search

Dear Editor,

John M’s article, ‘Mixing mission’ (en May), highlights concerns about churches no longer prioritising missions as they used to. While this concern is understandable, the power of the plea is diminished because no biblical analysis of the problem is offered.

Dear Readers of en,

I was very grateful for the kind commendation of my new book Gospel DNA on page 25 of your May 2017 edition by Pastor Mark Troughton. I appreciate that his warm approval was only well meant, but it was sufficiently over-generous for me to feel obliged to comment. I would like to openly acknowledge the obvious but important truths that the 30 Co-mission ministries in London that he mentions (19 established churches and various pioneer ministries) are attributable a) to the extraordinary grace of our living Lord growing his churches by his living Word; and b) to the collective efforts of many servant-hearted leaders and congregation members across London. I raise this because we are clear throughout Co-mission not only that we are daily dependent upon God, but also that if we fail to give him the glory he deserves we may rightly face his discipline. For ‘neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything but only God who gives the growth’ (1 Corinthians 3).

Dear en,

Thank you for your concern for historical perspective and a coverage of global mission issues. We refer to the article on Latin America in the April issue (p.10).

Dear Sir,

I read with interest the article by John McLernon on mission strategy (en, May 2017); he presented well some of the challenges and competing claims that we experience as we aim to remain faithful to our calling to make disciples in a rapidly changing world.

Dave Williams

Date posted: 1 Mar 2017

Dear Sir,

I think it’s a good thing that there’s an ongoing conversation about church planting into our unreached areas via your letters page. I know that, from time to time, en puts the spotlight on church planting and on gospel work in tough areas. Maybe another spotlight on the great work happening in needy areas would be timely.

Dear Sir,

Paul Hinton (en letters, December) makes some valid points about church planting. I agree that if mission drives church planting, we shouldn’t just look for a ‘quick win’ by planting churches likely to appeal to students and professionals … whom we know to be on the doorstep! And yes, there is no excuse for establishing churches merely to further our theological ‘brand’ or to expand the latest ‘network’ of churches. To these concerns I would add the depressing trend among some contemporary church plants of resistance to accountability by the leadership. Too often, there is a failure to make the transition from the ‘solo ministry’ of the church planter to a fully functioning church.

Dear Sirs,

Back on a very dark and dismal October day in 1967 one of the worst-ever laws in this country, the Abortion Act, was passed by Parliament. In 2017, if the Lord tarries, this dreadful law will be 50 years old. While pitiless and heartless pro-abortion activists will be celebrating this anniversary, there are countless numbers across the UK who will be lamenting. They are craving, and earnestly praying, for the day when the Abortion (1967) Act will be forever aborted. And no wonder, when one considers the appalling statistic that, up to the end of 2015, nearly 8.5 million babies have been aborted across the UK. Enough is enough.