Thanks Dave for putting together an informative and encouraging read in this issue of Catalyst. The spread of topics is well-balanced with local and overseas testimonies of God’s grace at work through our denomination in several important programs.
I appreciated and affirm Murray’s assessment of Jack deVries’ valuable role in the denomination. It’s not a easy job, but Jack does it with love, grace, energy and a focus on God’s glory.
I also want to commend Kevin and Machi Rietvelt for their long years of faithful service to the Lord in Solomon Islands Mission, which for them is quickly coming to a close (at the end of the year). Their work, by God’s grace has touched many Solomon Islanders, of which John’s story is one great example. It has also helped us all to maintain a mission focus over the years.
Likewise, Bert Kuiper’s passion and energy in World Development and Relief and Church Planting in India is again a testimony to God’s grace working through our denomination. The radical nature of church planting in that country (risks, sacrifice, limited resources, stepping out in faith) can teach us many lessons about how the Kingdom of God comes.
I am amazed sometimes at how God has used our small and weak denomination to do his wonderful Kingdom building work. But that is often how he works (1 Corinthians 1:26ff)
Thanks also for including articles on social media and the analysis of trends in Australia regarding attitudes to church and faith. We need to keep thinking about these things if we are to reach people for Christ in our culture, relying only on God’s Word to do the work.
With love in Christ.
Brian Vaatstra