"The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it. – Psalm 68:11"
Reverend Jason Crenshaw, pastor of Ballston Center ARP Church in Ballston Spa, NY, was in a serious car accident on August 6, with his family on their way home from vacation in Pennsylvania.
Taffi, Jason’s wife, and five of the children went home to New York yesterday. Jason remains at the hospital with Jalaa, 11 years old, who is still in intensive care. Continue to pray for Jason and his family.
Reverend Jason Crenshaw, pastor of Ballston Center ARP Church in Ballston Spa, NY, was in a serious car accident Monday with his family. Rev. Crenshaw and son have been discharged and will stay in the Ronald McDonald House until the rest of his family can be released. Please pray for his wife and two of the children who sustained very serious injuries.
This is part of the message from Rev. Crenshaw :
Here is our request: “Beseech heaven with a godly annoyance.” (Lk 11:5-13)
Here is our message: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3–4 ESV)
Today the ACLJ announced that Turkish authorities have agreed to allow Pastor Andrew Brunson to leave prison and return to his home in Turkey. For this we give God thanks and praise.
ACLJ Chief Counsel, Jay Sekulow, believes this to be a critical first step in securing Andrew’s ultimate release and return to the U.S. Sekulow also acknowledges the critical role President Trump is playing in securing Brunson’s freedom. For full report, click here.
Continue to pray for encouragement and strength for Andrew and his family and for his complete freedom from these false charges and his return to the U.S.
Dear Friends,
It is with heavy hearts that World Witness sends out this update. Let us co-suffer with Andrew and Norine in this dark hour and continue to give glory to God amidst the hardship.
“A court in the Aegean province of İzmir has ruled that Andrew Brunson, an American pastor being tried on terrorism and spying charges, will be kept in jail pending trial.
The Second High Penal Court in İzmir decided to continue listening to the testimonies of witnesses in the next hearing on Oct. 12.
Family Bible Conference begins Monday, July 23. If you are not able to attend the entire week, Christian Education Ministries invites you to attend the ARP Showcase on Tuesday, July 24 from 2:30 – 4:30. On Wednesday, the Silver Tea, hosted by ARP Women’s Ministries, will be from 2:15-3:45 followed by Dr. Rosaria Butterfield’s seminar at 4pm in the Chapel.
Anyone attending for the day only will need to pay $30 for a conference fee. You may register online by clicking here or at the door.
The Reverend Troy Pritt, honorably retired minister in Mississippi Valley Presbytery, died late Sunday evening in Arkansas. He was 80 years old. The funeral has been set for Tuesday, July 17th, at the Hickory Springs ARP Church, with burial to follow in the Hickory Springs cemetery.
Here is a link to Rev. Pritt’s obituary:
http://www.frazerfuneralhome.
The Appalachia missions trip is wrapping up today. “It has been a great week. All the teams are doing well and life at Camp Jubilee was great,” says Rev. Bob Elliott, one of the coordinators for the week. Please be in prayer for the last Vacation Bible School time this morning and as the teams travel home later today.
A report this week from CBN News quotes a Turkish newspaper (Hürriyet Daily News) article which offers hope that the Turkish government could possibly release Pastor Andrew Brunson at his next court hearing, July 18.
Noting how Andrew’s case has attracted enormous attention in the U.S. and has led to congressional actions of a negative nature against Turkey, the article hints at his possible release. Also noted in the article is the fact that the U.S. Senate stopped delivery of some fighter aircraft to Turkey.
In late June, U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham and Jeanne Shaheen traveled to Turkey to discuss Brunson’s case with that country’s president. They were also able to visit Andrew in prison. Both expressed their concern that Brunson and other Americans are being unlawfully held in Turkey.
Please continue to pray for:
Please be in prayer for Retired Minister Troy Pritt. He is in ICU in Little Rock, AR.
The July/August ARP magazine is available for viewing.
Be sure to read the cover story on page 13. General Synod coverage begins on page 3. Read more about the Moderator’s Challenge on page 4 from 1 Corinthians 16:13, “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, and be strong.” There is a drawing contest on page 17. Please share with others in your family and church. There are lots of exciting news bits from each agency as well.
Christian Education Ministries Quest Conference, at Bonclarken Conference Center, for middle schoolers is wrapping up. Reverend Evan English is leading the teaching time. English teaches Bible at Westminster Schools in Augusta, GA. Prior to being a teacher, he was the pastor of Clover ARP Church in Clover, SC. Crossings Community Church, Columbia, SC is once again leading the worship time. With over 400 in attendance, it is the highest attendance at Quest. Please pray for all attending to be receptive to the Holy Spirit’s call.
Be sure to tag your pictures #ARPmagazine!
Dear friends,
At the annual meeting of the ARP Synod, the motion was made and approved by the assembly to remove the president of the Alumni Association as a voting member.
The primary motivation for the motion was to bring that seat into line with every other seat. In previous practice—before the motion was approved—the synod, after discussion with the Erskine Board of Trustees, vetted and affirmed board members. The only seat that did not go through this synod process was that of the Alumni Association president.
As a graduate of Erskine College, I believe it is of utmost importance to have alumni from both the college and seminary on our board. Currently, more than one third of our board members are alumni. This will continue. In our needs analysis, we will continue to make clear our desire for strong alumni representation.
As the college and seminary of the ARP Church, Erskine seeks to offer evangelical, Christian higher education of the highest quality. The selection of Erskine trustees who hold to the clear standards of the ARP Church is an important responsibility.
I am thankful for the Alumni Association and the work they do. My wife and I are proud Erskine alumni.
Please join me in praying for our college and seminary as we seek to be faithful to Christ in all that we do at Erskine.
Blessings,
Sam James, Chairman of the Board of Trustees
Moderator Lee Shelnutt opened the 2018 General Synod meeting reading from Hebrews 11. #Don’tdespisethedayofsmallthings. “We know the temptation, to fall into the trap of the worldly way of thinking. We know of being impressed by and trusting in what we’ve called right-handed power. We know what it is to feel embarrassed by the size of our denomination, or our lack of influence in our culture, or our limited resources, forgetting how our Sovereign and Glorious God relishes using ‘left-handed power’ – that when we are weak, He is strong. We know what it is to forget that He uses the small, weak, and seemingly insignificant in order to declare His own glory!” Rev. Rick Barnes assisted with communion along with Elders from the Canadian Presbytery, Tennessee/Alabama Presbytery and First Presbytery.
The Synod meeting began with Moderator Lee Shelnutt giving his final address and then handing duties to Phillip Malphrus who challenged the delegates through 1 Corinthians 16:13, “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.”
Vicki Marsh, president of Women’s Ministries, addressed the court. “Slightly more than half of our churches have organized Women’s Ministries but any church that has at least one woman contributing her talents to the work of the church does have a Women’s Ministry.”
Business picked up the following morning after Rev. Andrew Di Iulio lead worship from Nehemial 4. Reports were heard from the following committees: Revise the Book of Discipline, 2019 Concurrent Synods Logistics, Directory of Private/Family Worship and Domain Name Study.
Rev. John Paul Marr lead the afternoon worship time, “Stand Firm in the Faith” from Isaiah 7. “Those who don’t stand firm in the faith don’t stand at all,” Marr said.
Delegates were able to hear reports from several Fraternal delegates including PCA, OPC and RPCNA. Reports were heard from the list of Standing Committees and then each Board.
Synod moved to the Chapel where Rev. Clint Davis challenged the court that, “We are all tasked by God to participate in His plan. We are to DO the work of God, not just sit on a pew.”
Reading Clerk, Charlie Edgar, was acknowledge for his 32 years of service. Assistant Clerk, John Cook, was acknowledged for his 33 years of service.
The General Synod meeting adjourned at 10pm with Rev. Bill Macaulay making the motion.
For a full list of motions and business discussion subscribe to The ARP Magazine by clicking here.
Rev. Lee Selnutt nominated, ” a man of his word.” Leslie Holmes, Provost of Erskine Theology Seminary grew up in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He has pastored a variety of congregations from Pennsylvania to California to Florida to Mississippi. He hasn’t been an ARP all his life, but Shelnutt says, “Once he became an ARP, he was all in!.” He has been married to his wife, Barbara, for 53 years. Rev. Jamie Hunt seconded the nomination by saying, “Holmes is not known for being a man of few words but he says what he believes and thinks. You can count on what he says.”
Leslie Holmes nominated Rob Roy McGregor, III as Vice Moderator Elect. McGregor is an elder at Back Creek ARP Church in Charlotte, NC.
Join us today for World Focus 2018 beginning at 10am in the Youth Activity Building! If you have not registered, it is not too late to join us at 1pm. All agencies and missionaries will be represented. Come check out how you can be involved in mission work at home and abroad.
