By David Mills. In these days of talk about “lay education”, one is tempted to ask the question why? Should we be talking about educating the whole church? If so, how are we to educate them? We need to consider seriously the consequences of embarking on more effective and wide-spread lay education. … Read more
Between Two Worlds: The Art of Preaching in the Twentieth Century, by John R.W. Stott
Reviewed by Gladys Anderson. This book sets forth the importance of preaching and the task of bridging the ever widening gap between the Word and the world. John Stott outlines his task under three main sections: 1. The relevance of preaching in the twentieth century, 2. preaching as a bridge builder, and 3. the essential foundation for effective preaching. … Read more
Forgive Us Our Debts
By Harold Cumming — During my visit to a Presbyterian Church, in the midst of-the Lord’s Prayer I had an irreverent thought, “What a funny word to use! They must be determined to be different when they use the word ‘debts’ instead of ‘trespasses,’ especially when singing requires use of the phrase twice! Debts indeed!” I could not help but chuckle. Now, many years later, and a Presbyterian now myself, I have come to appreciate the phrase, “forgive us our debts.” … Read more
Bill Harrison
By Calvin Brown. The leading of the Lord towards Bill's part-time role as Administrative Assistant at the Renewal Fellowship, following retirement from a 30-year career at Procter and Gamble, fulfils a life-long ambition to serve the Presbyterian Church. … Read more
New Life, New Lifestyle, by Michael Green
Reviewed by Jack Charleson. In New Life, New Lifestyle we are encouraged as we seek to develop an attitude of discipleship in our daily walk with Christ.… Read more
Motions to be considered at the Annual Meeting
Some motions that will be considered at the Annual Meeting, to pursue a closer relationship with Presbyterian and Reformed Renewal Ministries International, and and overture to seek formal recognition as an official autonomous organization within the PCC. … Read more
Working the Angles: the Shape of Pastoral Integrity, by Eugene Peterson
Reviewed by David Sherbino. The three pastoral disciplines are a triangle composed of preaching, teaching, and administration. The angles are prayer, Scripture, and spiritual direction. The need of ministry is to “work the angles.” … Read more
New Life in the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan
By Ted Ellis — “Don’t call it ‘renewal’, call it ‘new life’. It is the most wide-spread movement in the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT).” Pastor Tan Sin-chhiong from the East Coast is not given to over-statement, but this is how he describes what is now known as “The New Life movement” in the PCT. He sees the PCT as old and creaky in places “but God is working to wake us up.” … Read more
Our Alpha Experience
By Andrew Hutchinson. Nicky Gumbel presents a well-grounded understanding of the Christian faith without apology, in a positive, winsome way. Alpha provides for a personal experience of the presence of God, rather than merely talking about God and His mercy. … Read more
The Eye of the Beholder: A Brief Encounter with Violence & Pornography
By Robert Campbell. Speaking up about pornography is an opportunity to help eliminate a corrupting influence from the minds of young and old, alike. … Read more
An Interview with David Craig
By David Craig. The original vision of the French Canadian Missionary Society, which our church inherited, was to see this mission becoming gradually in its composition, management, and support, purely and exclusively French Canadian. … Read more
Rescue Us!
By Darrell Johnson. In the sixth petition of the Lord's Prayer, the Greek word translated "temptation" can mean "test" or "enticement to sin". While God never entices us to sin, the evil one can turn a test, designed to prove and improve a person's character, into a temptation. … Read more
Battle for the Trinity, by Donald Bloesch
Reviewed by Jerry & Elizabeth Zook. This is a well-placed critique of ideological feminism, which attempts to make God an imminent goddess and resymbolize the faith in current cultural dress, which erodes and devalues Trinitarianism. … Read more
In Love With God – Coquitlam Presbyterian Church
By Bob and Olive McBay. A closer walk with the Lord is encouraged at CPC by a growing emphasis on prayer, Bible Study groups, men's and women's ministries, outreach to children and youth, care of newcomers, reminders of the monthly Renewal Fellowship prayer meetings, Spirit-led sermons, and making Jesus the centre of everything. … Read more
Memorial: “Nick” Nicolle
By John Vissers. On Wednesday, November 28, 1990 the Renewal Fellowship lost a friend and keen supporter when Mr. E.W. “Nick” Nicolle passed away in Toronto after a brief illness. … Read more
Summons to Faith and Renewal: Christian Renewal in a Post-Christian World, eds. Peter Williamson and Kevin Perrotta
Reviewed by David Ley. The roots of religious secularization are found in changing standards of sexual morality, an erosion of the doctrine of Christ, and an increasingly uninformed understanding of God, but the problem is not simply unbelief, but also the dilution of standards of behaviour among Christians themselves. … Read more