Below is was my first attempt to preach in Spanish without live translation. I used Spanish-translated manuscript of a previously preached English sermon and practiced a lot beforehand. It has been a blessing serve Pr. Muñoz’s church in Egg Harbor Township, and I look forward to further opportunities. They are definitely growing in their understanding and practice of Reformation principles.
Archive for the ‘Reformed Parish Mission (RPM) Posts’ Category
RPM: Maiden voyage, preaching in Spanish
Posted in Reformed Parish Mission (RPM) Posts on August 7, 2024| 1 Comment »
RPM: Witnessing to witnesses . . . in action
Posted in Abuse, Manipulation, Cults, Cultishness, Heresy, Reformed Parish Mission (RPM) Posts, WPE Editor, tagged bible, christianity, faith, god, jesus on June 28, 2024| Leave a Comment »
More “shoe on the other foot” last Saturday. I was out with a new friend from Reformation Bible College, Yiourgos, canvassing for our special evangelistic meetings in Vineland. As I was moving down the street, I noticed three nicely-dressed Hispanic people getting out of their car. Had a hunch, and sure enough—they were “Testigos de Jehová” (Jehovah’s Witnesses).
As usual, very polite. And they knew their Bibles. The Watchtower had trained their drones well! With my precarious Spanish, I went to the Philippians 2 usage of Isaiah 45. The language that Paul used and applied to Jesus, “that every knee would bow” and “every tongue would confess,” was the very same language that Isaiah clearly referred to Jehovah! The Jehovah of Isaiah 45 gave to Jesus, according to Paul in Philippians, “the name that is above every name.” And what is that name, Jehovah gave to Jesus? None other than “Jehovah!”
I tracked with only parts of their response. My Spanish comprehension can be shaky; and the wife seemed to be especially zealous, probably accelerating her speech. I recall resonating with her use of Matthew 28:18-20, which God giving Jesus “all authority in heaven and earth.” We Trinitarians do not dispute the subordination of Jesus according to his human nature and in His person and office as Mediator. But clearly, I’ll have to unpack that more in a further conversation. Truly, “great is the mystery of godliness!”
(more…)RPM May Quarterly Update: “Welcome Foolish Mortals!”
Posted in Reformed Parish Mission (RPM) Posts on June 12, 2024| Leave a Comment »
Here is the latest quarterly update. If you missed the last one from February, you can read it here.
For more information about RPM or to make a donation, click here.
RPM: Vineland summer mission advert
Posted in Reformed Parish Mission (RPM) Posts on May 8, 2024| Leave a Comment »
Pray for our Gospel effort this June in Vineland, 30 minutes west of us. We are going to do a lot of door-to-door and literature canvassing, to share the good news and try to get folks to come to some special, bilingual evangelistic meetings on three consecutive Saturday evenings.
RPM February Quarterly Update
Posted in Reformed Parish Mission (RPM) Posts on April 17, 2024| Leave a Comment »
Here is the latest quarterly update. If you missed the last one about our move to S. Jersey and my new endeavor to go full time with RPM, you can read it here.
For more information about RPM or to make a donation, click here.
RPM: a sample leaflet I use in the parish
Posted in Reformed Parish Mission (RPM) Posts on April 17, 2024| Leave a Comment »
The following is a trifold that I use to introduce myself and the church, and to get something of Jesus into the hands of the lost. I’ll occasionally change up the contents, but this is the basic format.
RPM: framed scriptures & quotes
Posted in Reformed Parish Mission (RPM) Posts on March 6, 2024| Leave a Comment »
As I’m raising funds to support myself with Reformed Parish Mission (RPM), I’m putting some of my artistic aptitudes to use here. For a gift of any amount to RPM, I will be happy to ship you a framed (4×6) Bible verse or quote from our Reformed forbears. Or, for multiples, you could make a suggested donation of $7.00 per framed picture. I am also open to special requests. Drop me a note to let me know which one you’d like — michael@reformedparish.com.
These could be welcome house-warming gifts or encouragements to a Christian friend in need. Several new Scripture photos have been added below (6/12/24).
RPM November Quarterly Update
Posted in Parish in American Context, Parochial Strategy, Reformed Parish Mission (RPM) Posts on December 28, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Here is the latest quarterly update. If you missed the last one about our move to S. Jersey and my new endeavor to go full time with RPM, you can read it here.
For more information about RPM or to make a donation, click here.
RPM: Drunk despair & a shoe on the other foot!
Posted in Parish in American Context, Parish Theory & Practice, Parochial Strategy, Reformed Parish Mission (RPM) Posts, WPE Editor on December 20, 2023| 1 Comment »
Over the last few weeks, I’ve made more progress door-to-door in Woodbine. It’s got some character to be sure. There are some nice, even stately old homes alternating with run-down and abandoned shells. The one below had the front door completely knocked in to the ground. With poorer judgment, I could have just walked throughout the place.
I’ve encountered and visited with a number of Spanish speakers here in Woodbine. One had me inside. And not long into this first round I’ve discovered just how many African Americans there are. And their relatively openness to talk and comparative friendliness from past experience elsewhere has been mildly surprising–and definitely encouraging.
One of my most recent encounters was with “Dequan.” As I walked up to his house, he stood there, music blaring from his car. He looked late 20s, dressed in typical urban street-wear. As I introduced himself and handed him a leaflet, he very quickly got exercised and said that there was ‘no forgiveness for him–he killed a man!’ I noticed beer on his breath. Hard to say whether he was serious or not; but I had little reason to doubt him as the conversation progressed. I spoke to him of the infinite love of God in Christ who willingly died for wicked sinners like him and like me. I told him, as for his despair of pardon, that there was a great believer in the Bible who killed a man, and yet God forgave him. “Moses!” he replied. I was thinking David. (This fellow probably had a Christian upbringing, maybe even a godly mother or grandmother still praying for him. O, let us never despair of our prodigals!) So now Dequan had two witnesses of divinely pardoned murderers, and “in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.” I was grateful that he did not brush me off for who I was, and I certainly treated him with the dignity he deserved as a human being. But, I explained to him, he and I were both in the same boat. We are helpless sinners in desperate need of mercy! I got his phone number. Then I asked if I could pray with him? He had quite calmed down by now. As I prayed for Dequan, he volunteered an arm around me. So touching, and I responded in kind as I led our poor souls to the throne of grace.
(more…)Protected: What is Reformed Parish Mission?
Posted in Reformed Parish Mission (RPM) Posts on September 3, 2023|