Evangelical Presbyterian Church

• General Assembly Address

• Women In Ministry

• Remember our Texas churches

• Pray for Perry

• Hurricane Gustav Aftermath

• NewsBytes from around the EPC

General Assembly Address

by Jeff Jeremiah

On Thursday, June 19 I briefly addressed the General Assembly about the future of the EPC and the missional direction we believe the Lord is leading us into. In response to those of you who have asked for it, the transcript is as follows.

"My report today about where we are as a national church is offered to you with both humility and boldness. Humility because I can assure you that I do not have all the answers. As we move forward together, I am very conscious that we need to stay in conversation; we need to continue to listen to and learn from one another. Boldness because I believe Jesus wants us to make a difference for Him - a much greater impact than we've experienced to date. This is a moment to re-think and re-focus. This is a moment to decide. In this, we're being faithful to our commitment to organize ourselves as we deem 'best for the propagation of the Gospel, the advancement of the Kingdom, and the edification of the whole church' (Book of Government, 16-22.H).

As you know, I spend a lot of time on the road visiting you where you live and serve Jesus Christ. Since last year's GA you have energized me with the excitement, anticipation and hope you've expressed over coffee or a meal, in churches, in presbyteries, in committees and commissions. Across the months and across the country, your's has been a unified message: you believe Jesus Christ is moving, He's opening doors, He's showing us a direction for the future. At the same time, your elected leaders, your moderators, the Committee on Administration and I have engaged in a serious conversation about that future. It was important enough to us to schedule a special meeting to focus solely on this matter. On behalf of them, I believe that now is the time to affirm and pursue the vision we believe God has for us, a future that is different from our past, a future that is better, greater, and most important, worthy of the best of our time, talents and energy.

What do I believe God is calling us to? I believe that God is calling the Evangelical Presbyterian Church to wholeheartedly and passionately re-embrace the Great Commission and become a missional denomination.

What's key to me about this statement is that it's not the product of our best thinking about how to do ministry and outreach better. It's not like we decided, "This is what we're going to do and we expect God to bless it." No, the focus is on God and what He is doing. We know He's actively involved in this world, working His purposes out in human history. Mission describes the purpose of what God is doing: in His Son Jesus Christ, He's redeeming a lost people, calling men, women, boys and girls into a saving relationship with Him. As Jesus said, "I have come to seek and to save the lost." But there's more to God's mission! Because He calls those He's saved to accomplish His mission, to be His presence, His witness, His hands and feet and ears and voices, "declaring the praises of Him who called us out of the darkness into His glorious light." The question is, will we be faithful to, obedient to what He's calling us to? We're saying YES when we commit to this vision. To be missional is to be committed to the Great Commission - proclaiming the salvation that is found only in Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth and to the end of the street. A missional denomination as one in which every local congregation sees itself as an agent of God's mission in the world. In the missional EPC, our leadership and our organization is focused on encouraging, stimulating and supporting mission at the local church level, because that's where the action is. The ethos of the missional EPC encourages and expects every member to see himself or herself as a missionary sent out into the world by Jesus. I hope you recognize that we're already making good progress toward that future. Nate's (Atwood) presentation that follows will give you some specific recommendations for your consideration.

If that's the vision, then the goal before us is this: the EPC will transform itself into a Presbyterianism that will be used by God to play a key role in the evangelization of the United States and the world.

What will the EPC look like in five years? I believe that if you attend the 2013 General Assembly you will see:

• A church that continues to faithfully and unapologetically contend for the truth, continues to be faithful to the evangelical and reformed faith as expressed in God's Word and the Westminster Confession of Faith.
• A church that is passionate about God's mission and is committed to North America and the whole world as a mission field; that is outwardly focused and inwardly strong.
• A church that celebrates a unity of spirit and direction.
• A church that is engaged in aggressive and effective church planting. We know that church planting is an important aspect of evangelization in this country, as there is one conversion to Christ for every 8 members of a new church plant. By contrast, there is one conversion to Christ for every 88 members of an established local church.
• A church in which our presbyteries will be characterized by a biblical connection that includes real Christian fellowship, shared ministry goals, a common and passionate commitment to the great mission of the church as well as polity, government and doctrine.
• Presbyteries that help local churches in such areas as evangelism, education, training and other facets of Christian ministry.
• A series of active networks of EPC leaders who have much in common and want to support, encourage and help one another. The Urban Ministry Network and Small Church Leaders Network will be seen as the pioneers in this effort that will grow to include church planters, women's ministry leaders and youth ministers.
• A church that sees change as an opportunity, not a threat.
• A church that has re-formed its practices to reflect the realities of pursuing God's mission in the 21st century.
• Lastly, by 2013 we'll be a denomination in which we've become fully integrated with the New Wineskins and other churches who have come into the EPC.

We enjoyed a great General Assembly in 2007 at Cherry Hills. It was truly an historic, dawn of a new era, 'God moment' as we approved the Transitional Presbytery proposal. We've celebrated some of the results of that bold decision already today. As historic as last year's GA was, for the decision that is before us, this year's may prove to be more significant and far-reaching.

In this room a little over three weeks ago, we held a memorial service for my Dad. His life was rightly remembered and celebrated. Let me thank you again for the way you have pastored my family and me with the tenderness, love and comfort that is found only in Christ. Ultimately, at that service, it wasn't about my Dad, and what he did. It was all about my Dad's Savior and Lord, and what Jesus did for him that matters now, and in eternity. Jesus is about what's eternal, what lasts forever. And right there, I got stuck. Stuck on this thought: what is there to life of eternal significance outside of Jesus Christ? I've served in full time Christian ministry for 28 years now. Sometimes I wonder how much of my time I've wasted on what I called 'ministry' that was just 'busy work' that had little if any impact in eternity. I was called, you were called to something better, something greater, something worthy of what Jesus Christ has done in saving us. Isn't that 'something else' the things that are near and dear to Jesus, the things that are eternal, that will last forever? Isn't that what we're really about? The missional future of the EPC is about intentionally, purposely bringing Jesus, the Gospel, eternity into the mission field this is our community, our country and our world. That's the future I believe God has for us. That's the future I'm committing the time, talents and energy my Lord has given to me as I serve you as your Executive Pastor/Stated Clerk."

Women In Ministry

EPC Women In Ministry serves local churches by developing women as servant leaders for the equipping of God's church and the enlarging of His kingdom. Such leaders are developed by encouraging, resourcing, equipping and mobilizing women to fully participate in God's work in their churches and the world.

The REAL* Training Initiative to equip such women will begin with two regional training events in October. Each event is available for any woman leader to attend. At the training, women will have the opportunity to learn from other trained, skilled and experienced leaders from the area. Participants will also be able to purchase the REAL Training Guide at the event.

*Reaching. Equipping. Advancing. Leading.

Location and Dates:

• October 17-18: Knox EPC, Ann Arbor, Michigan
• October 24-25: Cherry Creek EPC, Englewood, CO

For information on workshops, registration and hotels, click here:

Remember our Texas churches

As Hurricane Ike heads for Texas, please remember to the Lord our churches in the state's Gulf Coast area: Christ EPC (Houston); City of Refuge (Houston); LifePath Church (Houston); Cornerstone EPC (Katy); Faith Church (Brownsville); First Presbyterian (Laredo) and Hope Church (San Antonio).

Pray for Perry

Perry Mobley, former Moderator of the General Assembly is undergoing back surgery on Monday, September 15. Please pray for Perry and for a successful result.

Hurricane Gustav Aftermath

As of September 10, we had received reports about the conditions at the following EPC churches in Louisiana:

First Presbyterian - Houma, Louisiana

While Hurricane Gustav made landfall just south of Houma in Terrebonne Parish, Pastor Dan Rose writes, "We are very fortunate and blessed people! Sure, there is property damage...some houses in our community have been destroyed by falling trees...But we had no flooding, no loss of life that I am aware of: in other words, it could have been so much worse. God was merciful to us, and we are grateful!" Dan said "Many pastors and churches have contacted me by email and phone asking how they can help us. I want to say thanks to these dear churches for their prayers and concerns. Once we are 'up and running', and Ike has run its course, our Session will meet, consult with Fist Presbyterian in Thibodaux and other neighboring Houma churches, and will get back to you about how you can help."

First Presbyterian - Thibodaux, Louisiana

Pastor Bill Crawford of First Presbyterian, Thibodaux reports the damage in Thibodaux was minor and that crisis relief efforts have concluded. Recovery work will be necessary in the bayou region. If there are churches interested in doing recovery work Bill says, "We can house groups up to 20 people in our church. Sleeping is on the floor or on cots, we have showers, washer, dryer, commercial stove and oven."

Trinity Christian Community - New Orleans, Louisiana

Trinity Christian Community (TCC) evacuated to Lakeside EPC in Brandon, MS, where they were enthusiastically embraced by the congregation. Director Kevin Brown said that by last Thursday, "we were back in the community doing what we do best: showing Christ's love by helping repair homes." TCC is working closely with the Houma Indian Tribe in Terrebonne Parish to warehouse and send relief supplies.

Your financial donations to TCC will be welcome.  They will be used to purchase:

• Mon-perishable food, water, flashlight batteries, gloves, boots, shovels, large garbage bags, cleaning supplies, fans, tarps, tree and debris removal equipment & supplies, personal hygiene items, ice chest, first aid kit, gas gift cards, Wal-mart gift cards, generators.
• Elderly Needs: Depends, Ensure
• Baby Needs: formula, diapers, baby wipes

Click here for information on donating. Kevin Brown may be contacted at 504-482-7822 or

Grace Presbyterian - Alexandria, Louisiana

Pastor Bob Vincent reports "Our city has been hit pretty hard by Hurricane Gustav. We were a place of refuge for others, and then we took a wallop and had extensive flooding throughout our city." From last Wednesday on, Grace Presbyterian's gym served as an overnight Red Cross shelter. The Central Louisiana director, Leanne Murphy is a new member of Grace. Bob asked specifically for prayers for her.

First Presbyterian - Baton Rouge, Louisiana

The city sustained many trees down and was without power for an extended period of time. Two trees fell on the house of First Presbyterian's pastor, Gerrit Dawson. Thankfully, no one was injured.

NewsBytes from around the EPC

The ministry of Footprints International in Russia, a cooperative agency of the EPC, has seen encouraging progress on some long anticipated development projects. View their summer newsletter. 

Hope Presbyterian Church, Richmond, Virginia, moved into it's new building this past Sunday, September 7. About one thousand People celebrated God's faithfulness together.

Calvary Presbyterian Church, Flint, Michigan, is hosting the Mid-Michigan Conference on Reformed Theology October 25, 2008. Dr. Joel Beeke (Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary and graduate of Westminster Theological Seminary) is the conference speaker. Click here for a brochure.

Rev. Dr. Doug Nuenke (Presbytery of the West) was named president and director of the U.S. Navigators, with headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Doug was the first youth pastor with Cherry Hills Community Church in Highlands Ranch, CO, before joining Navigators.