Battle for the Soul of Canada Raising up the emerging generation of leaders by the Rev. Ed Hird+ with foreword by The Rev. Dr. J.I. Packer Ed Hird For an unbaptized, non-practising non-Christian, but with strong sympathy for and even envy of devout Christians, Rev. Hird’s book strikes me as original, provocative and appealing, with interesting details about his own path to faith. -Trevor Lautens, Columnist, North Shore News Ed Hird writes out of first hand experience on the Battle for the Soul of Canada. His passion for God’s Truth, and for this nation to come fully into her God-given destiny, shines through every page. I was encouraged by the stories of those who have gone before us and personally challenged afresh to do my part to raise up this generation’s Timothys and Timotheas. -Sally Start, National Director, Alpha Canada Battle for the Soul of Canada is both contemporary church history and uplifting Scriptural commentary. The Revd Ed Hird tells the personal story that forms one great chapter of the renewal of orthodox Anglican witness in Canada at the beginning of the 21st century. -The Right Reverend Bob Duncan, Bishop of Pittsburgh, Moderator of the Anglican Communion Network and Chair of the Common Cause Partnership Battle for the Soul of Canada is born out of great pain, deep grief, and real love for the Lord and His Church. It is a timely book that is unlocking precious jewels of wisdom from 1 & 2 Timothy for this generation and beyond. It is insightful, inspiring, instructive, invaluable, and indispensable for all who are building the future generations. We warmly endorse it for reading and study by all faithful people of God. -The Most Reverend Moses (& Cynthia) Tay, Archbishop of the Province of South East Asia (Rtd.) I expected Battle for the Soul of Canada to be a political book—a book about the battles of plucky little St. Simon’s Church in North Vancouver to adhere to a Biblically-inspired faith in the face of an increasing secular (and hostile) church hierarchy. Instead, I discovered a wonderful primer on keeping faith in an increasing secular (and hostile) world, filled with inspiring, joyful and practical examples from the lives of spiritual people. -Lorne Gunter, Columnist, National Post Rev. Ed Hird is one of the most unique individuals I have ever met. He is more Baptist than the Baptists…more Pentecostal than the Pentecostals and more Mennonite than the Mennonites. He is a true Christian statesman. God has raised him up to be a voice for truth in this generation. I wholeheartedly recommend this man and this book to you. Ed Hird writes with the mind of a historian and the heart of a pastor. -Pastor Owen Scott, Lynn Valley Full Gospel Church, North Vancouver, B.C. 2 Battle for the Soul of Canada Churches rot away when good men keep silent. Thank goodness for Ed Hird’s courage and clarity in contending for historic Anglicanism amidst a Canadian Anglican Church which has lost its way. -The Rev. Canon Dr. Michael Green,1 former Advisor for Evangelism to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York Ed Hird’s outstanding analysis of the present day situation which he conveys so sensitively in Battle for the Soul of Canada gives us a glimpse that we have been (and continue to be) in the throes of a major decline in faith and morals in the Christian witness in our land, and in particular in the Anglican Church of Canada, However, unlike many of the Jeremiads we hear so often today, Ed fulfills the role of the true prophet, calling our land back from apostasy and reminding us of the way forward, especially as expressed in St. Paul’s Letters to Timothy. It truly is a call for a new REFORMATION in our day. This is a book meant to stir us from the complacency of our constantly encroaching materialistic secularism and should be on the reading list of every concerned seeker of truth. Certainly, it should be required reading in our seminaries, where much of the confusion Ed describes has been spawned in the last thirty years, and from where sound leadership to correct this malaise ultimately has to come. -The Right Reverend Donald F Harvey, 3rd Bishop of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador (Rtd.) Moderator - Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC) It is my pleasure and privilege to commend Ed Hird’s ground-breaking volume Battle for the Soul of Canada. Canada is a nation with a vast influence across the world. All the more reason why it should not come adrift from its moral and spiritual moorings in the Judaeo-Christian ethic. The nation needs a godly ethical consensus if it is not to lose its way in the world or forfeit the right to give moral leadership. Ed Hird’s deeply researched volume with its penetrating thinking will contribute to Canada’s inner strength and moral vitality -Michael Cassidy, Founder and Team Leader, African Enterprise2 The Rev’d Ed Hird has fought the good fight for truth in the Anglican Church of Canada and in the Communion worldwide. He has done so armed with humility, a sharp intelligence, a gracious sense of humor and the Spirit of the Living God. He is a man I want at my side when I go to battle for God’s Word in this fallen world. -The Right Reverend Sandy Greene, Denver, Colorado, Rwandan Bishop, AMiA Practical, readable, knowledgeable, self disclosing, Canada-glad and user- friendly devotional commentary on Biblical mentoring from a Christian leader who has been tested by fire. A worthy read for equippers and influencers. -Dr. Paddy Ducklow, Pastor & Psychologist, Cap Church, North Shore 3 Ed Hird Ed Hird is a faithful Christian, who loves the Anglican tradition, but make no mistake about it, he is centered on Scriptures rather than structures. My favourite image of him is watching him entering a conference hall with his arms filled with a large Hebrew Bible and the Greek New Testament, together with several Bible Commentaries. He is also a Canadian with a love for this nation. He believes that our country has a destiny in the healing of the nations. This provocative book Battle For The Soul of Canada describes the leadership crisis in Canada, especially in the churches. The author uses St. Paul’s protege, Timothy, as the model for a new generation of leaders. He contends this type of leadership is needed to save the soul of the nation and to preserve its destined role to be an influence for good on the international scene. If you are concerned for the future role of the Christian Church in Canada, and for the future significance of the Canadian nation, this is a book you should not miss. -The Right Reverend Eddie Marsh, Bishop of Central Newfoundland (Rtd.) Ed Hird and his faithful flock know first hand the soul searching price of standing in solidarity and being rooted in orthodoxy as third-millennium followers of Jesus. I have been privileged to know Ed as a brother in Christ for many years. He is a servant of deep spiritual conviction, firmly rooted in the Anglican Orthodox Tradition. His challenging book Battle for the Soul of Canada will, I am sure, be an irritant for some, but a real ray of hope for so many others. I heartily commend this work written by one who indeed knows the ever deeper spirituality embodied in those challenging words of that old renewal song—“I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back.” May those inspiring words and all that Ed has written serve as a real challenge to the raising up of more and more “Timothy’s” in God’s church. -The Rt. Rev. Malcolm Harding, Bishop of Brandon (Rtd.) Ambassador, Anglican Renewal Ministries, Canada Ed Hird’s book is a commendable example of a sensitive blending of solid biblical exposition and an analysis of the contemporary situation. He speaks out of love for Christ, His church, Canada, and the Anglican Church. He is one of the most interesting Christian writers in Canada today. Ed is well known and highly respected for his ministry in and around Vancouver, British Columbia; and those who have read his regular contributions in the local press and his insightful contributions in the electronic media will welcome the appearance of his thoughts in a more permanent and traditional form. I trust that this is but the first of a long series of books from his pen (or, shall we say, computer?) -Dr. W. Ward Gasque Co-founder, Regent College, Vancouver, BC, Canada 4 Battle for the Soul of Canada Ed Hird, like others he describes in this book, is a warrior in Christ’s fight for the salvation of Canadians. As with all true veterans, he has the scars to prove it. Like his Lord, it is through sharing his personal journey of pain and sacrifice, joy and peace, that he communicates best his love for others. This book will encourage, prepare and challenge all those soldiers who may be fearful and overwhelmed at the prospect of serving in God’s army in its daunting mission. It is not so much about how bad things are spiritually in Canada, as it is about how God has proven His faithfulness and will, through prayerful, committed men and women, continue His quest to spread grace to this land. -Robert G. Kuhn, Founding Partner of the law firm Kuhn & Co. I am very encouraged that you have ploughed through the hard work of writing a book about the battle that you all have had up in Canada for the Orthodox faith.