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
Executive Director’s Comment – Contemplative and Meditative Worship Styles
By Calvin Brown. Worship wars are said to be the most common cause of disruption in congregations. When the real cause of unhappiness is examined, the principal offender is not usually the new music but the form of certain types of contemporary worship. … Read more
Editorial/Dallas Report
By A. Donald MacLeod. The Dallas Presbyterian Renewal Conference was described as the largest gathering of Presbyterians ever convened for renewal. What does unitedness within a pluralistic denomination mean? What does Dallas have to say to those not American? … Read more
College Leaders Respond to Some Questions
The questions are about the most important thing that graduates will take away with them, how colleges are addressing the matter of the church in decline, assumptions about the level of Christian formation that entering students have, the biggest challenge facing the colleges, and new initiatives at the colleges. … Read more
Daddy, I’m Pregnant, by A dad named Bill
Reviewed by Ronda Bosch. Premarital sex with someone you love is condoned by 80% of Canada’s teenagers, and on a first date 28% say yes to petting and 11% continue to sexual relations. Then what happens in your church or in your home when the word is out: “I’m pregnant”? … Read more
The 123rd General Assembly
Bob Astop reports that attending General Assembly was a rewarding and spiritual experience, seeing a whole denomination united in worship of our Lord and being proud to be a Presbyterian. … Read more
Covenanting Liturgy
By Calvin Brown. This Covenanting Liturgy is based on Hebrews 11 and the Covenanting Prayer. It should be read with enthusiasm, feeling and growing intensity. The sense is that as we help one another remember the faithfulness of God exhibited among his people we more and more identify with them until we become one with them in Spirit and are willing also to make gladly the commitment that they did. … Read more
Closing the Back Door of the Church
By John C. Zimmerman. Every church has a back door. Formerly active members slip through this door, often unnoticed, on their way out of the church. The key to closing this door is found in the care we give to our members. … Read more
Far Formosa is Dear to My Heart
By A. Donald MacLeod. George Leslie MacKay was the first missionary of the Canada Presbyterian Church. He not only pioneered Christian mission in northern Taiwan in 1871, but also transformed the missionary vision of the Canadian Church. His work continues to have a profound influence. … Read more
The Problem of Preaching, by Donald Macleod
Reviewed by Stephen Self. Preaching is the art of making the preacher and delivering that. The preparation of the speaker is more important than the preparation of the sermon. Six qualities every sermon should have … Read more
Our Forgotten Treasure
By John P. Vaudry. Those who came before us were wise in choosing the Westminster Confession as the official Presbyterian creed. Our standards were formulated with great care by the pastor-theologians of the Westminster Assembly. As Presbyterians we ought to be familiar with our distinctives. … Read more
Nothing will lead us to God
By Jonathan Dent — I had nothing to say. I felt nothing coming to mind. I was experiencing a vacuum, a void, an emptiness. Perhaps it was due to the busy-ness of the previous months. Perhaps it was because it was a lovely sunny summer day. Perhaps it was because we had just driven over 5,000 km to get where we were going. Perhaps it was the caffeine I was drinking or not drinking. In any case, I had nothing to say. Nothing to write. And upon reflection, I believe that this nothingness was the most creative … Read more
God Is Faithful
By Carol S. Ward. There are wonderful signs of the Holy Spirit moving in great power amongst us in many different ways and across the denominations. The Alpha program is impacting almost every denomination, and the Renewal Network Conferences are drawing people to worship God in openness to the movement of the Holy Spirit in their midst. … Read more
A Fishy Story? Can we be Evangelical and Presbyterian and Study for the Ministry?
By Jackson Clelland. Theological students who are both evangelical and Presbyterian would like to take courses in evangelism, prayer, and missions, but they are not offered at our colleges. They have the option of attending a college other than the PCC approved schools. … Read more