Renewal News

It is always fruitful to discuss Christian leadership. Rather than using words that start with the same letter, in order to communicate insights gained from his personal experience, study, and reflection, the writer uses ten words that rhyme with "lead" as a device to tie this discussion together. … Read More

When suffering happens because of natural disasters, it is because "the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth". Nevertheless, people never seem to expect tragedy, and they are unprepared, or else they assume that God will protect them from it. … Read More

It is the work of the Spirit to create faith. Faith is confidence and trust that the benefits of Christ are mine, that what happened back on the cross and at the empty tomb achieved salvation and that it applies to me here and now. The Holy Spirit is the means by which this salvation reaches even us. … Read More

Dr. Dale Woods of Presbyterian College was the keynote speaker at the 2011 Annual General Meeting of The Renewal Fellowship, held at St. Andrew's, Etobicoke ON in March. Dr. Woods warned us that the Christian community may present itself in radically different forms than those familiar to us. He highlighted three trends that help us reflect on the future: Global, Emergent, and Missional. … Read More

The emerging culture has moved away from texts to images and from books to screens. Those born before 1962 are "immigrants" to this new ethos. "Natives" are in their thirties or younger, and they can't even imagine a world without computers. This presents a challenge to the church to reach them. … Read More

The burden of this superb piece of theological work is to demonstrate the centrality of the descent and ascent of Jesus Christ to Calvin's understanding of salvation as human participation in the life of God. … Read More

Rev. Bill Manson courageously maintained the church's position on chastity and faithfulness in marriage. He was a frequent contributor to the Presbyterian Record, and carried out a faithful ministry of Bible teaching, pastoral care, and diligent involvement in the courts of the Church. … Read More

Although Calvin takes sin and the fall very seriously, he sees the Spirit at work in the whole of creation. For Calvin, the fundamental human problem is that we ascribe praise incorrectly and we accept praise incorrectly. Because of idolatry and ingratitude, we no longer know God. … Read More

When Rev. Ken Wilson was minister at Kirkland Lake, he had been instrumental in working with others to acquire the land and build the initial buildings at Dorothy Lake Camp. After a number of years, the camp fell into disuse, and Ken undertook an effort to revive it. … Read More

The author suggests three possible reasons why the Reformed tradition — one that takes its cue and has its roots in the theological work of John Calvin — has not always drawn unto itself Calvin's doctrine of the Holy Spirit. … Read More

For several years, Fairview Church in Vancouver BC has had a connection with Cambodia, a complex, recovering country. The Ratanak Foundation bought a former hotel for pedophiles and brothel for children, and two teams from Canada went to turn it into a school and a meeting place. … Read More

This book comes out of the personal wrestling of living in a "waffle-filled" mainline denomination and knowing the anguish and foolishness of half-truths that pass for wisdom. Rather than becoming bitter, he has exposed these half-truths with dry humour, wit, and hyperbole. … Read More

This biography traces the ministry of David Craig in the latter half of the twentieth century, as a young missionary in Nigeria, where his life was threatened several times before a firing squad, and as a minister during heart-rending days of evangelism and schism in the French work in Quebec. … Read More

Jesus is alive and well, and active even in the life of a confirmed New Ager, Buddhist, Tarot card reader, and astrology devotee. Unlike most New Agers, Gabriele knew that there was a higher being, a God in charge of the universe. … Read More

There is a disturbing disconnect between the church and generation X and Y. Young people have drastically different values, mindsets, worldviews, and attitudes than those of previous generations. They have grown up with the messages of free choice, relativism, tolerance, multiculturalism, and political correctness. … Read More

Christianity works best when worship, belief in Christ, and belonging through giving and worship come together. However, western young adults so easily separate behaviour, belief, and belonging. We need stronger links of faith, reasons, actions, and relationship, and see the damage of disconnecting them. … Read More

Where many churches have become introverted, self-serving, and closed, the author, in addition to his pastoral responsibilities at St. Andrew's, Parry Sound, has been involved in sending short-term mission teams to Nicaragua for the past 7 years under the auspices of Threefold Ministries. … Read More

What was there about this man that God used him so mightily? There was an essential humility, a self-effacing, even self-deprecating, inability to take himself seriously. His ability to cross time zones and emerge from intercontinental air flights was an act of heroic proportions. … Read More