By Arthur Van Seters. If the Kingdom or Reign of God is unexpected newness, its ethic is unlikely to conform to conventional wisdom; it is most likely to be significantly different from what people expected, both then and now. … Read more
Living Churches: Emmanuel Church, Nottawa
Neal Mathers describes the three-year process of prayer, discussion, argument, planning and preparation that began in 1986 and transitioned three congregations into Emmanuel Presbyterian Church. They are committed to prayer and lay leadership, and have grown from 70 to 180. … Read more
Renewal Coalition Adopts Declaration; Calls Mainline Churches to Evangelical Faith
By the Renewal Coalition. Responding to crises facing many historic denominations, a coalition of twenty-one evangelical renewal leaders drafted this Declaration, a common affirmation on critical theological and ethical standards currently under challenge in their respective communions. … Read more
Small Town Church: Big God
By Peter Olson. God is very interested in all of our children. He has moved powerfully in this little country church in Erin, Ontario, and He has affected the hearts of children, youth, and adults. Through much prayer and listening on our part, God can accomplish many wonderful things. … Read more
The Christian Faith and Homosexuality, by David F. Wright
Reviewed by John Vaudry. This booklet attempts to answer two objections to the conservative position on homosexuality. … 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
B.C. Renewal Conference
By Bob and Olive McBay. Vital signs of a healthy church are worship, passionate discipleship, servant-based ministry, loving fellowshp,and an outward focus. Also important is the need for a church to discover, develop, and implement a clear vision for its future. … Read more
Rainbows and Worn-out Shoes
By Esther McIlveen. Margaret Avison loved and understood the characters at Evangel Hall, an inner city mission run by Knox Presbyterian Church on Spadina Ave. in Toronto Ontario, with about 100 single men. She identified with their poverty, mental illness and aloneness. … Read more
Revival: When Will It Come to Canada?
By George Mallone. Unlike our European parents and American sister, Canada has never had a coast-to-coast revival. Revival is first and foremost an activity of God which is initiated by Him, directed and sustained by Him, and intended solely for His glory. Revival from beginning to end is God-centered. … Read more
Same-Sex Partnerships? A Christian Perspective, by John Stott
Reviewed by Helga L. Stewart. John Stott’s little publication is a timely help in providing its readers with the well-laid-out arguments and biblical perspective that form the basis of the position taken on same-sex partnerships by the evangelical community, amongst others. … Read more
A critique of the NCG Report – “Towards a Christian Understanding of Sexual Orientations, Lifestyles and Ministry”
By Victor Shepherd. In 1984 the highest court of The United Church of Canada, The General Council, commissioned a National Coordinating Group to prepare a report “Towards a Christian Understanding of Sexual Orientations, Lifestyles and Ministry”. Many pastors of The United Church are reacting strongly to its anti-theological bias. … 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
Preaching About Life in a Threatening World, by Ronald J. Sider & Michael King
Reviewed by Stephen Self. This book is a practical guide for all preachers interested in preaching more compassionately and effectively on major social issues such as abortion, human rights, economic justice, war, and violence, identifying with people who have inner hurts, needs, and dreams … Read more
Lifestyle Evangelism, by Joseph C. Aldrich
Reviewed by Terry Hibbert. Dr. Aldrich zeroes in on the reasons why evangelism is more often than not ineffective. He expresses a concern that frequently church members view the unsaved as “enemies rather than victims of the Enemy,” and how relational evangelism can bridge the credibility gap between the Christian and non-Christian communities. … Read more
From Vision to Reality: Leadership is the Key
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
John Wimber: Seeking Intimacy with God
In this extensive article, Peter H. Davids examines several important reasons why people have reacted against the ministry of John Wimber, and he explains in detail what he perceives as Wimber’s main objectives. … Read more