By Neal Mathers – We don’t often talk about it but he truth is that leadership has often been identified as the key factor in developing a healthy growing church. If the minister, elders and congregational leaders do not take the lead in developing goals and strategies for church growth then the congregation will reflect this non-growth mentality. … Read more
Learning to Worship as a Way of Life, by Graham Kendrick
Reviewed by Nancy Bettridge. Renewal in worship is a gradual process, and the book gives several suggestions for change that an individual worshipper can make, and focusses on corporate changes in worship. … Read more
A Prayer of “Expectancy”
By Edward P. Mason. This is a prayer of preparation for worship, reflecting on both personal witness and the worshipping body. … Read more
Can We Be Good Without God?
By Wallace Whyte. In place of a moral consensus based on God-given principles we have moral relativism. In practice it’s a moral vacuum. God’s way is not only the right way but the best way, the overall happy and healthy way. … Read more
Putting In Its Place: Canadian Presbyterian Independent Journalism
By A. Donald MacLeod. Independent Presbyterian journalism contributed greatly to the debate over Church Union in the 25 years prior to 1925. Following union, a succession of generally short-lived publications sought to keep the church on track. The Renewal Fellowship's Channels was welcomed as giving a whole new face to evangelicals. … Read more
Reformation of the Church
By James I. Packer. We should not think of reformation as something distinct from the renewal of spiritual life. Every reformation of theology came with personal renewal. Reformation is a divine visitation that begins with personal repentance, prayer, and preparation. … Read more
Standing on the Rock: The Importance of Biblical Inerrancy, by James Montgomery Boice
Reviewed by Edmund F. Bloedow. Is the Bible “the word of God”? Or “the words of men”? Or “the word of God and the words of men combined”? Boice sets out to champion the first of these positions, the classic evangelical doctrine, the view that was believed throughout church history … Read more
Tithing – a Spring-board to Generosity
By Esther Mcllveen. Tithing is both the wisest investment of our money, as well as a command first given to the Children of Israel. Tithing was not just a requirement of the wealthy, for in Exodus the “poor were instructed not to give less.” Tithing was to become the norm for all the children of God. … Read more
Stories of Faith
By Calvin Brown. This issue of Channels deals with stories of faith. As I travel around the country one of the greatest blessings of all is to hear the stories of the communities of faith at work – not only in spectacular ways but in everyday faithful ways … Read more
Purposeful Suffering
By Bryn MacPhail. Why does God allow suffering? Our heavenly Father, who is all-powerful, all-wise, and all-loving, has a plan when He allows His children to suffer. When we confess that God is sovereign, we confess that He is sovereign over everything — even suffering. And this is a good thing. … 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
Letters
Readers correspond with approval for the ministry of Channels. Greg Dallimore responds with an update on his previous Review … Read more
The Davidson Family
By Emery Cawsey. The classmate of a recent theological graduate reflects on the life and death of a special friend and his family: Kris and Sheryl Davidson, and their daughters Lauren and Katie. … Read more
Presbyterianism and Renewal
By Ian Rennie. With each major movement of renewal, the Presbyterian Church has been thrust into new areas and dimensions of ministry, beginning with Calvin and Knox, and continuing in Canada through men like Robert Burns and James Robertson, to current examples. … Read more
1988 Annual Meeting
By Paul Philpott. Given the pervasiveness of the leadership crisis that exists in our society today, it was encouraging to have two hundred people attend the 1988 Annual Meeting of the Renewal Fellowship which focused on the renewal of Christian leadership. … Read more
A Christian Manifesto, by Francis A. Schaeffer
Reviewed by Alan Hartley. The book is dedicated “to all those who have said: ‘Here I stand’, facing oppressive authoritarian civil and church power.” This manifesto is meant to create opposition to the breakdown of Christian values in American society. Restitution of the balance between order and freedom will require active involvement by Christians in society. … Read more