Friends, it seems only yesterday I was writing the welcome article for the November/December 2003 Equip for Ministry. The past twelve months have been a tumultuous time for world events, our denomination's situation, and Christian Education and Publications' involvement in attempting to address the above spheres.

As we work through our next five-year strategic plan, we have become acutely aware of the challenges and opportunities that we face. I have included reviews in this issue that speak to several of what I/we consider to be the five greatest challenges confronting the church and especially the PCA. The church must prayerfully and strategically address them if we are to train, equip, and disciple our covenant people to serve God's purpose to this generation. The first impediment is pluralism, which is the great external threat to the church. Conversely, dualism may be the greatest internal threat (see "In Case Your Asked" in this issue and the review of Total Truth). Terrorism is also a defining challenge because it has introduced us into a way of life that keeps us uncertain and off balance as we realize there is no totally safe place on earth. Biotechnology is a fourth area of concern. It sounds so right and good but could really undermine our human dignity as it experiments with and manipulates our creation in the image of God. Finally, we encounter Islam with its aggressive religious, political, event militant posture in advancing this fast growing religion (see the review of The Truth About Islam in this issue).

Of course we could list so many other things such as the moral and spiritual morass in North America. A rising generation, the second largest of the present five, lacks biblical knowledge and a certain faith that will enable them to make right choices. Another significant challenge is the current view on sexual orientation. It is causing many to rethink or redefine male/female relationships, as well as family relations in general. There is also a rising number of senior citizens, which will have repercussions economically, politically, and religiously. With people living longer combined with medical advancements, we will have to determine how to minister to and intentionally involve them. Meaning and purpose for our "senior saints" are at stake. In the January/February EfM we will review a book entitled Finishing Well, which contains 120 interviews with older people about the key to finishing this life well. One of its challenging theses is that while you can retire from your work or profession, you cannot retire from your calling. (The biography of Dr. Frank Barker, Flight Path, is a good example of someone who though retired continues to be faithful to his life long calling. You will be blessed by this book.)

This explains why CE&P believes it is important for the church, in making kingdom disciples, to know how to minister to the seniors with their unique needs. That ministry must involve a strategy to involve them in active ministry and kingdom service. I talk to more "retired" seniors, in my role both as a former pastor and in present ministry, who say their greatest challenge is to find a purpose for living each day. I believe that kingdom service is the key in providing that purpose. As the Apostle Paul was ministering to the people in Antioch, Acts 13, he used king David as an example of a man who kept that purpose until he went to be the Lord. He served God's purpose in his own generation.

If we listen carefully to the younger generation, we hear them expressing a desire for a relationship with older people. Businesses are beginning to realize seniors still have much to contribute. Many of our politicians are in fact senior citizens. If the church takes the opportunity to train and mobilize this growing number, we can make a recognizable impact in the kingdom. CE&P is committed to being a part of that effort. We want the entire denomination to be challenged, and we want to provide the church with training and resources to that end. The book Living on Purpose: Finding God's Best for Your Life, reviewed in this issue, will address this issue.

Once again, we express our thanks to you for reading Equip for Ministry. We strive to make this bi-monthly a key resource and challenge to you to live as kingdom disciples. Christians should never lack for an opportunity to make a difference in today's world. If we can help encourage this by our training and resources, we will have served what we have concluded is God's purpose for us at CE&P.

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