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NEW HORIZONS in the ORTHODOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
6 Learning to Pray
JUNE 2021
22 Cruse’s What Happens
in Secret When We Worship //
// by Douglas B. Clawson by Lowell Ivey
PRAYER: OUR HIGHEST PRIVILEGE
by Bruce H. Hollister // 4
VOLUME 42, NUMBER 5
CON T E N T S New Horizons
in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church
Editor: Danny E. Olinger
3 From the Editor Managing Editor: Judith M. Dinsmore
Editorial Assistant: Diane L. Olinger
F E AT U R E S Proofreader: Sarah Pederson
Cover Designer: Christopher Tobias
Editorial Board: The Committee on Christian
4 Prayer: Our Highest Privilege Education’s Subcommittee on Serial Publications
By Bruce H. Hollister
© 2021 by The Committee on Christian Education of
6 Learning to Pray in Secret The Orthodox Presbyterian Church. All rights reserved.
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are
By Douglas B. Clawson from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard
Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing
8 Leading in Public Prayer ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission.
All rights reserved. (We use the 2011 revision.)
By Terry L. Johnson
Articles previously published may be slightly edited.
New Horizons (ISSN: 0199-3518) is published
monthly except for a combined issue, usually August-
DEPART MENTS September, by the Committee on Christian Education
of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, 607 N. Easton
Road, Bldg. E, Willow Grove, PA 19090-2539; tel. 215-
10 Foreign Missions 830-0900; fax 215-830-0350.
The Saints We Serve Alongside Letters to the editor are welcome. They should deal
with an issue the magazine has recently addressed.
12 Christian Education Their language should be temperate, and they may not
charge anyone with an offense. They should be brief,
Trinity Psalter Hymnal App • Review of Fesko’s and they may be condensed by the editor.
The Christian and Technology • Favorite Psalms Send inquiries, letters to the editor, and other corres-
pondence to the editor at danny.olinger@opc.org.
and Hymns • Out of the Mouth … Send address changes to ccesecretary@opc.org. Allow
six weeks for address changes.
14 Home Missions The digital edition (PDF, ePub, mobi) and an archive of
Loving Your Community previous issues are available at www.opc.org.
Views expressed by our writers are not necessarily
16 Stewardship those of the editors or official positions of the
Orthodox Presbyterian Church.
Return on Investment Copies are distributed free to members and friends
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Danny Olinger with his son David, upon Danny’s return home
from the hospital and David’s seventeenth birthday. In the weeks
since his hospitalization, the Lord has continued to answer prayer
on Danny’s behalf. He is mostly off supplemental oxygen and can
sleep through the night. However, the blood clot remains and his
oxygen levels have yet to return to pre-COVID levels. To hear daily
of individuals and congregations praying for him has encouraged
him beyond what words can express and has refreshed his heart in
the Lord.
2 / NEW HORIZONS / JUNE 2021
FROM THE EDITOR
O n April 14, following a twenty-three-day stay in Abing-
ton Hospital where he was treated for COVID-19, pneu-
monia in both lungs, and a blood clot, New Horizons editor
battle when I was receiving the Remdesivir injections and keep-
ing my oxygen above ventilating levels.
I had the opportunity to talk about Christ with so many
Danny Olinger penned the following letter to the Committee nurses and assistants. One nursing assistant would even sing a
on Christian Education under whose leadership he serves. hymn or psalm whenever it was his turn to take my vitals.
Dear CCE and Friends, Thank you to so many who reached out to me and said that
Thank you for your prayers for me. The Good Shepherd has you were praying for me. Two dear friends in the Lord, two
gone before me and delivered me. I do not expect ever to be the brothers, Stephen Tracey and Lane Tipton, were pastors to me
same, so thankful am I for what our Lord has done. and calmed my soul when things were so difficult. They would
text me every morning at six a.m. to see how the night had
I am at home, but I have oxygen available when I have to
gone. They would share Scripture with me, and see how I was
walk. I am okay when sitting, as long as I don’t cough. However,
feeling. At night, they would check in on me again. I praise God
I still cough violently, up to two days ago, blood spitting every
for their love of me. There were times when my strength was so
hour or so. After even the current coughing, I need five minutes
low and the nights had been so violent to my body and breathing
at least to recover my breathing and oxygen levels above 80 per-
that only they and Diane would know how hard it was. And,
cent. Within ten minutes I have it up to the low 90s. This cycle has
I guess as an editor, I buried the lede in that Diane was there
left me without sleep for beyond forty-five minutes or an hour for
for me every step. I love her so much and am so thankful I have
quite some time. So we are rejoicing that I was able to have two
been blessed with thirty-three years with her. When I finally had
blocks last night of over two hours each. Thank you to those of you
strength to talk again, I would talk to her on the phone and we
who have been praying Psalm 4:8 for me at night.
would pray together to end the day.
Walking, I can only take around twenty steps. My neck and
Thank you to everyone who has helped fill in when I was in
back are sore and in constant pain. But the biggest concern is
the hospital for those twenty-three days. Please continue to pray
whether there is permanent lung damage. They are very hopeful
for me in that I have a long way to go. But, again, I rejoice with
right now that there is not. Pray that the inflammation of the
my whole heart over what the Lord God has done. I am thankful
lungs would continue to decrease. My primary doctor is thrilled
for the ordeal. I cried a lot, in both sorrow over sin and rejoicing
with the progress that I have made. On day two, I remember her
over God’s goodness and mercy to me as a sinner. I was so ar-
yelling at me, “Danny, do we have your permission to ventilate
rogant, brothers, in so many things. I have loved myself and the
if we need to?” My oxygen had gotten that low. For the next sev-
world too much. I am so thankful that God brought me to an end
enty-two hours, as I lay on my stomach with my head to the right
of myself. I am so thankful that the Good Shepherd laid down his
for two hours before turning my head to the left, I would breathe
life for me. I am so thankful for Jesus the Great Physician. It is
in through my nose and recite a few words from Psalm 23. Then
my heart’s desire to pray for others as they have prayed for me, to
I would exhale and finish the verse. The Good Shepherd truly was
love others as they have loved me in Christ’s name. So thankful
going before me through the valley of the shadow of death. By day
for Christ and his love which makes such love possible.
four, that same doctor was giving me the biggest thumbs up. She
We are all so blessed in Christ. What joy it is to share with
then had two weeks off. Three days ago she reappeared and told
you in ministry in that expression of Christ’s church which is the
me that she wanted to be the one who let me know that I had
Orthodox Presbyterian Church.
made it, that I was going to be able to go home, because she wasn’t
In the name of the Lamb slain,
sure I was going to survive it. I was able to tell her I am a Chris-
Danny
tian and that Christ sustained me throughout that 120-hour
NEW HORIZONS / JUNE 2021 / 3
PRAYER: OUR HIGHEST
PRIVILEGE
BRUCE H. HOLLISTER // It was several years ago now that the
Lord graciously brought to me a season of refreshment in my
prayer life. In his kind providence, he brought to me this particu-
lar prompting, or “wake-up call,” as I was reading excerpts from a
spiritual classic: Adolphe Monod’s Les Adieux (Farewells).
Adolphe Monod was a French Ah, if I were restored to life, I would prayer, those hours taken from the time
Reformed pastor and one of the great- like, with God’s help and in spite of during the day that was most conducive
est French preachers of the nineteenth myself, to give prayer much more to work. Luther clearly believed that his
century. Struck with cancer at age fifty- time than I have done and to lean on work had no strength except when sup-
three, he went to be with the Lord about prayer much more than on work. It is ported and animated by prayer!
a year later. While in declining health, our duty never to neglect work, but How was it that Martin Luther ac-
surrounded by family and friends, work has no strength except when complished what he did for the king-
Monod presented from his sickbed a supported and animated by prayer. dom of God? By faith in the Word of
meditation on each of the last twenty- (159) God, and by prayer!
five days of our Lord’s life. His family All of us must ask ourselves this
Monod’s comments strike at the
carefully kept record of these devotional question: “What is it that will most im-
heart of what we as Christians already
talks. Monod’s dying testimony is most pact my life and the life of those around
know concerning prayer, but what we
inspiring and instructive. me?” Or to put it another way: “How
sadly fail to act upon. We are just not
do I think my life will bear the greatest
Monod on Prayer sufficiently convinced that our work
fruit for the kingdom of God?” Listen
truly has no strength except when sup-
One of Monod’s regrets was that again to Monod:
ported and animated by prayer.
he had not prayed as he should. He put
Monod mentions the well-known Prayer is the distinctive mark of the
it this way:
example of Martin Luther. It is said that Lord’s powerful servants. All of them,
My dear friends in Christ, among the Luther, during the period that he was in spite of considerable differences, of-
subjects about which a Christian who appearing before the Diet of Worms, fer to us this common trait: They are
believes himself to be near his end spent three hours each day crying aloud men who pray much and who pray
carries regrets, there is certainly none to God. fervently. (156; emphasis added)
he would want so much to reform, if Luther’s friend Dietrich overheard
he returned to life, as prayer. (Living Luther and took it upon himself to as- Prayer’s Strategic Significance
in the Hope of Glory, P&R, trans. and semble those prayers for the good of the
As good Reformed folks, we are
ed. by Constance Walker, 152–153) church. Dietrich observed that there
commonly quick to glory in the fact
was not a single day in which Luther
And this: that we know much and care very much
did not reserve at least three hours for
4 / NEW HORIZONS / JUNE 2021
about doctrine—about the Word of that many of us may say at the end of Christ, I have great liberty to ask for
God and the sacraments—as well we our lives, “I was so very busy, but I ac- much, and I have a deep and happy as-
ought. But in our weakness of faith, complished so very little!” surance that I will bear much fruit. Our
we far too often neglect what our cat- Consider then the strategic signifi- Lord could not be more explicit. He
echisms identify as the third of the pri- cance of prayer, positively. If, by God’s clearly intends that through prayer we
mary means of grace: prayer! grace, we give ourselves afresh to prayer, should bear much fruit. We can as much
So, here is Westminster Shorter we will bear much fruit in our lives say that all fruitfulness comes in answer
Catechism Question 88: “What are the individually, in our marriages, in our to prayer.
outward and ordinary means whereby families, in the congregations in which
A Window into the Kingdom
Christ communicates to us the benefits we serve, in our presbyteries, and in the
of redemption?” denomination that we love. Think of It is in and through prayer that an
And the answer: “The outward how the churches of our denomination exciting world is opened to us, a “win-
and ordinary means whereby Christ would thrive if we all took up prayer in dow” into the kingdom and into what
communicates to us the benefits of re- a new way! God is doing. Every conversation, every
demption are his ordinances, especially What do you think will most im- interaction, and every activity is then il-
the Word, sacraments, and prayer; all of pact your life and the lives of those lumined with the light of our Savior’s
which are made effectual to the elect around you? presence. Out of our communion with
for salvation” (emphasis added; see also him—yes, as we simply ask!—it is his
Central to Our Communion with
Larger Catechism Q. 153 and 154). design that we should see a continual
Christ
We are given to understand that bearing of fruit though the whole of our
these three primary means of grace go Prayer is at the very center of our Christian life—that we should see con-
together! We cannot abstract one from communion with Christ. It has been tinual answers to prayer, countless an-
the others, nor can we neglect any one well said that prayer is the breath of the swers to prayer, answers to prayer every
of them and end up with anything re- soul. As goes prayer, so goes our com- day of our lives! At least, that is what our
sembling true spirituality. If we neglect munion with the Savior. And whatever Savior intends, we can be sure. Again, he
prayer, we will not really know much hinders our communion with Christ, could not have been more explicit: “Ask
about the Word of God or the sacra- hinders our prayer. It is then most in- whatever you wish, and it will be done
ments—at least not much that will bear structive that our Lord Jesus Christ for you. By this my Father is glorified,
true and abiding fruit in our lives or in ties his astonishingly big promise con- that you bear much fruit.” We are fre-
the lives of those to whom we minister. cerning prayer ( John 15:7–8) directly quently guilty of shrinking our Savior’s
As preachers, our sermons will be bar- to communion with himself and to all great promise with various well-intend-
ren and lacking in power. In conversa- fruitfulness in the Christian life: ed and biblical qualifications. Too often,
tion, we will fumble about with plati- this simply serves to mask our prayer-
If you abide in me, and my words
tudes. In other words, without prayer, lessness. As Monod expresses it,
abide in you, ask whatever you wish,
neither Word nor sacrament will bear
and it will be done for you. By this Only prayer can put us in contact
abiding fruit in our lives. Indeed, if we
my Father is glorified, that you bear with the invisible world through the
neglect any of the three primary means
much fruit and so prove to be my dis- Word of God. That world is closer to
of grace, we end up with something not
ciples. some and further from others than
Reformed, but deformed.
they either think or desire. (160)
Sadly, we as Christians—even When I am not abiding in Christ—
good, Reformed Christians—frequent- not communing with him through his As has been well said, “Little prayer,
ly prove ourselves to be a species of un- Word—I have little taste for prayer; little fruit; much prayer, much fruit.”
believing pragmatist when it comes to neither do I really understand prayer, Hear the dying Monod again:
things spiritual, and particularly when its beauty and privilege. Does that
All together, with one spirit and one
it comes to prayer. All of us very natu- sound familiar? Do you have no taste
heart, humbled by the slackness of our
rally gravitate to what we really believe for prayer? You too, then, haven’t been
prayers, let us form the holy resolve
“works.” Thus we show our pragmatism: communing with your Lord. You’ve
finally to know through experience
What works is what is true, and what is drifted again into self-dependence, into
the true promises of prayer so that
true is that which works! So we think: the old fleshly way of living and think-
we might harvest from it the blessed
What really works, what is really effec- ing. Spiritual realities have become life-
heritage of the invisible world. (160)
tive, is, well . . . our work! We just don’t less to you—hollow, merely theoretical.
believe that prayer is that important. In your Christian service, you are lean- He, being dead, still speaks.
And so we work when we should pray, ing on your work rather than on your
and our work is then ineffective, fruit- Savior through prayer. The author is regional home missionary of
less, and unsatisfying. I dread the words Conversely, if I am abiding in the Presbytery of the Midwest.
NEW HORIZONS / JUNE 2021 / 5
LEARNING TO PRAY
IN SECRET
DOUGLAS B. CLAWSON // Jesus is our God and Lord and
King. He is also our Savior, our brother, and our friend. He is with
us, and we are with him, every moment of every day. There is not a
need that he does not know or a tear that he does not see. We are to
have humility and reverence before him whose is the kingdom and
the power and the glory—absolutely. time and about everything. impression that I have not forgotten.
But he also invites us to call God our “What is prayer?” the Shorter Cat-
Examples of Prayer
Father. He lives to pray for us (Heb. echism asks in Question 98. “Prayer is
7:25) as he sits at the right hand of the Some experiences change how we an offering up of our desires unto God,
Father, and he tells us that we should conceive of prayer. I remember once for things agreeable to his will, in the
pray to him without ceasing (1 Thess. sharing a room with Pastor Lawrence name of Christ, with confession of our
5:17). Eyres for a presbytery meeting. As I sins, and thankful acknowledgment of
When praying in secret, we need to walked into the room following my his mercies.”
remember all that we have been taught shower, I saw that he was praying, not But is there more to know that
about prayer, but, most of all, we need to comfortably seated in a chair, but on his could help us?
just talk to God. We need to know that knees. This spiritual father was forty-
“Lord, Teach Us to Pray”
we can pour out our hearts to him. We four years my senior and the unintended
need to remember that he is our best consequence of his private devotions We know that Jesus prayed alone
friend and only hope and that we can left an impression that I will not forget. often and for long periods of time. It is
tell him everything and anything. Yes, On another occasion, I ran into in the context of the great crowds that
he already knows it, but we can say it Pastor Abe Ediger following a presen- came to hear him and be healed by him
anyway. We can say it because he hears tation at the church where he regularly that we read that Jesus went out to des-
and listens to us for the sake of Jesus. worshiped. As we spoke in the parking olate places and up mountains to pray
We may be ceaselessly calling, tex- lot, he told me with obvious deep re- (Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16; Mark 6:46). He
ting, and posting on our phones. Even gret how his hearing loss kept him from prayed all night on a mountain before
better than connecting with friends serving the church in ways that he once choosing the disciples whom he made
is talking to Christ, our best friend, in had. But, with equal intensity and glad- apostles (Luke 6:12). Later, it was while
secret, each day (keeping in mind who ness, he told me that he was now able to praying on a mountain with three of
Jesus is and what we owe him). Just as spend more time in prayer than he had those disciples that he was transfigured
he speaks to us by his Spirit through his ever been able to before. So, here was (Luke 9:28).
Word anytime that we hear it, read it, another spiritual father, thirty-six years Since these earlier occasions of
or think about it, so we should speak my senior, who, through a casual con- Jesus’s prayers occur while he was
to him through his Spirit in prayer, any versation in a parking lot, left another by himself (or with only a couple of
6 / NEW HORIZONS / JUNE 2021
disciples, as in Luke 9), there is proba- come to our Father with reverence and we have heard may have been extempo-
bly something special to note in the fact confidence, praying with and for others. raneous and drawn from Scripture, with
that, in Luke 11:1, the disciples were It taught them that we should glorify praise, thanksgiving, confession of sin,
witness to his prayer. It was after Jesus God in all things, and it taught them to and a list of prayer requests. However,
had finished praying that the disciples pray that God’s kingdom would grow in each of those cases, even when there
asked him to teach them to pray, just as and Satan’s kingdom be destroyed. It is a correct desire and effort to join our
John had taught his disciples. taught them to ask that we would know, heart and mind with the person pray-
It cannot be that these men did obey, and submit to God’s will in all ing, there can be a feeling that “those
not know how to pray. While we aren’t things. It taught them to look to and ask are not words that I would use when
explicitly told anything about their wor- that God would provide for our needs praying in secret.”
ship, the requirement of attending the and to ask that we would be forgiven The disciples had heard and knew
annual feasts and their probable syna- for our sins and given a heart to forgive of many more prayers than most young
gogue attendance mean that they had others. It taught them to ask that God believers, and still, after Jesus finished
almost certainly heard public prayer. would keep us from being tempted and praying, they asked him to teach them
We know that they deliver us when we are how to pray.
knew a lot about God’s tempted, and that all So, what was there about Jesus’s un-
Word—it was because praise and all glory are recorded prayer in Luke 11:1 that made
of their knowledge of owed to him. Along men who had many other examples ask,
the Scriptures that, on with the prayer, he en- “Lord, teach us to pray”?
their first meeting with couraged them to pray We have a few examples of Jesus’s
Jesus, they confessed with faith in the God prayers. There is John 11, when he prays
that he was the One who, like a good father, for the raising of Lazarus. There is John
written about by Mo- knows our needs before 17, when he prays about the glory that
ses and the Prophets, we ask, provides for he has brought to the Father, and for
the Christ and Son of our needs, gives us the those the Father has given to him. And
God ( John 1:35–51). Holy Spirit, and for- there is the prayer that he prayed in the
That knowledge of the gives us when we for- garden before his arrest.
Scriptures and especial- give others. What did the disciples hear in
OP pastor Lawrence Eyres,
ly of the Psalms gave Later, in his par- Christ’s prayers? If we consider those
an example of fervent prayer
them many examples ables, the disciples examples—apart from their divine
of prayers. And early would learn that when character, which we may never share—
in his public ministry, Jesus had taught they pray, they should not lose heart like we see a trust, a confidence, an intimacy,
some things about prayer; for example, the widow (Luke 18:1) and that they which all of us should want when we
he taught them that they should pray for should pray repentantly and humbly pray. In John 11 and 17, Jesus’s eyes are
those who persecute them (Matt. 5:44). like the tax collector (Luke 18:13–14). turned to heaven, but he is praying to a
The disciples knew that Jesus Jesus also taught them that they should Father whom he knows to be very near
prayed. They knew that John had taught not be like the hypocrites whose public because the Father loves him and is lis-
his disciples to pray. And they surely prayers in the synagogue and on street tening to his every word.
knew many prayers found in Scripture. corners were meant to draw attention You, too, can trust him, because he
But on that occasion of being near Jesus to themselves, or like the Gentiles who has done everything for your salvation.
when he prayed, perhaps sometime in repeat empty phrases. Like their giving You, too, can have confidence in him,
the second year of his public ministry, and their fasting, their praying was to be because he has promised to complete
there was something about his prayer in secret behind a closed door. his work in you. You, too, can know that
that made them ask: “Lord, teach us to you are close to him, and he to you, be-
Christ’s Intimacy with the Father
pray” (Luke 11:1). cause his Spirit lives inside you.
So, he taught them the words that All of us have the example of the Therefore, when you pray in se-
have become so familiar to us that we prayers found in the Old and New cret, with humility and reverence, you
can practically recite them without Testaments. All of us have the instruc- can pray with trust, confidence, and in-
thinking. It is a simple prayer. It is so tions of Jesus. And some of us have had timacy, because in Christ your Father
simple that, considering the amount of many examples of hearing others pray. loves you and is listening to your every
time Jesus spent in prayer, it must have Maybe our pastor or parent or teacher word.
been only an outline. has used a prayer from a prayer book or
As is summarized in our catechism, devotional or other carefully composed The author is associate general secretary of
this prayer taught them that we should prayer. In other instances, the prayers the Committee on Foreign Missions.
NEW HORIZONS / JUNE 2021 / 7
LEADING IN PUBLIC
PRAYER
TERRY L. JOHNSON // If we are honest, most of us would have
to admit that the public prayers of our church are often endured
rather than enjoyed. The various prayers we hear week by week can
be the low points in our public services. Whereas sermons are well-
ordered, well-expressed, and delivered with urgency, the prayers are
often the opposite: disordered, poorly congregation. Consequently, public wondering, “Where is he going?” If
phrased, carelessly arranged, trite, pre- prayer should be calculated to bless the congregation is to “hang” with the
dictable, and surprisingly limited in and establish the congregation. What- preacher, if it is to pray with him and
range, neglecting whole categories of ever else 1 Corinthians 14 teaches, the be edified, some thematic order is nec-
concern. The sermon may be compel- Apostle Paul insists that songs and essary.
ling; the prayers are not. The sermon prayers in public worship must edify It helps if those who lead in pub-
may be fervent; the prayers are in the church (1 Cor. 14:13–19). The older lic prayer ask “What kind of prayer is
monotone and tedious. Public prayer pastoral theologies (ones authored by, this?” Is it a prayer of praise? Then stick
today is in a sorry condition. for example, Fairburn, Murphy, Porter, to praise, developing it thematically
What can be done? Let me of- Shedd, and Spurgeon) and preaching from the attributes and works of God.
fer several suggestions that may help manuals (ones authored by, for exam- Is it a prayer of confession? Of thanks-
us first to think correctly about pub- ple, Doddridge, Dabney, Dale, Beecher, giving? Of intercession? Of illumina-
lic prayer and then to start delivering and Broadus) include public prayer in tion? Or is it a benediction? Develop
those prayers in a way that will edify their treatment of preaching. Ministers the prayer within the genre, rather than
the congregation. should be as careful to edify their lis- bouncing from one genre to the next
teners in their public prayer as in their so that all the prayers end up sounding
Public Speech public preaching. alike. If the prayer combines genres, as
Public prayer needs to be under- is the case with the “pastoral prayer,”
Order
stood by the minister of the church as then progress systematically from con-
a form of public speech. Like the ser- Much public prayer seems to be fession of sin to the five-fold inter-
mon, it is meant to edify the congre- delivered spontaneously, meaning hap- cessions for: the sanctification of the
gation. A well-intended but false piety hazardly, without forethought or order; saints; the church and its ministry; the
will limit the audience of one’s prayers one sentence seems to follow another sick; the civil authorities; and Chris-
to God alone. This begs to be corrected. randomly, without logic or meaning- tian mission around the world. Order
Like private prayer, public prayer is ad- ful connection. Disorder, however, in public prayer will help the congre-
dressed to God. Unlike private prayer, is no more effective in praying than gation to follow along, to not be dis-
it is delivered in the hearing of the in preaching. Listeners shouldn’t be tracted by disorder, and consequently
8 / NEW HORIZONS / JUNE 2021
to be edified. will be opened to us? (Matt. 7:7–8). If acquaintance with the holy Scriptures,”
so, and if our aspirations are high, our indicating the importance of studying
Scripture needs great, and our outlook global, the scriptural language of prayer; “the
I have written extensively on this how can the note of urgency not be study of the best writings on prayer,” of
subject elsewhere (see Worshipping with characteristic? At the same time, how which Matthew Henry’s A Method for
Calvin, 108–122; Serving with Calvin, inexplicable are the careless, drowsy, or Prayer, Isaac Watt’s A Guide to Prayer,
204–210). It is a shame to hear public boring prayers of so many public ser- Samuel Miller’s Thoughts on Public
prayers utilize common terminology vices? Prayer, and Hughes Old’s Leading in
when scriptural language is available. It Closely associated with urgency is Prayer are the classics; and “by medita-
warms the hearts of listeners when the earnestness in prayer. Several officers tion, and by a life of communion with
pastor’s praise echoes the praise of the in our church have a particular gift of God,” meaning the private practice of
Bible, when his confession of sin is ex- prayer. They show little to no ability to prayer; one may “acquire both the spirit
pressed in divinely revealed penitential speak publicly or lead in public prayer. and the skill of prayer”; indicating that
language, and when his intercessions Yet, in group prayer meetings, they pray public prayer is both a gift and a skill
are drawn from the promises and com- that can be developed and improved
mands and ideals of Scripture. over time.
Regularly, the pastor might pray The Reformed tradition has en-
through the Sermon on the Mount, couraged neither reading prayers
the various New Testament household (which typically is no more effective
codes, Proverbs, Psalms, and so on. in inspiring a congregation than read-
“Lord, teach us to pray,” is the need ing sermons), nor impromptu prayers
of every generation, fulfilled in ours (that which comes off the top of the
through the Spirit-illuminated Word head for most of us is “mere froth,” as
of God. What makes more sense than Spurgeon said). Rather, the Reformed
for the pastor to pray publicly for that tradition has encouraged “studied” or
which God himself requires of his peo- “conceived” prayer. Prior thought and
ple, for what he commands and com- planning should inform public prayer.
mends? What makes less sense than for The minister may perhaps take an out-
the divinely revealed ideals, commands, Spurgeon, “prince of preachers,” placed line with several headings and Scripture
an even higher value on public prayer
demands, goals, aspirations and prom- texts noted to guide him. Planning will
ises of Scripture never to supply content help to ensure that his public prayers
for the prayer life of the church? Should with exceptional power. The key? Ear- balance form and freedom and that they
the people of God not hear their pas- nestness. Their prayers arise from deep are fresh, well-ordered, comprehensive,
tor pleading, “O Lord, we pray that we within their souls. The sheer authentic- scriptural, and expressed with the ur-
might be holy as you are holy; that we ity of their prayers makes them utterly gency of which they are due.
might abhor what is evil and cling to compelling for the rest of us. Spurgeon was once asked what he
what is good. Oh, that we might hunger The older authors understood the would do if forced to give up either the
and thirst after righteousness. We pray importance of urgency and earnestness. sermon or the pastoral prayer. His an-
that we might seek first your kingdom Prayer without “agonizing earnestness swer was the sermon would just have to
and its righteousness; that we might and vehement desire,” says C. H. Spur- go. Ministers might keep this priority in
love our enemies, love our neighbors, geon, “is utterly ineffective” (Morning mind before they turn over the prayers
and love the brethren”? and Evening, January 15). Like Daniel, of the church to others, even ruling el-
we should “set upon God with a holy ders, who by gifts and calling are not
Urgency violence in prayer,” says William Gur- theologically, biblically, or rhetorically
Among the many characteristics nall (The Christian in Complete Armor, equipped for the task. Perhaps only a
of the psalms, one of the most promi- part 2:421). We ought to pray fervently, diminished sense of the value of public
nent is fervor. Whether the theme is for “cold prayer is no more prayer than prayer led us to imagine they might be
praise, confession of sin, pleas for help, painted fire is fire” (Complete Armor, otherwise.
laments in distress, or thanksgiving for 2:475).
provision, the prayers of the psalms are The author is a PCA minister, pastor of
Getting There
full of energy. They are fervent. They Independence Presbyterian Church in Sa-
are urgent. Is it true that if we ask it If our public prayers are lacking, vannah, Georgia, and author of several
shall be given to us, and that if we seek what can we do? The OPC Directory books on worship, including Reformed
we shall find, and if we knock that it for Worship in 2.B urges “a thorough Worship (2014).
NEW HORIZONS / JUNE 2021 / 9
FOREIGN MISSIONS
THE SAINTS
WE SERVE
ALONGSIDE
// MARK C. VAN ESSENDELFT Sagal Oliver, a believer who has worked in the Van Essendelft
home for a few years and regularly attends Carla’s Bible study
shine bright in the darkness.
You should know about Sagal Oliver. She is a nineteen-
All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet year-old who works for us in our house. She is married and
those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. has one child. She has worked for us since we arrived here
(Titus 3:15) over three years ago. Although we never doubted if she was a
believer, her faith has blossomed in the last few years. My wife,
I t is easy to write an article about what we are doing, but the
bigger and better question is: what is God doing? Or, whom
is he working through? You never know who the next person
Carla, started a Bible study about a year ago, and Oliver was
there from the beginning. The interesting thing is that what
she has learned in the Bible study has challenged her to put
is that God will raise up and use. We are quite surprised some-
her faith into practice. Now the Bible study includes three la-
times by whom the Lord chooses to use.
dies from her village who attend regularly. Please pray that she
I would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to
and her young family would continue to grow in grace. Please
some of the people we work with, to tell a little about them,
pray also for the ladies
and to ask you to pray for them. These are hopefully the “first-
she has brought to the
fruits” of the church in Karamoja.
Bible study that they
First, I would like to introduce you to Dangela Joyce.
would see fruit in their
Joyce has worked with the Mission since its inception twenty
lives.
years ago. She was raised in a Muslim family, and her testi-
Lochap Emman-
mony is that she worked with the mission five years before
uel is a young man
she was converted. She is a single mother now who has seven
who went through
children of her own, the
the Timothy program
youngest being five years
started by fellow mis-
old. She has also taken
sionaries David and
in five orphaned (or ne-
Rashel Robbins. He
glected) children. She is
showed much prom-
one of the most faithful
ise both in gifts and
church members that we
integrity, has had
have. She serves on the
many opportunities Lochap Emmanuel
mercy committee with me
to teach, and is well
and brings much wisdom
respected both in the
about the culture when
church and community. We had a gracious donor who funded
deciding diaconal cases.
him and one other student to pursue higher education. He is
Please pray for her and
now in his second year and hopes to pursue medical training.
her family that they would
We would love to see him come back here after he completes
Dangela Joyce continue to grow in the
his schooling and become either a ruling elder or pastor in our
grace of Christ and would
local church. Please pray that his faith and integrity would
10 / NEW HORIZONS / JUNE 2021A Call for Evangelist
continue to grow and that he would not fall into the many sins
so common in the surrounding culture that have disqualified
other promising men. Missionaries
Alupo Sarah is a young
lady around seventeen years Douglas Clawson
old whom we sponsored to What do Uganda, Uruguay, and Haiti have in com-
go to high school last year. mon? They each have the presence of an OPC mission,
She has shown herself to be and each has need of an additional ordained evangelist
a pious believer. We were missionary.
hoping she would continue The pandemic has provided a time of reflection for
in school, but she decided all of us. Each of us has had to consider the real impor-
to marry one of the young tance of what we were not able to do and the real impor-
men from the Timothy tance of what we were able to do. It made us think about
program, Angella Paul. We the way that others see Jesus in us and hear Jesus from us.
were very pleased in her On our mission fields, while there were times of
choice of a husband, but we restrictions to be sure, the pandemic also brought new
were shocked to learn that Alupo Sarah with her husband opportunities for preaching the gospel, encouraging be-
her family beat her quite lievers, and helping with physical needs. Thank you for
severely after her husband did not bring enough cows for a praying—and please continue to pray—for your mission-
dowry. Pray for her and her husband that they would be able aries and the churches that they work with.
to endure such abuses and shine with the light of Christ in Please also pray that our Lord would call additional
their godly marriage. evangelist missionaries to go to the field.
Lote Lina is a young lady around eighteen who is also Is the work hard? Yes. Does the work in most cases
just married with her first child. Although we never worked require knowing a language other than English? Yes. Are
closely with her, I like to tell her story. When Lina was about those places dangerous sometimes? Yes.
sixteen, she was drinking quite heavily and was running from But does Jesus want his servants to be willing to go?
God. As she explains, one day she went to the well to get water Yes.
and a demon came over her. Pastor David Robbins was called We have all been sent by Jesus into this world to
by some of his students, and when they arrived, they found serve him wherever we are. However, while we are united
Lina half-naked and writhing in the mud screaming. Not to him and each other in his work for us, we differ from
knowing what else to do, Pastor Robbins, along with other each other in his work in us. Each one of us is a unique
young men, took turns praying over her for several hours until, member of Christ’s body. Not everyone is called to the
in her words, “The demon left me.” It has been two years since same kind of service or to the same place. Not everyone
then, and Lina is still walking with the Lord. Pray for her as has the same giftedness. But some of you may wonder
her grandmother is the local witch doctor and has even tried whether the Lord has given you the gifts and possibly the
to steal her away from Christianity. Pray that Lina would have calling to go to Haiti or Uruguay or Uganda. This sort
a lasting faith and would be a witness both in her family and of service is not for everyone. And it is not always the
the community. right time in someone’s life to go. But we need ministers
These are real people with whom we work. As far as we who will consider such a calling—ministers who are clear
can see, the Lord is working in and through them to further preachers and teachers, who are experienced pastors, who
his kingdom. There are many others that I would love to tell have an evangelistic heart, and who are good coworkers
with other pastors, elders, and deacons.
Might Christ be calling you? Please pray about it and
contact us at opforeignmissions@opc.org.
you about, but this is a sample of Christ’s kingdom bearing
fruit on this earth.
We offer our heartfelt thanks to all of you who support us
financially and, most importantly, who support us in prayer. It
is not always easy to live in Karamoja, and we have many trials,
but we are held up by Christ through the prayers of the saints!
Lote Lina with her child
The author is an OP missionary deacon in Nakaale, Karamoja,
Uganda.
NEW HORIZONS / JUNE 2021 / 11C H R I S T I A N E D U C AT I O N
TRINITY PSALTER
HYMNAL IOS
APP NOW
AVAILABLE
developed to include more robust Scripture and tune indexes
akin to those in the print editions, and possibly the creeds and
T he highly anticipated Trinity Psalter Hymnal mobile app confessions found in the print editions.
is now available on the Apple iOS platform. The app has To purchase the app, search for Trinity Psalter Hymnal
been professionally developed and designed for ease of use on the Apple App Store or see www.trinitypsalterhymnal.org/
and seamless functionality for both iPad and iPhone devices. purchase for more information. See details in the App Store
Intended as a supplement to the print and digital edi- for device and software compatibility, and copyright restric-
tions of the Trinity Psalter Hymnal, the Trinity Psalter Hymnal tions. By purchasing and downloading digital editions of the
app features the full text and music of the songbook, as well Trinity Psalter Hymnal, the purchaser agrees to the TPH Dig-
as professional and high-quality piano tune recordings. Some ital End User Agreement. At this time, the app is only avail-
key features of the app include searchable full text, browsable able for purchase in the United States and Canada.
title and first line index, bookmarking of songs, and looping of An Android operating system mobile app is still under
a tune for the number of stanzas in each song. The mobile app development to be released later in 2021.
is a great resource for planning worship, learning new songs, The Trinity Psalter Hymnal is a joint publication of The
and singing along in family devotions. Committee on Christian Education of the Orthodox Pres-
The iOS app is available for purchase and download now byterian Church and The Psalter Hymnal Committee of the
for a one-time price of $9.99. Future app releases are included United Reformed Churches in North America, © 2018–2021
with the purchase. Future app upgrades and features are being Trinity Psalter Hymnal Joint Venture.
Trinity Psalter Hymnal App Free
to Ministers
For OPC ministers who purchase the Trinity
Psalter Hymnal iOS or Android app, the
OPC’s Committee on Ministerial Care is
offering a full reimbursement. After purchas-
ing, please contact Katie Stumpff at
ministerialcare@opc.org to begin the reim-
bursement process.
A glimpse inside one OP pastor’s study, with bulletin
preparation as well as the TPH selection onscreen
12 / NEW HORIZONS / JUNE 2021REVIEW: THE CHRISTIAN Favorite Psalms and Hymns
AND TECHNOLOGY Trinity Psalter Hymnal no. 382
“How Great the Bright Angelic
Kerri Ann Cruse
“Technology is a wonderful blessing” (91). In The Chris-
Host”
tian and Technology, J. V. Fesko presents his readers with this Kathleen Winslow
refreshing take on the important and sometimes stressful sub- The book of Hebrews is a rich commentary on the Penta-
ject of technology and media consumption. teuch, and indeed the entire Old Testament. It describes
Viewing tech as what it’s meant to be—a tool—Fesko is the types and shadows of Old Testament worship and re-
able to shine a positive light on the subject. But he also gives cords the faith of Old Testament believers. But always,
us readers a way to analyze our hearts to see if we are being the author of Hebrews draws our focus to Christ, the ful-
helped or hindered by the technology we utilize. Is my iPhone fillment of those types and the object of their faith. In this
a means by which I glorify God, or is it causing me to shift my new hymn, Mary Bahnfleth and Nancy Tischler distill
affections away from him? Instead of simply broadcasting a these truths in poetry accessible to all ages.
warning of the dangers of technology (a message that has per- The first four stanzas follow a pattern: “How great”
haps reached saturation both inside and outside the church), the angels (Heb. 1–2), men like Abraham (ch. 11), the
Fesko goes beyond their inherent threats and encourages us priestly office, and the tabernacle (ch. 3–10); “but greater
to look at these tools with discernment, detachment, and even still is Christ” and his everlasting “heavenly home.” The
contentment. fifth stanza sums up the exhortations that punctuate He-
More than an analysis of screens alone, this book looks brews: “Take care to fix your eyes on Christ, the author
at all kinds of technology that we take for granted and the ef- of true faith [3:1, 12:2]. Draw near to God [4:16, 7:19,
fects they have on the church: social media, the car, the book, 10:22]; hold fast to hope [4:14, 6:19, 10:23]; give sacri-
virtual reality, and the internet. For example, we can drive to ficial praise [13:15].” The refrain emphasizes the deity of
find good biblical teaching. That’s a blessing. But, by the same Christ and his offices as our victorious Redeemer.
token, we can also leave a church as soon as the pastor says Lou Ann Shafer’s music is majestic and joyful, and
something that offends or irritates us. In this way, technology the melody, straightforward. A few surprising harmonies
has opened wide the way to church-shopping and a consum- add sparkle without increasing the difficulty for congre-
eristic approach to the faith. This should give Christians seri- gational singing. At our Christian school, we sang it each
ous pause. day for a month. By day three, students had mastered the
Fesko explains how even something as wonderful as the tune. Three weeks later, a kindergarten mom from our
book can prove detrimental to our spiritual life. He writes, congregation told me, “I love how often I overhear Jane
“Gutenberg’s printing press made books affordable and wide- singing ‘How great is Christ, God’s radiance; how great
ly accessible, but this should not mean that we stop writing is Christ, God’s Son.’ I think it’s her new favorite, too.”
God’s word on the walls of our hearts” (52). Sadly, the prolif-
eration of easy access to the Scriptures in our homes has made
the need for memorization less pressing.
Out of the Mouth . . .
So how do we as Christians respond to these different
technologies? If we cut off the technological limb that is caus-
ing us to sin, we may address the surface problem, but as Fesko In the midst of the first COVID lockdown, our
accurately points out, “the root cause is our restless idolatrous
church began releasing Sunday worship as
hearts” (14). We are always worshiping something, so going
pre-recorded videos on YouTube. After having
cold turkey is not enough—we will soon fill the void with an-
“attended” church in our living room for about a
other substitute for God (11). The answer is not fleeing from
technology, but understanding how to use it and making sure month, one evening we opened the YouTube app
it is not using us. on our TV to watch a cartoon with our children.
This book guides Christians on how to identify who or When our son saw the red YouTube icon, he im-
what we are worshiping instead of God and to fix our attention mediately looked us in the eye and asked, “Are
on what is true, noble, right, pure, and lovely (Phil. 4:8). Like we going to church?”
the technology it addresses, this small book is a powerful tool. —Mark Stumpff
Mifflinburg, PA
The Christian and Technology, by J. V. Fesko. Evangelical Press, Note: If you have an example of the humorous “wisdom” that can
2020. Paperback 124 pages, $8.99 (Amazon). come from children, please send it to the editor.
NEW HORIZONS / JUNE 2021 / 13HOME MISSIONS
LOVING YOUR
COMMUNITY:
LESSONS ON
NEIGHBORHOOD
ENGAGEMENT
// AL TRICARICO
Community, written by its senior pastor, Stephen Viars. The
book suggests ways to intersect with communities that cor-
relate with the expressed needs of people and are shaped by a
I trust that readers will agree: As Christians, we have been
given a precious duty to love our neighbors as we love our-
selves. It is the second great commandment, as Jesus put it
clear commitment to bring the gospel to bear on the lives of
those who receive the benefits of the church’s ministries.
I recently read the book. At first gaze, I balked at the
(Matt. 22:35–40). God has placed us all in a world filled with sheer size and number of the church’s efforts to engage with
residents who are objects of God’s love ( John 3:16). Some of its community. The list of activities found on its content pages
them live near us. As God’s people, we are to take on the Lord’s is intimidating and raises some questions, at least in my mind,
loving interest in them, and shine the light of the gospel be- about the place of the church in the world. I imagine that
fore them in ways that bless them and lead them to think well others would have a similar response. Still, I am glad I read it,
of the Savior we serve (Matt. 5:16). I rejoice in the congregation’s creative efforts to serve, and I
If you are like me, you find this calling to love easy to have drawn a few lessons that we can all take away from this
understand, but difficult to practice. You wonder how best to intriguing story. For instance, there are helpful examples of
extend love to people around you. You are acquainted with the church’s community-based outreach through instructional
them only lightly, though they live in close view of your own classes and “restructured” ministries.
home. While all people are neighbors to be loved, by their The instructional classes aimed to “offer biblical and prac-
proximity particular individuals and families who live in your tical truth to your neighbors.” Once the church discovered
neighborhood ought to move your heart and attract your re- what is on the minds of people, the “Faith Community Insti-
solve to serve them in Jesus’s name. tute” was born. Classes were constructed to directly address is-
And what about Christian congregations? God has placed sues like parenting, conflict resolution, anger control, financial
these worshiping testimonies of grace in needy communities. management, and general life skills—all with a view toward
How can churches reach people near them who bear the di- delivering instruction from God’s Word that provides real and
vine image, who have needs that can only be met through lasting help.
gospel truth, and who are invited to believe in Jesus, the only Some of the church’s ministries were also, as Viars put it,
name under heaven given among men by which we must be restructured. Faith Church redesigned many of its activities to
saved (Acts 4:12)? intentionally include its broader community. Their church ath-
As both individuals and as churches, do we know our letic league became a community athletic league. Church pic-
neighbors’ names? Are we aware of their questions about life? nics were renamed “community picnics” and were advertised
About truth? About God and his world? Do we think deeply as such. Even the church staff took on a new profile of stated
about the gospel’s answers to the questions they have? ministry descriptions that include ministry to non-churched
neighbors. A youth pastor thus became a servant of the neigh-
One Church’s Example of Loving Neighbors
borhood, and was announced to neighbors accordingly.
Faith Church, serving Christ in Lafayette, Indiana, is a This reminded me of similar concerns raised by members
large congregation with a robust vision for loving their neigh- of an Orthodox Presbyterian church: Oakland Hills Commu-
bors. Its ministries are described in the 2020 book Loving Your nity Church, in Farmington Hills, Michigan. In an interview
14 / NEW HORIZONS / JUNE 2021on the Outward OPC podcast, their pastor, Ralph Rebandt, who know Christ also know how to provide help and
shares the story of how their church’s name was chosen. They hope to our hurting, unbelieving neighbors. Viars believes
surveyed the community, and the name was assigned accord- that the church is positioned perfectly for community-
ingly. (You can listen to the interview with Rebandt on out- based counseling. For most of us, this means local efforts
wardopc.org.) along with sound referrals. For all of us, it means weeping
There are other, even more ambitious, initiatives taken with neighbors and offering ways to discover how Christ
up by Faith Church. Pick up the book and learn about the can help and heal.
church’s participation in neighborhood restoration projects
3. Construct facilities with community in mind. Some of
along with the launching of its own community development
our churches and most of our mission works do not yet
corporation. Viars reports that such projects enriched lives
own property. When the time comes to buy—and per-
in the community as well as growing the membership of the
haps to build—consider how a new facility might be used
church.
by those outside of the church. Faith Church began
Lessons for Us with multi-purpose space and offered use to out-
side organizations. This was an excellent way
I realize that congregations of the OPC
to communicate care and intersect with
will not take on what might seem oversized
neighbors. It is also a good way to build
projects like some of those overseen by
a reputation of generosity.
Faith Church. But we can all rejoice in
what this faithful congregation is do- Fortress or Haven?
ing and in the positive results of their
multi-faceted gospel witness. In ad- What provided the most pro-
dition, there are lessons we would do found impact on me personally as
well to hear and apply in our own I read the book was a statement
way. Here are three that come to my of reproof that I want to take to
mind. heart. It is difficult in our day to
know how to navigate when more
1. Discover the needs of your com-
and more people seem to oppose
munity. In a way, you can guess
the gospel we love. The temptation
how people perceive things since
toward self-righteous distance from
you belong to the same neighbor-
unbelievers is strong and can easily
hood. And yet, there are advantages
overtake us. Let’s not let that happen.
to conducting the investigation. Yogi
Here is the statement.
Berra said, “You can observe a lot just
by watching.” He surely would have One of the fundamental questions each
agreed that you can learn a lot just by ask- of us has to answer is this: do you be-
ing. When you survey a community, like Faith lieve you are intrinsically better than those
Church did, you make contact with those who need who are struggling in your community, or are
Jesus. You do the opening work of building friendships. the strengths and successes in your life the result
You learn what is on the minds of folk whom you want of God’s grace? Churches need to consider whether
to serve in the best ways. You participate in a ministry of they have positioned themselves as fortresses of self-
listening and learning as you go. Outreach ideas emerge righteousness or havens of grace. (24; italics mine)
that will help you maintain contact with those you are
This statement made me pause and pray. Viars challenged
called to love.
me, and perhaps his words will challenge you to consider our
2. Keep the Bible at the center. One of Faith Church’s place in the world, as those who are called to interact with the
ministries should resonate with all of us—a church-based world. How will we do it? How will we grow in our under-
biblical counseling center. Life is hard and full of pain. standing of grace and move forward in love as we deliver the
Needs are deep and many. We all understand this. We gospel that has rescued us from sin and death and hell? How
can we all grow in our pity toward those who do not (yet)
know Jesus? What will we do to love our community?
Home Missions Today
For up-to-date news and prayer requests, The author is associate general secretary for the Committee on
receive our newsletter by emailing Home Missions.
HomeMissionsToday@opc.org. New editions
will be published on June 9 and 23. Loving Your Community, by Stephen Viars. Baker Books, 2020.
Paperback, 240 pages, $12.14 (Amazon).
NEW HORIZONS / JUNE 2021 / 15You can also read
