Missions from The Covenant Communicator

BHPC Building Replacement & Refurbishment Fund

Tue, 24 Jul 2007 14:16:48 GMT

The Session of Beal Heights Presbyterian Church has established a Building Replacement & Refurbishment Fund. Our goal is to have facilities that will enable us to better carry out our mission here in this community: worship, evangelism & outreach, education & discipleship, fellowship, Christian community development, and mercy ministries. We will begin next month and each succeeding month on the third Sundays to take up a special offering for the building fund. We will have envelopes in the pew racks those Sundays for that purpose. You may, of course donate to this fund at any time. The elders have designated over $200,000, of the church's investments for the Building Replacement & Refurbishment Fund. We will include in our monthly reports to the congregation which we post on the bulletin board outside the church office the progress of the Building Replacement and Refurbishment Fund. It is the intention of the session to keep the 1939 portion of our facilities - the current sanctuary, office, and chapel areas. The plan is to replace the fellowship hall and parlor and possibly the education building. We have reached a point in the life-cycle of the fellowship hall (built in 1923) that it is becoming inadequate for our needs and it has become a burden upon the church's resources. We will be having much prayer and also discussions amongst the elders and the congregation as to what we see the Lord's direction is for the type of facilities we will need. If you have any questions about this fund or the planning for future ministries, please contact one of the elders.

First Night Of Neighborhood Youth Recreational Outreach

Tue, 12 Jun 2007 03:43:07 GMT

The neighborhood in which our congregation's facilities is located is in the second-poorest area of Lawton, according to Census Bureau data. We have lots of drug and gang activity; we also have tons of children with little or nothing to do who are running the streets. They are young lambs without a shepherd.

After taking turns watching concrete dry (literally) until midnight after a new sidewalk was poured to keep kids or gang members from scratching stuff into the pour, those of us on the watch compared notes. One thing we all commented on: the number of children in the neighborhood who are given little or no supervision.

We hit on the idea of having a neighborhood youth recreational outreach on Monday evenings. We purchased a couple of roll-away goals, basketballs and footballs. Then we gave out some flyers to neighborhood kids. And prayed. Tonight was our first night.

We had one 18 year old, a couple of junior high kids, and four elementary age children come by to play. We gave the elementary age kids copies of the First Catechism.

An elder and a deacon and seven other adult members of the congregation were there tonight to help. I think we had as much fun as the children did, and we pray that the seed sown tonight will continue for God's glory.

PCA News

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 11:46:51 GMT

BYFAITHONLINE NEWSLETTER
THE NEWSLETTER OF AND FOR THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN AMERICA

IN THIS ISSUE:

• Registration for 35th PCA General Assembly Still Open
• Watch the 35th PCA General Assembly on Live Webcast
• RBI – MTW Joint Letter Regarding Changes in Retirement Plan
• Gatherings at the 35th PCA General Assembly
• Called Home to Glory
• PCA Book and Music Notes
• PCA People in the News
• Scholarship Awards for the WTS Texas Campus
• 2007 Women in the Word Conference WTS
• Preview of MTW’s HIV/AIDS Ministry in Ethiopia

Registration for 35th PCA General Assembly Still Open
The 35th PCA General Assembly will be held in Memphis, Tenn., next week, June 12-15, 2007. Registration is still open and can be completed online or commissioners can register at the GA. For more information about registration and costs, go to http://pcaac.org/2007GeneralAssembly/07registration.htm

Watch the 35th PCA General Assembly on Live Webcast
The 35th PCA General Assembly will be webcast live from the Cook Convention Center in Memphis. The webcast will begin on June 12 at 7:30 p.m. (Central time). If you cannot watch the GA live, each session will be archived and available to view at any time. To watch the GA, go to http://pcaga.com

RBI – MTW Joint Letter Regarding Changes in Retirement Plan
Retirement Benefits, Inc. and Mission to the World have issued a joint letter explaining changes in MTW’s retirement program. To read the letter, go to http://tinyurl.com/26qjk9

Gatherings at the 35th PCA GA
World Harvest Mission luncheon on June 13 at Ballroom C at the Memphis Cook Convention Center. Speakers Hunter Dockery, Senior Pastor of Redeemer PCA in Winston-Salem, N.C. and Craig Brown, Senior Pastor of City Church in Nashville, Tenn. Attendees will receive a free copy of Restoring Broken Things, by Steven Curtis Chapman and Scotty Smith. Purchase tickets in advance at http://whm.org/store for $20.

Called Home to Glory
TE Frederick Sanders Campbell, 89, a member of Tennessee Valley Presbytery, died Tuesday, May 22, 2007, in Nashville, Tenn., following a stroke. Sandy was born December 13, 1917, in Syenchun, Korea. He graduated from Wheaton College and Faith Seminary. He was a pastor in North Dakota and Tennessee and a missionary in Kenya, E. Africa for 38 years with his late wife Grace McFadden Campbell. He retired to Bailey Manor in Clinton, S.C., where he was chaplain.

Laura Sheffer, a PCA missionary with African Bible Colleges, died in Kampala, Uganda on May 25, 2007. She is survived by her husband Scott and four children.

PCA Book and Music Notes
Holly Dutton, Worship Director at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Norfolk, Va., has produced a 4- CD volume entitled The Westminster Shorter Catechism Songs, which sets the entire Shorter Catechism to music. To listen to clips and to order, go to http://www.reformedmusic.com.

Walt Mueller, a member of Westminster PCA in Lancaster, Penn., and President of the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding, has released his latest book, Youth Culture 101 (Youth Specialties/Zondervan). Written for youth workers, parents, pastors, and educators, the book offers a realistic, hope-filled, and practical overview of current youth culture trends that are shaping children and teens, along with Biblical analysis and responses to these trends. To order, go to http://www.amazon.com/Youth-Culture-101-Walt-Mueller/dp/0310273137

PCA People in the News
David Tyson, son of TE and Mrs. Bill Tyson of Westminster PCA in Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., graduated first in the Class of 2007 at West Point Military Academy, on May 26, 2007.

Scholarship Awards for the WTS Texas Campus
Westminster Seminary is awarding 10 scholarships for students entering the M.Div. program of study at its Texas Campus in Dallas. The scholarship is for 40 percent of tuition for Fall and Spring semesters. Awards will be made on a rolling basis, starting June 1, 2007 and ending August 15, 2007. For full details on eligibility, application forms, and on online video, go to http://wts.edu and click “Deadlines/Applications.”

2007 Women in the Word Conference WTS
Women of Westminster Seminary will sponsor its second annual Women in the Word: A Workshop October 19-20, 2007, at the Glenside, Pennsylvania campus. This program is designed to help develop biblically skillful, theologically discerning women Bible teachers. Dr. Karen Jobes, a Westminster Ph.D. graduate, will be the plenary speaker. Registration for the event includes dinner and lunch. Enrollment is by application only (June 30 deadline) and is limited. Go to http://www.wts.edu/news/WomenBro4.pdf for the brochure.

Preview of MTW’s HIV/AIDS Ministry in Ethiopia
TE Steve Smallman, Jr., associate pastor of New Song PCA in Baltimore, Md., was recently in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to observe the MTW/SIM work there among those living with HIV/AIDS. It is bringing the hope of the gospel to those who are hopeless. He has provided a 3 minute version of the story; it is also available in a 12 minute format. To view the video, go to http://my.videoegg.com/video/dhCPrZ

Byfaithonline – The Web Magazine of the PCA
Make sure to visit www.byfaithonline.com regularly to read articles and news for and about the PCA. To subscribe to the print edition of the byFaith magazine go to https://giving.christianity.com/donatenow/pca/offers.php.

Dominic Aquila, Editor
Byfaithonline Newsletter
daquila@byfaithonline.com
http://www.byfaithonline.com

NOTE: Links to Internet sites are provided for informational purposes only and do not imply endorsement of the content of those sites or organizations by the Presbyterian Church in America or byFaith.

New Outreach: Recreational Youth Ministry

John Butler — Fri, 25 May 2007 05:26:56 GMT

You've probably noticed all the kids in the neighborhood of BHPC's facilities. So have your elders. We've just approved an outreach and evangelism concept to them: basketball. We're purchasing a couple of roll away goals and backboards and balls; we need you to help-out on Monday evenings from 6-9, starting June 11th. If you want to help or have questions about this outreach, please contact the church at info@bealheights.org.

Fridays Q & A

Fri, 11 May 2007 17:18:44 GMT

Most of you have either seen or heard of the debate that aired this past Wednesday on ABC’s Nightline featuring Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron opposing a couple of atheists. The video for the debate is online at ABC’s website. I watched what was aired on Wednesday and then saw what was played on the web and I just have a few thoughts on the debate.

I want to say upfront that I am thankful for the creativity and zeal by which The Way of the Master (Ray Comfort & Kirk Cameron) go about evangelism.

With this being said, they should never have agreed to this debate. From my understanding Comfort stated that he could prove the existence of God within minutes and without using the Bible. Aside from the apparent arrogance of such a statement (resting on personal wisdom), this apologetics approach does not have Scriptural basis.

Comfort and Cameron conceded to the atheists and were willing to set aside the ultimate authority and try to claim some sort of neutral ground, in this case it was science and reason. The minute they did this they lost. They then pit their wisdom (call it what you want but at the end of the day this is what it is) against the atheists’. If they had won the debate, which is debatable, the victory would have rested on wisdom. Even after the debate the people who were interviewed were not impressed with what Comfort and Cameron presented. The whole tenor of this debate put man in the judgment seat of God and this is never the right posture. God and his word sit in judgment of us, never us in judgment of him.

Ray Comfort’s “three irrefutable evidences of God’s existence” were:

-Creation for it shows the knowledge of a Creator

-Conscience for it brings the knowledge of a need for forgiveness

-Conversion for it brings an experiential knowledge of God

In this section where Comfort used a Coke can to illustrate the existence of God (this was at least a little better than Cameron’s illustrations of transitional animals, which made him look almost as silly as the theory). Comfort then did he did his typical gospel presentation. I applaud Comfort’s effort in bringing the knowledge of sin via the Law; however, he never describes sin in terms of rebellion and depravity. He talks so much about what we do and never gets around to talking about who we are (and this is not just here in this debate where there is a 13 min time limit, but throughout what I have heard from him.)

Furthermore, he never makes justification clear. And frankly the gospel makes no sense if we have not been declared righteous in God’s sight. We have all of this buildup of sin but then no understanding or explanation of the imputation of divine righteousness. It leaves me wanting more, kind of like Mel Gibson’s movie The Passion. He points back to the cross as the basis for forgiveness but that basis is at best unclear without the imputation of divine righteousness and the complete atoning work of Jesus Christ through his substitutionary death upon Calvary.

Kirk Cameron spoke about his hope that people would hear the message and be opened to it through their comments. However, the gospel itself is what brings that power (Rom. 1.16). Therefore, we must be careful to bring out the gospel in clarity.

Consider the Apostle Paul, he was traveling to Corinth and he could have packed wisdom or miracles…for that is what the people wanted…and it is something that he had. However, what did he bring? He brought the gospel in unvarnished clarity. Paul new that though it was foolishness and a stumbling block to some, it was the power of God unto salvation to others, therefore he preached it. If our goal is the conversion of men we must bring out the tools for conversion and these tools have never been well-reasoned arguments, scientific proofs, or silly graphics, they have always been the word of God proclaiming the Son of God to the glory of God (cf. 1 Cor. 1 & 2).

They may still laugh at you and others may not believe (cf. Acts 17.30-34). However, you know that you have been faithful to proclaim that which God has said and that which is the only means by which they might be saved. If we believe this gospel is powerful then the most loving and humble thing to do is preach it!

Q&A Fridays - Do you use the sinner’s prayer in evangelism?

Fri, 04 May 2007 15:54:47 GMT

Irish Calvinist » Q & A Friday :: Do you use the sinner’s prayer in evangelism?

Q & A Friday :: Do you use the sinner’s prayer in evangelism? 4 05 2007 “I read through some of the tracts that are posted on your blog and I cannot find any prayer of repentance. Do you have people ask Jesus to come into their heart or life?” This is a good question and of the utmost importance, for it deals with the way in which we share the gospel…which is of the utmost importance. In fact there are no examples of sinners’ prayers on my tracts nor do I lead people in a sinners’ prayer when doing evangelism. This is not to say that I think it is unbiblical to pray to God with contrition and repentance, asking for forgiveness, pleading his Son’s mercy and declaring allegiance to him. For I understand Scripture to teach that there is a needed response to the gospel. One must receive the truth of the gospel, embrace it by faith, and in this reception of divine truth there is a turning away from sin and self (repentance) and a desire to follow Jesus (cf. Luke 13.3; John 1.11-12; Acts 16.14, 17.30-31; Rom. 10.9-11, etc..). So my encouragement to pray is not to get people to pray a canned four sentence formula and then believe that it saves them, but rather I encourage folks to retire privately and do business with God that they might cling to Jesus who alone can save them. Much of the issue that I have with the contemporary employment of the “sinner’s prayer” is the amount of trust that evangelists and professing Christians put in it (this is not a universal portrayal but is accurate in many circles). Many times I have spoken with someone about the gospel and the individual is living in unbroken patterns of sin, however, when confronted with the absence of holiness that is incumbent upon Christians and empowered by the Holy Spirit, the individual will dismiss my challenges by pointing to a day of decision and a reciting of a sinner’s prayer. What becomes sadly evident is that the individual is trusting in a prayer that they offered rather than in Jesus Christ who bled and died for sinners. In this end the sinner’s prayer unwittingly becomes an evangelical sacrament or work upon which the sinner clings to for merit and assurance…this is extremely dangerous and blasphemous. So what do you do? I think the biblical model is to hold forth (lovingly explain and proclaim) Jesus Christ in the gospel. In this explanation you tell who he is (creator & king), why he came (incarnation), what he did (redemption), and what he will do (judge & rule). This is laid out in a patient and loving manner but it does not lack the pointed urgency that is required (or the need to respond to Jesus in the gospel). Consider Paul’s example: Acts 17:30-31 30 “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, 31 because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.” You will notice that at the end of the tracts I write something like: Based upon God’s loving exhortation, examine yourself, based upon the Scripture, to make sure that you are truly following Jesus. It is a healthy and helpful spiritual exercise to examine our own hearts in light of God’s word to determine where we truly stand with Jesus (2 Cor. 13.5; 2 Pet. 1.10) There are only two ways to respond: 1. Continue rejecting God’s authority (sin)… result: guilt, death and judgment 2. Submit to and depend upon Jesus (faith)… result: forgiveness So at its heart it is a call to submit to the loving rule of Jesus in all areas, following him in earnest obedience. So in a quick summary, I do think it is right to urge people to respond (ie repent—Acts 17.30) however I do not think it should be a magic formula prayer that ends up replacing Jesus as the Savior. I plead the glory of Jesus to hearts and if God is drawing them to himself he will make Jesus gloriously irresistible to their eyes (2 Cor. 4.4-6), knowing that no amount of striving either on my part or the unbeliever will bring about conversion, but rather that it is wholly the work of God.

Assertions Regarding Evangelism

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 20:18:55 GMT

[adapted from the Woodruff Road PCA newsletter, The Visionary] Here are some assertions that should guide our understanding and practice and prayer. 1. The Bible Alone is the sufficient and authoritative document for evangelism (2 Tim. 3:16-17). All discussions about the message or the method of evangelism must be rooted in the inerrant Scriptures. 2. The supreme object of the work of evangelism is to glorify God (1 Cor. 10:31, Romans 11:36). 3. The Word of God clearly teaches that every person who has ever lived (except the Lord Jesus Christ) is a partaker of Adam’s original sin (Rom. 3:9-20, 5:12) and is dead in sin (Eph. 2:1) and stands in need of reconciliation with a holy God. 4. God’s provision for man’s dilemma is the Person & Work of the Lord Jesus Christ. In obedience to the Eternal Plan of the Triune God, the Lord Jesus Christ was born of a virgin (Luke 1:27-35), lived a sinless life of perfect obedience (Heb. 4:15), died a substitutionary death ( 1 Cor. 15:3), was raised from the dead (1 Cor. 15), ascended to heaven (Acts 1) and now intercedes for His Church. 5. Evangelism is not a method, but occurs whenever we tell men the content of the gospel (namely the Person and Work of Christ, as stated above) and urge them to repent and trust in Christ (Mark 1 :15, John 3:14-18, Romans 10:9-14). 6. The goal of evangelism is the conversion of lost sinners. Conversions, however, may only be effected by the Holy Spirit as He sovereignly gives new life (John 3:1-8, 1:12-13). Our activity is to prayerfully and powerfully and expectantly proclaim the Good News of the Gospel (Romans 10:15, Phil. 1:15). 7. It should be expected that “ false conversions” will occur as we evangelize ( Matt. 13:1-30). 8. The motivations for evangelism are the fear of the Lord, love for Christ and compassion for lost sinners (2 Cor. 5:11-12). 9. The Great Commission not only commands evangelism, but also sacramental obedience and comprehensive Christian education. Any method or practice of evangelism which is divorced from the sacraments and Biblical instruction is to rejected as unscriptural (Matt. 28:18-20). 10. All believers are commanded to be active evangelists and apologists for the gospel of Christ (Acts 8:4, 1 Peter 3:15).

50 Days of Prayer for the PCA

John Butler — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 18:10:16 GMT

Download: 50days2007.pdf (501527 bytes) Our church is not an island. Lawton is not our only mission field. Our conversion ushered us into the body of Christ, those, who regardless of ethnicity or geography, are untied by the common bond of the saving efficacy of the blood of Jesus Christ. This common bond should lead us to pray frequently and vigorously for our brothers and sisters all over the world. More specifically, this common bond should lead us to pray for our own denomination, the Presbyterian Church in America. It is to this end that the publishing arm of the PCA, CE&P, has produced a prayer guide for the PCA designed to cover 50 days from May 3 (The National Day of Prayer) to June 21. The guide is comprised of 50 devotions written by Dr. Mike Ross, designed to encourage you to pray for our denomination. The theme of this year’s guide is Faith of Our Fathers. Following this theme, the devotional selections are organized around the three formulae of classic Christianity: the Apostles’ Creed, the Ten Commandments, and the Lord’s Prayer. You can download a free .pdf version of the guide at the link above. O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come. -Psalm 71:17-18

RCF To Change

John Butler — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 17:34:40 GMT

Reformed Campus Fellowship (RCF), BHPCA's on-campus outreach to Cameron University, will be changing its ministry at the end of this semester.

The campus ministry's on-campus outreach has been primarily a weekly Bible study at the McMahon Center on the CU campus. Due to a number of students graduating or not being full-time students at CU in the coming fall semester, RCF will not have the requisite number of students to fill its organizational offices. This will mean that the group will lose its on-campus recognition as a student group from the CU administration.

RCF plans to continue on as a home Bible study; the group met for its first year and a half in this manner. Please pray that the Lord will direct the students and the elders of BHPCA in this outreach to CU.