This summer, I’ve been surprised that things have gone well with my garden. I don’t have a green thumb; I’m not well educated in horticulture; and the garden has never been a big priority. So this year, when the plants grew at a record pace, I was shocked.

I suppose it was a combination of perfect weather, including regular rain showers, along with more work on my part at just the right times.

As I gloated over the tall and fruitful plants, trouble came to my garden. The straw I used in the garden was not seedless as it usually is, so my efforts at weed prevention actually created more weeds. Japanese beetles, which have never appeared in my garden, suddenly noticed my little patch on planet Earth. And leaf blight, which has seldom been a problem, began afflicting some of my biggest plants. Little birds and animals noticed the bumper crop of blueberries, and for every measure I’ve taken to keep them out, they have crafted countermeasures.

It’s not just a big year for my garden. In the Synod reports and testimonies in this issue, as well as those on Facebook, Twitter, and web sites, it is clear that there is a lot of big news in the Reformed Presbyterian Church worldwide. Praise God! He has chosen to use a sinful and unworthy band, and we cannot help but marvel at all His wonders.

In the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America, we are seeing progress in parts of North America that have had no RP presence, including several states, one province, and a whole country—Mexico. We are communicating with a continent that has long been off our radar—South America. And we are pursuing missions in new countries.

Perhaps we have found a good way to promote biblical unity as well. Instead of tripping over the M word (merger), we have sought to come alongside other denominations to see how we can bolster one another. This is evident in the efforts to strengthen ties among all the RP denominations worldwide and in the plan to meet concurrently with the Associate Reformed Presbyterians next year.

We are recognizing the need to be proactive on the home front too—planting new churches and providing good training to our youth. New web sites and books by RPs are promoting the doctrine and testimony of the RPCNA far beyond our borders, and in winsome and constructive ways. A new committee on Christ’s mediatorial kingship holds promise for more to come.

There have been, and will be, weeds in this wonderful garden. Despite all the growth we have seen, RPCNA membership was down slightly in 2013. Where we are seeing growth, there are also sins and setbacks. And we need to pay attention to the health of our current plants (congregations, missions, programs) as we foster new ones.

Overall, it is an exciting year for the garden, and for all of us who are blessed to be at work in it.

—Drew Gordon