Congregational
Concern
Magazine of the Evangelical Fellowship of Congregational Churches
Mission to Ukraine
Our Congregational roots
Child protection
Issue No. 158
Winter 2000
Concern
is the magazine for
and about the
Evangelical
Fellowship of
Congregational
Churches
Editor:
Rev. PETER BEALE
Assistant Editors:
Rev. CYRIL ASTON
Rev. MICHAEL PLANT
Rev. RAY NYE
EFCC Reports
1
Focus on
Woolwich
2
Child protection 3
Further afield:
Ukraine
4/5
Our Congregational
roots (3)
6/7
Bryan Cook’s
Reflections 8/9
Bookshelf
10
Pause for thought
11
Stan Guest
12
Editor’s comment
I
am writing this in the closing weeks of December 2000, trying to
get it finished and off to the printer before Christmas; all being
well you will be reading it early in the New Year (and the New
Century, as the purists among us have maintained for the past twelve
months!). However we mark the changing of the years, they provide
a good opportunity to stop and consider the goodness and
lovingkindness of the Lord. Perhaps the past year have seen many
changes and upheavals, in our personal lives as well as in the world
at large; as to the future, we do not know what it holds. But we know
that through it all, the Lord abides faithful:
“Great is thy faithfulness”, O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with thee;
Thou changest not, thy compassions they fail not;
As thou has been thou for ever wilt be.
We have quite a “mixed bag” for you in this issue of Concern. In
December the full glare of the media’s attention fell upon Peckham
in south east London with the terrible killing of a young schoolboy:
this is just a few miles from Woolwich, where the Congregational
Church is the subject of our “Focus on …” page: it is good to read
of encouragements and exciting plans for the work there, and it
should encourage us to pray.
A sad fact of our times is the need for great care in the protection
of our children against abuse, and we are grateful to Mike Baxter of
Pontefract, an expert in the field of child protection, for his article
and advice.
The best book to read is the Bible, but there are many excellent
books which will help you to both better understand the Book of
Books, and to grow in your Christian life. You would profit from
reading any of those recommended by Derek Swann as his personal
favourites.
May the Lord bless us and use us to his glory in 2001.
Peter Beale
Front Cover: The cathedral of
St Sophia, Kyiv, Ukraine.
From Ukrainian picture
gallery, University of Vienna
web-site.
EFCC reports
Alan
Tovey
Illness
David Saunders of Rochford has
undergone major heart surgery but is making a
good recovery. Jim Morris of Fordham has
suffered a heart attack and is recuperating.
Vincent Tracey of Tredegar has had an ankle
replacement operation at the Royal London
Orthopaedic Hospital. Neil Woodruff of
Briston has been ill and off work for some time,
but is recovering. Each of these brethren would
value our prayers.
Wedding anniversaries
George and Nina Hemming of Reeth have
celebrated
their
Diamond
Wedding
anniversary. Michael and Maureen Hemming
of Mynydd Isa have celebrated their Ruby
Wedding. We send warmest congratulations to
these dear friends.
Ministerial movements
Andrew Leach of West Smethwick and
Quarry Bank has accepted the call to assist
David Saunders at Rochford, Canewdon and
Paglesham.
Deaths
We are saddened to record the passing of
Jenny Cottam, wife of Pastor Geoff Cottam of
Torcross, south Devon, on 9th December. We
rejoice in the knowledge that she is “with
Christ, which is far better”, but at the same time
express our sympathy in their loss to Geoff and
their two families, and to the fellowship at
Torcross.
In gratitude
Both Bryan Cook and Maurice Lawrance
have contributed an enormous amount to
EFCC. Both came from business and
Concern Winter 2000
commercial backgrounds but with a strong
Christian faith and with experience of church
involvement.
Bryan was born in Walthamstow, where he
grew up. He was converted at Hatfield and
joined the church at Welwyn. His work with
Smith & Nephew (he was organisation and
methods’ manager) brought him north to
Beverley 18 years ago, where he and Loraine
joined Latimer church. Here Bryan became a
Deacon and church Treasurer.
Maurice was born and grew up in
Sawbridgeworth and came under the influence
of the Congregational church there, in which he
became deeply involved. He trained as an
accountant and eventually held a senior
accounting position with Minet, a large
insurance company. He also had other business
interests which continued after he left the
company. With this he combined considerable
involvement with Christian charitable work
and has recently sought to liaise with EFCC
churches in Hertfordshire.
Evelyn’s father had been Treasurer of the
church at Sawbridgeworth and Maurice and
Evelyn were married there by Stan Guest, Stan,
of course, being the minister of the church at
that time. Before becoming more formally
involved with EFCC Maurice acted as honorary
auditor for the Fellowship for many years.
So, it is appropriate that we recall all this
now and express our profound gratitude to both
Bryan and Maurice and pray for them and their
families God’s continued blessing in future
years.
Diary dates
Did you put those important EFCC dates
in your new diary?
The Congregational Studies Conference
on 17th March at Westminster Chapel, with
papers on Philip Doddridge (John Hancock),
the Atonement (Gordon Cooke), and Baptism
(Neil Stewart); and the Annual General
Meeting at Gwersyllt on 4th and 5th May
(guest preacher Rev. David Wynn of Mold
Baptist Church).
1
Focus on …
Woolwich,
SE London
by Aaron Flanagan
T
wo years ago October past, my wife
and I left our homeland (Northern
Ireland), our families, and our lives as
we knew them and came to Woolwich to
resume the ministry here. We had been
waiting on the Lord’s leading and every door
to that point had closed before us except for
this one, so we responded to the call, took a
step of faith and by God’s grace moved to
South East London.
When we arrived here in the October of
1998, it was to a very run down church
building and a very small congregation and we
knew that a lot of hard work lay ahead of us. We
praised God for the opportunity for serving him
and began immediately to tidy and clean up
around the church, and to make contacts with
some of the local residents. And so started a
process of building bridges and relationships
with local people in the hope that they would
come out to the church. Like everything, else
we tried some things and they worked and we
continued to develop them, while there were
other things that clearly were not developing
and so we decided to stop those and put our
energies into something else. We gave out
newsletters, church flyers, gospel tracts; we
knocked on doors and had some special
activities and we praise God that slowly but
surely people started to respond and come out.
Since that time we have started a children’s work
and a youth work; my wife runs a developing
mums and tots and we have two good services
on Sundays. We have good relations with the
community around us and allow an AA group
to meet once a week in the church, and there is
also a computer building course running in the
church too.
One of the things that is really exciting for
Woolwich is that being part of the millennium
borough there is a lot of regeneration going on
2
around us. Currently they are building all
around us and there are plans that we should
now be included in that. The plans are that the
old church that has stood some 140 years will
be taken down late next year and we will be
getting a new church, which will be part of a
larger “Community Living Centre” This is
something that has been around for a few years
now but we are delighted that things are really
beginning to happen. Please pray that these
plans may come to fruition.
Looking back over two years, we can
honestly say that God has done so much for us
as a family and for us as a church. We know that
God will continue to build his church down
here in Woolwich, and that many will come to
saving faith through the work and witness of
the church.
For those of you who have been faithful in
praying and helping Woolwich over the years,
we thank you for all that you have done and we
want to encourage you to continue praying in
the days ahead.
Here are some things that you could
specifically be praying for at this time.
• Us as a family, that we may know much of
God’s help and strength as we seek to lead
and pastor this church.
• The development of all our activities
throughout the week. This would include
finances as we need to buy equipment for
the youth club etc.
• Our application to the LCM for a Church
based Evangelist. This would be an
encouragement to us and a great help in
this ministry.
• The new building project that all would go
well.
• Some good Christian families to move into
the area and begin attending the church.
• And please pray that God will draw many
sinners unto himself and save them, even
for his own glory.
Being a small church in a big city can be a tough
work at times. We appreciate your fellowship,
encouragement and prayers and ask you to
continue with all your support.
Concern Winter 2000
Child protection
Child Protection
and the Church
by Mike Baxter
D
o you think that Child Protection is an
issue that seems too remote to worry
about? What would you do if there was
such a concern in your church? Has your
church given any thought about a child
protection policy?
At some time or other the matter will have to
be faced. We would of course prefer it if a policy
was not necessary, but the Church has a
responsibility under God for the total welfare of
children in our care. A child in the church may
have been abused at home, Christian or non
Christian. A sex abuser may seek to work with
children in your church or befriend a lone
mother. Church leaders may be accused of
abuse or act unwisely in work with children and
young people. We cannot be satisfied until we
are sure that we have done all in our power to
protect our children.
Churches will then need to know what to do,
how to act wisely, how to prevent abuse and
allegations. All in all we must be faithful in our
witness to the outside world and do all we can
not to grieve the Spirit. Your church, therefore,
needs a Child Protection policy and training for
your staff.
The church at Pontefract has developed
procedures based on Government legislation,
regulation and guidance and introduced child
protection training for all its workers with
children which is spiritual, biblical and
practical. As a consequence of this becoming
known I have developed a child protection
ministry to evangelical churches providing
information and advice and training. The cost
of information packs is borne by the Pontefract
church and is free on request. For training, no
particular charge is made but an appropriate fee
plus expenses would be appreciated. This could
be raised by charging a small registration fee at
courses but the EFCC is also willing to give
financial support where this is necessary.
Courses could be run as a joint venture for a
number of Congregational and other churches
in a local area.
Perhaps we feel that we have gone too far in
this modern age; that we cannot smack our
children when necessary; that we are in danger
of being unable to show affection to our
children in case we are suspected of child abuse
or that a child may make false allegations or we
are in fear of litigation.
There is much unnecessary anxiety carried by
church and professional workers. We need,
therefore, to demystify these concerns and give
reassurance.
Write, telephone or E.Mail me at 55 Camp
Mount, Pontefract, WF8 4BX; tel. 01977 600299;
e-mail: [email protected].
Mike Baxter is an elder and secretary of Pontefract
Congregational Church in West Yorkshire. He is a
retired Local Authority Social Services
Department Senior Manager and was latterly for
a number of years its Child Protection Coordinator and Co-ordinator of the local Area
Child Protection Committee.
Opportunities wanted
—to share the creation message! Can you
or your church arrange an evening, or half/full
day creation event? The Creation Resources
Trust have experienced speakers available in
most parts of Britain. There are various
possibilities which can be tailored to suit your
needs: an all-age Creation Discovery Day, an
Concern Winter 2000
adult-only Consider Creation! day, a half-day
event, or an evening talk or seminar. Why not
get together with other churches in the area?
Contact the Creation Resources Trust,
Mead Farm, Downhead, West Camel, Yeovil,
BA22 7RQ; tel./fax 01935 850569; e-mail
[email protected].
3
Further afield
many young people. Yet still there are pressures
of great poverty in the villages, growing
materialism in the cities, religious divisions and
a great shortage of trained Pastors to disciple
and lead Christ’s church.
Evangelism and
Ukraine 2000
Mission Trip
by Andy Ball
U
kraine 2000 was a new opportunity for
a short-term overseas mission training
trip, organised and hosted by Andy and
Tanya Ball of Pontefract Congregational
Church, who founded “UK-Ukraine
Ministries” two years ago.
It took place during July 2000, lasting three
weeks, when a team of ten Christian young
people and young adults from five different
churches travelled to Ukraine with three big
aims in view:
1) To share the Gospel in every situation
possible, that people might be saved;
2) to develop the spiritual lives of the young
team as they trusted God for everything in a
foreign culture;
3) to build long-term Gospel links between
like-minded believers and churches in Ukraine
and UK.
Why Ukraine?
encouragement
Our Ukraine 2000 team visited churches,
villages, families, youth groups, a children’s
camp, an orphanage and wherever we went, we
sang hymns and songs, preached, gave
testimony and spoke of Christ, seeking to win
souls and encourage the churches. All team
members took part, and though many were
very inexperienced in evangelism, the trip gave
them a chance to serve God and develop their
reliance on him as they spoke and shared in new
situations, all through translation into the
Russian language.
We took many things with us to give away.
Hundreds of Russian and Ukrainian New
Testaments were given away at evangelistic
meetings and after church services. We were
able to spread hundreds of Russian tracts
around to people on the streets, at markets and
in villages, during and after our meetings.
We were also able to give lots of needed
sports and craft equipment to camps, Sunday
school groups and evangelistic village outreach
teams to help them with their work. All of this
was funded by voluntary donations from the
UK.
Tanya Ball was born and grew up in this
former Soviet Republic, where once persecution
was the norm for all believers, including Tanya
and her family. Now however, after years of
prayer, the Gospel door is wide open. Since
1991 Ukraine has been an independent country
and there is now a large appetite for the Gospel
among ordinary, common people.
Such an opportunity and the great
openness means many new churches are being
planted and are growing rapidly. Many
thousands of people have been saved, including
4
Concern Winter 2000
… the former Soviet Union
Answered prayer
God answered so many prayers for us
during the trip. Our health was preserved; we
were never stopped once by the Police (a
miracle in such a corrupt nation); our bus broke
down but was started again by prayer alone; all
our bags were un-searched through customs,
along with many other provisions and
opportunities that the Lord gave us. We were
privileged to see people moved by the Gospel
and converted in a number of places during our
trip.
So how did the young team cope? Here are
some of their comments:
“I returned tired, mosquito bitten and a few
Babushka dolls heavier from a trip which had reembellished my desire to serve God, spurred me on
in my personal walk with him and shown me the
shone with a Christ-like love and through the grace
of God these men and women of prayer are
continually seeing fruit from their labour.”
“Due to the fact that the members of the
church still have times of persecution fresh in their
minds, they have a real sense of urgency and
importance in everything they do. Whether it’s
evangelism, holiness, prayer, or anything else they
do, it is clear that the Ukrainian churches have a
passion for that which is of eternal importance.”
“It will always be precious to us that despite
differences in language, culture, and church life,
that which was common to us was so much more
powerful.”
UK – Ukraine Ministries seeks to promote
partnership and Gospel opportunities in
Ukraine, through the support of Christians and
churches in the UK helping Christians and
churches in Ukraine to preach Jesus Christ and
witness to his saving grace. Our main areas of
ministry include building links, giving financial
aid, literature translation, training and
supporting evangelism and church planting.
Our help and support is entirely for those of an
Evangelical Christian standpoint. Any gifts of
support are worth TEN times their value in
Ukrainian currency!
Tanya’s testimony
importance and reality of prayer. We all came back
having experienced God in a way that we never
could have expected.”
“We met many Christians who had much
compassion for the people in their villages. They
Andy and Tanya can be contacted through
www.newslavs.com/uk-ukraine.htm, where
you can also read Tanya’s gripping testimony of
growing up as a Christian in a persecuted land!
Or phone 01977 700650.
Nostalgic visit
The indefatigable Rev. Ban Forsyth
together with his wife Brenda recently returned
to Brazil, where they had worked for many
years, for a three-week visit. Not surprisingly
the matter of travel insurance caused some
difficulties: nonagenarians on transatlantic
flights are perhaps not the best of insurance
risks! But all was sorted out, and the journey
was a great success: Ban says they returned
Concern Winter 2000
invigorated! The main purpose of the visit was
to take part in the closing week and graduation
ceremony at the Brazil Bethel College, and he
spoke 13 times in the course of 19 days. Ban
was thrilled to see the growth that had taken
place in the church since he was last there
twelve years ago. A full report is promised for
the next issue of Concern.
5
Our Congregational
English
Independency (3)
Such famous names as Robert Moffat and David
Livingstone were among many who in the
succeeding years were commissioned and sent
out into the world by the LMS.
by Peter Robinson
Co-operation and growth
he most significant event in the 18th
century was of course the Evangelical
Awakening which erupted in 1739 with
the preaching of George Whitefield. To begin
with many Independents viewed the revival
with caution and scepticism, as its chief
preachers were from within the Church of
England. They were also wary of instantaneous
conversion and the place of emotion in
preaching.
Doddridge was one of the first
Congregational ministers to welcome Whitefield.
Whitefield, like the Congregational churches, was
Calvinistic in his doctrine, and since he, unlike
Wesley, did not seek to organise his converts into
fellowships they often joined Congregational
churches. This brought a much needed breath of
life into Congregationalism and a renewed zeal
for evangelism and gospel preaching. The
aforementioned conversion of the Presbyterian
church to Unitarianism also led many of its
fellowships to secede to Congregationalism.
By 1811 there were some 799
Congregational churches in England and Wales,
and within twenty years that number doubled.
By now it was becoming clear that for
evangelisation to be effective at home there had
to be co-operation between the Independent
churches. This had been going on in some
measure already in various counties and
districts. Some associations had even linked
Baptists and Congregationalists, such as the
Bedford Union of Churches.
There had always been county and regional
unions in several parts of the country, going
back into the 17th century.
The Savoy Declaration had proved that
independency does not mean isolationism. In
1831 the 34 already existing County Unions
were united to become the Congregational
Union of England and Wales. In that same year
it was estimated that there were some 1600
Congregational churches in England and Wales.
The success of this union can be measured by
the significant growth that occurred in the next
twenty years with churches being established in
almost every town and prominent village in the
land. By 1850 there were over 3200
Congregational churches. This phenomenal
growth continued through much of the
remainder of the century. A census just before
the outbreak of the first world war estimated
that about 1 million people in the UK would
have attended a Congregational Church or
Sunday School each week.
T
Overseas mission
The new zeal for the gospel was not
restricted to reaching the people of England. A
recognition of the need to send the “glorious
gospel of the blessed God to the heathen” was
acknowledged among the Independents.
The London Missionary Society was
formed in 1795, only three years after William
Carey had founded the Baptist Missionary
Society. This was not the first time that
missionaries
had
been
sent
by
Congregationalists, for way back in 1631 John
Eliot had been sent to New England to take the
gospel to the native Americans.
The LMS did not consist solely of
Congregationalists either, Presbyterians (who
had not turned Unitarian) and evangelical
Anglicans made up its founders and benefactors.
6
Declension and drift
But by then the rot had already set in.
The Declaration of Faith, that is the
Constitution, upon which the Congregational
Union was formed in 1831 was the offspring of
its grandfather, The Savoy Declaration of 1658.
It was clearly Calvinistic in tone. The drift into
Concern Winter 2000
roots
liberalism and away from reformed doctrine can
be clearly followed through the alterations made
to this Constitution.
Until 1904 the first two objects of the
Union were: (1) To uphold and extend
Evangelical religion primarily in connection
with churches of the Congregational order;
(2) To promote Scriptural views of Church
fellowship and organisation. In 1904, these were
changed to: (1) To extend and realise the
Kingdom of Christ, primarily through
Churches of the Congregational order; (2) To
promote New Testament principles of Church
fellowship and organization. In 1958, much
greater changes were made: (1) To serve and bear
witness to the Kingdom of God by confessing
and proclaiming Almighty God as Creator,
Sustainer and Father of all, Jesus Christ his Son
as Lord and Saviour, and the Holy Spirit as the
living power of God; (2) To promote principles
of church fellowship and organisation that are
consonant with the Gospel.
Notice that first, “Evangelical” disappears,
then “Congregational”, and also “Scriptural”
and then “New Testament”.
Liberal theology
Congregationalism was not alone in
succumbing to the influence of German
Liberalism, all the mainstream denominations
of the 19th century were dispossessed of
Evangelical doctrine in its seemingly
unstoppable rampage. It was the training
colleges and universities that first opened their
doors to its age-old humanism and unbelief. To
be fair though, many resisted its invasion for
some time. The Lancashire college was accused
of “a wretched exhibition of ignorant bigotry”,
because of its expulsion of one of its lecturers,
Dr Samuel Davidson for questioning the
inspiration of Scripture in 1856.
And there were some stalwarts for the faith
in several Congregational theologians. Henry
Rogers was Principal of the Lancashire College.
In 1873 he published the Congregational
Union lecture titled “The Superhuman origin
of the Bible, inferred from itself”, in which he
Concern Winter 2000
argues that the Bible “is not such a Book as man
could have written if he would, or would have
written if he could”. Some men even travelled
in the other direction. P.T. Forsyth journeyed
from a thorough Liberalism to an orthodox
faith. But these men were vastly outnumbered,
and therefore became lone voices in the
clamour for “Rationalism”.
Very often the man in the pew was more
Bible believing than his pastor, and Tudur Jones
in his work Congregationalism in England,
1662–1962 cites as “a proof of the abiding
convictions of the churches (even if it was no
proof of moral courage in ministers) that many
men who had adopted Higher Criticism
became adept at hiding their standpoint from
their congregations”.
Biblical hymnody
Almost certainly what kept the
congregations themselves from departing from
the faith once delivered was the hymns that they
sang. With the words of Isaac Watts, Augustus
Toplady and William Cowper and their like
upon the people’s lips it was easy to ignore the
words from the preachers’ lips. Therefore the
denominational hymn book had to be altered.
Hymns with a clearly evangelical tone had those
most offensive verses marked with an asterisk.
The introduction to Congregational Praise
states: “This is only to suggest that if the hymn
is thought to be too long these verses may be
found the most suitable for omission”.
So “All things bright and beautiful” with a
total of 52 lines had no asterisk. “There is a
green hill” with a total of 20 lines, if considered
too long could be shortened by omitting the
verse, “There was no other good enough to pay
the price of sin. He only could unlock the gate
of heaven and let us in”.
The book Companion to Congregational
Praise states that the most distinctive change in
hymnody after the 18th century was “the
divorce of the union which wedded the hymn
book to the Bible”.
To be concluded in the next issue.
7
Looking
Reflections (II)
by Bryan Cook
E
ven with the help that Maurice Lawrance
and I were able to give, the burden of the
Fellowship was still heavily upon Alan
Tovey’s shoulders. He was pastor to pastors,
travelling the length and breadth of the country,
spending many nights away from home, very
much involved in church disputes, seemingly
working from one crisis to another. All this was
having a big toll upon his health. To this end it
was decided that he should have additional
help. The country was divided up into four
areas and a Representative elected to take on the
responsibility of the churches in each area,
reporting to Alan who looked after the fourth
area but was in overall charge. The Regional
Secretaries as they were called are Peter Beale,
Gwynne Evans and David Saunders. On their
appointment they were given the task to make
contact with every church in their region with
the object of getting to know their needs and
also increasing the churches’ awareness of
EFCC and what it had to offer the churches.
They were to report back to Alan any pastoral
or material needs. It was agreed that after they
had been in the field for a period of two years
they would report to the Committee so that a
long term strategy could be formulated. This
has now been done and no doubt my successor
will be very much involved in implementing it.
From the responses received for this new
initiative it seems to be working well and
achieving what it had been designed to do.
Annual events
The main events every year are:—
a) The AGM, which is now a two day affair,
with the first day set aside for delegates who deal
with the business aspects of the Fellowship and
the day ends with ministry for all in the evening.
b) Our Studies Conference which is held at
Westminster Chapel, when three original
papers are given on our Congregational History.
This is always well attended, often from 70 to
8
100 people in attendance, most enjoying a
super cooked meal provided by wives of pastors
of some local churches and some not so local;
c) The Ministers’ Prayer Conference. This is
our most popular Conference and is supported
by up to 100 ministers. It is considered, by
those who attend, a most blessed time of prayer,
fellowship and ministry. Those who are invited
to speak, who are always well known ministers,
always provide ministry which is special for the
occasion. The ministers attending are refreshed
and encouraged to go back to their churches
with a new zeal and vigour.
Ups and downs
Has everything been encouraging? It would
be unusual if that were so. Although I do not
want to dwell on the down side of things, it is
always depressing when a church leaves the
Fellowship for what ever reason. We have to
maintain a stand with our Constitution and the
need for churches in the fellowship to adhere to
our Affirmation of Oneness. We have a long
heritage in Congregationalism which, with all
its idiosyncrasies, to my way of thinking, is the
nearest thing to what we might call the original
church. The up side is that we have had as many
churches joining as leaving so we have been able
to maintain a witness of holding our own when
many other groupings have been slowly getting
smaller.
Concern Winter 2000
back
Treatment of pastors
The thing that has caused me, personally,
most distress is when I see churches, that is you
and me, who feel that because they pay their
pastor a stipend, often much less than they
would be willing to live on themselves, they
think they own him. They often not only expect
their pastor to look after the spiritual side of
their welfare but also be their general
dogsbodies. I have been counselled on many
occasions to keep this observation to myself, but
I now feel it is the right time to express it. I see
the ministry as the highest calling a man can
have. Ministers are chosen of God and should
be treated with respect. I know that they are
called to be servants but so was Christ. They
minister on behalf of Christ. They all have their
own idiosyncrasies, but it is not the person so
much as the calling that deserves our respect. If
everyone was to read the Church Members’
Guide by John Angell James, I think they may
form a different opinion of how a minister of
God should be treated. He is not a means of
getting cheap labour, or a lackey. The minister’s
welfare should have priority over everything
else, because he is called to minister the word of
God to us so that we are built up in our most
holy faith, edified and prepared for service.
Church buildings are important, missionaries
are important but without the teaching of God’s
word in the home situation then all will come
to nought and the church will die. Treasurers
please note, I am a fellow treasurer. Money in
the bank which is not capital money should be
used first to keep the pastor at the same
standard of the average of ten wage earners in
the church all giving a tenth, and any money
over should be designated to a cause and not
just stored for a rainy day. Money in God’s
economy is to be used for his Glory and should
you run out God will replenish it when you
need it. He is no man’s debtor. I have come
across churches with plenty of money in the
bank while their pastor is living on the bread
line, and that is not God-honouring. We can
feel self-righteous in giving to missionary causes
Concern Winter 2000
while we are starved of ministry at home. The
great commission started in Jerusalem. Without
the foundation of a healthy home church, other
causes will die. I did not realise how strongly I
felt on this issue, but I have met good men in
the ministry whose struggle to exist must take
their minds off the major task of preparing
sermons, visiting and praying for us so that we
can concentrate on the things that have to be
done. As one might say, it was good to get that
off my chest.
An inspirational time
Have I enjoyed my time with the EFCC? It
has been inspirational. I have worked with and
met some of the nicest people. Alan, from time
to time, asked Loraine and me to visit some of
the churches to get me out of the office for a
break. In doing so we have been made so
welcome and the hospitality has been
wonderful. We have made very good
friendships which I hope will last a long time.
Can you imagine doing a job where you are
prayed for every day, where nearly every letter
that comes into the office offers words of
encouragement? I have experienced working
with a Committee made up of men dedicated
to the pastoral and material needs of the
churches in the Fellowship, who want the
Fellowship to grow, not only in size but in love
for the Lord and one another. A committee that
is now made up of some younger men being
prepared to take on the mantle which will be
handed on to them. A good foundation has
been laid, which is Jesus Christ, and we should
go on together and build upon it gold, silver
and precious stones.
I would like to say a special thanks to my
mentor and friend also my boss over these last
12 years for his patience, encouragement and
love. It has been my real privilege to know him
and to work with him. Thank you for letting
me share some of my thoughts as I have
reflected upon these years. May I wish my
successor every blessing as he takes up the
work? Thank you all for you prayers and
support.
9
Bookshelf
Some favourite
books
by Derek Swann
T
oday our Christian bookshops are awash
with Christian literature; but it was not
always so. In the post-war years there
was a mere trickle of good Evangelical books,
and we looked mainly to the infant InterVarsity Press to quench our thirst.
Soon after my conversion I was given a
copy of Hallesby on Prayer,1 which set the
direction of my prayer life. About the same time
a small booklet came my way, Power through
Prayer by E.M. Bounds.2 While Hallesby
informed my mind, Bounds inspired me to
pray—and still does.
If my old history teacher got to know that I
had come to love history, she would, I’m sure,
have considered that a minor miracle. If anyone
thinks Church History is boring (as I once did),
then try reading Christian Leaders of the 18th
Century by J.C. Ryle3 or The Puritans: their
Origins and Successors by D.M. Lloyd-Jones.4
I began my training for the Christian
Ministry as an outright liberal with little respect
for the Bible. But after my conversion I knew,
without a shadow of doubt, that the Bible was
the Word of God. I still had problems, but when
the young J.I. Packer wrote “Fundamentalism”
and the Word of God,5 the remnants of my
liberalism were swept away. I am, like so many
indebted to Dr Packer for his Knowing God6,
which opened up new vistas concerning
experimental knowledge of God (the chapter on
“Sons of God” was an eye-opener).
In IVF (now UCCF) circles Sacrifice by
Howard Guiness was required reading, and
that book really clipped the wings of selfishness
and self-expression. On the missionary front the
two-volume biography of Hudson Taylor by Dr
& Mrs Howard Taylor7 proved a great
challenge.
10
One devotional book that greatly
influenced me was Memoir and Remains of
Robert Murray M’Cheyne by Andrew Bonar,8
with the Letters of John Newton9 a close
second.
And what more can I say?—for space and
the editor’s restriction rein me back. Can I be
permitted a mention of Lloyd-Jones on The
Sermon on the Mount,10 Ryle on Holiness11
(one sermon, “Christ’s greatest trophy”, is a real
gem), The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer,12
Matthew Henry’s Commentary?13 I’ll stop
there, Mr Editor, and pass the baton on to
someone else.
Some of the books mentioned above are
available as follows, from various sources. In the
case of unfamiliar publishers, you could try, for
instance, www.amazon.co.uk.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Augustine’s Fortress, £4.99
Moody Press, £4.20
Banner of Truth, £5.50
Banner of Truth, £13.45
Eerdmans, £5.60
Hodder & Stoughton,£5.99
OMF Books, £19.99
Banner of Truth, £17.95
Banner of Truth, £3.25
Eerdmans, £9.40
Evangelical Press, £19.95
Paternoster, £3.95
Hendrikson, £31.50 or £11.95 from the Met
Tab Bookshop
Free Bible Software
For the cost of postage ($7.95) you can
receive a CD-Rom which contains the text of
the Authorized Version Bible, the Westminster
Confession and Catechisms, and a host of firstrate Christian books by such authors as
M’Cheyne, Ryle, Edwards, Hodge, Haldane,
Baxter, Spurgeon and others, together with a
10,000-subject topical index, courtesy of the
Ephesians Four Group, a small nonprofit
ministry established by a young seminary family
in the States, For further information and to get
the free CD, go to www.FreeBibleSoftware.org.
Concern Winter 2000
Pause for thought
Using our gifts
by Arthur Fraser
I
n Mark’s account of the feeding of the 5000
(Mark 6:30-44), we read that Jesus, who
knew what he would do, challenged the
disciples: “You give them something to eat.”
Was this a pointless gesture or an impossible
demand? The disciples were nonplussed as they
considered it. They were regarding the matter
entirely at a human level despite all that they
had witnessed of the unlimited power of Jesus,
which testified to his identity as God himself
The disciples’ problem was that they did not
build on their earlier experience of Jesus and so
he has to upbraid them for failing to understand
the significance of his mighty works (see Mark
8:17).
But what would we have done better? What
is our response when Jesus summons us to meet
the needs of others? If we look only at the
human resources available we will decide it is
impossible. We can no more minister effectively
to others with our own resources than the
disciples could feed the 5000 with theirs. This
illustrates the method God often uses in his
dealings with us. He asks us to do what we
cannot do to create in us a complete
dependence on him who is able to do for and
through us immeasurably more than we can ask
or even think.
Viewed in this way the story becomes a
parable of the Christian life. Each of us has
received a gift by the Holy Spirit through which
we are to minister to the necessities of others for
their upbuilding in faith and grace. “Each one
should use whatever gift he has received to serve
others, faithfully administering God’s grace in
its various forms.” (1 Peter 4: 10)
There are two dangers to avoid. One is to
use our gifts in the strength of the flesh, not
depending on the Lord alone. The other,
which is our concern here, is to regard our gift
as so small and inadequate that we fail to use
it. Wasn’t this the sin of the servant who
received only one talent (Matthew 25: 24-27)?
Concern Winter 2000
If this is our case, we must recognise the
problem, which is failing to trust Christ as to
who he is and what he is able to do. If we bring
our “5 loaves and 2 fishes”, which seem so
small in the face of the needs of the people
around us, then he can multiply them beyond
our highest imaginings. Herein lies much
encouragement for Christian service for “Little
is much if God be in it.”
Dr Arthur Fraser is pastor of Latimer Memorial
Congregational Church, Beverley, East Yorkshire.
BEC Studies Conference
Bryan Jones, Philip Swann and Andrew
Leach were among the 40 pastors attending this
conference in March, on the theme of “The
Image of God in Man”. Bryan Jones writes:—
“It was a profitable time of iron sharpening
iron. We were cheered by the good evangelical
minds at work having read and heard so much
from the liberal thinkers. The conference gave 212⁄
days of focussed thinking on the subject of the
Image of God in man. This notion has widereaching effects on our ministries. The preaching
of the total depravity of man must never be lost,
neither must that of the wonder of man, i.e. made
in the image of God. Ethically, in this throwaway
society, man’s value and uniqueness must not be
forgotten. In our preaching, our view of Christ—
the perfect image of God in man—and how our
image, though marred, is restored in Christ, is a
key fundamental to the gospel. We found our
thoughts from the conference being worked out
indirectly in our preaching and evangelism, and
we are sure there will be much more to draw from
and incorporate in days to come.”
Loughborough photograph
A number of readers have asked if it is
possible to have copies of the group photograph
which appeared in the last issue of Concern.
It is, if you hurry, and can order it before
the end of February. The cost is £5, inclusive of
mounting and postage; send a cheque, payable
to Matthew Jones, to him at 14 Timbertree
Road, CRADLEY HEATH, B64 7LE.
11
View from the Guest house
Stan
Guest
Teach us to pray
I went to the Ministers’ Prayer Conference in
November. Now, it has been my lovely privilege
to have attended them all since they began.
What great memories. We were turning out
photos the other day and there was one taken at
Barnes Close. Weren’t they young then! And I
have a memory of the very first one down in
Kent. Bill Dyer presented his expenses slip. His
fare was £16.62. And that is the date his church
You can’t take it with you!
Christian people who are very generous in
giving to the Lord’s work during their lifetime
can easily overlook an opportunity of
continuing to do so after they have died. When
making your will, have you considered making
a legacy to the Evangelical Fellowship of
Congregational Churches? Much of the support
which EFCC is able to give to churches stems
from the generosity of those who have long
departed to be with Christ.
Mormon strategy
The Congregational Church at Te Atatu in
New Zealand had an unwanted intrusion
recently:—
“While we were waiting for some visitors to
arrive, two young Mormon missionaries walked
in off the street and into our foyer. They began
enquiring into who were members of this
fellowship, and deacons, elders, etc. This has
12
at Pontefract (and many others) was founded.
But the one last November was one of the
best of all. What precious ministry we had from
Rev. Eric Alexander, formerly of the Tron
Church, Glasgow. He saw it was a “Prayer
Conference” and he spoke on prayer, We were
taken through our Saviour’s prayer in John 17
and his closing message was on the apostles’
prayer in Acts 4:23-31. How moving that was!
I was not the only one wiping away tears! But
what wonderful teaching on prayer—and what
a challenge. I wanted to go up to him afterwards
and say, “I was ordained to the ministry 50 years
ago. Where have you been all my life?
I do have regular times for prayer. One is
when I get back into bed after making that early
cup of tea. Before it’s cool enough to drink I
recall all the six churches I’ve belonged to over
the years, and I just have a simple set of prayers
for them. Use them daily for your own church.
“Keep the children safe. Comfort the dying and
those who mourn. Hold back the sinner. Heal
the sick. Save the lost. Revive the church.”
never occurred in this fellowship before. Maybe
you have had this experience but we haven’t. Is
Satan getting so cheeky, desperate and arrogant
that he has begun to send his workers into the
Lord’s House to steal our living Shepherd’s
sheep? Leaders please be aware! Have we got the
same zeal that we would go into the opposition’s
temple/territory and do the same thing for the
Lord? Be on your guard because the enemy
doesn’t pull any punches. Saints, Jesus is not far
away. He is a lot closer than we may think
regarding
his
return.”
(From
The
Congregationalist, CUNZ Newsletter)
Visit the Evangelical
Fellowship of
Congregational
Churches web-site at
www.efcc.org.uk
Concern Winter 2000
EFCC publications
Telling Another Generation
£2.00
This book contains a symposium of papers originally written to mark the twenty-fifth anniversary
of EFCC, and as a tribute to Stan Guest, who has been closely involved in the work of EFCC ever
since its formation, and retired as secretary of the Fellowship in 1989.
Serving as a Deacon by John Legg
£1.95
Now reprinted in a revised edition. “Diaconates might find it useful to supply each member with
a copy of this work” —Evangelicals Now.
Evangelical & Congregational
£3.00
A brief survey of Congregational history, church order, confessions of faith, the ministry, worship
and sacraments. Includes Savoy Declaration of Faith.
Children of the Covenant by John Legg
£0.50
The biblical basis for infant baptism.
Signs and Seals of the Covenant by CG Kirkby
£3.50
A biblical review of the doctrine of Christian baptism.
EFCC also has available these books about Congregational church government
Wandering Pilgrims by ES Guest
£3.50
Subtitled Whatever Happened to the Congregational Churches?
Manual of Congregational Principles by RW Dale
£13.00
The definitive work of Congregational church government.
Christian Fellowship or the Church Member’s Guide by John
Angell James
£3.75
A practical manual for church members to learn their duties and responsibilities.
All these items are available from the Administrative Secretary. Prices are exclusive of postage and
packing, which are free for purchases with an invoice value of £5.00 or more.
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About Concern
Congregational Concern is the quarterly magazine of the Evangelical Fellowship of
Congregational Churches, and is edited by Rev. Peter Beale.
All Rights Reserved: no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system
or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
otherwise without the permission of the Evangelical Fellowship of Congregational Churches.
Unless otherwise stated, Scripture quotations in this publication are from the Holy Bible, New
International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Published in
Great Britain by Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.
It is assumed that contributors are in sympathy with the aims of EFCC. However, the views
expressed in this magazine are strictly those of individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect
the opinions of the Editor or of the Committee of EFCC.
The magazine is made available freely to member churches of EFCC. It will be sent to
individual subscribers at a cost of £4 per annum (4 issues) inclusive of postage. Cheques (payable
to EFCC) should be sent to the Administrative Secretary. Mailing address details are held on
computer solely for producing mailing labels. Names and addresses are not passed on to any other
organisation.
EFCC Addresses
General Secretary:
Rev. Alan Tovey
19 Outer Trinities
Grovehill Road
BEVERLEY
East Yorkshire
HU17 0HN
Tel: 01482 869934
Administrative Secretary:
Mr Peter Moss
PO Box 34
BEVERLEY
East Yorkshire
HU17 8YU
Tel & Fax: 01482 860324
E-mail: [email protected]
Concern Editor:
Rev. Peter Beale
47 High Street, Bulford,
SALISBURY
SP4 9DS
Tel: 01980 633380
Fax: 01980 556194
E-mail: [email protected]
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