Reformed Presbyterian Minutes of Synod 1995 - Rparchives.org

132 MINUTES OF THE SYNOD OF THEparticipation in the covenant of church membership. Another evidence (andmeans) of spiritual health is a number of reports of the careful, patient andpersevering exercise of church discipline. The Lord has blessed some of thesesituations with the gift of repentance and reconciliation.We thank God for many significant additions and improvements in thefacilities of our congregations as these are important tools for the work. Wealso remember those yet in need of such provisions.We rejoice in new and renewed efforts with young people in ourcongregations and on our nearby campuses. We rejoice in increasing effortsin substantial and comprehensive teaching programs to equip God's peoplefor greater service. And we rejoice in the wise use of the gifts oftechnologies for more effective teaching and general communication.In summary, we rejoice in these many provisions from our gracious Lordand earnestly pray for His help in the substantial challenges of service that Hecalls us to in the coming year.Home and World MissionsWe rejoice in the way the Lord has blessed in the outreach/mission of thechurch over the past year. At home we praise the Lord for nine new missionchurches planted since 1988, the "Time to Plant". We are challenged by thevision of eight new mission churches by the year 2000.Abroad we rejoice in the formation of the Japan Presbytery, the first fullyear of Trinity Christian Community Fellowship, the indigenous RP church inLarnaca, Cyprus and the stirring challenge by Jonathan Chao for participationin the great harvest the Lord is bringing in China. We also rejoice in the workof the Reformation Translation Fellowship as well as the many otherReformed Presbyterians doing work in many other parts of the world.We are thankful to God for the work of our four chaplains who serve theLord in the mission field of the armed services both at home and abroad, inpeace and in war.We are greatly challenged by the church's mission and witness to thenations in which we live. We confess our sins of commission and omission inthe breakdown of family life and the fragmentation, alienation andbrokenness that is so pervasive in our society today. We are constantlychallenged by the need to live out the gospel of hope in the face of despairand to model reconciliation and live out the redemption we have in Christ tothe needy world in which we live.EducationPresbytery reports make it plain that education in the truth is muchemphasized in our denomination. There is heavy emphasis on the preachingof the Word. It is being taught in small group Bible studies. It is beingtaught in our Sabbath Schools and our Covenanter Young People's groups. Itis being taught in our summer camps. Our people are strongly encouragedto dig into the Word by themselves. Sessions are urged not only to reassessand improve their Christian education, but to stimulate those under their careto make full use of these programs.