- Families: The Crucible for
Faith, Hope, & Love
by Dr. Scott Coupland
What would you say is the measure of a believer's maturity in the local church? Possibly it is determined by time spent in prayer, the level of giving, or the degree of involvement in ministries. I would suggest, however, that maturity is worked out not only in the church, but also in families, one of the three basic institutions of society. Scripture shows clearly that faith, hope, and love are best worked out in a family context. - What's in a Family Name?
by Dr. Douglas F. Kelly
America and much of the industrialized world have experienced a surprising trend during the last twenty-five years: a massive interest in ancestry, with millions spending time and money on genealogical research. In the 1970s millions of African-Americans read Alex Haley's Roots to get in touch with their ancestral past. Hundreds of thousands of Americans of Scottish descent attend "Highland Games" every year with their family- reunion atmosphere. Millions more in both the New and Old Worlds subscribe to genealogical journals, join ancestral societies, and search the Internet for their family histories.
- A Living Memorial to
the Lord
"There's
no doubt about it," says William Vanderbloemen (RTS '98), "when
I came to Memorial in 1998, it was on life support. I had prayed for
a church to revitalize and God definitely answered my prayer!" Memorial
Presbyterian in Montgomery, Alabama, was indeed in trouble, showing
all the signs of a church in the throes of death. It's membership had
been declining for a long time, it had suffered two splits in five years,
and, just before William arrived, the members had voted to sell the
church building and relocate -- but had bought no land to do that.
- A God Who Will Not Let Me Go
The cool night breeze brushed against the sailor's cheek and brought momentary relief from the oppressive heat and humidity. He stood atop a wood tower as his eyes ranged out across the grassy fields. Undulating and wave-like, they stretched into the distance until they reached the dark line of the forest beyond.
It was two a.m in 1972. The place was Southeast Asia, and the date was Tet, the Vietnamese New Year. As Senior Advisor to River Interdiction Division 42, RTS Professor of Missions Sam Larsen had received military intelligence warnings that the communist insurgent Viet Cong were expected to launch coordinated attacks throughout South Vietnam during the night, especially against remote bases such as his.
- Jeff Ferguson: A Heart for
College Students
More
than anything else, Jeff Ferguson wants to work with college students,
sharing his faith and watching their spiritual growth. A middler at
RTS/Charlotte, he's interning with Reformed University Fellowship at
Winthrop College in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
"Working at Winthrop has been very rewarding," says Jeff. "Many of them know the basics of the Gospel, but it goes against human nature to believe that God would freely grant salvation. Some really struggle with what it means to live out the Gospel in their lives, and I'm privileged to help them work that out."
Volume 20, Number 1
© 2001 Reformed Theological Seminary
Articles may not be reprinted without permission.
Cover art by David Lok/SUPERSTOCK
President's Column
We Cannot Let Evil Prevail!
During his research on World War
II, Stephen Ambrose, the well-known historian, asked a veteran why he
had been willing to go to war. He replied, "I was nineteen years old.
I had my life ahead of me. I knew the difference between right and wrong,
and I did not want to grow up in a world in which wrong prevailed."
Do You Have Fun Giving?
Q and A with
Robert B. Pamplin
Q. What is your philosophy
of giving?...
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Last updated 5-9-2001.