Welcome to 2005 and to Equip for Ministry! Over the years I have studied, and continue to study, church history. I do so because I share the conclusion, along with Os Guinness (see the book review of Prophetic Timeliness), that today is the past or the past is today. Without knowing something about the past, neither today nor the future come into focus. I always attempt to understand the context of the major events of church history within the larger world history setting. I also attempt to study today's culture, realizing that as a kingdom disciple I must know something from both the Word and the world in order to better understand both.

I continue to be challenged by the example of David referenced in Acts 13:36, and by the men of Issachar, I Chronicles 12:32, as well as Paul's word in Romans 13 on the importance of this present time. Without a doubt we are living at a very critical moment in history. To reiterate from the last Equip, it is crucial to face the challenge of pluralism with its multitude of choices regarding religion. Then there is dualism, which attempts to create two different realms of the sacred and the secular and cautions bringing religion into the secular. I think of the difficulty of Islam, particularly the militant warmongers, such as the Wahabis and al Quaeda, that openly declare they want us dead, and yet the Muslim faith continues to grow around the world and in America. I think of the problematic implications of biotechnology (see the "In Case You're Asked" article). Terrorism is no longer something that happens in other parts of the world. It is here among us, on high school and college campuses as well as in our cities. Finally, there is the entire issue of sexuality with more people being confused about sexual orientation.

These are definitely exciting and challenging times; yet, they are also hazardous times. All of this is coming at a time when studies indicate that we and our children are the least prepared to know how to deal with these challenges from a Christian perspective. While the Bible is being taught, at least in our evangelical circles, it does not always connect with the listeners. Hence, there is often either an indifferent or a frustrated "so-what" response.

Christian Education and Publications is committed to making kingdom disciples. We are committed to assisting local churches with that assignment. First, we want our people to be aware of their situation. Then we want to be a strategic player in helping each Christian be involved in the kingdom disciple making process. This requires a solid commitment. It also rests on an understanding of the situation into which God has placed us. Finally we need to be trained and equipped to be the "salt and light" of the world. We cannot do that by always throwing stones at the world. As Jacque Ellul has suggested, we can realize the world, in some ways, helps us to know what our agenda should be in spreading the good news of the kingdom. It is too simplistic to say all we need to understand is sin. We need to understand how sin has manifesting itself in today's world and that's what we need to address.

Reminders that the younger generation is not being prepared to live successfully in this kind of world sadden me. Young people are not being helped with the development of a Christian mind that knows how to think and follow God's will in life. Chap Clark's book in the review section deals specifically with this issue. However, as Os Guinness so clearly challenges us in Prophetic Timeliness, we need to be careful. In our attempt to be relevant, we should not opt for irrelevance by dealing with the trivial and fleeting at the expense of truths that both penetrate and transcend the present moment.

I hear criticism regarding the war in Iraq and that our soldiers have not always been sufficiently trained for such warfare, which I personally question. Yet, it does remind me that we are in spiritual warfare and we cannot afford to send our young people into this world ill-prepared to engage in the battle. I also have come to realize that we cannot fight today's wars with yesterday's techniques. Unless we know how to challenge the presuppositions of today's ideologies and help people learn to think critically and biblically, we will not train them to be strategic in making kingdom disciples.

The lead article in this issue deals with teaching the children the catechism. Actually, I would prefer to say, teaching the children biblical truth using the method of catechism. In a recent Great Commission Publications board meeting, one of the board members in his 90's said, "we must do a better job of teaching the catechism." He was right! I am distressed that we have only one young person listed in this issue who has learned the catechism.

The "In Case You're Asked" article underscores the urgency to prepare our Christian community to think biblically and develop a worldview that reflects God's mind and heart. Paul asked, "if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle?" He goes on to underscore the importance of knowing how to communicate with those around us in an understandable way, lest we come across one speaking a foreign language.

CE&P, through its training and resources, such as our Equip seminars, Equip for Ministry, the bookstore's website, our electronic lending library, and all of our other training and resources are our attempt to help make kingdom disciples. Studying the Bible is essential in this process. Reading books and participating in training events designed to help us live in this kind of world cannot be neglected.

We also know that to have effective ministry to a post-modern generation, we cannot afford to simply come across in an intellectual or academic manner without developing a genuinely Christian lifestyle. The "Equip Tip" on mercy ministry, which anticipates our PCA Mercy Ministry conference jointly sponsored by CE&P and MNA, serves as a reminder of a clear way to live out our faith. Having a heart for the things of God is required for kingdom effectiveness, which always expresses itself in service and ministry. As I am reminded daily, it is not about us. It is about Him, our Triune God.

Now you know where we are coming from and what we hope to see develop as we make kingdom disciples. We want to have resources and training available to local churches that will enable them to be kingdom builders. Our prayer is that the PCA will really make a difference, a kingdom difference, in today's world.

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