As we welcome you to the fourth edition of Equip to Disciple in 2008, we are aware that some strange, unusual, and even weird things are going on in our world. This is an extremely important and challenging time for Christians, especially those involved in ministry. Teaching, preaching, counseling, discipling, and developing good curriculum are facing challenges that would not have been on the radar fifty years ago. Part of the challenge stems from trying to deal with today's world with yesterday's methods, but another part of the challenge is trying to do that without forgetting what has gone on down through the centuries, particularly the last fifty years.

In the past few months, several new book topics have come across my desk, one of which was reviewed in a recent Equip to Disciple and another in this edition. Books such as: UnChristian, Essential Church, The New Christians, Quitting Church. The American Church In Crisis Even

David Wells latest book, The Courage to be Protestant (to be reviewed in the next edition), reminds us that interest in church life has subsided for many; and one of the main reasons is that in many cases the church has lost its way and we're trying to survive by adopting the very agendas the church should reject. As the apostle Paul reminds us, "the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh .. It is all too obvious that the church in America is experiencing an identity crisis and we are not alone in saying that. John R.W. Stott, J.I. Packer, Mark Noll. David Wells, and others are echoing the same sentiment. While this does not have to be all doom and gloom, it will be unless we carefully understand that in all of this. God may be stirring the waters to challenge us to see what is happening at this moment. The church is in crisis, no doubt. How do we respond? Not by using the weapons of the world to fight the very things that have caused the crisis but by "taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ."

Before explaining the lead article. I will mention some of the books that impact this very area. I hope the brief review of D.A. Carson's book, Christ and Culture Revisited, will say enough to challenge you to read the entire book. It speaks to these issues by reminding us of the church's role,"to be in the world but not 01 the world." While that is often tricky, there is a way that the church can use culture rather than be used by it to carry out its kingdom assignment of making disciples. Quitting Church, also reviewed in this issue, is another hard-hitting, soul-searching, penetrating look at why evangelical Christians are quitting church, looking for other alternatives, Of simply dropping out. I do not believe the church can afford to be ignorant about what is being said, but neither is the church to be so theologically shallow that it caves in and tries to display or proclaim its message in a worldly manner. The church never impacts or makes a difference by becoming like what it is trying to influence.

Collin Hansen's book, Young, Restless, Reformed, offers some encouragement by discussing the resurgence of Calvinism among a good number 01 people who are looking for more than fluff and stuff. You'll recognize some of the names he writes about, and this is where the PCA and the lead article come into the picture.

Due to a space limitation in this issue, I have combined the [n Case You're Asked section with the lead article because it deals with something near and dear to my heart, the PCA. As you will see, the article is basically a response to a serious question regarding the PCA. My desire in responding is not that the PCA will be seen in a bad light, but rather a challenging one. I do think if we are willing to pay the price the PCA could be a positive in the lace of many negatives in the North American culture. But unless we are aware of what is happening, we too could be swept along by undercurrents that will take us away from our reason for being. I want to see the PCA rise to a position of spiritual influence that touches every area of life. Our entire ministry at CEP is based on that desire-to make kingdom disciples, from cradle to grave. Our November conference on kingdom discipleship in Atlanta is an example of our commitment to that task. I hope the lead article will be a call to prayer for our church, inspire a willingness to work together to understand what is happening in our world and culture, and help us in concert be able to offer both an offense and defense for the church's role of milking disciples. According to the Scriptures. it's all about the good news of the kingdom. This is our priority message.

The PCA has a great challenge and opportunity. I trust this issue will be helpful, informative. as well as challenging. We must work together under our biblically Reformed world and life view banner and show the world a better way.

- Charles Dunahoo