About 2 years ago Time Magazine had an article devoted to the top movements in America today. The third on their list was what they called the New Calvinism, those evangelical Christians who embrace the concepts of Calvinism (also known as the doctrines of grace), an overall view of the sovereignty of God and authority & inspiration of Scripture, and who are interested in developing a holistic Christian worldview in the line of Abraham Kyper.
This movement, while national, has some growing roots locally. Some of which I would like to detail. The following is a list of persons and works.
1. The Fuse @ Grace Brethren Church. Rich Policz, Ronnie Martin and Ben Roby have been conducting worship and teaching meetings with quite a group of college /career age young adults for the last year or so. This last week I was able to stop in and see the goings on. I have to commend them for their teaching and the large interest that their audience had.
2. I should not neglect to say that each of the above mentioned men have other spheres of influence which are of note: Ben Roby is the pastor of Heritage Baptist Church here in Ashland and frequently conducts Bible studies on the university campus. Ronnie Martin is the worship leader there at GBC. His prayers and sprinkling in of puritan quotes provides a noticeable difference in their worship services from years past. Rich Policz serves as the director of development and worldview at the Christian School. That title is as broad and encompassing as his duties, but of particular note is his work leading his adult Bible Fellowship "Veritas" at Grace.
3. Another GBC figure of note is Joe Maggelet. Joe does great work with his Sunday School class. His prime work though, is serving as the Ashland University's FCA chaplin. Joe's passion and skill with the students have enabled him to disciples what may be myriads over the course of his tenure.
4. I could talk extensively about the things I do not like about Ashland University, but amidst the rubbish there is great work going on by those who would identify themselves as Neo-Calvinists. Tim Dernlan works as the wrestling coach. He not only is teaching them the techniques of wrestling, but is also discipling them in the truths of Scripture along with his father, a retired pastor. Dr. Justin Lyons is a professor in the History and Poli-Sci department. He is known for making his students read Scripture for his Western Civ. class and focusing heavily on the Reformers during his Reformation & Renaissance class.
5. Dr. Mark Hamilton could also be tagged amongst that crowd as he teaches in the Philosophy department. I separate him out because he is one of the leaders at Providence Church in Mifflin, the only church I know of in Ashland that would be professedly Calvinistic. My family has linked in here for this reason.
6. Honors are also due to Pastor Andy Gerhart who has been at First Presbyterian Church the last few years. His confessional stance and expositional preaching have not gone unnoticed within that church and around the wider community. Unfortunately, he will be leaving that post in the upcoming months. I'd pay him to stay if I could.
7. I would be remiss if I didn't call attention to the valiant efforts of our Neo-Calvinistic women in the area. Two that come to mind are Susan Peoples and Renee Maggelet. Susan has devoted much of her time to discipling various groups of ladies in the region. Renee has been instrumental in assisting her husband Joe in his work on campus by working with ladies.
8. Though they are not in Ashland, I would also like to give recognition to Westwood Alliance Church and Covenant Presbyterian Church in Mansfield. These are some professedly Calvinistic churches that I consider brothers-in-arms.
Before concluding, I should point out two qualifications. First, this list is certainly not exhaustive. These are only those that I personally am aware of. There very well could be more with whom I have not had any personal association. As well, I have not counted all the fathers and mothers who are training their children, or those who may be businessmen or your ordinary, everyday church goer. These men and women number scores more.
Secondly, I acknowledge that some of those mentioned above would be considered "paleo-Calvinists" if we were using precision in language. The paleo's are those of us who adhere more strictly to the Reformed confessions (such as the Westminster Confession of Faith) and are more thoroughgoingly Reformed and covenantal in our hermeneutical perspective. I lump us together because, though we have a few areas of difference, we are in the main homogeneous; having the same ends and working together for them.
3 comments:
Calvinism ebbs and flows, but it will never die out, as it is, like Spurgeon said, simply consistent Biblical Christianity. Regarding paleo or reformed or hyper or 5 point, as Ronald Reagan said (Ronald was most likely not a subscriptionist, but broadly evangelical)"if a person believes 90% of what you do, he is called your friend, not your enemy! I am enthused (how else can a postmillenialist be?) about the neo-calvinist movement in Ashland and the suburbs in Mansfield). I would also point out that there is a high degree of intellectual leadership and heavy-lifting on policy issues in this group. Puritans NEVER exceeded 10% of the population in England or in America, but they were the thought leaders and the turned the society upside down (for the better-actually for the Glory of God).
Thanks for pointing these works out Matt. My family will be in prayer for these groups and families. God is really good to us at Westwood and we thank Him for His grace and mercy. I am excited to see that churches and pastors in my hometown are growing in faithful ministry. God bless brother! I am praying for you as well as you seek the face of God!
Brother Matt,
Thanks for informing us of the work that is going on in the Ashland area. I am excited to see that faithful gospel ministry is going on my hometown and that God is making His grace known. I am thankful that giant egg drops are not the only ministry to the community.
I will be praying for these ministries and families that God would keep by His grace and would grant them growht beyond their imagination. Have a great day in Christ brother!
P.S. Thanks for including Westwood. You did not need to do that!
Post a Comment