First RPC of Grand Rapids Hosts Evangelism Conference

On Feb. 2, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary hosted the First Reformed Presbyterian Conference on Practical Theology. The speaker was Dr. David Murray, an ordained minister in the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) and a professor of Old Testament and Practical Theology at Puritan Reformed. He spoke on the subject of evangelism, presenting three lectures to a crowd of about 150. Over 10 denominations and 29 congregations were represented by folks not only from Grand Rapids, but from Southfield, Mich.; Elkhart, Ind.; Ontario, Canada; Albany, N.Y.; and Malawi. The travelers were blessed with clear roads, somewhat of a rare sight in the midst of a harsh Michigan winter. Free mp3 downloads of the conference are available at www.firstrp.org.

—Nathan Eshelman

Farises Sent to RPCNA Sudan Mission The sanctuary of the First RPC of Beaver Falls was packed the evening of Mar. 9, as people from at least seven RP congregations gathered for a sending service for Daniel, Natalie, and Samuel Faris.

Pastor Bruce Backensto gave the sermon on Psalm 118:17-18, Live and Tell. Bill Weir was joined at the front by more than 25 RPCNA elders as he gave the prayer of commission. Elder Matt Filbert gave the charge. A reception was held after the service.

The Farises have joined the Cush4Christ team serving in South Sudan. Daniel will work in a diaconal capacity, teaching and guiding men into self-sustaining forms of micro-industry (well drilling, farming, etc.).

They join the Wards, Stringers, and Heather Huizing on this mission field.

—Heidi Filbert, correspondent

Running the Race John Keddie, author of Sing the Lord’s Song: Biblical Psalms in Worship (Crown & Covenant, 2003), has been busy promoting his new book across Great Britain. Running the Race (Evangelical Press, 2007) is a biography of Eric Liddell, whose faith and courage were depicted in the 1981 movie Chariots of Fire.

According to Evangelical Press, the response to this book has been “astounding,” and they have already had to print thousands more copies.

Keddie, a minister of the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) at Bracadale on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, also has been named moderator of their next General Assembly. He will take up his duties in May.