Helen Roseveare (1925–2016)
“In the winter of 1945, the Lord seemed to meet her in a personal way during a student retreat. She gave her testimony on the final evening, and Bible teacher Graham Scroggie wrote Philippians 3:10 in her new Bible, and told her:
“Tonight you’ve entered into the first part of the verse, ‘That I may know Him.’ This is only the beginning, and there’s a long journey ahead. My prayer for you is that you will go on through the verse to know ‘the power of His resurrection‘ and also, God willing, one day perhaps, ‘the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death.’…”
– At The Gospel Coalition, Justin Taylor gives thanks for Helen Roseveare.
Moore Matters — Spring 2016
If you haven’t yet opened your copy of Moore Matters from Moore College for Spring 2016, be encouraged to do so. Plenty of worthwhile reading.
Among the articles is a feature on Moore graduate John G. Mason, well-known to ACL members, and currently serving with Anglican Connection in the US. It’s on page 11 of the PDF file available here.
“In 1976, I was given the option to either be the senior associate at a Canberra city church or, alternatively, to plant a new church in the fledgling Tuggeranong Valley in Canberra south. Reckoning that under God starting a new church would enable Judith and me to reach more people with the gospel, I chose the second option. …”
Related: John has just completed a mini-series of posts on the five Solas – in his Word on Wednesday blog at Anglican Connection.
Four Life Lessons from the Funeral of Cliff Barrows
“This morning, I was at Cliff Barrows’ funeral.
In ways I did not expect, the service moved me. Surprisingly, it was not because of the music (although it was amazing), but because of the life that was celebrated. …”
– Ed Stetzer shares examples of godliness, at Christianity Today.
Statement from Billy Graham on the death of Cliff Barrows
Billy Graham has released this statement:
“MONTREAT, N.C., Nov. 15, 2016. Cliff Barrows was one of the closest friends my wife Ruth and I ever had. Along with his wife Billie, and Grady Wilson and George Beverly Shea, our original team was just like a family as we traveled and worked together.
Cliff directed all the music and programming of our meetings, and our television and radio. Sometimes he could just step up and preach a lot better sermon than me because God gave him the gift — not only of organization and music, but also of preaching and teaching. We have a little conference center near my home where I would go to hear him when he was there and he certainly was a powerful speaker.
Cliff and I were together more than 60 years and in all that time we never had an argument. We had a few disagreements, but I can’t even remember those. It’s been a wonderful fellowship in our whole organization. There wouldn’t be a Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in the way it is today without him. He was used of the Lord more than anyone else to keep us together with his strength, energy, devotion and love for the Lord.
Cliff set an example and was a role model of what a Christian ought to be. His contribution to my ministry cannot be measured in human terms. He is the fifth member of our original team to be called to heaven – along with his wife Billie, my wife Ruth, Grady Wilson and George Beverly Shea. The BGEA family is going to miss him as one of the spiritual leaders of our organization, but we are looking forward to that glorious day when we will all be together again.”
Cliff Barrows
“Cliff Barrows, the longtime music and program director for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, has died at age 93.
Barrows son, Bill Barrows, told WYFF News 4 that his father was suffering the complications associated with aging. He was in hospice care in Charlotte.
Family members said he died Tuesday…”
– News from WYFF Channel 4, in Greenville, South Carolina.
See also: Press release from The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
“Cliff Barrows, 93, of Marvin, N.C., music and program director of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA), passed away today at Carolinas Medical Center-Pineville, following a brief illness.
As longtime director of music programming, and later television and radio programming, for Billy Graham Crusades, Barrows traveled the world with Billy Graham since the first Crusade in Grand Rapids, Mich., in 1947. Barrows hosted the weekly Hour of Decision radio program, heard around the world, for more than 60 years.
Barrows and Graham met in 1945 while Barrows was on his honeymoon. The two men soon formed the first team of what was to later become the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association…”
(Photo courtesy BillyGraham.org.)
The Remarkable Mr. Graham
Billy Graham turned 98 yesterday. Christianity Today gives thanks.
(Photo: Billy Graham with Archbishop Marcus Loane in Sydney in 1979 — courtesy Ramon Williams.)
Dr Bill Dumbrell (1926 – 2016) with Christ
From Moore College:
In the late morning of Saturday 1 October, Dr Bill Dumbrell was called home into the presence of the Lord he had loved and served for more than sixty years. Dr Dumbrell was a long time lecturer at Moore and Vice Principal from 1975 until 1984.
Dr William J Dumbrell was born in 1926, was converted when he was twenty-five in 1951 and began his studies at Moore Theological College four years later, and took out a BD externally from the University of London with First Class Honours in 1961. He later earned an MTh from the same university in 1966 and a ThD from Harvard University in 1970.
He was ordained in 1956 and served in churches in Parramatta and Ermington before lecturing at Moore College from 1963–66. Upon his return from Harvard, he lectured at Moore College in Old Testament from 1971 to 1984 and was Vice Principal from 1975–84. He then taught at Regent College, Vancouver, from 1984–88, before returning to teach at Moore College from 1988–1994.
Bill and Norma then left for missionary service in Singapore, where Bill taught at Trinity College. Bill has been a prolific author of books and articles, including Covenant and Creation: An Old Testament Covenantal Theology (Exeter: Paternoster, 1984; 2nd edn 2013); The Faith of Israel: Its Expression in the Books of the Old Testament (Leicester: IVP, 1988; 2nd edn 2002); and The Search for Order: Biblical Eschatology in Focus (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1994). Bill is survived by his wife Norma and his adult children, David, Ian, Grace, Naomi, and 6 grandchildren.
Moore Theological College Principal, Dr Mark Thompson, commented on his passing with this tribute:
“Bill Dumbrell has been a teacher, mentor and friend to many. His enormous impact as a biblical exegete, theologian and minister of the gospel is felt throughout the world. Those of us who have had the privilege of being taught by him have much for which we can thank God. Alongside his highly respected contributions in the area of Old Testament studies, his theological acuity more generally, and his sense of humour and unique personality, his commitment above all else to the Lord Jesus and his gospel will leave an enduring mark on all of us. His prayerful interest in, and deep love of Moore College, right from those early days as a student through his time as Vice Principal in the 70s and 80s and into his retirement, was undoubted. It was most definitely reciprocated. If there were such a thing as a ‘Number One Borrower’ card at the Moore College library, it would undoubtedly be held by Bill. At the time of his call home to be with the Lord he had been a dearly loved and respected member of the Moore College community for more than sixty years.
One of Bill’s enduring concerns was the unity of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, a unity to be found in the idea of God’s unfolding covenant. He would emphasise again and again that this began at creation and not just at Genesis 12! His contributions in this area revolutionised the thinking of many and continues to be drawn upon by scholars, students and pastors across the world. Yet Bill had so much more to say as well, writing on many books of the New Testament as well as the Old Testament and theological themes such as eschatology. His memorable Annual Moore College Lectures, delivered in 1983 and later published as The End of the Beginning: Revelation 21–22 and the Old Testament (Sydney: Lancer, 1985), were the first I ever heard and they shook the foundations and stretched the mind of more than just this single first year student.
My initial interview to come to Moore College as a student was with Bill Dumbrell in 1982. I remember thinking at the time that he was more nervous than I was. That, of course, wasn’t true, but he was certainly able to put me at ease. Later, when he returned from study leave in Canada, I discovered his lectures were a unique experience, full of gems even if the structure wasn’t always visible. His humour was memorable. One group of students a couple of years later purged the tapes of his lectures that year of all substance and kept just the jokes and asides, labelling it ‘The Best of Bill’. We all knew we were in the presence of a very fine mind but he was always deeply engaging as just ‘Bill’. He could certainly argue his position strongly and took no prisoners in debate, but he was genuinely concerned for the students he had the opportunity to teach and shape as gospel men and women of the future.
Bill now enjoys the presence of the Lord he served throughout his life and though we grieve his loss to us, and especially to Norma and their family, we rejoice that he is safe in the care of the one who has loved him from eternity.”
Others have reflected on Dr Dumbrell and his impact. We feature some of these comments here.
Dr Paul Barnett, Former Bishop of North Sydney and Emeritus Faculty member:
“Like many others I owe a great debt of gratitude to Bill Dumbrell. He was my first teacher of Greek and later as Dean of Regent College, Vancouver extended the invitation that began a thirty year association with that distinguished hall of learning. Bill was a clever and good man, a devoted servant of Jesus.”
Dr Andrew Shead, Head of Old Testament, Moore College:
“Bill Dumbrell was unparalleled in his ability to master the trees and the forest simultaneously, combining knowledge of numerous languages and fine details of the text with a sweeping theological perceptiveness that spanned the extent of Scripture. He was a highly original and adventurous thinker, who never allowed age to set him in his ways. In particular, his work on covenant has helped to shape the thinking of generations of biblical theologians around the world. Bill’s air of the absent-minded professor could not hide his sharp wit or his interest in people, which made him a much loved teacher, colleague and friend.”
Dr Bill Dumbrell’s funeral will be held at St Philip’s Caringbah (402 Port Hacking Road), on this Wednesday 5 October at 1:30pm.
– Reproduced with permission from Moore Theological College.
Moore College Faculty, circa 1985. Dr. Dumbrell arrowed. Click for a larger version. Photo: Moore College. Top photo courtesy Baker Publishing.
Here’s a sermon on Luke 19:41-42 preached by Dr. Dumbrell at Moore College Chapel in 1986.
The Legacy of Broughton Knox — MTC Library Day 2016
Don’t miss this special event coming up at MooreTheological College on Saturday 29th October.
David Broughton Knox (26 December 1916 – 14 January 1994) was the long serving Principal of Moore Theological College from 1959 until 1985.
DBK is considered by many to have been hugely influential, under the Lord, in the shaping of Sydney Diocese into what it is today.
The 2016 Moore College Library Day will explore Broughton’s life and theology as well as its enduring influence on Sydney diocese and beyond.
When: Saturday 29 October, 2016, 9:15 am for 9:30 am start, 3:30 pm finish
Where: Broughton Knox Teaching Centre, Moore Theological College, 15 King Street Newtown
Registration: $40 includes coffee/tea on arrival, morning tea & lunch.
Speakers include:
- Mark Thompson
- Robert Tong
- Peter Jensen
- Robert Doyle
Who was Broughton Knox? See these tributes in our Resources section.
- David Broughton Knox – What we owe to him – by Archbishop Donald Robinson.
- Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus – tribute to Broughton Knox – by Archbishop Sir Marcus Loane.
Rod Bower in his own words
“Three decades on, Father Rod Bower, 54, is the one causing headaches as Australia’s most outspoken, social media savvy and incongruous priest. …”
– The Australian has this profile of Rod Bower, Archdeacon of the Central Coast in the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle.
(h/t David Ould. Photo: Rod Bower via Facebook.)
Related: From October 19, 2014, Report: Bishop of Newcastle appoints Rod Bower as Archdeacon of the Central Coast. (Which includes this link.)
New Vicar for St Jude’s in Melbourne
St. Jude’s Carlton in Melbourne has announced that John Forsyth is to be the new Vicar, with his Induction at the end of January 2017.
John is currently Assistant Minister at St. Swithun’s Pymble, in Sydney. (Richard Condie, who had been Vicar of St. Jude’s, was elected Bishop of Tasmania and began his ministry there in March.)
Announcement here. Photo: St. Swithun’s.
Leon Morris: ‘The New Testament Scholar from Down Under’
At The Gospel Coalition, Thomas Schreiner introduces a new generation to Leon Morris, with reference to a biography published earlier this year by The Rev. Neil Bach.
“Leon Lamb Morris (1914–2006) stood out in his generation as one of the great evangelical scholars. He wrote 50 books and traveled extensively, speaking all around the world. His book The Apostolic Preaching of the Cross, which has sold more than 50,000 copies, was his signature achievement. …”
Related:
Leon Morris and the Cross of Christ: Celebrating the Centenary of Australia’s Foremost Biblical Scholar – Lecture by Neil Bach at Ridley College, March 2014.
Remembering Leon Morris on the Centenary of his birth – links to several articles.
Women’s ministry around the world: interview with Jane Tooher
“In June of 2015, about 20 women gathered in London for a meeting to discuss women’s ministries in complementarian contexts around the world. Our hope was to learn from one another and encourage each other in our task.
We heard from women in Australia, South Africa, Europe, UAE, and the USA. Led by the Proclamation Trust, we first met at The Evangelical Ministry Assembly (EMA) and enjoyed excellent teaching and fellowship. Afterwards, we traveled to The Oast House Retreat Center to debrief, discuss, and get to know one another.
It was one of those gatherings that left me wanting to share with others the kingdom work being done by women in a variety of settings. I’ve asked these ladies to tell us a bit about their ministries, so that we can all glean from their wisdom and prayerfully support their labors around the world…”
– At The Gospel Coalition website, Melissa Kruger interviews Jane Tooher.
D. A. Carson — Reflections on 40 years of theological education
This week on Jason Allen’s Preaching and Preachers podcast, Professor D.A. Carson shares his story, and reflects on 40 years of theological education.
Very encouraging. Runs for 29 minutes.
(The Know Your Roots video series, mentioned in the interview and recorded in 1991, can be seen here.)
A brief word to J. I. Packer on his 90th birthday
“Second, although I’m profoundly grateful for all his writings, I want to especially highlight a short introduction he wrote to John Owen’s, The Death of Death in the Death of Christ. Packer openly acknowledges that no one in church history exerted a greater or more formative influence on the shape of his soul and the content of his theology than did Owen.
Many of us who joyfully identify with the Reformed theology that Packer has so faithfully defended can point to our reading of his Introductory Essay as a decisive factor in persuading us of the truth of particular redemption or definite atonement.”
– At Crossway’s website, Sam Storms writes a brief appreciation for J.I. Packer on the latter’s 90th birthday.
Doubtless, many Moore College graduates will echo his words about the introduction to John Owen’s, The Death of Death in the Death of Christ! Read it here.
Dr J I Packer 90th birthday celebrations planned
Regent College and St. John’s Vancouver are planning a 90th birthday celebration for J. I. Packer – next Tuesday, 19th July, 2016.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…