From First Reformed Church of Aberdeen, SD, Rev. Hank Bowen reports on the class Defending Our Hope.
Ten high school students from several churches gathered over six weeks, viewing two lectures each session, to benefit greatly from the course “Defending Our Hope.” Our format was to open with prayer, view the lectures by Dr. Camden Bucey of Reformed Forum, and then take the multiple-choice quizzes at the end of each lesson. Following the quiz, the group went over the questions, discussing not only what the right answer was but why the other choices were wrong. The participants expressed a deeper understanding and enthusiasm for apologetics at the end of the course. They particularly found that the quizzes generated great discussions and that the course helped them to grow in their faith, ability, and desire to defend their faith. An added fruit of the study is that it resulted in a deeper understanding of what Christ has done for them as their Lord and Savior.
Testimonials from High School Students who took the Defending Our Hope Course
“I really loved the course because of how it was set up. It wasn’t just a sermon that comes in one ear and out the other. I like how we took a small quiz to cement the facts. I also loved how our pastor didn’t just give the correct answers; he also explained why the other options were false. This was a great opportunity for discussion.”
“I really enjoyed the course because it helped me feel more prepared to share my faith and because it really drilled in that it is God and not us who saves people. We just plant the seed. I also like the quizzes at the end, as they really helped me to understand the lessons better.”
“This course was explanatory and educational. I liked how our teacher paired it with the book, Every Believer Confident, which was also very explanatory and educational.”
“I enjoyed the pressing questions. They challenged my beliefs and encouraged me to dig deeper into God’s word to understand the why of what I view in my life. More recently, I’ve been living on my own, and because of that, many have been debating me on my worldview. This course has enabled me to defend my faith and, better yet, share the gospel boldly.”
“This course helped me to better understand the Reformed Faith, and it gave me a deeper understanding of what Christ has done for me.”
“I really enjoyed how the course was put into a simple format, so that as a High School student, I could better understand my faith and how to defend it. The course also inspired me to be outgoing in saying what I believe and helped me to think more biblically and logically.”
From Providence Reformed Church of Limon, CO, Rev. Chris Bradley reports on the launch of a prison ministry
Providence Reformed Church (Limon, CO) is partnering with Good News Jail and Prison Ministries and the Colorado Department of Corrections to minister the gospel to the inmates of Limon Correctional Facility, a medium-and-high-security state prison.Through the ministry of Providence, these men are hearing and responding to Reformed gospel preaching, Bible studies, and one-on-one counseling. They have shown a great hunger to hear God’s Word, and especially the Doctrines of Grace. Our most recent efforts are a large-group (~30-40 men) Bible study in Daniel and a small-group (~10-15 men) study on the sacraments using the Heidelberg Catechism and the Westminster Confession. We would welcome your prayers to grow this ministry, and especially for the large handful of faithful and mature men who are doing the work of evangelism and who are bearing fruit for Christ’s kingdom.