Dear friends

What is exorcism?  Is it practised in Reformed churches?  What is the meaning of these Bible verses: “Confess your sins to each other’ (James 5:15 )?  Who are the “sons of God and the daughters of men” (Gen. 6:2)?  May Christians approve of  the use of condoms? Is it not favoring unethical sexual conduct? Isn’t it against the order of nature and God’s Creation?  Is AIDS a scourge sent by God (in the light of Rev. 6)?

Those are some of the questions which lay on my table as I write to you, and to which I have to answer.  Most have come via the e-mail, and are asked by African Christians who listen to Reformed Faith and Life radio-broadcasts.  They indicate how seriously these Christians take the Bible, since they are searching  for answers in its pages, though not finding them at first glance.  Many  Westerners who consider themselves to be Christians, would simply dismiss such a search.  Answers to these questions, they would contend, are exclusively to be found in modern psychology, anthropology or epidemiology.  Forget about the Bible…  But for my correspondents, it is evident that the whole of life is related to God and to His authoritative Word, even though they need to deepen their spiritual understanding of this Word (as we all do!)  The other lesson which I draw from these letters, is that what we call “doctrine” is not a set of abstracts concepts, a “theory” we need to put into “practice”, but a way of living before God as renewed creatures.  Our spiritual forefathers, the Reformers, understood it precisely that way.  To a large extent, many people born and bred in a traditional Christian culture have transformed this way of life, this all-encompassing worldview, into a set of formulas which hang somewhere in the air, and to which you just have to give your  intellectual assent.

Being involved in the missionary proclamation of the Word of Life refreshes your perspectives on what Christian faith is about.  If I were to preach a mere set of formulas, I would lead my listeners to search the answers to their most basic questions in the multifaceted ideologies of our time.  But those are destined to disappear sooner or later, while the Lord tells us: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Mat. 24:35).  Of course, it places a great responsibility to preach these words carefully and thoughtfully, and to spell out their meaning and implications with the Kingdom of God as sole framework.  Is it possible?  I believe so, because the Lord who spoke these words also sent his disciples with a mandate, and assured them that he would equip them with his Holy Spirit. It is a simple matter of faith, actually…  The responses to Reformed Faith and Life’s programs which I receive, testify that the Spirit has been working through these broadcasts, helping people to make sense of their life and tribulations, helping them to see the light in the midst of darkness, giving them the courage and vision to walk ahead with our Lord Jesus-Christ as their main goal.

Will you pray with us that we may be able to continue financing further the programmes we have started?  Will you pray that we may be able to overcome logistical difficulties inherent to the African continent as it stands now?  Will you speak of the ministry of Reformed Faith and Life around you, in your church, so that in turn more believers may intercede for the French-speaking world?  Your intercession is needed, your are our partners in this missionary work.  Thank you for your continued support.

In His name

Rev. Eric kayayan