Some further thoughts....

In response to my earlier post about Blessing Church some have said to me that Blessings was out of line when they allowed the retiring minister of Stanley Ave. Baptist Church, Pastor Paul Percy, preach his farewell sermon to his congregation in a service that the Blessings elders had called.

In exceptional circumstances a consistory can invite to the pulpit someone who does not necessarily have access to all the pulpits of the federation. Let me give another example: this past Summer the church of which I am joyfully blessed to be a member, Providence Church in Hamilton, invited to preach a candidate who was not from our churches, had not been trained at CRTS, and had not been examined and approved by one of our classes. By a strict reading of the Church Order he was not authorized to preach on one of our pulpits. Only men trained at CRTS have access, and only after having been examined by one of our classes. This man had not met (any of) those conditions. Was it right for the Providence elders to invite him? Yes. He had been trained at a seminary we trust and examined by a classis belonging to a federation we trust. In the circumstances (we are vacant) it was the right thing to do. It is about confidence. (And BTW, he was invited to preach at a number of CanRC churches.)

Similarly, for the Blessings elders to invite Pastor Percy to preach his farewell sermon to his congregation in a Blessings-called service was the right thing to do. The elders had come to know and trust him. By a strict reading of the Church Order he did not have access to our pulpits, but the consistory could make this exception considering the circumstances. This does not mean that Pastor Percy now had access to all our pulpits or that the congregation should be confused by this. Or that the consistory ought to be reprimanded for allowing a man to preach who had not signed our Form of Subscription. It was the right thing to do in the circumstance. The consistory had confidence in him, and the congregation has confidence in their elders.

The Miracle on Locke Street

Preaching at Blessings Christian Church this past Sunday evening reminded me once again of the miracle happening at the corner of Locke Street and Stanley Ave. in the lower city of Hamilton. Stanley Ave. Baptist Church (a church of the Reformed persuasion although holding to believer baptism) was a shrinking and struggling church. The members are getting old, some even too old to attend services, and not many people were joining the church. It was facing what many churches in Canada are up against, declining membership. Many churches are closing. I learned recently from a reliable source that the Anglican Church of Canada is in the process of shutting down 50 parishes in the GTA. 

Stanley Avenue Baptist Church, founded in 1889

The members of Stanley Ave., about 30-40 mostly old people, were praying that God would send a church to “take them over.” Their pastor was retiring (he has since retired and moved away from Hamilton) and the last thing they wanted to do was to sell the building and see it demolished and replaced with a condo tower.

Enter Blessings, a Canadian Reformed congregation! They had outgrown the SDA building they were renting and, in the good providence of God, happened upon Stanley Ave. After a series of meetings it was mutually decided that Blessings would take over the Sunday services. Both congregations attend the worship services which are completely under the leadership of the Blessings elders and pastors. It was a great blessing to meet some of the Stanley Ave. brothers and sisters this past Sunday at the evening service. We should understand that to attend both services on Sunday is not the custom of most Canadian church-goers. One typically attends at 11 AM, “holy hour,” and the rest of the day is filled with personal and family endeavours.

A beautiful auditoreum

Blessings has wisely come alongside Stanley Ave. helping to continue the outreach efforts the congregation had been doing in that area. Stanley Ave. is appreciatively bowing its head under the gospel proclaimed from the Blessings pulpit. It is a remarkable thing, a miracle, one for which we can only praise the Lord.

Are there going to be any hiccups along the way? Undoubtedly. But if everyone moves along in faith, and with charity and compassion, the bumps will be successfully navigated.

We are living in a post-Christian Canada. We need to know who our enemies are, and the Baptists are not our enemies. Countless of our people listen to the online Baptist preachers such as Alistair Begg, John MacArthur, John Piper, Albert Mohler, Russell Moore.... Many of our people go to conferences that include Reformed Baptists: Banner of Truth, TGC, Ligonier.... 

May the Lord bless Blessings Church, and make it to be a blessing to Stanley Ave. Baptist Church and the Kirkendall neighbourhood of Hamilton!

(See some further thoughts...)