Unsurprisingly, the decision-making process usually involved visiting a new church for the vast majority of seekers (85 percent). Most also based their decision on interacting with members (69 percent), the recommendation of a friend or coworker (68 percent), and talking to clergy (55 percent). This illustrates that finding a new church usually involved a strong... Continue Reading

Confusing what the church-corporate does with what individual Christians do. Much of the confusion in this debate lies right here.  We have confused Jesus’ call to love our neighbour with the church-corporate’s missions program:  both are important, but they aren’t the same thing.  It is not at all wrong for Christians to be involved in... Continue Reading

Dr. Kooistra has communicated his plan to move into retirement as soon as possible and no later than October 31.  The Presidential Search Committee must now change directions and move immediately to seek candidates to serve as interim president as directed in the bylaws.  Our first meeting will take place prior to the end of... Continue Reading

We are currently experiencing a new “God moment,” when God is shining his burning light on how our nation and our churches are fractured by racial division and injustice. In the past two years, we’ve seen image after image of injustice perpetrated against black Americans.   Evangelicals are sensitive to what we call “God moments”—when... Continue Reading

“Peter anticipates an age-long heretical infiltration in churches designed to satisfy man’s sensuality and greed. What is most striking about Peter’s prophecy is that what is normative in the world will find entrance into the church (2 Cor. 12:21). Why?”   The 17th century minister and Scotsman, Alexander Nisbet said, “the most dangerous heretics have... Continue Reading

Many social justice advocates argue that the incarnation was, at least in part, about bringing shalom, human flourishing, or general well-being to the human race.  Therefore, they say that any Christian effort which increases human flourishing (such as digging a well or starting a medical clinic) is gospel ministry.  Although this may initially seem compelling,... Continue Reading

Point me to the gospel. This is why I’m there, whether I remember it or not. This is what I need. I need the announcement of the historical work of Christ on the cross and out of the tomb more than I need oxygen! So I’m very, very grateful when your song choice, banter, worship... Continue Reading

“Our African Churches can never be social progressives in the sense beloved of the West. We will never allow our churches to be taken over by views and programmes which suggest that the Bible is wrong. We will not crumble or bow the knee to a godless secular culture that despises the Bible and what... Continue Reading

“Timothy is warned to pursue holiness, stick to the text, and be a zealous evangelist. Pivoting out of this point Paul tells him that he is rounding third in his ministry. He is about to head into the clubhouse. The sun is setting, and he is done. Now, from the perspective of the end he... Continue Reading

So what do we do with this kind of discouragement? How do we keep on ministering through it? And how do we rejoice in the midst of it, as Paul calls us to do in passages like 1 Thessalonians 5:16? In answering these questions and dealing with my own discouragements, I have found help from... Continue Reading