Next week Outward OPC starts a new series for the fall. We have interviewed about a dozen OPC pastors—many doing faithful work that you probably don’t know much about. And we’ve asked them about things like:
What has changed in your views and practice about outreach during your ministry?
What are things you’ve learned from inside the Reformed world and outside the Reformed world that have helped you?
What are the most “successful” things you’ve done as a church and as a pastor in outreach?
Scattered in segments over the next couple months or so, we are going to hear some interesting and thought-provoking answers. We will also hear some steady, consistent repetition of things “we already know,” but we hope in a way that is refreshing to hear in the different contexts and circumstances of OPC churches.
You will hear how “birding” and starting an Irish band are being used in the OPC! You will hear about how a pastor’s wife and children can sometimes “outshine” their father/husband in outreach! You’ll hear many examples of outreach efforts that you could use to fuel a discussion in your church, session, or outreach committee.
For now, we’ll leave you with just one quote to the whet the appetite. One of the pastors who you will hear from was asked about how the OPC, in particular, can grow in her efforts to reach the lost. In part, he said this:
“Theological precision is incredibly important for long-term faithfulness—that is part of our heritage. But a related part of our heritage is Machen and the Independent Board for Presbyterian Foreign Missions and Van Til witnessing to his neighbors and preaching on Wall Street. Each of these OPC ministers cared deeply for faithful gospel outreach. It is in the DNA of the OPC—with plenty of current examples as well—to give attention both to sound doctrine and to evangelistic zeal.”
This sets the tone….we’ll get into the details and hear much more in theory AND practice over the coming weeks. We look forward to sharing these pastors’ considered thoughts with you. Stick around. It will be worth your while to hear from those in the OPC about the OPC.
