Presbyterian Missionary Union Update
It is the hottest day of the summer in Cincinnati, the very atmosphere is muggy. We walked outside last night and Bonnie said, "Why do people pay to go to a sauna?"
The yearly meeting of the full Presbyterian Missionary Council, began Wednesday morning in the gym of the Grace Bible Presbyterian Church. Pastors and elders, all members of the council, from Florida, Montana, Oregon, Pennsylvania, New York, Kentucky, Alberta, Canada, and Washington were in attendance.
Reports were received from the President, the Reverend Morris MacDonald, and the Field Director, Dr. Len Pine.
No missionaries were on hand this year, but elaborate reports are submitted from each missionary and reviewed by the board. One new missionary was received and three church plants, in various stages of development were reviewed. The plant in Idaho was approved pending action on the part of the NW Presbytery. We look forward to seeing this work up and running before the end of the year.
We received reports from Asia, Australia, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Bolivia.
A revamping of the PMU day to to day operations was reviewed and adopted as well.
The board, with joy, approved the marriage of the Rev. Mark Baldwin to Wiwin Sunarto of Singapore and Dr. Pine will be traveling to Cambodia to perform the ceremony on October 22, 2010.
The council received a detailed report on the Team Timothy to Bolivia and considered the next team outreach--to Cambodia.
The council has more opportunities than ever before, but due to financial restraints was forced to reduce its 2011 budget by more than $25,000.00.
This the council 25th year of operation and though expenses have been cutback, activity has not. The board is implementing new ways to do its work to remain lean and productive. More missionaries are being applying, international training is continuing, church plants are being developed, and new works explored.
You can read the Olympia BPC's take of the meeting here.
$1,000,000
A million dollars in one bill--Wow! Seeing something like that naturally makes a person think about all the things he or she could buy with that kind of money. And yet, even a million dollars does not buy all that much if your tastes are rich.
When it comes right down to it, money cannot buy the most important things, no matter how much of it you possess or control. Jesus asked,
Matthew 16:26-27 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
It is a frightening thing to think that you can have everything this world offers and still lose your soul in the end.
A very wise Bible scholar once said,
Every man has a soul of his own. The soul is the spiritual and immortal part of man, which thinks and reasons, has a power of reflection and prospect, which actuates the body now, and will shortly act in a separation from the body.
It is possible for the soul to be lost, and there is danger of it. The soul is lost when it is eternally separated from all the good to all the evil that a soul is capable of; when it dies as far as a soul can die; when it is separated from the favor of God, and sunk under his wrath and curse. A man is never undone till he is in hell.
If the soul be lost, it is of the sinner's own losing. The man loses his own soul, for he does that which is certainly destroying to it, and neglects that which alone would be saving. The sinner dies because he will die; his blood is on his own head.
One soul is worth more than all the world; our own souls are of greater value to us than all the wealth, honor, and pleasures of this present time, if we had them. This is Christ's judgment upon the matter, and he is a competent Judge; he had reason to know the price of souls, for he redeemed them; nor would he under-rate the world, for he made it.
The winning of the world is often the losing of the soul. Many a one has ruined his eternal interest by his preposterous and inordinate care to secure and advance his temporal ones. It is the love of the world, and the eager pursuit of it, that drowns men in destruction and perdition.
The loss of the soul is so great a loss, that the gain of the whole world will not countervail it, or make it up. He that loses his soul, though it be to gain the world, makes a very bad bargain for himself, and will sit down at last an unspeakable loser. When he comes to balance the account, and to compare profit and loss, he will find that, instead of the advantage he promised himself, he is ruined to all intents and purposes, is irreparably broken.
(from Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible, PC Study Bible Formatted Electronic Database Copyright © 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All Rights reserved.)
Here at the Tacoma Bible Presbyterian Church, we are concerned for the precious souls of men and women. If you want to know more about the lost state of men and women, who are in danger of losing everything because of their sin: if you want to know more about the priceless sacrifice Jesus has made for sinners by His sacrifice on the cross: if you just want to know more about what the Bible says in general, then we invite you to contact us and/or join us at our regular worship services and activities.
Earnestly Contending for the Faith
It is our prayer that you will find the contents of “Earnestly Contending for the Faith” edifying and useful in your Christian walk.
The Bible Presbyterian Church has a long and proud history of “earnestly contending for the faith once delivered to the saints.” This bi-monthly publication, we hope, will be found to be solidly in that tradition and we ask for your prayers as we undertake this project.
These are challenging days and it is important that the believer be fully equipped to serve Christ faithfully and …be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ (1 Peter 3:15-16).
We hope this little newsletter will help towards that end, as well as clarify some of the issues of the day—including those within our own family.
2009 Taber Memorial Lectures
Dr. Burt Folsom
Western Reformed Seminary is hosting the 2009 Dr. Ronald Taber Memorial Lectures on May 4-7. This year's topic deals with whether or not capitalism is Biblical.
Featured speakers include Dr. Burt Folsom (pictured), Charles Kline Professor of History at Hillsdale College as well as WRS' own Dr. John Battle.
This is a free event, though reservations are encouraged. For more information please visit WRS.
Have Questions? The Scriptures Have Answers.
What role does fasting play in the life of the Christian? Does God hear the prayers of non-believers? What exactly does propitiation mean? Does the Bible say anything about donating organs?
Our panel of elders, pastors, and seminary professors answer these question as a part of our monthly Q&A session. You can join us in person during the first Sunday School hour of every month.
Tacoma Bible Presbyterian Church
If you would like to submit a question to be answered by a future Q&A panel, please do so in the comments section below.
Meet Our Newest Elder
Dr. Allister Stone will be ordained as Elder on Sunday, March 15th during the afternoon service. Dr. Stone is a cool guy, and we'll be able to say more about him once he fills out a questionnaire.
Meet Our Newest Deacon
His name is Bill Sawaya.
Bill and his wife Melanie have two daughters, Ellie & Chloe. Below you can listen in on Deacon Saway's installation.
1 Timothy 3:8-13
8 Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, 9 holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. 10 But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. 11 Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13 For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Tacoma Bible Presbyterian Church
Info
Subscribe to our Podcasts!
Social
