Newsletter March 1, 2012 -- Grace and peace to each of you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!

 

Why a WRF e-newsletter?  Because global networks can seem impersonal!

This is a “family letter” -- to draw us into dearer fellowship with one another.

 

 

Newsweek magazine featured an article entitled “The War on Christians” (US edition, 2/13; on line).  The secular press was acknowledging what some of our WRF members know all too well:  the Church of Christ is suffering -- from within and from without.

 

STOP and PRAY: 

for WRF member Munther Isaq as he leads an international conference on “Christ at the Checkpoint” in Bethlehem, Israel, from March 5 – 9, 2012.

for USA member/pastor: “Conflict in our church is really about whether to be a ‘neighborhood church’ or the ‘globalized’ church that the Lord has made us. Pray that the Lord would give me a ‘tough hide and tender heart,’ that I will simply be Christ’s man.”

 

?  “Lament is a legitimate act of faith.”  

Shannon Geiger, 2011 Women in the Word Workshop plenary teacher. Listen to Workshop talks in the Resources section of the WRF website here.

 

 

As many of you know, the WRF sponsored a “Consultation on Ministry Among Muslims” in Turkey during November.  By invitation, thirty-five people from 22 countries attended.

 

“We -- converts from a Muslim background from sub-Saharan countries – are convinced of the importance of the Reformed doctrine for ministry.”   p. 7

See why in Rev. Diop’s paper, “The Contribution of the Reformed Faith to Muslim Ministry”

 

For a list of issues on which Islam and Christianity strongly differ, click here to see p. 17 in "Trends in the Islamic Missionary Movement.”

 

STOP and PRAY:

for concrete fruit from this consultation. Specific actions will be proposed and discussed at the meeting of the WRF Board in Sydney, Australia April 24 – 26, 2012.

for believers in areas represented at the WRF consultation: Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Ghana, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Liberia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Persia, Senegal, Tajikistan, Turkey and Uzbekistan, England, USA

 

WRF FAMILY HELP: Do we worship the same God as Muslims or Jews?

“When I was in seminary, we had a discussion in class one day as to whether or not Jews and Christians worship the same God. My professor said, “Never tell someone they don’t worship the same God as you do.  Simply ask them, ‘Do you believe in the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ?’ And then wait for their answer.”

“I usually say that this is a difficult question.  We all claim to be worshiping the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; so we can charitably say that they don’t recognize the same FULLNESS of God that we Christians do.  But, the God of Israel has forever united Himself with our humanity in the Incarnation of Our Lord —so that now God’s proper Name is Father, Son, & Holy Spirit. The God of Abraham who is not incarnate in Jesus is, well...a god of human invention.”

A WRF FAMILY QUESTION: Do you worship the same God as Muslims or Jews?  What would you say to the questioner? Send your response to samueltlogan @aol.com.

 

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“What if there was one religion that was not man’s search for God, but God’s search for man?  What if one “path” was not made by men trying to get to the top of the mountain, but by God coming down from the top of the mountain to men?  Surely this way would be much more certain than all the others.  For foolish, feeble men trying to get up a mountain will get lost very easily, but the all-powerful, all-knowing God coming down a mountain easily makes a sure path.  And this is why Christianity claims to be the only true way to God:  because it is not man’s search for God, but God’s search for man.”  [from “Christ Is Like a Hodos” by M.K. MacDougall, WRF web site]

 

 

 

 

WRF Board Members are real people!      Matthew Ebenezer (India)

“Being part of WRF has helped me witness the changing roles of the Western, African and Asian churches in Christendom.  It is encouraging to observe the oneness in diversity that characterizes WRF and enables the fellowship to live up to its maxim: that the strengths of some may become the strengths of all in the service of Jesus Christ.”

 

Through WRF, Sarah, wife of board member Peterson Sozi of Uganda, was introduced to the work of “Dorcas,” a self-supporting women’s enterprise run by WRF member Annamma Ebenezer.  Sarah sent hand-made paper mache jewellery to India that was then sold by Dorcas.  Sarah’s products eventually found a market in the USA through Dorcas contacts.   That is the WRF network at work! 

 

Matthew authored What the Apostles Believed: A Devotional Commentary a series of 31 ‘reflections’ on the Apostles’ Creed.  The book is a reminder of the contemporary relevance of this Creed.  Each short reflection (4-5 pages) includes brief Old and New Testament readings, with questions for discussion.  This book can be used for personal reading or for church education.  Matthew is also one of the major contributors to the new “Global Study Bible” which will be published by Crossway later this year.

 

Even International Directors have grandchildren!