JYCIC in Kilchzimmer

The JYC Instructor' Course at Kilchzimmer has just come to an end. We praise God for the help that He gave to each student and instructor and for the wonderful time of fellowship we enjoyed together.
The course participants came from 10 countries - Germany, Austria, Ireland, Haiti, Israel, Lithuania, the Netherlands, France, Serbia and Norway! The teaching was given in English and translated into German. Please pray for these dear people as they go back to their home countries to reach junior teens and to train others in this ministry.
For more photos click here

¡adiós! Andrew, Carolyn & Grace

On Friday, 10 January, I had the privilege of taking part in the commissioning service of the Roycrofts who have now left Northern Ireland to serve with Baptist Missions in Peru. Andrew was the Pastor of Armagh Baptist Church during the time when I was ministering nearby in Craigavon and Portadown. In-between the busyness of ministry, we often made time to meet up and to chat around a good cup of coffee. Like ourselves, Andrew and Carolyn sensed a very strong call from God to leave the pastorate and to enter missionary service. Having walked along similar roads has served to deepen our friendship. Despite the distance from Peru to Germany, we do intend to continue to stay in touch and to pray for each other. Click here for more information on the Roycrofts

In His providence, another good friend of mine has been called to pastor Armagh Baptist Church. Ian and Judith Grant and family will move to the church in May 2009.

Who influences your theology?

When I look back over the past 2 or 3 years, I have had the privilege of meeting many of the people who's writings and sermons have shaped my theology. Many of these people are regular travel companions with me (on my iPod of course :) as I commute in the car from my home in Germany to our European Regional Office in Kilchzimmer, Switzerland.

Top left clockwise: Begg, Piper, Hughes, Ryrie, me and Dever, me and MacArthur, Carson and Lawson.

In the late 90's, while studying in Germany, one of our annual guest lecturers was Charles Ryrie. He was probably the first prominent theologian I have met. As I was a native English speaker at a German college, I was often asked to accompany him and to sit with him at mealtimes.
In 2005 I met Don Carson when he came to speak at a gathering of pastors in Belfast. His writings have probably influenced evangelical reformed theology more than anyone else during the past 20 years.

In June 2006 I organized a day conference in Belfast for John MacArthur, Steve Lawson and Philip de Courcy. I probably have more theological books from John than any other single author and in more recent years I have been a daily user of the MacArthur study Bible. It was a privilege to be able to speak with him 'back stage' and to see his warm personality and love for the scriptures. One unexpected incident was in a small room during the coffee break, when Steve Lawson briefly shared the story of how he left his last church because of their rejection of expository preaching. The emotional tone of his voice and the tears which welled up his eyes evidenced the pain that was still very real. During that day MacArthur described Lawson as "my favorite preacher".

In 2007 (although I didn't speak to him personally) I listened to R. Kent Hughes teach at the NI Ministers' Assembly in Dollingstown (Near Lurgan) in N. Ireland. This event had added significance for me as this was the church where in 1980 I trusted the Lord at a CEF Holiday Bible Club! R. Kent Hughes' book Disciplines of a Godly Man was hugely influential on me while I was studying at Bible College in Germany.

In September 2008 I met Mark Dever in Zurich, Switzerland. His book and ministry entitled Nine Marks of a Healthy Church was very helpful to me as I was seeking to find direction in my early days of pastoral ministry.

In 2005 Alistair Begg was the speaker at our annual Pastors' conference. His teaching on Pastoral leadership was a great encouragement to me to stand firm through difficult times.

Without doubt, the most influential theologian for me at present is John Piper! I heard him at the EMA Conference in London in 2005 but didn't meet him personally. I am a regular listener of his weekly audio podcast or watch his videocast. A few weeks ago he started to preach through the Gospel of John, which he hopes to be finish before he dies (although I think he would count it joy to pass into glory while preaching!!!) His passion for the glory of God, his encouragement to sacrificial service and his hatred of the false gospels being propagated today, makes him a 'quite extraordinary gift' to the church of Jesus Christ in this 21st century. His positive influence on many men, old and young, will only be truly revealed in glory.

What about you? Post a comment and let me know who influences your theology the most.

PS I just finished reading Young, Restless, Reformed by Collin Hansen. It gives a good overview of the movers and shakers in the USA today. From the back cover ... discover how our restless youth are discovering anew the great doctrines of the Christian faith. Weary of churches that seek to entertain rather than teach, longing after the true meat of the Word, these young people are pursuing doctrine. It's exciting to see that in these days of watering down the Gospel that there are many who are showing biblical discernement. You can read a review of the book over at Tim Challis' blog.

PPS I also was given an ESV Study Bible as a Christmas present :)
If you are looking for a new Bible then this is the one to get. Another very good alternative is the Reformation Study Bible which also uses the ESV translation. It may even be better (I'm still undecided)!

In my next post I will let you know what I am planning to read this year!

Lego fun

How will it be in 2009?

During the 28 years of my Christian life, I have had various seasons of success and failure when it comes to the vital discipline of a daily quiet time. My constant new years resolutions and then subsequent feelings of guilt and failure became a common pattern.
I also found it extremely unhelpful when those in positions of spiritual leadership sought to encourage us by saying that "it's not so important to have a QT every day". Surely the Biblical ignorance that prevails in our churches and youth groups today can be attributed to the lack of time spent reading the most important book of all "God's Word"!
Over the years I have tried many different reading systems; daily Bibles, reading plans, reading notes, devotional books, Bible in a Year, etc. (Some of the most popular notes used today are giving people a 'Happy Meal' when what they really need is a Christmas Dinner...)
This past six months I have been using 'Explore' Bible reading notes and they have blessed me more than anything I have ever used before. Here's why:

• they are meaty and theologically reformed
• applications are often for those in Christian leadership
• there are no unhelpful anecdotes - just precious Bible
• verse by verse exposition and application
  
• they are written in a contemporary but reverent style
• readings are based on the beautiful ESV text (the perfect companion to an ESV study Bible :) )
  
• the 'Bible in a Year' chapters are listed below each page
• the back flap can be filled in as a weekly prayer guide
• a year's subscription costs only UK £12 / Overseas £15 (I have it sent to me in Germany, it always comes in good time and I find it great value!)

Several friends and colleagues have also started to use 'Explore' and have testified to it's helpfulness. Try it for yourself and let me know about your experience.

• Download a PDF sample
• Pick up your copy at Inspire Books, Lisburn, N. Ireland 028 92621133
• Order now from the Good Book Company
• Find out more

Christmas Greetings

Gary, Claudia, Joel and David would like to thank you for all your prayers and practical support during 2008. Thank you to many of you who sent us Christmas cards and personal greetings.
We trust you will have a Happy Christmas and a blessed New Year.

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6

Clip recommendation for leaders

Illustrations for new JYC manual completed

These past two weeks I have been working in Kilchzimmer alongside Marek from the Czech Republic. He has just completed all the illustrations for our fifth and final manual - 'The World'. Marek has now redrawn all the illustrations for all 5 manuals in the JYC teaching cycle. We are so grateful that he has been willing to use his God given gifts in this way. It was also great that his wife (Veru) could travel with him this time.

Marek, Veru, me and Brent

CEF IN2 short-term mission teams 2009

If you know any young people looking for short-term mission opportunities this summer. Then please let them know about this.

Enjoy your meal

The following is an article I have written to be published in the next newsletter of the CEF European Headquarters (the Kilchzimmer Echo).
Around the Atlantic coastal waters of Europe, there has been a recent increase in sightings of the second largest fish in the world. Commonly known as the basking shark (because they move lethargically near the surface), these fish can easily be distinguished by their large, gaping mouth, which they use to filter seawater through their gills while feeding on the tiny plankton. Experts estimate that a single basking shark can filter enough seawater to fill a 50m Olympic swimming pool – every hour!
That’s a lot of water and perhaps a fair picture of many of us – spiritually speaking. We look back with thankfulness to God that we heard the Gospel right from our earliest years. We praise God for the regular teaching we received in church, Sunday Schools, Good News Clubs and Junior Youth Challenge groups. Week by week these teachers fed us good spiritual food from the Word of God and challenged us to repent of our sin and to give our lives completely to God and His service. Now in our adult years we continue to take in thousands of litres of good biblical food in our own churches. Truly we can say we have been well fed! But so often after we have eaten a large meal, we sit down in our favourite chair and nod off to sleep. I wonder are we in danger of becoming like the basking sharks – taking in so much and yet happy to just relax in the comfort and warmth of the calm waters? Have we neglected our calling to pass on to others what we have been taught?

The principle of multiplication
“And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” 2 Timothy 2:2
Paul urged his young disciple Timothy, to make sure that he passed on the things he had learned to faithful people who would in turn teach them to others. In CEF we understand this principle of multiplication. The vast majority of the 220 million children in Europe have yet to hear a clear presentation of the Gospel. We realise that 570 full-time workers cannot reach them all on their own, so that is why we commit much of our resources to training others and providing them with quality teaching materials for the task.
Last year 17,000 people in Europe received some form of CEF training. During the past 12 months, 58 people from across Europe have attended our Junior Youth Challenge Instructors’ Courses in Ukraine, Romania, Poland and Russia. These people, many of them already CEF workers, have committed to take the teaching they have received, to train other teachers in the evangelism and discipling of 11-15 year olds. (Another course is planned for Kilchzimmer, 11-19 January 2009.)

Providing resources for the teachers
‘Following Jesus’ is our latest teaching resource to be published for use in our Junior Youth Challenge (JYC) Groups. Part of a 5–year cycle, these new eye-catching Bible-studies are packed full of solid doctrinal teaching and personal application for the junior teens. You can download a sample PDF lesson at www.cefyc.com.
We currently have over 300 JYCs in Europe reaching around 4,000 young people. Pray that many new JYCs will commence as our workers go out to train others, and that many of the junior teens will repent of their sin and begin to follow Jesus.