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Welcome to
Issue Two of Equip to Disciple. We are pleased with the
response to Issue One focusing on the rising generation. We are
also pleased with the comments regarding the new look. Our
desire is to make Equip to Disciple a resource for you to
draw from in your role in local church ministry.
As announced in
the first issue, we have chosen for the first three issues of 2007
to focus on three of the themes reflected in the General
Assembly’s Strategic Planning Committee, led by Frank Brock,
former president of Covenant College. The first was the rising
generations. This issue follows a second major point considered—
eldership and leadership. Issue Three will center on stewardship.
In this edition
of Equip to Disciple Wallace Tinsley, a teaching elder,
member of the CE&P Committee for a second time, and pastor of the
Filbert Presbyterian Church in Filbert, S.C., has written the lead
article on the eldership. We asked Wallace to write this article
because of his love and concern for the eldership in the PCA. He
has a unique 25-year track record as a pastor at Filbert and has
consistently trained elders over the years. The PCA shares a
commitment to the ruling elder participation in the life of the
church at all levels. The article, while primarily aimed at the
eldership, will also be informative and inspirational for the
non-ordained reader.
We will feature
two different PCA churches because of their approach to the
eldership. We have not only interviewed Tinsley at Filbert
Presbyterian Church, we have also interviewed TE Bill Leach of
Covenant Presbyterian Church in Harrisonburg, Va. Filbert
Presbyterian Church has about 250 members and is located in a
rural area of South Carolina, and Covenant Presbyterian Church has
over 700 members and is located in a town of 40,000 plus. While
they are demographically different, they are generally
representative of other PCA churches in their demographic range.
“In Case You’re
Asked” deals with the broader concept of leadership. It is a
reminder of how leadership should look in local churches. Often we
have narrowed the scope of the leadership concept and have not
realized the tremendous giftedness of men and women in the area of
leadership. Churches have experienced many challenges in this
regard.
The
“Equip Tip” is directed to the leadership as it relates to the
teaching and disciple making ministry in the local church. The
ideas are instructively challenging and worth reading.
You
will find numerous articles in this issue that relate to CE&P’s
overall ministry—women’s, men’s, children’s, and youth ministries.
You will also find an introduction to the newest program staff
member, Danny Mitchell, Coordinator of Youth and Family
Ministries. You will find a brief but helpful article in the men’s
section from the staff of Man in the Mirror, a partner with CE&P
in the area of men’s ministry.
Also
featured are numerous resources, books, materials, curriculum, and
conferences to keep before you our role of providing training and
resources to local churches and presbyteries.
The
book review sections should be particularly challenging and
helpful. The review of Simple Church by Tom Rainer is
especially important for the leaders to read. It contains a
challenge churches need to hear and practice. The books by Chap
Clark, Kara Powell, and Chuck Colson are strategic books to read.
The reviews will explain why.
In
every issue you will find a centerfold envelop giving you an
opportunity to respond and help us keep Equip to Disciple
available. We are dependent not only on the prayers but also the
financial gifts of churches and individuals to sustain our
ministry. We invite you to partner with us in order that we may
reach the churches in the PCA that need the training and resources
available from CE&P.
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