Free Presbyterian VISIONThe Official Organ of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster Interview: Rev. David Park Consider Christ: Update From the Principal’s Desk IslamINVESTIGATING THE ISSUES: July - August 2014 . Issue 10 . £1 News: New Website Launched FIELD REPORT: YOUTH: GOD, TRUTH AND ME 11 22 Robert McConnell Youth Focus : The Interview: Rev Park 04 12 How Can I Help my Minister? Distinctives: Investigating the Issues: Islam 06 16 Preaching the Word 08 News 19 College Notes 10 Children’s Corner 20 Mainland Matters Subscriptions Editorial FP Vision is available from your local Free Presbyterian Church, ‘ rotestant’ – how disappointing salvation by grace alone, through faith or by contacting Colin McKee: Tel: 028 91821304 to hear of those within the alone, in Christ alone. What is more Mob: 07764224363 Pevangelical community who uplifting than this! And what needs to be [email protected] despise this grand old term! Some sounded forth in the power of the Holy months ago a minister who arranges Spirit more than this! Presbytery Publications Committee deputations for a well-regarded national Dr R Johnstone (Convenor) Dr S Barnes But if our religion is truly Bible-based, it Rev D Creane excused themselves because they could will also be against all that God is against. Rev L Curran (Associate Editor) notsociety accommodate confirmed thatan certainorganization churches so We do not set out to offend, but may have Mr C McKee (Business Manager) Rev T Nelson (Editor) blatantly ‘Protestant’. In the N Ireland to adopt positions and enunciate views Dr S Pollock (Associate Editor) context, Protestantism is associated with that incur the wrath of society: thus we Rev M Lecky a particular political viewpoint. To employ are ‘unreasonable’, ‘intransigent’, ‘bigots’. the title, it is argued, will be off-putting for Such is the lot of those called to “contend those who have a different perspective – earnestly for the faith once delivered to www.freepresbyterian.org all the more so at this time of the year, with the saints” (Jude 3). If we really believe the events both lawful and unlawful. I do not Bible is inspired and authoritative, then its dismiss these concerns. But do we simply content is not ours to abandon or amend. forgo the term? Or is there another way? Instead we seek to maintain and defend it, with courage, with wisdom, and with It is the responsibility of sincere grace. Such resolution is the very essence Protestants to be educators – in a positive, of vibrant, relevant Protestantism. compelling and winsome manner. Our religion, founded upon God’s Word, is Designed by Pepper Collective ⁞⁞ Timothy Nelson Printed by JC Print. for all that He is for. Thus, we proclaim [email protected] THE WIND OF THE SPIRIT “The wind bloweth where it listeth... so is every one that is born of the Spirit” John 3:8 he influences and work of the lusts and idols that hide in the secret It is He that gives power to the faint and Holy Spirit are often set forth chambers of the heart. Having felt the increases strength to them that have no Tunder the metaphor of wind. moving of this wind we turn our backs might (Isaiah 40:29). We cannot read, As wind has a cleansing, refreshing and on that east wind of sin and vanity. Like hear, pray, praise, or communicate to controlling nature, so the Spirit in His the south wind, He is also gentle and refreshing, putting gladness in wind of God blows upon us. Only the soul to grow as the lily and cast any advantagethen areand we profit as the unless chariots the forthoperation its rootspurifies like the Lebanon heart, makingand be with joy in the blackest of Ammi-nadib (Song of the heart and filling the soul The work fruitful like the garden of God. and cloudiest day of the Spirit is Solomon 6:12), a willing (Habakkuk 3:17-18). sometimes piercing people in the day of His By the acting of His almighty breath, and penetrating, making power. No longer will our physical life was produced (Genesis Just as we cannot discovery of lusts and we do our duty in a 2:7) and the same almighty breath work grace in our idols that hide in the half-hearted, matter quickened our souls when dead in hearts, neither can secret chambers of of fact way. Dullness, the heart. trespasses and sins, forming spiritual we exercise it without indifference and apathy life within us. When the church of Christ is in a languishing condition, the of the Holy Spirit. They are sothe necessary renewing when influences we recall Christ’s blessed. Wewill will flee. be Our fruitful souls in will every be Spirit are necessary for her reviving express declaration: “Without me ye good wordlike and a field work. that the Lord hath again.breathings Why andelse influenceswould we prayof the for Holy the can do nothing” (John15:5). Apart from breathings of this wind? Our prayer the help of His Spirit we cannot do one When this wind blows on the soul is, “Wilt thou not revive us again: that thing. “We are not sufficient of ourselves we must go in the way of it, yielding thy people may rejoice in thee?”(Psalm to think anything as of ourselves: but ourselves to the conduct of the Spirit 85:6). “Awake, O north wind and come our sufficiency is of God” (2 Corinthians speaking in His word. May the reviving, thou south; blow upon my garden, that 3:5). We are not able to move one refreshing wind of the Spirit come in the spices thereof may flow out” (Song step in the way of the Lord unless the power upon our hearts! of Solomon 4:16). heavenly wind comes with liberty and enlargement. By the help of the Spirit ⁞⁞ Rev Leslie Curran, Associate Editor, is the Like the north wind the work of the we can say with David, “I will run the Director of Let the Bible Speak radio ministry Spirit is sometimes piercing and way of thy commandments when thou in N Ireland and a regular preacher on its worldwide network of broadcasts. penetrating, making discovery of shalt enlarge my heart” (Psalm119:32). 03 THE INTERVIEW: TN: How did you end up overseeing THE INTERVIEW: the work of the Missionary Council? REV DAVID PARK DP: Presbytery elected me Chairman of the Missionary Council on 2nd November 2012. I am REV DAVID very conscious of the fact that I have entered into the labours of others. I took over from George McConnell who was chairman for 42 years. If I serve as long, I’ll be 92 PARK when I retire! Mrs. Pearl Ross, another veteran member of the Council, was treasurer for several decades. THE MISSIONARY TN: Tell us a little about the Missionary Council? COUNCIL HAS BEEN DP: The Missionary Council was established by Presbytery A VITAL PART OF THE LIFE in 1962 to inspire missionary awareness and stimulate AND WITNESS OF THE FREE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH FOR DECADES. THE EDITOR CAUGHT UP WITh ‘new’ Chairman;prayerful support Elizabeth in McIlreavey the churches, (later and the to wife raise of Rev.finance Jim COUNCIL CHAIRMAN REV DAVID PARK Hartin)for missionary was elected work. treasurer, Cecil Harvey with Elizabethwas elected McAuley first TO HEAR ABOUT ITS HISTORY AND (later the wife of Rev. Cecil Menary) as her assistant, and CURRENT ROLE. Valerie Shaw as secretary. Every congregation may send two representatives – appointed by the local Session – to the monthly Council meetings. The Missionary Council works under the auspices of the Mission Board, which is TN: Timothy Nelson DP: David Park ultimately responsible to Presbytery. 04 One of our main responsibilities is the promotion heater. Ballynahinch church has provided funds for of missionary interest and endeavour in the local urgently needed computers. Our Newtownards congregations. Council members report back to Sunday School sponsored tables and chairs for a their churches and it is our desire that these reports school in a remote part of Kenya. Lisburn sends will stir up the hearts of our people. for 2,000 children. Recently, I had a call from one finances continually to cover Sunday School prizes TN: What about the Council’s fundraising activity? brother promising money to buy maize for poor DP: The money raised by the Missionary Council is children. Another friend in Christ pledged sizeable central to the entire missionary endeavour of our contributions for various projects. The ‘Books denomination. Finances are raised by offerings in for Africa’ appeal has taken off. Really, it has been each church, and a statement is published annually. overwhelming! To illustrate the importance of contributions through the Missionary Council, it is worth noting that the TN: What about Nepal? main monthly grant from the Council (£8000) is to DP: Projects there include the relocation of Precious the Mission Board. Mostly, this is used to provide Orphanage to a new site with more suitable 30% of our missionaries’ salaries – they raise the facilities. A site became available beside the other 70% through deputation meetings, gifts and Kathmandu Church and Bible College, costing covenant support. Thus, here alone, £96,000 is approximately £84,000. Though we doubted needed annually. The total yearly grants from the ourselves in this venture, we never doubted the Council amount to almost £135,000. £70,000 has been raised already. We say, ‘To God Lord’s ability to finance His own will. Around TN: Who benefits from this support? be the glory, great things He hath done!’ A lady DP: Over twenty missionaries are supported throughout from our Larne congregation sent a sizeable gift to the world: three ‘Home Missionaries’, one in the build churches in Nepal; our Magherafelt church did Republic of Ireland, six in Spain, six in Kenya, one the same (These Nepalese buildings are relatively in Liberia, one in Nepal, and three in Australia.