When women get together, and when men seek office


Every year in both Michigan and Ontario, conferences are organized to gather women in the Reformed churches to focus together for a time on a common theme, a theme that will inspire, education, inform and motivate those who attend to better service in the Kingdom of God as representatives of Jesus Christ in this world.

While there are many conferences one could attend from Ligonier’s to the Gospel Coalition, to the Alliance of Reformed Evangelicals to conferences on Creation, etc. We are blessed to have so many opportunities to better ourselves. But the two conferences we cover in this issue are dedicated to women.

And it’s good to see the turnout, although of course there is always room for more willing learners. It’s not only a time to learn, but it’s also a time to renew friendships,to get acquainted with others in our Reformed community who could stand some encouragement and camaraderie. The conferences are generally one day, sometimes from a Friday evening to Saturday. Those who go to these events usually benefit a good deal from them.

Another focus in this issue is on politics, one of those hot button topics, simply because of the divide that is clear to anyone who reads the papers, watches the news, and scans the internet or cellphone. Growing up during the Vietnam war and the 1960s social protests there was definitely a good deal of rancor in the ranks of those who saw politics as a means toward an end. But the current climate seems just as angry and volatile, and it’s not all because of President Trump.

In the case of the President of the United States it seems that all perspective has been lost when it comes to his ongoing leadership. There is visceral hatred among those who oppose him, and it’s a sad state of affairs for a country that in essence has so much going for it, in terms of strength, stability and promise.

A lot could be said, although most of the rhetoric  is not about building, but about tearing down, about destruction and about revolution. Christians do have something to say in the midst of all the shouting, and we do have a role to play as individuals and as churches, to witness to a better way, if only the naysayers would listen and watch, and look beyond their built in prejudices and judgmentalism.

While we need people in strategic places, in politics, in government, in the courts, and in other arenas where we can do some good, there is also the vital need for leaders in the churches, men who are moved to seek the call to the ministry. In this issue, Brian Lee makes his case for two men to lead church plants. While that is a worthy goal, to fill those extra places, we need men in the seminaries willing to be trained for this kind of service.

Pray for our countries, and pray for our churches.

John Vandyk, Editor
Christian Renewal Magazine



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