lights through the chaos of revelry on the boards. Each night, the Chapel demonstrated the truth of Jesus through preaching the Word, testimonies, music, and skits. Every summer, staff witnessed to thousands of people from diverse nationalities, cultures, and religions. These short-term missionaries also enjoyed Christian fellowship with visiting ministers and youth groups, with some staff even finding spouses during the summer. Outreach on the Jersey Shore prepared countless believers for roles as pastors, teachers, elders, missionaries, evangelists, fathers, and mothers—all seeking to carry out our Savior’s call.

Essentially, the Chapel’s history is one of faithfulness. The Lord has faithfully kept his promise to build his church. Likewise, Jesus’ disciples have faithfully followed him wherever he has called them to go, even by carrying the gospel to the ends of the earth.

The Boardwalk Chapel at dusk

Carrying on the Torch

By the grace of God, the Boardwalk Chapel’s seventy-second year of ministry has begun with the same mission of faithful obedience. We still seek to proclaim Jesus to a lost and dying world while equipping the saints to build his church. And the Lord has faithfully given wisdom to our PNJ Home Missions Committee to make procedural changes to enable the outreach to grow and expand over the years.

For example, in prior years, summer staff often obtained daytime jobs to support themselves, thus limiting their ministry and fellowship opportunities to nighttime efforts. But by increasing summer fees for staff and churches, the Chapel has become more financially stable, and nearly all summer staff operate on a full-time basis.

This change enables young people to focus on robust training and hands-on evangelism all summer long. In addition, church groups are integrated into daily staff training and activities, resulting in expanded opportunities for fellowship and daytime ministry, including a Friday afternoon outreach for local children.

Armed with his experience as a husband, father, pastor (of Calvary OPC in Cape May Court House), and retired military chaplain, director James Zozzaro regularly seeks additional ways to expand the short-term mission capabilities of the Chapel. He delegates responsibilities to handpicked leaders and encourages more churches to become involved each year. He selects a year-round maintenance coordinator and an administrative assistant. In addition, Zozzaro chooses seasonal coordinators to oversee evangelism, music, drama, and audiovisuals at the Chapel and a mature couple to act as parents at the staff house.

This summer, the season begins with two weeks of staff training in June—Dr. Henry Krabbendam presents his School of Evangelism, and Pastor Zozzaro gives college-level lectures on “Defining and Defending the Faith.” Staff members coordinate daytime activities and evening programs with visiting churches for eleven weeks, and the season winds down in September with weekend concerts and youth group activities.

Last year, the Lord blessed us with twenty-one summer staff and over three hundred church visitors. This year, our twenty-eight staff members are coming from as far away as Georgia, Michigan, and Wyoming, and some church groups from as far away as Maine, New Hampshire, and North Carolina. The Lord has truly blessed the Chapel with faithful servants who dedicate their time and resources to assist in every element of ministry.

As the seed of the gospel is sown each summer, it is exciting to see the Lord at work among the lost souls in Wildwood. Indeed, books could be written about the encounters that staff have been blessed to witness and participate in.

The ministry of the Chapel, however, does not end after the busy summer of witnessing to tourists, workers, and Jersey residents. The Chapel’s goal also includes equipping disciples to be effective witnesses for Christ in whatever fields he has prepared for them back in their homes, churches, and neighborhoods. Thus, the Chapel’s ultimate objective to build the worldwide church includes an ingathering of the lost and an outpouring of faithful servants who are strengthened during the summer’s ministry.

Henry Krabbendam’s School of Evangelism

Pray to the Lord of the Harvest

When our Lord walked the shores of Galilee, the harvest was plentiful and the laborers were few. So it is even now. Faithful disciples are needed to go into the fields every day. As an international hot spot, Wildwood is particularly ripe with opportunity for young believers to proclaim the gospel boldly while learning to face culture shock for future mission endeavors. The OPC has been blessed with a great resource in the Boardwalk Chapel, one that we all must carefully cultivate for the growth of the kingdom of heaven as we wait for our Lord to return.

What should faithful laborers do?

Pray: All ministry ultimately is the Lord’s. He is both willing and able to equip his disciples to carry out his work. Please pray for our leaders, year-round residents, seasonal staff, visiting church groups, and other volunteers. Beseech the Lord to have mercy on dead hearts, that they may respond to the gospel and live in him.

Serve: We always welcome volunteers. Please contact us about staffing positions for the end of this summer, open ministry weeks for churches next year, and other opportunities now and in the future.

Give: As early missionaries were blessed by churches they served throughout Asia, so we as regional short-term workers need the material and financial help of all our brothers and sisters. Please consider donating or supporting staff and church groups as we follow the Lord’s call to fish for men in Wildwood.

The author is the administrative assistant of the Boardwalk Chapel. Write to her at boardwalkchapel@gmail.com. To read more about the Chapel, go to the website www.boardwalkchapel.org. Connect with the Chapel on Facebook.

Base Camp: Opportunities for Young People

Nathan Nguyen

The Presbytery of Southern California kicked off its youth activities this year in Westminster, California, where its first ever Base Camp was held. Centering on the idea that a base camp is where everyone gathers before heading up to summit experiences, over 150 people from seventeen churches came together for a time of fun, fellowship, and ministry.

Starting with a Friday evening photo-scavenger hunt led by Jon Sanchez from Westminster OPC in Westminster, teams were divided up and sent all across town as an icebreaker activity. This was followed by an hour of brainstorming for local and regional youth outreach activities in the future. The next morning, the winners of the photo hunt and the brainstorming were announced.

Regional home missionary Dave Crum gave a sermon of encouragement and warning from Matthew 7:13–27: “Two Ways, Two Kinds of Prophets, Two Kinds of Disciples, Two Kinds of Foundations.”

David Nakhla, the OPC’s short-term missions coordinator, spoke about the special opportunities available for young people who want to participate on mission teams all around the world.

Future missionary associate Kathleen Winslow reflected on the importance of doing things outside of one’s comfort zone, as this has prepared her for serving overseas.

Base Camp 2016 group picture

It is important not only to take part in missions abroad, but also to focus on missions at home in America. Courtney Habegger gave a presentation on the construction team she organized in 2015 to help renovate an OP church in Utah and on plans for another project in this summer.

Elder Mike Dempsey encouraged the churches to plan events that can include all kinds of young people, even those who show up late. (Buy extra pizza!)

Finally, Aijalon Church urged young people to “process” the significance of the events they have taken part in for their own walk with the Lord.

Base Camp brought young people together from all over Southern California and Arizona. It is the first of many events throughout the year that will bring together members in the regional church. Planned are Winter Camps, Family Camp in the summer, the Team Praha mission team to the Czech Republic, and a backpacking adventure in the Sierra Mountains led by Thomas Jennings with John Shaw, the general secretary of Home Missions.

The author is a member of Resurrection OPC in Westminster, Calif.

Home Missions

Getting Ready for Ministry

Albert J. Tricarico, Jr.

The Orthodox Presbyterian Church is always looking for faithful men to take up ministerial labors in Christ’s church. Students at Reformed seminaries are in search of places to serve. These two objectives intersect nicely in what we call the Readiness for Ministry Seminar.

The two-day event takes place twice each year. This year the April seminars were held at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary (GPTS) in Greenville, South Carolina, and Westminster Seminary California (WSC) in Escondido. Four general secretaries (of Home Missions, Christian Education, and Foreign Missions) attended, along with guests who were invited to participate as observers.

The seminar serves several purposes. It introduces the OPC and the work of its program committees to seminarians. It provides training on themes related to Christian ministry. It also makes preliminary evaluations of men whom the Lord may be leading to internships and eventually to pastoral calls in the OPC.

All seminars are not the same. Programs are customized, taking into account the number and experiences of the student participants. The enrollment was low this year, with only three students attending each seminar, so adjustments were made in keeping with a more casual atmosphere. In choosing material, we also took into account the fact that some of the students had attended in the past.

Ryan Cavanaugh of Westminster Seminary California exhorting at the Readiness for Ministry Seminar

This year the training took two forms: lectures on subjects of interest to future ministers, and exercises that reflect situations a local session might face.

In “The Character of Pastoral Ministry” (at GPTS), Danny Olinger and Douglas Clawson delivered helpful lessons on the pastorate, using rich illustrations from the lives and doings of Orthodox Presbyterian servants of the past and present. Their teaching emphasized integrity in the ministry as well as the practice of evangelism and pastoral care.

John Shaw gave two lectures. “Planting a Reformed Church” (at GPTS) was a robust talk that highlighted our church-planting commitments and methods, as well as the work of Worldwide Outreach. In “Evangelism in the Local Church” (at GPTS and WSC), John made the case for understanding Christian witness in the context of local congregational life. The talk was filled with stories of men who are faithful evangelists and uniquely gifted to facilitate witness among God’s people.

Al Tricarico gave lessons under the title “Manners and the Ministry” (at WSC). The talk offered three tools that pastors must develop as they seek to lead and serve the body of Christ: a listening ear, affirming speech, and trust-building conduct.

The Readiness Seminar also features roundtable discussions of challenging issues that church sessions might address. The students take up the issues among themselves and the observers listen in. We call this exercise “Problem Solving in Reformed Ministry.” Of particular interest are the interactions between men who are called to treat delicate matters with wisdom and kindness. After the simulated session meeting ends, the whole group discusses the issue itself, along with ways of approaching people with love and faithfulness to the Word of God.

The principal assessment tool is the exhortation. Each participant is asked to present a message from an assigned biblical text in the form of a short sermon. Observers then evaluate the sermons with the goal of affirming the men and at the same time critiquing his content and presentation.

Interactions are not limited to the scheduled items, however. There is ample time during breaks and at lunch for men to enjoy each other’s company and share stories of God’s faithfulness.

In the final segment of the seminar itself, the students are invited to ask questions of the observers. Mainly these relate to the OPC, but they may also raise particular questions about the men themselves.

After the seminar, John and Al meet with the students individually to review their experience and advise them. This can happen on-site or over the phone at a later time. Students are also invited to give feedback on their experience.

Getting to know participants better over lunch in the Westminster Seminary California lunchroom

As something of a spin-off of the Readiness Seminar, we sponsor seminary lunches six times a year at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, near our offices. These are times for OPC committee representatives to mingle with students in an informal setting. Speakers are invited to come and address issues of interest to students who are preparing for service in the church.

Recent topics have included “Engaging the Muslim Next Door,” “What I Wish I Learned in Seminary,” and “Lessons Learned as a Missionary to Africa.” While in California, we had a similar lunch, with John Shaw speaking on “Internships in the OPC.”

Reflections

Until this year, I had never participated in a Readiness for Ministry Seminar. I offer these impressions as a newcomer to the event.

The seminar is packed with content. While every one of the subjects addressed by the speakers deserves deeper treatment than what one lecture can provide, each talk covered a lot of ground. They were all informative, rich, and edifying. They were also received with gladness by all who listened. The seminar began on Friday evening and ended at mid-afternoon on Saturday, so in reality the two-day event was contained within about eighteen hours, start to finish—a short amount of time to hold such substantial content.

Those who participated care deeply about ministry. To a man, the students were committed to pursuing sacrificial service in Christ’s church and shared their desire to be useful to the cause of world discipleship. Because of the small number of registrants, they were given extra time to deliver their messages. This was helpful to me as a listener, and I am sure the men themselves appreciated the extra minutes.

At both venues, the students received feedback with grace and appreciation. This was particularly impressive to me. We all noted this as evidence of spiritual maturity in the men who came. A servant-leader must be humble and willing to receive input from others (1 Peter 5:5).

Danny Olinger (left) facing Pastor Zach Keele (host) with Douglas Clawson at the right; John Shaw at back right

The observers take their work seriously. As an observer myself, I felt free to comment on what I saw and ask questions of the gentlemen who came. However, as someone new to the seminar, I was most interested in hearing others and gaining insight from them. I wanted to learn and was not disappointed. The brothers made insightful comments that I am sure will, in the near or far term, benefit the students who came. Preparing men for ministry is not a light matter. Those who engaged understood this and did a wonderful job.

The results may be significant. This is in the Lord’s hands, of course. We wait on him to call men to serve and prepare them for life as shepherds of God’s people. Still, I have reason to expect that some of the men who attended the seminar will land as useful ministers in our church. I have spoken with some previous participants who are now pastors and evangelists in the OPC. As they reflected on their experience, they shared their joy in the opportunity to take part. It was useful to them. They are now useful to the church.

I wish that this seminar had been in place when I was in seminary and exploring ministry in the OPC. I know that I would have benefited from it. I write this to encourage you who read New Horizons to think about the seminar, tell students about it, and pray for the ongoing work of finding and training men for pastoral ministry in the OPC.

Home Missions Today

For up-to-date Home Missions news and prayer updates, e-mail HomeMissionsToday@opc.org. New editions: June 1, 15, 29.

Christian Education

Laying a Firm Foundation, Part Two: K to Grade 2

Mark L. Lowrey, Jr.

This is the exciting age when children are not only learning their alphabet letters and numbers; they are also becoming beginning readers. They are now helping you read their favorite books and, in some cases, are reading the books to you.

In “classrooms” at home, school, and church, parents and teachers face the “reader and nonreader” tension. Every child is at a different level and is progressing at a different speed. It is critical that curricula and materials for children this age handle this tension effectively. There are major implications for how children learn and what their learning experience will be.

The materials not only need to be age-appropriate, but also need to be easy to use and provide help, assistance, and direction for teachers and parents to use and apply to the children. This is particularly critical when volunteer teachers have an hour or less of church educational time. A good curriculum will also connect the instruction at church with time at home and what parents can do to reinforce and build on the limited time at church.

Profound Truths for Children at This Age

How do you teach profound truths like the following to a concrete-thinking and literal child?

• Who God is.

• Who Jesus is; what he did and is doing.

• Trusting and responding to Jesus in love with obedience.

• The importance of God’s Word.

• What it means to be part of God’s people.

• The importance of obedience to God’s Word.

• What it means to serve and please God.

• Loving the promises of the Savior.

These truths are not taught as a theological treatise, but from Bible stories. The Bible provides one story of God’s historical-redemptive work through Christ. When you tell them the stories, children see God at work. Each lesson points them to Christ.

Teaching the Bible from Birth through Grade 12

There are those who would like people at every age level to have the same Bible story taught each week. People think that this sounds helpful for families with children of different ages. But such an approach has certain shortcomings, such as:

• It takes five to seven years to cover all parts of the Bible, so a child would only get a specific story every five to seven years.

• It has a major impact on a child’s understanding at different age levels. For instance, preschool children can have a different lesson for every day of Creation, while middle elementary students can read Genesis 1–3 for themselves, marking various truths in the passage, and thus go deeper into the passage in a shorter amount of lessons.

Great Commission Publication’s Show Me Jesus, G2R Bible Survey and So What Youth Bible Studies are structured so that a student in every department (every two years) gets the whole story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. On a yearly basis from preschool through grade 4, a child has two quarters of curriculum from both the Old Testament (Fall and Summer) and the New Testament (Winter and Spring).

This approach enables teachers and parents to lay the proper and sound foundation for teaching preschool through elementary students the significance of Genesis and Exodus for all of the Scriptures and their faith. Creation is not just God making man in his image; instead, it includes the Fall and the implications for all of creation and mankind. Children begin to understand the gospel in Genesis 3:15 and what God did to redeem his people through the promised Seed of the woman, which is fulfilled in the promised Messiah, Jesus Christ.

The promise is followed through in all of the stories and great redemptive epochs of Scripture—Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, etc. As children grow, they are learning and processing the stories and God’s work in a deeper intellectual, spiritual, and emotional way, and applying these truths at an age-appropriate level.

An Example for Kindergarten to Grade 2

At this age, a child’s world is his family. So the child learns not only that God created the first family (Adam and Eve), but that sin spoiled God’s creation, leaving us all sinful and in need of God’s forgiveness. Only those joined by faith to the Savior are members of God’s family. They learn that God’s children trust their heavenly Father to help them believe and live godly lives.

God also called families (Noah and Abraham), and he shows us what it is like for redeemed sinners to trust God and his promises, living as members of God’s family. Through these stories, children learn that our sovereign God calls, saves, leads, and protects his people; in turn, his people respond to his grace and mercy with thanksgiving and show their faith in Christ by their obedience.

“Laying a Firm Foundation, Part One: Ages 2 to 5” appeared in the October 2014 issue of New Horizons. The author is the publications director for Great Commission Publications.

ABCs of Presbyterianism

An Abundance of Counselors (1)

Larry Wilson

Presbyterians stress that “government in the church is not exclusively clerical.… ‘Church governors’ share with the pastor in the ruling function” (Edmund P. Clowney, “Distinctive Emphases in Presbyterian Church Polity,” in Pressing toward the Mark [Committee for the Historian, OPC, 1986], 105.

In other words, our Lord Jesus runs his church, not only by ministers (“teaching elders”), but also by lay elders who share with the ministers in this ruling function. We see this in Acts 14:23 (“they … appointed elders [plural] for them in every church”). We see it in Acts 20:17 (“he sent to Ephesus and called the elders [plural] of the church”). We see it in Philippians 1:1 (“Paul … to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers [plural] and deacons”). In serving as instruments of King Jesus, who runs his church through them, ministers and ruling elders share equal authority.

Moreover, church rule is not merely individual; it is joint. Because Christ alone is King of the church, he insists that his undershepherds are not to act on their own. Rather, they are to work in concert with one another. No individual elder—whether teaching or ruling—may lord it over others whom King Jesus has called to rule. No individual elder may say to others whom King Jesus has called to rule, “I have no need of you” (1 Cor. 12:21). The church is ruled by a group, or plurality, of elders.

In a hierarchical form of church polity, only the bishop (or some other prelate) can ordain. But in the apostolic church, men were ordained by the laying on of hands by the presbytery, a council or assembly of elders (Acts 6:6; 1 Tim. 4:14).

Some think that presbyterianism means “rule by elders,” but actually presbyterianism means that our Lord Jesus rules his church by his Word and Spirit through presbyteries (councils or assemblies of elders acting jointly). “In an abundance of counselors there is safety” (Prov. 11:14).

Out of the Mouth . . .

We asked our three-year-old son Benjamin this question from the Catechism for Young Children: “What is God?”

This was his response: “God is a Spirit, and has not a body like Batman.”

—Julia Bucey

Doylestown, Pa.

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

Congratulations

The Children’s Catechism has been recited by:

• Calvin Morris, Redeemer OPC, Carlisle, PA

Foreign Missions

Opportunities in Ethiopia and Europe

L. Anthony Curto

In 1993, I was asked by Mark Bube, general secretary of the Committee on Foreign Missions, to go on a short-term missions trip to Uganda, East Africa. I had no idea how radically this request would change the course of my life, as well as the life of my family, and my ministry! As many of you already know, that trip resulted in my wife, Kathleen, and me spending nine years on the mission field in Uganda, adding three adopted Ugandan sons to our household, and providing me with a wealth of experiences that would take many New Horizons articles to recount. Kathleen and I returned home from the field in 2004, but that was not to be the end of my labors as an OP missionary.

Since 2004, when I returned to the U.S. to take up teaching at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, I have continued to work with the Committee on Foreign Missions, but my field of service has changed. I have been working in Ethiopia, East Africa, as a part-time foreign missionary. My labors consist of working with the Ethiopian Reformed Presbyterian Church (ERPC) as a missionary evangelist. In that capacity, I train young men for the ministry, instruct ruling elders and deacons, and preach in village areas where the ERPC is hoping to plant congregations.

Mark Bube in front of the Ethiopian Reformed Presbyterian Church building in Shashemene

My labors in instructing young men are primarily conducted in the capital city of Addis Ababa and in the town of Shashemene, which is located in the southern region of Ethiopia. The church-planting work has largely been in the southern region of the country, about one hundred miles north of the Ethiopian border with Kenya. When I am working in the south, we hold conferences for church members, do extensive evangelism, and conduct preaching services, seeking to call unbelievers to faith and repentance in the Lord Jesus Christ. Although I am in Ethiopia only twice a year, the ERPC continues a full-time, year-round endeavor to further Christ’s kingdom.

The Lord has been very gracious to us over the years. We have seen many turn to Christ. Over a dozen churches have been planted, and close to fifty men have been trained for ministry. In Shashemene, the church has built a theological campus, and most of the congregations in the denomination have their own land and church structures. Real estate is expensive in Addis Ababa, so the congregation there has rented property and from there is able to conduct a full range of ministry in the busy East African capital.

The Theological College in Shashemane, Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, the fields are “white unto harvest,” and it might seem that the laborers are plenty. There are many missionary organizations and missionaries in Ethiopia, but there are few who are Reformed and Presbyterian! The influence of Pentecostals and other groups is at times overwhelming. Yet the Lord is faithful, and the work advances.

In 2010, Kathleen and I, while visiting a friend in Switzerland, visited a small Reformed congregation of the Evangelical Reformed Church Westminster Confession (ERKWB). We were looking for a church where a friend of ours could attend. The Lord had other plans! As a result of that visit, I was asked to preach. That invitation began a relationship between that church (and its denomination) and the OPC. Since that first contact, the OPC has entered into corresponding relations with the ERKWB. I have made two trips a year to Austria and Switzerland, working with congregations in Rankweil, Austria; Winterthur, Switzerland; and Basel, Switzerland.

Tony Curto preaching in Rankweil, Austria

My labors consist of preaching, conference speaking, evangelism, and elder training. Last summer Kathleen and I spent two and a half months laboring all over both countries. We hope to spend much of the summer this year again working with these churches.

One real treat has been a church-planting opportunity in a community in southern Austria called Carinthia. It is a community whose economy is based on forestry and lumber, on the borders of Austria, Italy, and Slovenia. I was able to preach there last summer and hope to do so again this summer. Also, while working with the congregation in Basel, I had the opportunity to do some open-air preaching in a park on two separate Lord’s days. The Basel congregation was very enthusiastic about the ministry and is looking forward to doing that again this summer.

As I travel for the OPC, working to spread the gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ, I am constantly thankful for all the prayer and financial support that the church has given to me. It has been, and continues to be, my great joy in ministry to be a part of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and its work in carrying out Christ’s Great Commission.

Please pray with me that the Lord of the harvest would raise up godly men for his vineyard, that our Savior’s name might be glorified in all the earth!

Tony Curto in the mountains of Gambela in western Ethiopia

The author, a former missionary to Uganda and now a part-time missionary to Ethiopia and Austria/Switzerland, teaches at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary.

What’s New

// Appointments

Ms. Heather E. Foss (Calvary OPC, Tallahassee, Fla.) has been reappointed to serve as a missionary associate working in Akisyon a Yesu Presbyterian Clinic in Nakaale, Karamoja, Uganda, for five months. She arrived on the field on May 27.

Miss Kathleen Y. Winslow (Westminster OPC, Westminster, Calif.) has been appointed to serve as a missionary associate in the Czech Republic for two years, beginning in summer 2016.

// Comings/Goings

Miss Rachel J. Turner (Ketoctin Covenant Presbyterian Church, OPC, Purcellville, Va.) and Miss Angela J. Voskuil (Rehoboth ARPC, Waxhaw, N. C.) completed their terms of service in Nakaale, Karamoja, Uganda, and returned to the U.S. in May.

// Other News

Rev. and Mrs. Raymond E. (Michele) Call welcomed Lucas Calvin Call, their eighth child, on April 16 in Montevideo, Uruguay.

Rev. and Mrs. Eric W. (Dianna) Tuininga have been granted legal guardianship of Denise, a young Ugandan girl who has been in the Tuininga home for almost a year.

Stewardship

The Fount of Giving in the Goodness of God

Roger Wagner

The Christian life is responsive. “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). In view of God’s mercies toward us in Christ, we are called to “present [our] bodies as a living sacrifice” (Rom. 12:1). We give because we have first received.

There is another way to look at this responsiveness in respect to our stewardship and giving. The Puritan preacher Richard Sibbes (1577–1635) observed that we become like what we worship. Those who worship deaf and dumb idols become like them (Ps. 115:4–8). Conversely, we who worship the true and living God begin to take on his moral attributes as we are conformed more and more to his image and likeness (Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10).

The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is characterized by an overflowing generosity. Indeed, it is this generous divine goodness that is the fountainhead of the existence of all creation. God did not create out of need, but out of a desire to communicate to created beings the love that had already come to perfect expression within the triune Godhead. The goodness of creation (Gen. 1:4, etc.) is the goodness of God himself shining through the works of his hands.

After Adam’s fall, the goodness of God continued to express itself—now redemptively, in the form of his saving mercy toward the undeserving children of Adam. The story of Israel is the story of the great goodness of the Lord to an often wayward and rebellious people. “I will recount the steadfast love of the Lord, the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord has granted us, and the great goodness to the house of Israel that he has granted them according to his compassion, according to the abundance of his steadfast love” (Isa. 63:7).

The generous goodness of God came to its supreme expression in the sending of the Son, Jesus Christ. “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy” (Titus 3:4–5).

As we worship this good, generous God revealed to us in the Lord Jesus—and as we are transformed into his likeness (Rom. 8:29)—what kind of people must we inevitably become? Must not an imitative goodness and generosity well up within our hearts and come to expression in our orientation to our neighbors (especially the afflicted and needy) and to the kingdom causes that need our support?

As our natural idolatry makes us takers, genuine worship of the true God shapes us into generous givers.

“We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part” (2 Cor. 8:1–4).

Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). He lived out his own life—and in the end surrendered himself to death—in that spirit of self-forgetting generosity. This is the character of the true and living God.

True worshippers will discover themselves becoming more and more like the God they worship. God’s generosity and goodness will be communicated to them through every act of public and private worship. Like the Macedonian Christians, they will find themselves begging for the favor of being permitted to participate in the grace of giving.

And our God will be glorified in us.

The author is the pastor of Bayview OPC in Chula Vista, Calif.

Prayer Calendar

June

1. Church in the Horn of Africa. Pray for believers as they face trials in their stand for Christ. / Mark and Karissa Soud, Birmingham, Ala. Pray that Redeemer Presbyterian Church’s outreach activities will bear fruit. / Charlene Tipton, database administrator, and Mark Stumpff, office assistant.

Mr. and Mrs. F.

2. Josh and Kristen McKamy, Chambersburg, Pa. Pray that the Lord would bless Covenant OPC’s outreach efforts by adding three new families this year. / Mr. and Mrs. F., Asia. Pray for a good wrap-up to the semester of teaching. / Army chaplains Earl (and Susan) Vanderhoff and Stephen (and Lindsey) Roberts.

3. Tentmaker missionary T. L. L., Asia. Pray for qualified missionary associates, who are urgently needed. / Tim and Deborah Herndon, West Lebanon, N.H. Praise God for new regular attenders at Providence Presbyterian Church. / William (and Kelly) Wood, summer intern at Trinity OPC in Easton, Pa.

4. Jim and Tricia Stevenson, Tulsa, Okla. Pray for Providence OPC, that God’s elect will be brought in. / Missionary associates M. D., D. V., and S. Z., Asia. Pray for students as they study for end-of-term exams. / New Horizons editorial assistant Pat Clawson and proofreader Sarah Pederson.

5. Mr. and Mrs. M., Asia. Pray for the church leaders with whom Mike works. / Pray for Mark and Peggy Sumpter, regional home missionary for the Presbytery of the Southwest, as he follows up with contacts and visits Bible study groups. / Andy (and Anna) Smith, yearlong intern at Bethel Presbyterian Church in Wheaton, Ill.

6. Joshua and Jessica Lyon, Carson, Calif. Pray that new outreach programs at Grace OPC will bear fruit. / Missionary associates Mr. and Mrs. C., Asia. Pray for their students as they head home for the summer. / Pray for the work of stated clerk Ross Graham during the General Assembly, meeting June 8–14.

7. Affiliated missionary Linda Karner, Japan. Ask God to supply additional staff to meet the educational and spiritual needs of the students at her school where she teaches. / Home Missions staff administrator Sean Gregg. / Pray for the pre-Assembly conference on “Marriage, Sexuality, and Faithful Witness” that will be held tomorrow.

8. Kim and Barbara Kuhfuss, Eau Claire, Wis. Continue to pray for visitors at Providence Reformed Church. / Pray for Foreign Missions associate general secretary Douglas Clawson, at the General Assembly this week. / Miller (and Stephanie) Ansell, yearlong intern at Faith Presbyterian Church in Garland, Tex.

9. Foreign Missions administrative assistant Linda Posthuma and secretary Katrina Zartman. / Chris and Megan Hartshorn, Anaheim Hills, Calif. Pray for boldness among members to invite people to Anaheim Hills Presbyterian Church. / Pray for Short-term Missions Coordinator David Nakhla as he reports to the General Assembly.

10. Ron and Carol Beabout, Gaithersburg, Md. Pray that Trinity Reformed Church’s younger believers will have ever greater understanding of God’s sanctifying grace. / Brian and Dorothy Wingard, South Africa. Pray for Brian’s teaching and preaching ministry. / Pray for Christian Education general secretary Danny Olinger as he attends and presents the work of the CCE at the General Assembly.

11. Heero and Anya Hacquebord, L’viv, Ukraine. Pray for Heero as he counsels new believers in matters of faith. / Mika and Christina Edmondson, Grand Rapids, Mich. Pray that God would give New City Fellowship grace to love and wisdom to serve her neighbors. / Darryl and Anita Kretschmer, yearlong intern at Lakeview OPC in Rockport, Maine.

12. Jim and Bonnie Hoekstra, Andover, Minn. Pray that the Lord would add several new families to Immanuel OPC. / Ben and Melanie Westerveld, Quebec, Canada. Pray for the teams preparing for the English for Kids camps. / Pray for wisdom for Psalter-Hymnal Committee members Alan Strange, David Winslow, and Danny Olinger, who will be attending the URCNA Synod on June 13–17.

13. David and Sunshine Okken, Nakaale, Uganda. Pray for Dave’s pastoral ministry as he serves the church in Nakaale. / Andrew and Billie Moody, San Antonio, Tex. Pray that God would raise up officers for San Antonio Reformed Church. / Michael (and Melissa) Spangler, summer intern at Providence Presbyterian Church in Greensboro, N.C.

14. John and Wenny Ro, Chicago, Ill. (downtown). Pray that God would bring new people to Gospel Life Presbyterian Church. / Missionary associate Leah Hopp, Nakaale, Uganda. Pray for the community health programs in the local villages. / Wayne (and Suzanne) Veenstra, yearlong intern at Harvest OPC in Wyoming, Mich.

15. Bob and Martha Wright, Nakaale, Uganda. Pray for health and safety for short-termers working in Karamoja this summer. / Phil Strong, Lander, Wyo. Pray that God would grant grace to Grace Reformed Fellowship to know him and make him known. / Dan Boulton, director of sales for Great Commission Publications.

16. Paul and Sarah Mourreale, St. Louis, Mo. Pray for God’s blessing on the seminary student families attending Gateway OPC. / David and Rashel Robbins, Nakaale, Uganda. Pray for their study of the Karimojong language. / Zachary (and Annie) Simmons, summer intern at Grace OPC in Vienna, Va.

17. Pray for Foreign Missions general secretary Mark Bube as he reports to the Executive Committee meeting tomorrow. / Robert and Christy Arendale, Houston, Tex. Praise God for his continued blessing on Cornerstone OPC. / David Haney, director of finance and planned giving for the Committee on Coordination.

18. Eric and Donna Hausler, Naples, Fla. Pray that God would bless Mary Hollidge, Christ the King Presbyterian Church’s summer intern in Christian education, outreach, counseling, and jail ministry. / Pray for missionary associates Christopher and Chloe Verdick, Nakaale, Uganda. / New Horizons managing editor Jim Scott and cover designer Chris Tobias.

19. Eric and Dianna Tuininga, Mbale, Uganda. Pray for the children who meet each Sunday afternoon to study the Bible and the children’s catechism. / Pray for John Shaw, general secretary for the Committee on Home Missions. / Praise the Lord for the service of Rodney King, who is retiring from the Committee on Christian Education.

20. Mike and Katy Myers, Royston, Ga. Pray for godly officers for Heritage Presbyterian Church. / Charles and Connie Jackson, Mbale, Uganda. Pray for Charles’s students to gain a deeper understanding of the Scriptures and to develop ministry skills. / Ryan (and Rachel) Heaton, yearlong intern at Tyler Presbyterian Church in Tyler, Tex.

21. Missionary associates John and Alice Steenhof, Mbale, Uganda. Pray for John as he assists in the Mission’s teaching ministries. / Jay and Andrea Bennett, Neon, Ky. Pray that Neon Reformed Presbyterian Church will be organized as a local congregation by 2020. / Jon (and Kim) Beall, summer intern at New Covenant Community Church in Joliet, Ill.

22. Pray for Lacy Andrews, regional home missionary for the Presbytery of the Southeast, as he does exploratory work throughout the region. / Affiliated missionaries Craig and Ree Coulbourne, Urayasu, Japan. Pray that the church’s junior high students will come to faith and want to profess it. / Richard (and Erin) Chung, yearlong intern at Theophilus OPC in Anaheim, Calif.

23. Pray for Mark and Jeni Richline, Montevideo, Uruguay (on furlough), as they pursue a busy furlough schedule. / Tom and Martha Albaugh, Pittsburgh, Pa. Pray that those attending Redeemer OPC Mission’s outreach events will hear the gospel. / Doug Watson, part-time staff accountant.

Chris and Ann Malamisuro

24. Christopher and Ann Malamisuro, Cincinnati, Ohio. Pray for wisdom as Good Shepherd OPC’s session discusses outreach and evangelism opportunities. / Ray and Michele Call, Montevideo, Uruguay. Pray that visitors will come to church and hear the gospel. / Charles Williams, yearlong intern at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Ada, Mich.

25. Missionary associates Markus and Sharon Ruth Jeromin, Montevideo, Uruguay. Pray that those attending outreach activities will come to know Christ. / Home Missions associate general secretary Al Tricarico. / Committee on Coordination: Jan Gregson, assistant to the finance director, and Kathy Bube, Loan Fund administrator.

26. Brian and Sara Chang, Cottonwood, Ariz. Pray for opportunities to make known the name of Christ at Verde Valley Reformed Chapel. / Ben and Heather Hopp, Haiti (on furlough). Pray for safe travel as Ben continues his speaking engagements. / Bulut Yasar, yearlong intern at New Life OPC in Montoursville, Pa.

27. Pray for missionary associate Jennifer Nelson, Quebec, Canada, as she serves as camp director for the English for Kids camps, which start today. / Jeremy Logan, Mt. Vernon, Ohio. Pray that the Lord would raise up deacons at Knox Presbyterian Church. / Ordained Servant: editor Greg Reynolds and proofreader Diane Olinger.

28. Bill and Sessie Welzien, Key West, Fla. Pray that Keys Presbyterian Church will grow in holiness and size. / Associate missionaries Octavius and Marie Delfils, Haiti. Pray that new church members will grow in grace and knowledge. / Benjamin (and Emily) Gordon, yearlong intern at Trinity OPC in Hatboro, Pa.

29. Retired missionaries Betty Andrews, Cal and Edie Cummings, Greet Rietkerk, and Young and Mary Lou Son. Pray for Betty as she turns 99 today. / Jim and Eve Cassidy, Austin, Tex. Pray for South Austin Presbyterian Church’s radio ministry. / Joseph Johnson, new yearlong intern at Trinity OPC in Hatboro, Pa.

30. Jonathan and Kristin Moersch, Capistrano Beach, Calif. Pray that the saints of Trinity Presbyterian Church will continue to grow in love and service of God and neighbor. / Affiliated missionaries Jerry and Marilyn Farnik, Czech Republic. Pray for healing in the marriages of couples they are counseling. / Janet Birkmann, Diaconal Ministries administrative assistant.

News

In Memoriam
Bryan J. Weaver

Chaplain Bryan Weaver in 2014

Robert M. Coie

In the always perfect and wise providence of our sovereign God, CAPT Bryan Jay Weaver, CHC, USN, was taken from this life into the arms of his faithful Savior on April 2, 2016, and transferred to the Church Triumphant. The last words on his lips were “Jesus, Jesus,” repeated several times.

Bryan was born on May 5, 1955. He married Shelly Buckhalt on June 21,1980. They had three sons: Grant, Kurt, and Trent. He graduated from Taylor University (B.A., 1978), Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary (M.Div., 1983), and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (Th.M., 1997).

Bryan served as a Navy chaplain for over thirty years, twenty-one of which were with the United States Marine Corps (a possible record). He was believed to be the most decorated Navy chaplain at the time of his death (eight rows). In Kosovo, he disarmed an enemy combatant who attacked his unit with a knife. During combat operations in Iraq, General James F. Amos, his commanding officer (and later Commandant of the Marine Corps), gave him the nickname Battle Chaps for crawling from fighting hole to fighting hole, encouraging Marines and in the process teaching NCOs and officers what it is to be a leader of Marines.

Bryan was a faithful servant of King Jesus in an increasingly hostile world. He was awarded the Navy peer-elected John H. Craven Servant Leadership Award in 2014 and the RPTS Faithful Servant Award in December 2015.

In his time with the Marines, he served as Command Chaplain of a battalion in the 1st Marine Division, and later the 24th Expeditionary Unit, the 2nd Marine Division, the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Force Command, Norfolk, and Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Perris Island, S.C.

During his last twenty-seven months, Bryan had about nine cancer-related brain procedures. Toward the end, he seemed to be gaining strength, but to no avail. He was buried in Beaufort National Cemetery, wearing his Marine uniform.

I can testify that Bryan Weaver feared God, and not man, as well as any man I have ever known, and I have been privileged to call him my friend.

At the ordination service of Robert Canode to be a pastor of Providence Presbyterian Church in Pflugerville, Tex., were (front row, l. to r.) Chad Bond, Jim Cassidy, Robert Arendale, Bob Canode, David Brack, John Johnson; (middle row) Nathan Hornfeld, Glen Clary, Adam York, John Terpstra, Jeff Levy, Allan Story; (back row) John Emmett, Andrew Moody, Mark Sumpter, Dave Hall, Robert Lotzer

At the installation service on March 18 of John W. Belden, the new pastor of Pilgrim Presbyterian Church in Metamora, Mich., were (l. to r.) pastors Steve Igo (who led the prayer for the church), Robert Van Manen (who led the service), William Shishko (who preached the sermon on 1 Thess. 1:1–10), John Belden, Bruce Buchanan (who gave the charge to the pastor), and Ralph Rebandt (who gave the charge to the congregation).

Long Beach Celebrates 75 Years

Rollin P. Keller

A brass quartet and full organ encouraged the congregation to sing out, “The church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord.”

It was a grand celebration of God’s blessing on Faith Presbyterian Church in Long Beach, California, over the seventy-five years since the group was received by the Presbytery of California. Approximately 170 people gathered on April 16 to mark this occasion.

Faith is the oldest continuing congregation in the presbytery, having been received on April 15, 1941. Henry Coray, a missionary to China, then displaced because of war, became the first pastor.

David Winslow, representing Westminster OPC in Westminster as a daughter church of the Long Beach church, told about the granddaughter churches that Westminster has sponsored. Larry McHargue, representing Calvary OPC in La Mirada, related how the Long Beach congregation was instrumental in the planting of that church.

Helen Hayden, Faith’s only living charter member

Various members of Faith testified to the effectiveness of the church motto in their lives: “faith working through love.” One little girl from a dysfunctional family adopted the folks at Faith as her loving family. She has grown up to be an articulate, intelligent leader. One of our key families began attending because their children were so quickly accepted.

On this occasion, Bill Gekler was presented with a certificate of appreciation by the session for his thirty-nine years of faithful service as a ruling elder. Earlier this year, the session had named him elder emeritus.

Church Planters’ Retreat

Andrew Moody

Current and prospective church planters in the Presbytery of the Southwest met together with regional home missionary Mark Sumpter for a retreat on February 15–16. They and their wives gathered for fellowship, mutual encouragement, and prayer at Haven River Inn in Comfort, Texas.

At the church planters’ retreat were (l. to r.): Peggy and Mark Sumpter (RHM), Susan and Richard Colquitt (Houston), Billie and Andrew Moody (San Antonio), Pamela and Adam York (Houston), and Christy and Robert Arendale (Houston)

What’s in Your Mirror?

Jane Crum

On April 8–10, ninety-nine women from Southern California and Arizona gathered together in the majestic mountains of Idyllwild, California, to sing and pray and learn together at the Thirty-fourth Annual Southern California OPC Women’s Retreat. Sherry Wagner, who has been a pastor’s wife for forty years, spoke on reflecting Christ in the family, the church, and the world. It was a blessing to see women of all ages participating, from college students to an octogenarian elder’s wife who entertained us with her still hilarious sense of humor!

Biblical counselor Tricia Mathys led devotions each morning, turning our hearts to the Savior while exploring the topics of shame on Saturday and our place in God’s household on Sunday. Her words from the Scriptures spoke comfort to souls in need of the rest that comes from the gospel. It was a restful weekend! The cold, rainy weather kept most of us inside enjoying the fellowship of the saints, but some brave ladies took advantage of the hiking trails and quaint village of Idyllwild in the free time on Saturday afternoon.

Pastor Roger Wagner led in worship on Sunday morning, encouraging us to join all of creation in praise to our Maker and Redeemer! Using Psalm 148, he charged us to see the beautiful panorama of the earth and sky for what it is: God’s handiwork! One highlight of our time was the opportunity to pray together on Sunday morning about a wide variety of prayer concerns.

This annual retreat is an excellent opportunity to celebrate the Lord’s faithfulness to us throughout the year. We share our trials and victories in the Christian life and enlist prayer support and advice from fellow sisters. We all returned home blessed and refreshed, encouraged to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus!

Participants at the Southern California OPC Women’s Retreat

Wendell Rockey Marries at 92

Jonathan Rockey

On Saturday, April 9, at Quarryville Presbyterian Retirement Community in Quarryville, Pennsylvania, the snowy weather outside did not chill or dampen the festivities as retired OP pastor Wendell Rockey, Jr., and Ruth Fender (née Shaffer) were joined in holy matrimony in the presence of about one hundred of their family and friends.

The bride and groom were attended by Ruth’s son, Drew Fender, and granddaughter Brielle Fender, and by Wendell’s son Jonathan Rockey and granddaughter Jasmine Rockey. Quarryville’s associate chaplain, Bruce Fiol, officiated at the ceremony.

Wendell and Ruth Rockey

At the luncheon reception following the ceremony, friends and family gathered to celebrate the nuptial bond by sharing a delicious meal prepared and served by the Quarryville staff. After toasts were offered to the bride and groom, Wendell responded in finest Presbyterian fashion with comments of his own, much to the mirth of everyone.

The families of bride and groom give great thanks to God for his mercy in preserving both Ruth and Wendell in excellent health, humor, and obvious love, even to many years, and wish them years of happiness together.

Update

Churches

• At its meeting of April 2, the Presbytery of the Central US declared that on February 21 Park Woods Presbyterian Church in Overland Park, Kans., had withdrawn from the OPC by voting for a second time to withdraw.

Ministers

• On January 15, the Presbytery of Michigan and Ontario dissolved the call of the retiring Glenn D. Jerrell to be the regional home missionary, effective March 31.

• At its meeting on April 2, the Presbytery of the Central US transferred the ministerial credentials of Geoffrey C. Smith, pastor of Park Woods Presbyterian Church in Overland Park, Kans., to the Heartland Presbytery of the PCA.

• On February 27, the Presbytery of New Jersey dissolved the pastoral relationship between Milton Villanueva and Primera Iglesia Presbiteriana Ortodoxa, “Jesús es la Verdad” effective March 31, and he was designated as honorably retired.

Letters

Our Eternal Relationship

Editor:

William B. Kessler’s article in the April 2016 issue of New Horizons is excellent. I actually read it from the end to the beginning, section-by-section, and enjoyed it even more. The promises of God to his people were on display richly in Mr. Kessler’s prose. Thank you.

Bill MacDonald

Orrington, Maine

Public Education

Editor:

I very much appreciated the diverse approach to education in the February 2016 issue. The apostle Peter in his first letter makes an important distinction between exercising oversight (episkopeo, 5:2) of the flock and being a busybody (allotri-episkopos, 4:15). As the responsibility for education lies with the parents and not with church officers, it’s best not to be dogmatic in one’s evaluation of the educational choices of others.

However, it should be noted that times have rapidly changed, and the public school is nothing like it was “when we were kids.” Because of the Supreme Court’s Obergefell decision, public school teachers will now be compelled (whether willingly or not) to embrace the redefinition of marriage as valid and viable.

The considerations are not only philosophical, but practical as well. Modern gender studies majors at colleges that have such are taught that there are twenty-five different genders.

Cases of boys “identifying as girls” and demanding access to girls’ bathrooms, showers, and locker rooms (increasingly with court backing) present a very real danger. School districts are by no means monolithic, but parents especially of young children should carefully consider what their children may be exposed to by enrolling them in the public schools.

George C. Hammond

Round Hill, Va.

Editor:

With relief I turned to the February article in New Horizons by the Van Meerbekes, telling about their experience with the public school system, because it seems apparent to some that to raise children in the OPC means one ought to homeschool, just as parents a generation or two earlier were certain of the necessity of Christian schooling, and just as some are now equally certain of the need for a Christian classical setting or a homeschool/classical co-op, and so forth.

My wife and I experienced both the good and the bad in Christian and public schools as students, but found our public school experience to be the better of the two. My wife and I have taught in the public school system for years, finding many brethren working and attending those schools, where they are salt and light. Many Christians excel in such settings.

By God’s grace, we regularly catechize our covenant children, pray with them, and read Scripture. We attend morning and evening worship on the Sabbath. I believe I can speak confidently of our God’s care for his covenant children. Better still, we need not worry about our children being confused by the irrelevant, strange, or false teaching of Arminians or otherwise non-Reformed brethren.

On the last day of school before Easter Vacation began this spring, I shared George Herbert’s “Easter Wings” as an example of a concrete poem. He is risen, indeed!

Andrew Samuelsen

Carlisle, Pa.

Editor:

The threefold approach in the February issue of this magazine to understanding education and schooling choices was a breath of fresh air, especially the acknowledgment of public schooling by the Van Meerbekes. Unlike a letter to the editor that followed that issue, I agree with John and Barb Van Meerbeke that public school is a viable option for believers and their children.

I spent ten years as a Christian school administrator, and I understand the value of such institutions. However, if the redemption of God’s creation is holistic, then why should public schooling be left out of his redemptive work? Christian teachers, staff members, and families can and should be part of the public square.

It is high time that Christians recognize the value of taking the gospel to the streets and not just keeping it in our own clubs and organizations. How can we be salt and light if we hide from the darkness?

Bill MacDonald

Orrington, Maine

Reviews

Side by Side: Walking with Others in Wisdom and Love, by Edward T. Welch. Crossway, 2015. Paperback, 171 pages, list price 14.99. Reviewed by OP minister Allen D. Curry.

Christians generally like straightforward, practical advice rooted in sound biblical and theological principles. Ed Welch provides this in Side by Side.

He tells us we all need other people and that we are equipped to help others.

In making his point, he addresses such matters as the difficulty of living in a sin-filled world where we need God and at least one other person.

Welch rightly points out that our hearts need to have a loving relationship with God, but that we may think we are too busy. After reviewing a number of psalms, he suggests that we live our own psalm by laying difficulties before God, remembering his promises to us, resting in the Lord Jesus, and declaring to all the source of our comfort.

The author does not skirt the matter of sin. He tells us in a straightforward manner that it is the original malady that we need to share with God and others.

God responds to the prayers of his people. In addition, we can be helped by going to others and asking them to pray for us.

In dealing with the requirement that we recognize our need, Welch does not avoid one of the hardest matters, namely our unwillingness to see our need of others. In doing so, the author is transparent: “For me, being needy is a sign of weakness, and, given a choice, I prefer to appear strong or at least competent” (p. 12).

Welch continues his thesis by delineating how we can help others. He roots this section of the book in the fact that the Holy Spirit enables and equips us to aid others.

The author sets out examples of how we connect, converse, and enjoy others. He does not avoid the difficult subjects. He explains how to help others deal with sin. Welch warns: “Help will not be easy on these occasions, but it is help we can all give” (p. 152). In all of this, we are reminded to keep the gospel at the center of both our struggles and the help we provide for others.

The author presents and defends his point of view well. Few will go away from the book without seriously considering their own need for others and believing that they can help others.

As with any book of this nature, there are many questions a reviewer would like to ask the author. But to press them would be unfair. This book is short on purpose. It is accessible to the average reader and gives useful guidance to those more schooled on the topics.

Leaders will find useful suggestions about how to encourage openness to our need for others. In addition, they will see examples of how to point people to genuine engagement in the needs of their brothers and sisters.

Many readers of New Horizons will find good advice in this book. In fact, I can see small groups discussing this book and gaining greater insight into themselves and others.

The Holy Spirit, by Christopher R. J. Holmes. Zondervan, 2015. Paperback, 219 pages, list price $24.99. Reviewed by OP prof. Ryan M. McGraw.

Zondervan’s New Studies in Dogmatics aims to retrieve classic expressions of Christian theology and incorporate it in contemporary discussions (p. 15). Christopher Holmes’s work on the Holy Spirit is the first contribution to this series. He seeks to establish the being, identity, and activity of the third person of the Trinity (p. 19). His treatment is effective and helpful in many respects, but it also reveals some shifts in recent theology.

The Holy Spirit is an intriguing analysis and synthesis of three of the most significant teachers in church history. The author’s emphasis is primarily on the identity of the Spirit in relation to the Father and the Son. After introducing his doctrine in general, Holmes gleans insights from Augustine, Aquinas, and Barth. This choice of authors enables Holmes to treat the doctrine of the Spirit in relation to three very different theologians from three dramatically differing contexts: ancient, medieval, and modern theology. The disadvantages of this approach are that Reformed contributions to the doctrine of the Spirit are ignored and that a unified doctrinal presentation may be lost. Each section traces the doctrine of the Spirit from the exegetical labors of each figure in the gospel of John and then in light of their doctrinal treatises. Holmes reminds his readers that who the Spirit is in relation to the Father and the Son determines how he works in the world and in believers. In doing so, he also demonstrates that contemplating the glory of the triune God and placing worship at the heart of the Christian faith should be the highest priorities of every believer.

There are telling omissions in Holmes’s work, however. While his analysis of Augustine, Aquinas, and Barth is learned and penetrating, he includes very little exposition of Scripture beyond his analysis of the work of these men on the gospel of John. Coupled with a lack of familiar theological terms and his use of Barth-like vague expressions, the virtual absence of references to Reformed authors in this volume is conspicuous. Thus, while Holmes directs his readers to seek edification through contemplating the glory of the triune God and worshipping him, it seems likely that few will be edified beyond a narrow scholarly audience. This is ironic, particularly since Holmes argues vigorously that God has revealed theology for the edification of the church. Some of the analyses, particularly the synthesis of Barth and Aquinas, will be difficult even for some academics to follow.

Holmes’s treatment of the Holy Spirit puts a finger on some significant needs in the church today. The church needs to engage critically and constructively with prominent figures in Christian history. The church needs to retrieve older models of theological reflection as well. Yet the church needs the voice of Reformed theology in this conversation, and she needs to bridge the gaps between the academic theologian, the pastor, and the people in the pews.

This series should prove interesting, but it remains to be seen how well it will suit the needs of Christian theology and the church at large.

Announcements

“The truth will make you free”

A major new evangelistic video, “An Earnest Plea to Latter-day Saints,” has been produced by Pastor Jason Wallace and Christ Presbyterian Church in Salt Lake City, Utah. Nearly two hours long, it may be viewed at www.lds.video. A teaser video, “The God of Brigham Young,” is also being produced.

Positions Available

Pastor: Westchester OPC in Mount Vernon, N.Y., seeks a full-time pastor who can provide strong Reformed preaching and is committed to spreading the word of God in a diverse community. Candidates should possess leadership and organizational skills. Benefits package and manse included. Send resumé, references, and MP3 sermon sources to Ira Rubin, Clerk of Session, at rubiniw@optimum.net.

CFO: Westminster Seminary California (Escondido, CA) is searching for a Reformed Christian to fill the position of chief financial officer. The CFO is responsible for all of the business operations of the seminary, including bookkeeping, processing payroll, administering employee benefits plans, and assisting the president and vice presidents in preparing annual and long-term budgets. Review of applications will begin immediately. Apply by emailing a resumé and cover letter to Dr. Marcus McArthur, Vice President for Administration, at mmcarthur@wscal.edu. Visit wscal.edu/about-wsc/employment for a full description of the position.

Short-Term Missions Prayer Calendar

May 12–July 21. Short-termer serving with the OP Uganda Mission, helping missionaries with village evangelism

Memorial Day–Labor Day. Full-time staff and weekly ministry teams serving at the Boardwalk Chapel, Wildwood, N.J.

June 25–August 1. “English House” outreach to university students in Asia

June 27–July 1, July 4–8, July 11–15. Short-termers from OPC and other Reformed churches presenting three “English for Kids” Bible Camps at Église réformée St-Marc in Quebec City, Quebec

July. Short-termer returning to Asia to serve with our missionaries

July 2–9. Short-termers from the Presbytery of New York and New England presenting “English for Kids” Bible Camp in St-Georges-de-Beauce, Quebec

July 2–11. Fluent Spanish-speaking short-termers helping with the OPC Uruguay Mission’s VBS outreach

July 8–16. Two work teams from Cedar OPC in Hudsonville, Mich., and from the Presbytery of Southern California helping to refurbish church building at Christ Presbyterian Church in Magna, Utah

July 13–25. “English Camp” in Czech Republic, organized by Bayview OPC in Chula Vista, Calif.

July 23–29. Presbytery of the Midwest’s “Venture Mission” outreach on local Indian reservations in Zoar, Wis.

July 23–30. Short-term team from Trinity OPC in Hatboro, Pa., serving at San Antonio Reformed Church in San Antonio, Tex.

July 25–August 16. “Team Praha,” organized by the Youth Committee of the Presbytery of Southern California, serving in Czech Republic

August 1–5. “English for Teens” Bible Camping Trip, sponsored by Église réformée St-Marc in Quebec City

More short-term missions can be found at OPCSTM.org.