Full Gospel Church in Saint John hosted our citywide ministerial today and we joined their gathering for pastors who are affiliated with Open Bible Faith Fellowship. The main speakers of the day were Rick Ciaramitaro and Ted Yukes. Rick is President of this fellowshp and takes no salary for givng apostolic undergirding to over 500 ministers. Check out their Statement of Faith. They seem to be Pentecostals but have a very balanced statement. And I have to tell you that I loved the spirit that Rick demonstrated as he spoke with us this morning.
What intrigued me most was the passionate appeal for unity among Christians. Men who we would once have thought of as radical and exclusive in outlook (remember our former days) are talking about and embracing a kind of unity that does not violate doctrinal distinctives but honors our kinship as brothers and sisters in Christ. Hallelujah. I found myself drawn to these men. Their simplicity and candor were refreshing. Rick pastors a large church in Windsor, Ontario and his story is incredibly inspiring. But the spiritual maturity and grace that he demonstrated was truly a blessing to me.
I found myself thinking that it just may be possible for the people of God to experience true unity in Christ without having to lose our diversity and distinctives. We are living in very interesting times. Is it possible that I will be alive to see the Body of Christ come together to face the common enemy of worldliness and sin in the face of the challenges confronting our world right now? I hope so...
About Me
- Dave Mac
- Grand Bay-Westfield, NB, Canada
- Assistant Pastor at River Valley Wesleyan Church. Husband of one, father of four, grandfather of nine. Love my family, love my church, the people I work with, and the work I do.
Did a Survey...
Which theologian are you?
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Karl Barth | 100% | ||
Anselm | 93% | ||
Martin Luther | 80% | ||
Charles Finney | 67% | ||
John Calvin | 60% | ||
Augustine | 53% | ||
Friedrich Schleiermacher | 47% | ||
Jonathan Edwards | 47% | ||
Jürgen Moltmann | 40% | ||
Paul Tillich |
My Family
McFamily
River Valley Wesleyan Church
The church I love...
3 comments:
As long as our worship is in "Spirit and in truth" then we are coming to God through Christ. The rest is a backdrop to the drama of us communing with God. We who have no right to enter the throne room are now accepted as his children. Children who will grow together in His family. Children who will have hope on the best and the worst days, regardless of what happens in our world or the world in general.
Unity. We can have unity in love when there are differences of opinion, style and even theology. I don't have to agree with you or your denomination to love, respect and share my faith with you. My father attended church once during my lifetime but had highest respect for the things of God. Can we not, in the love of Christ, at least show the same respect? In Christ's words "If they are not against us, they are for us". As a child, I was overwhelmed to read these words. I was with the disciples, thinking that the people acting in Christ's name were not even following Him. But God in Christ understood the big picture. May we look through His eyes of love and rejoice when another Christian group plants a new church or someone comes to faith in THEIR church. God is building His kingdom - BE IN IT!
Good points Vince. I agree.
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