By John A. Vissers. My time at Singapore ’87 has given me a new perspective on the church around the world, on Christian leadership, on world evangelization, on the worship of God, on prayer, on the relationship between theology and evangelism, on renewal, and on the Christian church in Canada … Read more
1992 Annual Meeting
On March 6 and 7, many Presbyterians concerned about renewal, met at Willowdale Church in Toronto for the Annual Meeting. Photos by Jack Harewood … Read more
An Interview with Eugene Peterson
By Rodney Clapp. Eugene Peterson says, “My characteristic feeling at the end of the day is a sense of awe about what God is doing with these people.” … Read more
A Heart for God, by Sinclair B. Ferguson
Reviewed by Jack C. Whytock. Ferguson has tackled the most profound pursuit we are to be engaged upon – to have our hearts yearning ever more to know the richness of God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and hence to have an obedient heart. … Read more
Generosity: David at the Brook Besor – 1 Samuel 30
By Eugene H. Peterson. Those who are too tired to go on, or consigned to the sidelines because of lack of stamina, or resigned to a marginal status, need to hear the inward assurance of God's affirmation through the generous verdict of David at the Brook Besor. … Read more
Contemporary Worship at St. Paul’s, Ottawa
By Sarah Lee and Mark Richardson. At St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, Ottawa, Ontario, contemporary worship emphasizes God and his Word, and shapes a space where people can worship in spirit and in truth, in a spirit of freedom. Although aimed at younger people, many seniors appreciate it and even prefer it over the traditional service. … Read more
The Renewal Fellowship Within the Presbyterian Church in Canada
A. Donald MacLeod explains why each word in our seemingly long and unwieldy organizational name is truly important. … Read more
Q. How Do You Spell ‘Miracle’? A. F-A-R-E-L
Martin Geleynse recounts the progress of Institut Farel, an institution of pastoral formation and lay training for francophone churches in Quebec, since its establishment in 1978. … 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
Christian Ethics
By Dennis Stoutenburg. Christians should become more concerned about not just presenting the message of Jesus to a lost world but of presenting him in a manner that is practically effective and socially persuasive. Should not every investigation of sacred Scripture ring ethically and morally true? … Read more
Prayer Helps to Keep the Bloom in Marriage
By Esther Mcllveen. Prayer enhances marriage tremendously. Praying together provides intimacy and affects physical, psychological and spiritual closeness. … Read more
Responsibilities of the Church to Homosexuals
By Patricia Allan. Because of their perceived lifestyle, values and behaviour, most Christians are totally unable to identify with homosexuals. What do you do if a homosexual comes to your church and asks for help? … Read more
The Place of Healing in the Contemporary Church
Jack Mills discusses the place that healing ministry should have in today’s church. Some in the Reformed tradition hold that the spiritual gifts of healing ended with the apostolic age, while others believe that they are for today. Mills contends that the elders have a place in the healing ministry. … Read more
Image & Chaos: The church and homosexuality
By William Duffy. Homosexuality is not in accordance with God’s creation of his purpose for our lives or our good. There is no question that in God’s eyes it is an abomination – a perversion of what he created which was, and is, very good. … Read more
The Church and Public Life
By Stephen Allen. The challenge for the religious community is to nurture public places of moral deliberation, but we do so in a post-modern, secular Canadian society and a society comprised of many faiths and cultures. Profound cultural shifts have taken in place in Canada in a short period of time. … Read more
Wait Training: Building the Body of Christ
By Chris Yue. Small groups have always been used powerfully by God. He knows the power of community. And if we ourselves have enough community in our lives, there are many who need to be blessed by us. We need each other. … Read more
Studies in Canadian Evangelical Renewal: Essays in Honour of Ian S. Rennie, by Kevin Quast and John Vissers
Reviewed by David Stewart. These 15 essays on “The Renewal of Theological Education,” “The Renewal of Church Life,” and “The Renewal of Presbyterianism” were collected as a tribute to Dr. Ian Rennie on the occasion of his 65th birthday, when he retired from his duties as Dean of Ontario Theological Seminary. … Read more