Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Nov/92

Contributor - Heino Blaauw

Title - From Baptism to Confession of Faith

Topic - Reformed Church In Canada

When Forestview Community Church was begun on November 5, 1989, chocolate cigars were handed out to all those participating in its first worship service, celebrating its birth. The prayers and promises of those in worship that morning also, as it were, "baptized" the infant church, calling forth the grace of God in blessing and trust.

Now three years later on November 27, 1992, D.V., it is the plan of this ministry to become formally organized as a member congregation of the Reformed Church in North America. For us this step represents our "confession of faith," a rite of passage into spiritual adulthood as a corporate body. When a person makes Confession of Faith it represents a recognition that the grace of God promised in baptism -has indeed taken hold of the centre of his life, bringing forth faith and obedience. In this it is an act of thanksgiving. Confession of Faith is also an act of commitment, recognizing that the indwelling Holy Spirit brings Christ's gifts and calling upon your life. Therefore it is a time to stand up and publicly count yourself a servant of God's eternal Kingdom.

The parallels to this as a corporate body are exact. On the last Friday evening of November we who have prepared and pledged ourselves to be charter members of Forestview Community Church. We will stand up to proclaim that among us exists a living faith now strong and mature enough to be counted on as a member congregation of our denomination. We are also there that evening to recognize that Christ has gifted and called us to serve his Kingdom in the Grimsby area and so we are pledging ourselves to that calling. Indeed, that evening is a corporate Confession of Faith.

To spiritually prepare our day for this step, as pastor, have been seeking to lead our people into the understanding of the church as the Army of God. The founding metaphor of our ministry has been the church as the Family of God a safe place to become brothers and sisters in the love of the Father. However, in this last while I have sensed God calling us to build on this "family" foundation to now become an Army - a group of fellow-soldiers claiming the victory of Jesus Christ over powers of darkness, seeking to inherit the fullness of the Promised Land. In broad ways our ministry parallels these developments.

At the banks of the Jordan River, prior to entering Canaan, the people of Israel made their "Confession of Faith" (Joshua 3), joining together in consecration for the task that lay ahead of them. In that same way I believe God wants us to see our upcoming Service of Organization as a time of consecration for the battles that lie ahead of us as we seek to enter more fully into the Promised Land of God's blessings.

Like Israel, we approach this event with mixed emotions - Are we big enough? Are we strong enough? Yet we sense God commanding us to go ahead with this step and we receive His words to Joshua as ours: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." (1:9)

Our other emotions are joy and gratitude. Joy at being able to be counted as a member in the larger Army of the Reformed Church in North America; joy at being able to contribute to the overall life of this force of people who have been so good to us. And therein is our gratitude - to the many people and bodies that have supported and nurtured our ministry to this stage: to our Prayer Partners; to our supporting churches St. Catharines, Wainfleet and Welland; to the Classis of Ontario, especially the Church Planning and Development Committee; to the Synod of the Great Lakes and their ACTS 11 contributors; and to all who have given to us through the Putting People in Mission fund drive. Thank you. The Lord has richly blessed us through you.

Now that you know what it means to us, we want to invite you all to join us in prayer and thanksgiving at our Worship Service of Organization on Friday, November 27, 8:00 p.m. at Central Public School, 10 Livingston Ave., Grimsby. Hope you can make it!

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