By definition, hyper-Calvinism is that doctrine which goes beyond (hyper) Calvin. Often, however, it is used incorrectly by critics of predestination to describe anyone who believes in reprobation. If teaching reprobation makes one hyper-Calvinist, then Calvin would be one himself, and that . . . Continue reading →
The Mission: Reaching and Teaching
Hyper-Calvinism, Rationalism, and Anti-Predestinarians
By etymology, “hyper-Calvinism” is that doctrine which goes “beyond” (hyper) Calvin. Often, however, it is used incorrectly by critics of predestination to describe anyone who believes in reprobation. If teaching reprobation makes one “hyper-Calvinist” then Calvin would be “hyper-Calvinist” and that’s just . . . Continue reading →
Must We “Translate” the Gospel?
David Fitch says and assumes, “yes,” but I doubt it. The “missional” movements are not really fundamentally different from the middle-class, pedestrian “church growth” movements of 25 years ago. They all seem to assume that accommodation is something that we do as . . . Continue reading →
One Reason Why Unbelievers Don’t Want to Talk to Us
Mark Vander Pol recently pointed us to a wiki page titled, “How to Avoid Uncomfortable Conversations About Religion.” This page is useful on a variety of levels. On the most common level, some people are pests and it offers some good advice for dealing . . . Continue reading →
Strategic, Authentic, and Confessional
Introduction: What Do You Want? I spent an encouraging evening with a enthusiastic group of young people at pastor’s house recently. Over dinner we discussed the challenges of planting Reformed Churches. We agreed that whatever we do we need to be strategic, we . . . Continue reading →
Ventura URC Bible Study (UPDATED)
UPDATE Glenda Mathes has an update. Unfortunately, things are a little more uncertain now than they were in late 2009. Brothers and sisters, God is sovereign and can do what he will but in his ordinary providence church planting fraught with difficulty. . . . Continue reading →
URCNA Mission to Italy
Mike Brown has the pics and story. The Rev Andrea Ferrari is now a minister in the URCNA and he’s planting a congregation in Milan.
Machen on Mission
Thanks to WSC student Brenden Link for this bit from Dassie. More reasons we should all be Machen’s Warrior Children.
Reformed Congregation Planted in Sidney, Neb
Sidney, Nebraska is not far from the eastern border of Colorado, the home of Cabellas, big agribusiness, and it’s in a part of the country that usually gets more attention from thunderstorms than from church planters—until now. Thanks to the Aquila Report we . . . Continue reading →
More on Reformation2Germany
The White Horse Inn folks interviewed Sebastian yesterday.
The German Reformation Needs Your Help
Sebastian Heck is working toward planting an authentic, confessional Reformed congregation in Heidelberg but he needs your help. It’s coming down to “crunch time” as they say. I’m sure that there are readers of the HB who either can help directly or . . . Continue reading →
Missional Monday: Help Bring the Reformation Back to Poland
Thanks to Kevin DeYoung for letting us know about the Tolle Lege Institute which is seeking to reach Poland with the confessional Reformed faith. They’re in the process of translating Joel Beeke’s Meet the Puritans and they have plans to introduce Poland . . . Continue reading →
More Church (re) Planting in the Midwest
There are segments in the USA (Philadelphia, Grand Rapids, Greenville, SC) where there is a relative abundance of confessional Reformed congregations. There are places, however, large swaths of the country where it’s difficult, if not impossible, to find a confessional Reformed congregation. . . . Continue reading →
News from a Reformed Mission in Prague
From Jerry and Marilyn Farnik: Walking in Prague a few weeks ago, we saw something a little unusual. A large group of tourists stood watching a swan stroll down the middle of a very busy, city street One brave woman stepped into . . . Continue reading →
WSC Grad Ministers in Turkey
Fikret Böcek is a WSC graduate and he is planting a Reformed congregation in Izmir (Smyrna), Turkey. This is an amazing development and cause for continued prayer and praise. One of the seven letters to the churches (Rev 2:7-11) was directed to . . . Continue reading →
New URC Bible Study in Gig Harbor, Washington
WSC student (about to graduate) Mark Vander Pol writes: For those that live in the Tacoma/Gig Harbor, WA area. Are you interested in seeing a solid, Confessional Reformed church in your area? There is currently in the early planning stages a Bible . . . Continue reading →
What About North Dakota?
It’s understandable that people tend to focus on more populous places, but Wes gives us some encouraging news about church planting in the Northern Great Plains. He’s right. We should pray for them. The Great Plains is an area of the country (stretching south . . . Continue reading →
Blogging Twin Lakes
The Twin Lakes Fellowship is coming up and there’s a blog to keep track of it (HT: NIck Batzig)
Cultists at the Door and Holy Week
A couple of well-dressed, polite, well-spoken young men came to my door today. They could have been Mormons (there are a great lot of them out west) but these fellows happened to be Jehovah’s Witnesses.