CONGREGATIONAL CONCERN

CongregationalConcern

Issue No. 195 Spring 2010

Magazine of the Evangelical Fellowship of Congregational Churches

Complete Concern 195 v2_Congregational Concern #195 8 April 2010 23:02 Page 1

Concernis the magazinefor and aboutthe EvangelicalFellowship ofCongregationalChurches

Editor:Rev. PETER BEALEAssistant Editors:Rev. CYRIL ASTONRev. MICHAEL PLANTRev. PETER ROBINSONContents:Round about 1Mike Plant 2Further afield: Namibia 5A spiritual tonic 8Congregational Worthies: Robert Haldane 11Potential Pioneers 14Manipur centenary 16Studies Conference 17Book shelf 18Stan Guest 20

Editor’s comment

“One lot of sinners out; another lot ofsinners in!” Such was the perhapssomewhat cynical comment displayed

on a church’s “wayside pulpit” notice-board a fewyears ago following a General Election. They had apoint, of course: despite the efforts of the campaignleaders in the political parties to persuade theelectorate that their policies and candidates werebeyond reproach, we live in a fallen world in whicheven the greatest of leaders are but men, andtherefore sinners.

We live in a parliamentary democracy, rather thanon the one hand under an absolute monarchy ordictatorship, or on the other hand a state of anarchy,and for that we should be grateful. Another GeneralElection is about to take place, and as we look at thestated policies of the main parties, whatever ourviews may be on the strengths and weaknesses onmatters such as the economy, defence, education,health, transport, foreign relations and so on, we findthat without exception they espouse a secularist,anti-faith, and in particular anti-Christian approachto many issues. In the light of this we may wonderwhether it is worth voting.

Since we are to “Be subject for the Lord’s sake toevery human institution” (1 Peter 2:13 ESV) andexercising our vote is part of our civic duty, weshould certainly do so, first doing our best to find outthe stance of the particular candidates for our ownconstituency. As we go to press the Christian Institute(www.christian.org) is about to produce its “Election2010 Briefing Paper”, and this will undoubtedly behelpful. And having voted, whatever the outcome ofthe election, we are to pray for our leaders, “that wemay lead peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness andhonesty” (1 Tim. 2:2).

Peter Beale

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Cover illustration:Preaching workshop atNamibia EvangelicalTheological Seminary(Thorsten Prill)


New pastoratesThe church premises at Thorpe Edge in Bradford were so packed at the

induction service for Keith Mitton on 6th March that there was standingroom only for some. Mr Mitton was pastor of Pollard Park EvangelicalChurch near the city centre for many years. Continued prayer is asked forhim in his new leadership role, along with the two previous pastors,Douglas Legge and Bernard Umpleby, who continue to serve as elders.

On 27th Marchthe induction tookplace at Bulfordin Wiltshire ofBarnaby Alsop.The service wasled by Pastor NigelGraham fromWarboys, theinduction andordination byMike Plant (EFCCG e n e r a lSecretary), andPaul Oliver (Pastorof Bradford-on-Avon BaptistChurch) preachedpowerfully from 2 Cor. 1:3–7. Two former pastors also took part in theservice—David Godfrey (1963–73) under whose ministry the church haddeclined to join the newly-formed Congregational Church of England &Wales and became part of EFCC, and Peter Beale (1980–2003).

With the LordOn Tuesday 6th April, the day after her 77th birthday, Mrs Brenda

Forsyth of Wiveliscombe went to her reward. Brenda, who had beensuffering bravely with cancer for some time, was the widow of Rev. BanForsyth, and a great stalwart in the work at Wiveliscombe. She will begreatly missed, and our warm sympathy goes to her family and to thechurch fellowship.

BicentenaryThe church at Lee Mill in Devon (pastor Rev. Cyril Short), which

recently came into EFCC, celebrates the 200th anniversary of itsfoundation in April.

Congregational Concern Spring 2010 1

Nigel Graham with new pastor Barnaby Alsop and his wife, Verity


Dear Friends,

An article with a historyRecently, in “Planting & Watering”, I began a new feature. Each issue

will (DV) contain a book recommendations section from a ministerwhich lists the books which he found most useful in preaching on aBible book. One matter I asked my contributors to bear in mind was thequestion of economy. I was concerned for those starting out in theministry who need to build up a library as efficiently as possible. I wasconcerned that books can be very expensive and value for money isimportant. Finally, that some ministers may be on very restrictedincomes and not all churches have realized the value of giving a bookallowance. I then received an email from a minister saying that ifministers were not receiving a book allowance that is something I oughtto be addressing. As no-one else can as readily do this I am taking upthe challenge.

Considering the bigger pictureSome time ago the EFCC decided to give guidance each year regarding

appropriate salaries for ministers. There are many factors that can beconsidered but for simplicity we decided to base our recommendation onone factor only, and that was to recommend an income in line with themedian income for the United Kingdom. Median income means 50% earnmore and 50% earn less and we adopted this as a practical way ofapplying Galatians 1:6: “One who is taught the word must share all goodthings with the one who teaches.” We could have considered other factorssuch as experience, size of church and the area in which the church islocated but for simplicity we left those issues as a matter for churches toconsider. I cannot imagine anybody would disagree with the advice, butwe all know the practicalities for some churches are that they cannot raisethose funds, and so their ministers will be financially in restrictedcircumstances. That will mean that it cannot be left to them to supply their

2 Congregational Concern Spring 2010

From the Gen. Sec.

Giving men the tools for the job


own book buying needs when every penny spent is withheld fromsomething else which is needed.

Why ministers need booksIn 1 Timothy 4:15 Paul commands Timothy: “Practise these things

[public reading of Scripture, exhortation and teaching], devote yourself tothem, so that all may see your progress.” Our use of our gifts—and no-onecan exhort, preach and teach without the relevant gifts—is to besomething which we work at and in which others can see our progress.Paul even towards the end of his ministry writes in 2 Timothy 4:13 forTimothy to send him “the books, and above all the parchments.” Even asan inspired Apostle he is a hard-working student. While being a fluentspeaker can attract people it is teaching that will build people up in thefaith. Such teaching takes hard work and study. When I was preparing forthe ministry Dr Lloyd-Jones published his Preaching and Preachers and init states that ministers need to engage in eight different kinds of reading.

1. They need to read through the Bible at least once a year.2. They need to study the Bible in detail, both reading commentaries on

particular books but also books on prophecy or typology which show howthe Bible holds together as one book.

3. They need to read devotionally, so they will read books and sermonswhich directly aim to touch the heart.

4. They need to expand their minds to see God’s truth so they will needto read Theology.

5. They need to read Church History and Biography to see how God’struth has been worked out in life situations.

6. They need to read books defending the faith from the attacks of themodern world (for example in regard to creation and psychology).

7. They need to read books on pastoral matters such as preaching,evangelism and counselling.

8. They need to read books which reflect on topical issues and willinfluence the way people think and so regard the gospel.

If that sounds a lot they need to do it is because it is a lot and yes, theydo need to do it! If a minister currently thinks he knows enough then thatis a sign he knows very little.

Why a book allowance?Because ministers need books as tools for the job God has called them

to do. If like me you have a very limited set of tools for DIY you dreaddoing jobs because you know you end up doing them with not-quite-suitable tools and do them less well than you could do. The job takeslonger and is less well done as a result. Of course the Bible is the onlyinspired book from which ministers are to draw spiritual food for God’s



people each week. Ministers however need the stimulus of study to get togrip with what God’s word means and then to undertake the equallyimportant task of moving from the meaning of the text to how it is to beapplied to encourage, challenge, correct and teach the congregation. Letme give one example which relates to a sermon I preached on a recentSunday morning on Paul’s thorn in the flesh from 2 Corinthians 12:1–10.Books used: 3 Bibles, Greek NT and 2 lexicons, 3 commentaries. OnAmazon the total cost would have been £127! Bearing in mind thatministers will probably preach on several Bible books each year and thatsome study tools are used each time, a book allowance of £200 would bea fairly minimal allowance. Most ministers could use more and they andtheir hearers would benefit.

Is there a silver lining to this cloud?Yes—because books used for sermon preparation may be bought using

an untaxed book allowance. It is a very tax-efficient way of providing fora minister. So do please consider this seriously and in doing so encourageyour minister and even benefit yourself!

Yours in the Lord, Mike Plant

Westminster 2010: Declaration ofChristian ConscienceOn Easter Day a large number of Christian leaders from a broad spectrumlaunched a “Conscience Manifesto” ahead of the General Election withwhat they describe as a “call to arms for the country’s Christians”. Theystate:

WE BELIEVE that protecting human life, protecting marriage, andprotecting freedom of conscience are foundational for creating andmaintaining strong families, caring communities and a just society.

WE INVITE Christians of all denominations who subscribe to the historicChristian faith to sign the Westminster 2010 Declaration of ChristianConscience. (See www.westminster2010.org.uk.)

WE CALL upon all parliamentary candidates to pledge that they will'respect, uphold and protect the right of Christians to hold and expressChristian beliefs and act according to Christian conscience.



Further afield… NamibiaThe Gospel of Prosperity andLiberation or the True Gospel

of Christ?Challenges and Opportunities

for the Church in Namibia

by Thorsten Prill

The first missionaries arrived in Namibia, formerly known as SouthWest Africa, at the beginning of the 19th century. In 1806 twobrothers, Christian and Abraham Albrecht of the London Missionary

Society founded a mission station in the south of the country.* Many moremissionaries, mostly Lutherans from Germany and Finland but alsoMethodists from England and South Africa, followed in subsequent years.Their efforts and those of indigenous evangelists and pastors bore muchfruit. A hundred years after the arrival of the Albrecht brothers the churchwas still growing.

Today, between 80 and 90 per cent of Namibia’s multiculturalpopulation of 2 million is affiliated to a church. The Church is a visibleand important part of Namibian society. As such it faces manychallenges: the biggest gap between rich and poor in the world, aHIV/AIDS prevalence rate of 15.3%, one of the highest suicide rates inAfrica and alcoholism which affects almost every class and ethnicgroup.

Prosperity gospelHowever, the Church is also confronted with challenges of another

nature. Prosperity gospel preaching and teaching is wide spread,especially in Pentecostal circles. Sometimes the preaching of such awrong gospel happens very openly, at other times the approach is moresubtle. The message, however, is always the same: the more money yougive to the church the more God will bless you materially and heal youfrom any diseases. Not surprisingly, there are people who leave these



churches after a whilefeeling totallydisillusioned. Some ofthem return to theirm a i n s t r e a mdenominations, othersjoin one of the socalled African InitiatedChurches. While thereare many believers inboth church groupingsthere is no guaranteethat they will hear thetrue Gospel of JesusChrist. In some AfricanInitiated Churches ablend of Christianity and traditional pagan beliefs can be found while intraditional churches liberation theology is still dominant in pulpits.Namibian liberation theologians argue that the Gospel is to beunderstood in socio-political terms. They define it as the good news thatGod wants to liberate people from political oppression and socialinjustice. “That Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, thathe was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to theScriptures”, as the apostle Paul writes in 1 Cor. 15:3–4, is at best ofsecondary importance to them.

These are the conditions in which the small number of evangelicalchurches and para-church organisations, such as Scripture Union,Campus Crusade and the Namibia Evangelical Theological Seminary(NETS), minister. Their specific challenge is the fact that many of theirsupporters and members come from the poorer groups in society. As aresult, they often cannot pay their pastors, staff workers, and lecturersadequate salaries or fund the training of full-time workers.

Strategic importanceHowever, for the future of gospel ministry in Namibia the role of NETS

is of strategic importance. NETS was founded 20 years ago as the onlyevangelical theological college in the country. Today there are 30 full-time residential students, mostly from Namibia but also from other partsof southern Africa. The same number of part-time students attend theweekly evening classes at the Windhoek campus. In addition, there areabout 650 students enrolled in the Distance Education programmes.These students live all over the country. Among those are 100 inmatesof Namibian prisons who have come to faith in Christ during their time


Lutheran church in Rehoboth, Namibia


in prison and who usethe NETS programmesto get a betterfoundation of theChristian faith. There isclearly a strong desireamong Christians inNamibia to get toknow God better andto serve him faithfully.

The mission ofNETS is “to equipChristians withknowledge and skillsto live godly lives andserve the Church andthe widercommunity”. NETS tries hard to put this mission into practice. Thishappens through its study programmes which provide students not onlywith a good Bible knowledge but also with practical ministry skills suchas expository preaching, pastoral care, evangelism and leadership skills.In addition, NETS organises retreats for pastors and Word Aliveconferences for all those involved in teaching the Bible, i.e. preachers,house group leaders, youth workers and Sunday school teachers. TheLord has blessed the work of NETS in many ways: the student numbershave increased in recent years and while the college still strugglesfinancially there has been generous financial support from abroad forstudent scholarships, the training of Namibian lecturers, and a newlibrary and resource centre for pastors. However, the challenge remains:to convince not only foreign donors but also Namibian churches andindividuals to invest in the training of future church leaders who aredriven by the same mission as the first European and Namibianmissionaries, i.e. to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Gospel ofsalvation, to all the people of Namibia and beyond.

* Buys, GL, Nambala, SVV, 2003. History of the church in Namibia. Windhoek: GamsbergMacmiillan, 9–10.

Thorsten Prill lectures in systematic theology and missiology at NamibiaEvangelical Theological Seminary (NETS), Windhoek. He is a personal

member of EFCC. If you would like to receive further informationabout the work of NETS you can contact Thorsten at

[email protected]


After Sunday service at Evangelical Bible Church, Katatura, Windhoek


A spiritual tonicby Bill DyerA review of Paul Cook’s Fire fromheaven—times of extraordinaryrevival (Evangelical Press, 143pp,£8.99)

Here is a spiritual tonic to stir theblood and fire the passion of everybeliever in these times of spiritual

drought and decline. Paul Cook uncoversthe largely forgotten but exceptional revivalswhich took place in our country during theyears 1791 to 1840. It seems that mostmodern evangelicals have overlooked thisperiod, focussing rather on the FirstEvangelical Awakening which can be datedfrom the beginning of the extraordinaryministry of George Whitefield in 1737 until the death of John Wesley in1791. These were years when great pioneer preachers opened up a wayfor the gospel, while labouring against fierce opposition.

They gathered believers and formed them into little groups for fellowshipand prayer. But the period of phenomenal ingathering when chapels werebuilt and a gospel witness established in almost every town and villagefollowed in the years 1791–1840. When John Wesley died in 1791 theWesleyan Methodists in Britain numbered just 72,000, whereas by 1851membership had grow to 360,000. In addition, by 1852, the PrimitiveMethodist membership was 110,000 with an additional 230,000adherents. The Baptists and Congregationalists were little affected by theEvangelical Awakening of the eighteenth century but were extensivelyrevived in the early nineteenth century; the Congregationalists alone grewto between a half and three quarters of a million.

Powerful revivalsPaul Cook concludes, “Overall, between 1791–1840, one and a half

million people were gathered into Nonconformist chapels in England andWales: one out of every ten of the population at that time.”

The explanation for this extraordinary growth lies in the powerfulrevivals described in this book. It is spiritually enriching to read of thewonderful works of God. At Hull people ran through the streets to mid-



week meetings to get a seat in buildings that held 1000. At Yeadon God’spresence was so manifest and conviction of sin so widespread that peoplewere weeping in the streets over their sins, and business was suspendedfor several days in some of the workplaces. There were so many penitentsthat prayer meetings in the chapel were continuous from morning to night,and 600 converted. The superintendent minister wrote, “we are expectingto have the whole town converted when we get our new chapel opened”.In Nottingham and in Cornwall many Christians felt so much of theoverwhelming power of grace that they were unable to walk withoutassistance at the end of meetings.

Searching challengesWhile examining these revivals Paul Cook places a number of searching

challenges before the contemporary church.Spiritual Reality—“They knew a quality of spiritual life to which most

of us are strangers … a depth of spiritual experience, a joy in God, anardent love for Christ, a thirst for holiness, a compassion for the lost andan uninhibited zeal for God.” Much contemporary Christianity is formaland cerebral and lacking experiential reality. There has been a tendency toconfine God to the pages of the Bible, and make him appear remote sothat we no longer deal directly with God himself as a person, whereas, forexample, the Cornish Wesleyans “expected God to visit them and dealpersonally and directly with their souls. … They held the view that spiritualsoundness within a Gospel church is not just dependent upon a faithfulministry of the Word, but also requires direct operations of the Spirit ofGod upon the souls of the people.” Orthodox belief without the Spirit’spower can be powerless and unattractive — “our Reformed theology istoo much in our heads and too little in our hearts … Our present weaknesshas more to do with our lack of spirituality than our lack of ability.”

Evangelism is only effective when there is a movement of God’sSpirit upon the souls of men — Man was seen as totally dependentupon God for salvation. These men regarded salvation not primarily as thesinner coming to God in response to the Gospel, but as God coming andregenerating the sinner through the Gospel and by the power of the HolySpirit, and then declaring peace to his heart. Men and women were urgedto call upon God for mercy through Jesus Christ — and that involved bothrepentance and faith. The mere act of calling was not regarded as salvation— God had to act, God had to come. Assent to evangelical truth andexpressing a desire to be committed to Christ is all that is usually expectedtoday, but all this is possible quite apart from any work of God in the soul.

It was because they knew that both widespread revival andevery individual conversion depended upon God’s sovereignactivity that they prayed so much. A conversion in normal times is just



as supernatural and wonderful as a conversion in revival times. “TheWesleyan Methodists 1791–1840 expressed complete dependence uponGod and resorted to God whenever they sensed a decline in theirchurches.” “In our desperate situation today we are not as desperate as weought to be. We do not cast ourselves upon God like our forefathers …They depended upon God more than we do, they looked to him moreoften, they prayed more diligently. If we continue to think that what we aredoing is all that really matters we ought not to be surprised if God leavesus to ourselves. We must come to the end of ourselves and begin, withGod’s help, to call upon him as these Christians did with an urgency andan insistence which will not be denied. No activity is more calculated tolead to the conversion of sinners, to restore power and effectiveness to thechurch and lead to the prosperity of gospel preaching, than the holy workof importunate prayer.”

Concert of prayer1784 saw the Congregationalists and both the Calvinistic and Wesleyan

Methodists in Wales joining in a great “Concert or Union of Prayer”. “Allover the land a cry to God ascended to heaven for an outpouring of theSpirit upon the churches. William Carey’s missionary vision arose fromthis, and the revivals which broke out in 1791 and continued until the1840s all over the British Isles were surely God’s answer to the ferventprayers of his people.”

Our EFCC Constitution states that one of the Objects of the Fellowshipis “To encourage prayer for the reviving power of the Holy Spirit in theChurch.” Our need for that reviving power is very great, and reading Firefrom Heaven should inspire us to call upon God with urgency andexpectancy. I wholeheartedly commend it.

“What were the men of the Holy Club in Oxford seeing: the Wesleys,Whitefield, Benjamin Ingham and others? What were they praying for? Itwas not revival. As we have noted, they were thirsting after God anddesiring holiness of life. There is something much more important thanseeking revival. It is seeking the God of revivals. We need to know Godmore fully! Let us thirst after him! Let us seek a manifest presence of JesusChrist! Let us seek holiness of life! Let us hunger and thirst afterrighteousness! Such holy pursuits are not to the exclusion of a desire andprayer for revival, but they are of even greater importance. And God willnot disappoint those who long for him.”

Paul Cook, Fire from heaven



Congregational Worthies (12):Robert Haldane (1764–1842)

by Arthur Fraser

Life is full of surprises, it is often said. That iscertainly true of the life story of Robert Haldane.Very few, one imagines, would have been able to

claim that the path to their conversion to Christ beganwith the French Revolution. Yet Robert Haldane madeprecisely that claim. The momentous event “aroused[him] from the sleep of spiritual death”, according to hisnephew-biographer. How? Not, perhaps, as we mighthave expected. For to begin with, he viewed the political convulsion on thecontinent favourably, believing that it opened the door to the bettermentof mankind. His vision for social justice, which took little account of man’snative depravity, was deeply stirred by the upheavals across the Channel.But thanks to the influence of discerning evangelical ministers in the area,his ardent political convictions were skilfully re-directed towards highergoals and this process ultimately led to his salvation. Describing thetransition, he pithily remarked that, “missing the shadow, I caught thesubstance.” However, it was to take quite some time before he lived downhis perceived pro-revolutionary stance, and even his later missionaryendeavours at home and abroad were construed as politically subversivein some quarters.

Apocrypha removedRobert Haldane, a wealthy Scottish landowner, was destined to make a

profound impact on the Christian world in more ways than one. He himselfregarded the greatest achievement of his life as having the Apocrypharemoved from Bibles circulated in the Continent. This success came in thelate 1820s only after a long and bitter dispute with the British and ForeignBible Society which, at the time, was receiving many demands forApocrypha-containing Bibles, even from Lutheran and Reformed Protestantchurches! Surprisingly, Haldane’s many opponents in the controversyincluded several members of the “Clapham Sect” such as Charles Simeonwho employed the “becoming all things to all men” argument. An importantby-product of Haldane’s campaign on the Apocrypha was his publication ofa major work on the plenary inspiration of Scripture which restored theevangelical faith of a significant number of ministers.



Missionary in GenevaOther analysts of Haldane’s life might judge, with some justification, that

his finest achievements stemmed from his missionary work in Geneva in1816–17. Burdened by the low spiritual state of Europe generally, hisambition to visit that famous city was finally realised after the Napoleonicwars had ended. Sadly, Calvin would not have recognized the Geneva ofthat time. The last embers of the Reformation had all but died. Thetheological academies and churches were thoroughly permeated bypernicious heresies. Ignorance of the Bible was lamentable in professors,pastors and students alike. But, through his masterly exposition of Paul’sletter to the Romans (subsequently transcribed into his classiccommentary) to a small group of interested students, Haldane wasinstrumental in God’s hands in fanning the flame of a fresh revival inEurope.

Notable menNotable men in this 19th-century second Reformation, men like

Frederic Monod, César Malan and Merle D’Aubigné all owed theirconversion to the opening up of the whole counsel of God by thisdedicated missionary. Aware no doubt of the nature of his audience,D’Aubigné included this tribute in a speech he gave in Edinburgh in1845, some 3 years after Haldane’s death: “… if Geneva gavesomething to Scotland at the time of the Reformation, … Geneva hasreceived something from Scotland in return, in the blessed exertions ofRobert Haldane.”

Inspired by CareyA zealous missionary spirit had characterized the life of Robert Haldane

ever since his conversion in 1794. Inspired by Carey’s work in India, heplanned a mission to Bengal, taking with him several hand-picked men.Amongst these was Dr Bogue of Gosport to whom he owed much for hisconversion after his brief naval career. The whole venture was to befinanced by the sale of his large estate at Gleneagles. However, the aimwas ultimately thwarted by the opposition of the India Company.

Haldane then turned to mission work in Scotland. Along with hisyounger brother James, he established the Society for the Propagation ofthe Gospel at Home (SPGH). Other developments quickly followed.Bibles and religious tracts were printed for public distribution, Bibleseminaries were established for the training of men for itinerant preaching,and places of worship, modelled on Whitefield’s tabernacles, were built inseveral major cities. All these projects were financed solely by Haldanefrom the proceeds of his estate.



Congregationalism in ScotlandMeanwhile, some 12 men, including the Haldane brothers, “resolved to

form themselves into a Congregational Church” in 1799. What theytermed “impure communion” in the Established church was the key factorin this far-reaching move. Robert subsequently recorded that this hadnever been the original intention, but came to “rejoice in the Institution.”The teaching at his seminaries contributed to the rapid growth ofCongregationalism in Scotland at this time. Students came from variousPresbyterian backgrounds, but according to one under Dr Ewing’s tuitionat Glasgow, “they found [themselves] decided and intelligentCongregationalists” by the end of the course.

The Congregational cause continued to flourish until around 1808 whenRobert, followed by his brother, sought to promote forms of worship in thechurches which they regarded as most in line with apostolic practice. Thisincluded adopting a Baptistic position, a move which precipitated a hugeupheaval in the new churches, resulting in a permanent rupture betweenthem and the Haldanes. Congregational churches then pursued anindependent line, becoming self-supporting financially and continuing toadvance the gospel in Scotland through itinerant evangelism.

Despite this sad division, nothing can take away from the pivotal roleplayed by Robert Haldane in promoting the cause of Congregationalismin Scotland. But it does come rather as a shock that a well-motivateddecision on his part should have such unhappy fallout.

Life is indeed full of surprises.Dr Arthur Fraser was pastor of

Latimer Memorial Congregational Church, Beverley, and lives in active retirement in Drumnadrochit, near to Loch Ness.

“In these days of boasted liberality, it may appear captious to opposewith zeal the errors of men who have acquired a name in the Christianworld. The mantle of charity, it will be said, ought to be thrown overmistakes that have resulted from a free and impartial investigation of truth,and if not wholly overlooked, they should be noticed with a slightexpression of disapprobation. Such, however, was not the conduct of theApostle Paul…. Let not Christians be more courteous in expressing theirviews of the guilt and danger of corrupting the Gospel, than faithful andcompassionate to the people of Christ who may be injured by falsedoctrine. It is highly sinful to bandy compliments at the expense of truth.”

Robert Haldane, preface to Exposition of the Epistle to the Romans



15th Jan. 2011—StonyStratford

by Robert Lightowler

What our nation needs are leaders; what are churches need areleaders. No one doubts this, but what we also urgently need inthis country are pioneer evangelists.

There are a number of young men I know who are quality saints and, Ibelieve, the Lord is setting aside for the ministry (as pioneer evangelists,pastors, missionaries or nation shapers). To know young brothers who areon fire for the Lord and have a passion for souls is a privilege. To facilitateopportunities for them, and others like them, to take steps into strategic,active ministry is my desire.

We are planning to host a weekend here to provide exposure toseasoned servants of Christ that will help them to evaluate their ownarea of service. This will be done through short teaching sessionsopening up into Q & A times, forums and feedback, and informalfellowship over food(!) It will hopefully also build links that will providenetworks of support when they later face the challenges of front lineservice.

Roger Carswell and Peter Milsom (UFM) are booked and it is hoped tohave other key men of God join us who will be encouragers and mentors.Bill Dyer (the EFCC trainer) is involved and David Woodard an FIECChurch restorer.

This is not a training programme nor is it intended to replicate orinterfere with what a local church is doing. It simply gives an opportunityfor those with potential to be identified, encouraged and form links withothers of a like mind and those who are ahead of them. We also want tolisten to these under thirties so that we understand their perspective and sodiscern if there is a need for something else in the future.



At this stage could I ask if you would be prepared to let people knowabout this event? I didn’t think it appropriate to advertise this Forum andso open it up to anyone who wants to come along. Rather, to have youngmen recommended by their minister or someone who knows that theyhave potential and a degree of maturity. We have around 10 at present butcould cater for around 25.

Robert Lightowler ([email protected]), Stony StratfordEvangelical Free Church, Milton Keynes MK11 1EA

Salvationby Brian Dupont

All that Jesus accomplished on the Cross brings us SALVATION. Thisis the glorious Bible word which covers and includes so manydifferent aspects of Jesus’ work on the cross.

To these are added the believer’s response and experience. Included areConversion, Being “Born Again”, Justification, Adoption, andSanctification.

Salvation is the great central theme of the New Testament and of theChristian Good News. Only the sufferings and death of the Lord JesusChrist can make such blessings available to sinful but repentant peoplesuch as ourselves (Eph. 2:13). This life, here and now, is greatly affectedby the experience of receiving salvation. This is by a living faith — a trust— in Christ’s finished work for us on the cross.

But the fulness of our salvation awaits the Christian in heaven. No moresin, pain, tears, death will spoil our worship or our joy. Perfect forgiveness!(Rev. 21:3–5). Romans 8:20–22 reveals that the whole fallen createduniverse eagerly awaits the final act of GOD’s full salvation—the Return ofthe Lord Jesus Christ in power and great glory. Then all will be subject tohis perfect reign for all eternity.

Brian Dupont is a former pastor, and current member of StainesCongregational Church. This article first appeared in the church’s

newsletter, and is reproduced by kind permission.

Stapleton Road MemorialA memorial window has been placed in the refurbished foyer of

Stapleton Road Congregational Church in Bristol to commemorate the lifeof the late Pastor David Thomas, who served there from 1977 until hisdeath in 2008. The window includes a daffodil to recognize Mr Thomas’sWelsh origins.



Manipur centenaryby Lamboi Haokip

The centenary celebration ofthe Evangelical ChurchesAssociation of Manipur in

North India took place onFebruary 14th and 15th at PeaceGround, Churachandpur,Manipur.

Between 25 and 30 thousandpeople attended, withabout six states beingrepresented includingBhutan and Nepal. EFCCUK was represented byRev. David Saunders.

The BethesdaFoundation is a charityproject to support tribalchildren on India-Burmaborder. Currently, wehave been enabled tosupport about 30children for their schools,and proved some temporary support to four widows. Through thegenerous support of some friends and donors including BlythswoodTrust, we were able to buy a rice field and constructed a house, size 80ftx 40ft, for orphan children. Right now we are digging a tube-well fordrinking water for the Children’s Home, which will hopefully becompleted by 20thMarch. We are now leftwith one major need inorder to be able to startthe Children’s Home,that is Light or a SolarTemplate. Anyoneinterested to help us inthis crucial need mayplease contact me ([email protected]).


David Saunders (in front of pillar) present at meetings


Studies Conference Report

Did you know that St Patrick was a Congregationalist? Well, that wasthe suggestion made by Dr George Speers of Ballynahinch in hisstimulating paper on The History of Congregationalism in

Ireland, delivered at this year’s Studies Conference which was held atOrange Street Chapel in central London. “According to one tradition”,declared Dr Speers, “Patrick founded three hundred and sixty five churchesand ordained a similar number of bishops, while another tradition says thathe formed seven hundred churches and ordained seven hundred bishops,that is, in either case, a bishop or pastor to each congregation.”

Dr Speers led us ably through the “ups and downs” of IrishCongregationalism, from its first introduction into Ireland by non-conformists following the Reformation in the sixteenth century, throughthe period of the Commonwealth when churches were formed in Dublinand the main garrison towns, to the decline which set in with theRestoration of Charles II. There followed the “wilderness years” from thenuntil 1800, followed by “the big push” during the revivals of the 19thcentury. The period from 1900 to the present Dr Speers described as“From regression to stabilization”, and reminded his hearers of the greatneed to proclaim the gospel throughout the island of Ireland.

The second paper was given by Dr Robert Oliver of Bradford-on-Avonon the life of Cornelius Winter (1742–1807), mentor of the far better-known William Jay of Bath. Converted through the ministry of GeorgeWhitefield, he went out at his invitation to minister in Savannah, Georgia.Returning to England after Whitefield’s death, and unable to obtainAnglican ordination, he became a convinced Dissenter, serving for tenyears at Marlborough and twenty (until his death) at Painwick inGloucestershire. “Noted for his catholicity of spirit”, he was a remarkableman whose story is fascinating and challenging.

Booklets or CDs with the Conference papers are available from the EFCCoffice. The 2011 Conference is planned for Saturday 19th October, and willinclude a paper commemorating the 1611 King James Version of the Bible.


Visit the EFCC Web-site at www.efcc.org.uk

EFCC now has a broadcasting account at www.sermonaudio.com.There is a great deal of good preaching on this site. You will findincreasing material there, too, from EFCC ministers and speakers atEFCC conferences (including Studies Conferences) promotingevangelical congregational principles.



“This book inspires on so many levels – to the carer for whom it is aresource, full of ideas and memory-joggers – but most of all to thedementia sufferer, because it might provide the key to unlock the soulof a Christian whose mind has forgotten the loving God.” — PamRhodes, author and TV presenter, (Songs of Praise).

Worshipping with DementiaMeditations, Scriptures & Prayers for Sufferers & Carers.This is a worship resource for caregivers, sufferers, families, pastors, churchgroups, and medical professionals.

“A rare gem of a book that tackles a much neglected but widespreadcondition, and does so with great honesty and hope.” — Dr Mark Stibbe,Evangelical Scholar, Conference Speaker, Minister and Author

Could it be Dementia?Losing your mind doesn’t mean losing your soul.Sold out in its first year and still selling strongly.

“Every GP should read this book!”— Dr Judy A. McLaren, family doctor.

“All kinds of helpful information laid out in an attractive form ... freshand up to date.” — Gaius Davies, consultant psychiatrist, in his foreword.

Dementia: Frank & Linda’s StoryNew understanding, new approaches, new hope.Through a true narrative that starts with the first, early signs, it focuses on thethree important aspects of dementia—living, helping, and spiritual support.

Pilgrim HomesTel: 0300 303 1400 [email protected]

£8.50 each (including p&p)from www.pilgrimhomes.org.ukor by cheque to Pilgrim Homes Trading Ltd, 175 Tower Bridge Road, London SE1 2AL


Book shelfDementia: Frank and Linda’sStory by Louise Morse

Worshipping with Dementia:Meditation, Scriptures andprayers for Sufferers andCarers edited by LouiseMorse

Pilgrim Homes, £8.50 each

A review by Rachel Marsh

Dementia: Frank and Linda’s story ispacked with lots of usefulinformation about dementia with

some illustrations from Frank and Linda’slife, rather than the book being primarilyFrank and Linda’s story. It has lots ofpractical tips.

Mrs Morse clearly explains the importanceof the person with dementia being lovedand valued by God and how they can stillcommune with God through the power ofthe Holy Spirit. There are some useful tipsand challenges for ministers and fellowChristians in a person’s church on theimportance of not neglecting these pilgrimsor their family and their spiritual needs.

Finding the reasonThere is much in the book about the

importance of meeting the person in theirreality and realising that if they are callingout or agitated there is usually a reason,and we just have to try and find it. This isvery helpful as well as the section onchallenging behaviour and tipping points.The importance of realising that manypeople with dementia will towards the endof their illness need full time residential care

is very relevant, as there is often a lot of guiltabout this.

Useful informationThe section on minding the care funding

maze has some useful information,although some of it is already out of datedue to the fast- and ever-changing rules andregulations. It is no longer always correctthat people with dementia cannot getnursing care’ although it is still difficult toascertain. This will no doubt change againafter the election and with the outworkingof the dementia strategy.

I should like to have seen rather morebalance on some issues such as The Officeof the Public Guardian: although there arefaults with this organisation it was set up toprotect the vulnerable, as there areunscrupulous families around. I wouldagree with Mrs Morse’s advice on theimportance of developing a Lasting Powerof Attorney with your loved ones, howeveryoung you are.

Worship resourceThe second book on worshipping with

dementia is a valuable set of short Biblereadings and meditations along with aprayer and a hymn to read or sing. Theseare very useful and can either be dippedinto or used consecutively. There are somehelpful passages on assurance and God’sprovision and never failing promises tokeep us to the end until we move on to bewith him for ever.

Dr Rachel Marsh is a consultant geriatrician.



From the GuestHouse

The Good Book

How many books have you read? I mustconfess that I have to give the answer, “Notvery many.” I recall that I received several

books as a prize when I left college in 1950. But I cannot recall readingthem!

Now, of course, there are lots of books on our shelves here and I oftenlook one up for a reference. I certainly realize that I don’t know everything.I inherited from my grandfather the seven volumes of Lloyd’sEncyclopædic Dictionary. It was printed in 1895 and gives quotations fromliterature to illustrate words. It also gives the obsolete meaning of words (ifobsolete in 1895, how now?!). I turn to it often.

But now I must say that, of course, I read my Bible. First thing, when thealarm goes, I turn to the next passage of the Old Testament. And praythrough the churches I have served. Then, after breakfast, I read the nextpassage in the New Testament. I must have read the whole Bible manytimes.

How important it is to know what other people have written. Especiallyif they are servants of the Lord God. How we need to know God’s answerto all the questions that arise—in our minds or put to us by others. So hereI turn to our Lord Jesus for example. He had some very searching andtempting questions put to him. So how did he respond? With all hiswisdom he could havesaid, “I know better.” Buthe didn’t. You will find thatso often his reply began,“It is written.” It’s in theGood Book.

Ruby weddingOur warm

congratulations to Stanand Doris Guest, who onEaster Day celebrated theirfortieth weddinganniversary.


Stan Guest


Telling Another Generation £0.50This book contains a symposium of papers originally written to markthe twenty-fifth anniversary of EFCC, and as a tribute to Stan Guest,who has been closely involved in the work of EFCC ever since itsformation, and retired as secretary of the Fellowship in 1989.

Serving as a Deacon by John Legg £1.95Now reprinted in a revised edition. “Diaconates might find it useful tosupply each member with a copy of this work” —Evangelicals Now.

Evangelical & Congregational £5.00A brief survey of Congregational history, church order, confessionsof faith, the ministry, worship and sacraments. Includes SavoyDeclaration of Faith.

Children of the Covenant by John Legg £0.50The biblical basis for infant baptism.

Signs and Seals of the Covenant by CG Kirkby £3.50A biblical review of the doctrine of Christian baptism.

EFCC also has available these books about Congregational history and church government

Wandering Pilgrims by ES Guest £5.00Subtitled “Whatever Happened to the Congregational Churches?”

Manual of Congregational Principles by RW Dale £13.00The definitive work of Congregational church government.

Christian Fellowship or the Church Member’s Guide by John Angell James £3.75A practical manual for church members to learn their duties andresponsibilities.

All these items are available from the Office Manager. Prices are exclusive of postage and packing.Online purchases available at www.efcc.karoo.net/publications.html

EFCC publications

Know that the LORD is God:

he has made us, and not we

ourselves; we are his people,

and the sheep of his pasture.

Psalm 100:3

CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIPOR

THE CHURCH MEMBER’S GUIDEby

JOHN ANGELL JAMESEdited and Abridged by Gordon T. Booth

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About Concern

Congregational Concern is the quarterly magazine of the EvangelicalFellowship of Congregational Churches, and is edited by Rev. Peter Beale.

All Rights Reserved: no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored ina retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic,mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the permission of theEvangelical Fellowship of Congregational Churches.

Unless otherwise stated, Scripture quotations in this publication are from theHoly Bible, New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984International Bible Society. Published in Great Britain by Hodder & StoughtonLtd.

It is assumed that contributors are in sympathy with the aims of EFCC.However, the views expressed in this magazine are strictly those of individualcontributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Editor or of theCommittee of EFCC.

The magazine is made available freely to member churches of EFCC. It will besent to individual subscribers at a cost of £6 per annum (4 issues) inclusive ofpostage. Cheques (payable to EFCC) should be sent to the Office Manager.Mailing address details are held on computer solely for producing mailing labels.Names and addresses are not passed on to any other organisation.

General Secretary:Rev. Michael Plant27 The RidingsLonglandsMIDDLESBROUGHTS4 2WATel.: (01642) 217222E-mail: [email protected]

Office Manager:Mr Anthony HarrisonPO Box 34BEVERLEYHU17 0YYTel & Fax:(01482) 860324E-mail: [email protected]

Concern Editor:Rev. Peter Beale37 Tamar RoadBulkingtonBEDWORTHCV12 9PUTel: (024) 7631 4606E-mail: [email protected]

EFCC Addresses

Typeset by Quinta Press, Meadow View, Weston Rhyn, Oswestry, Shropshire, SY10 7RN.Tel: 01691 778659; E-mail: [email protected]; Web-site: www.quintapress.com

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CONGREGATIONAL CONCERN