Dear Friend,
As I looked out at the crowd that had gathered for the CMS Summer School in Katoomba, Australia, this past January, a number of thoughts were running through my mind. I was humbled by the invitation that had brought me to the event and by the upholding prayer from my own congregation, which was, at that moment, so far away. I was also struck by the extent to which those attending were engaged in CMS’s vision to seek “a world that knows Jesus.”
John Newton was one of the founding members of the Church Missionary Society (CMS), a group of evangelicals passionate about worldwide Gospel outreach. I think he could scarcely have imagined the global impact of CMS today. You will not be at all surprised when I say that a couple of lines from a hymn came bubbling up:
Elect from ev’ry nation,
Yet one o’er all the earth,
Her charter of salvation
One Lord, one faith, one birth
Sitting beside the archbishop of Sydney in a congregation that was largely Anglican, we sang to God’s praise, and I rejoiced in the fellowship of the Gospel, which in Christ transcends denominational distinctives. Evangelical unity is what marked the ministry of George Whitefield in the eighteenth century when he preached at least eighteen thousand times to vast crowds. As we come to the end of our studies in John 17 at Parkside, we are challenged and encouraged to think, pray, and act along these lines.
At the heart of God’s plan for the world is the Church, which Jesus is building throughout the nations. We receive many calls asking for guidance about what to look for when choosing a local church. I usually say, “If you find a perfect church, don’t join it, because it will then no longer be perfect!”
If you’re seeking direction, there are essential attributes that mark a congregation faithfully adhering to the foundation given in the book of Acts: The church believes that the Word of God does the work of God through the Spirit of God in the people of God, Christ is supreme, the sacraments/ordinances and prayer are honored, and the fellowship is humble, joyful, generous and welcoming. “Is the pastor a Gospel man?” is an important question to answer.
I’m greatly encouraged to hear from many pastors who are convinced of our commitment at Truth For Life to see local churches strengthened. The ministry of TFL exists to see this happen more and more. My ongoing involvement at Truth For Life after my redeployment from the Sunday-by-Sunday preaching at Parkside will allow me time to be of help and encouragement to men in pastoral ministry.
Soon, the snow here in Cleveland will be gone, and you can pay us a visit at Truth For Life and attend a worship service at Parkside! For now, this comes with the expressed gratitude of our entire team for your partnership in the Gospel and with my love in the Lord Jesus.
Alistair
