Moore College tribute to Rev Dr Mike Ovey
Posted on January 9, 2017
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“Moore College gives thanks to God for the life and ministry of Dr Mike Ovey, Principal of Oak Hill College, who died suddenly on 7 January at the age of 58.
Dr Ovey taught at Moore for three years (1995-98) before returning to the UK to join the Oak Hill faculty. He was appointed Principal in 2007.
Dr Ovey has been author or contributor to numerous books, has contributed regularly to the journal Themelios, as well as producing many scholarly and popular articles for other journals. He has been the clearest and strongest voice in contemporary English evangelical theology.…”
– Read it all at the Moore College website.
And Lee Gatiss, Director of Church Society, has written this longer tribute.
Mike Ovey
Posted on January 8, 2017
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We are very saddened to hear of the death, after a heart attack, of Dr Mike Ovey, Principal of Oak Hill College in London, this morning Australian time.
A graduate of Moore College, and then a member of the faculty, Mike returned to the UK to teach at Oak Hill.
Mike was also a key member of the GAFCON theological team. He was due to return to Sydney to speak at the NEXUS Conference in April.
He will be sorely missed, and his death is a blow for English Evangelicalism.
Please uphold Mike’s family in prayer at this time – as well as the communities at Oak Hill and Moore College, and Mike’s many friends around the world – pray that they may cling to Christ, and receive the comfort and hope only he can give.
From Oak Hill:
‘Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful servants’ (Psalm 116:15).
It is with profound shock and sadness that we announce the sudden and unexpected death of our Principal, the Revd Dr Mike Ovey, at the age of 58.
As the Oak Hill community comes to terms with the loss of our dear brother and leader, we cling on to the promise that ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life’. It reminds us that for Mike, death is not an end but a glorious beginning.
Please hold in your thoughts and prayers Mike’s wife Heather and their three children Charlie, Harry, and Ana. More details about Mike’s funeral and thanksgiving will follow in the coming days.
See also:
Moore College tribute to Rev Dr Mike Ovey.
The Grace of God – or the World of the West? – Dr Mike Ovey.
Free Bible Reading Plans from Crossway
Posted on January 7, 2017
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“Man doesn’t live on bread alone, but on the very Word of God.
We believe that the Bible is God’s provision of our true daily sustenance because it nourishes us with the truth of who he is. It’s not uncommon, however, for new believers and older saints alike to need some recommendations for how to structure daily time in the Bible. …”
– Crossway has a selection of Bible reading plans you, or your church, could use – with a link to more at ESV.org.
(Image: Crossway, though we’re not certain coffee is always necessary to study the Bible.)
Preparing for death
Posted on January 6, 2017
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“…you won’t find a shelf labelled ‘death’ at your local Christian bookstore. Have a look, and tell me if I’m wrong. My guess is that you’ll find shelves marked ‘marriage’ and ‘prayer’, but probably not a section on dying.
Your local Puritan bookstore (if there was such a thing) would have been different.”
– At GoThereFor.com, Jean Williams has a book recommendation. (“Despite the topic, it’s not dreary or depressing, but joyful and uplifting.”)
GAFCON Chairman’s New Year Message for 2017
Posted on January 4, 2017
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“As you will have seen from our end of year review, GAFCON is increasingly active. We are extending our reach, growing in influence, standing with the marginalised, strengthening our organisation and equipping key leaders, but all these things are the outworking of faithful prayer in the power of the Spirit. We are a spiritual movement in a spiritual battle and at the heart of the struggle is the challenge to the Word of God.
This is nothing new. Right at the beginning of bible history, the serpent says ‘Did God really say?’ (Genesis 3:1) and this is the question the traditional leadership of the Communion seems unwilling or unable to resolve. For instance…”
– Read Archbishop Okoh’s New Year message for 2017.
Death, the New Year and the Hope of Christ
Posted on January 3, 2017
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“2016 was a sobering year for our celebrity-driven culture.
A recent CNN article reminded us of the many well known individuals that we lost over the course of the last year. More names have been added just in this past week. More than usual, it seems that many of these celebrities and artists lost in 2016 were icons of culture–a part of people’s personal identities and memories.
Social media has provided an unprecedented forum for shared grief and lament. …
From a biblical perspective, these social laments don’t go far enough; and, sadly they seem to miss the point altogether.”
– At Reformation21, Matt Foreman reflects on the only hope there is.
Religious Freedom, transgender issues and abortion – overruling the US Health Department
Posted on January 2, 2017
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“The recent (31 Dec 2016) decision of US Federal District Court Judge O’Connor in Franciscan Alliance Inc v Burwell (ND TX, Case 7:16-cv-00108-O; Dec. 31, 2016) (thanks to “Religion Clause” for the report and information) is a significant one.
In short, the Obama administration had used the prohibition on ‘sex discrimination’ in US Federal law to enact an administrative regulation requiring Christian health care providers (and some State governments) to provide transgender ‘transition’ procedures, and abortions, to all patients, arguing that denying this coverage amounted to sex discrimination.
This highly questionable interpretation has now been overturned by this very significant decision…”
– Neil Foster, at Law and Religion Australia, reports on developments in the United States.
Is GAFCON the problem?
Posted on January 2, 2017
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“An interview with the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, Archbishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon, was recently published as an article in the Church of Ireland Gazette. The newspaper’s website carried the audio of the interview in full here.
For a self-confessed Ambassador and reconciler, Archbishop Josiah Fearon uses some undiplomatic language. The frank expression of his views on the Anglican Communion and the sexuality debate, and his sweeping dismissal of GAFCON and African church leaders have caused considerable dismay. However they reveal the thinking of the Anglican Communion Office and presumably those who endorse its leadership…”
– Archbishop Dr Peter Jensen, GAFCON General Secretary, responds to strong criticism of GAFCON, and what that criticism appears to say about the senior leadership of the Anglican Communion. Well worth taking the time to read. (link fixed)
God will meet all your needs — you can be sure of it
Posted on December 31, 2016
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“What can we be sure of for 2017?
I can send you a New Year’s card with the most sincere expression of goodwill: wishing you the happiest year, seeking better outcomes for you and hoping for improved health. But can we, in any way, be sure of such things? Can we be sure that this year will be any better than last? Can we be sure of anything?
It’s the uncertainties of life that are certain. What remains true is that in terms of happiness, better outcomes and good health: 2017 is a complete unknown. BUT, what we can be sure of is that the Apostle Paul is right when he says: ‘God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.’
What remains absolutely true is Paul’s testimony in Philippians 4:19. …”
– Presbyterian Church of Australia Moderator-General John P Wilson has released this God-honouring New Year’s message.
Seventeen years closer to Eternity
Posted on December 31, 2016
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Seventeen years ago, Sydney celebrated the beginning of 2000 by displaying on the Harbour Bridge the word Eternity in the iconic copperplate handwriting of Arthur Stace.
A lot of water has passed under the bridge (literally) since then, and in many ways the world has changed. But the basic need of men and women is the same – to hear the gospel and be saved.
In 2017, be encouraged to continue to trust Christ, and to live in the light of eternity. Read the story of Arthur Stace in our Resources section.
(Keep in mind the evangelistic opportunities which could come with the 50th anniversary of the death of Arthur Stace.)
GAFCON Review of 2016
Posted on December 31, 2016
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GAFCON General Secretary, Dr Peter Jensen, writes,
“As 2016 draws to a close we thought you might like to join us in reflecting on some key moments in the Gafcon year. You can find a short review of 2016 here. [PDF file.]
Archbishop Nicholas Okoh says in his introduction ‘we give great thanks to God for his grace at work in us’.
Please, therefore, use the review to fuel your prayers of thanksgiving and praise.”
We need to talk about church scheduling
Posted on December 31, 2016
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“Depending on the kind of church you’re involved in, next year’s calendar is already full—or soon will be. Typical decisions include: What will the Sunday teaching program be? When will small groups happen? What will happen in them? Will there be a weekend away? A youth camp? An ESL class?
We often fill in next year’s calendar much like we filled last year’s. But before we do, we need to stop and think. …”
– At GoThereFor.com, Rory Shiner has some very sensible questions to ask about your church’s programme.
Update on 2016 Law and Religion issues and preview for 2017
Posted on December 30, 2016
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“It seems a good time of the year to take stock of the current status of some important Law and Religion issues discussed this year, and to flag some upcoming issues for the New Year.”
– At Law and Religion Australia, Neil Foster provides a concise summary of some of the key issues in 2016, plus a heads-up on another Parliamentary Inquiry, this one into “the status of the human right to freedom of religion or belief“.
ACR interview with Vaughan Roberts
Posted on December 30, 2016
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The Australian Church Record has published a recent interview conducted by Mark Earngey with Vaughan Roberts of St. Ebbe’s in Oxford.
Mark began by asking Vaughan about the relationship between UK and Australian evangelicalism in his own ministry.
– Read the brief, but encouraging, interview at The Australian Church Record.
Preparing young people for the challenges of secular tertiary education
Posted on December 30, 2016
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From a recent edition of The White Horse Inn Broadcast:
“Are today’s churches doing enough to prepare young people to face the challenges they will encounter on a secular college campus? What kinds of things should pastors and parents do as they prepare teens for college, and how should churches or campus ministries serve students in a university setting?”
Of particular importance is the anti-intellectual culture pervading the West – hence the issues described above are not isolated to North America.
Michael Horton and Justin Holcomb and guests discuss the challenges. 28 minutes.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…