Exciting Changes

The past year has been an exceptionally dynamic time for the Christian Restoration Association as we have navigated through several substantial changes. Perhaps the most dynamic is the recent hiring of Jim Book as the Associate Director of Church Ministry Development. In this capacity, Jim will work directly with local congregations to assist their efforts to expand externally to accomplish new ministry opportunities. 

With over thirty years in located ministry, Jim brings to the CRA a wealth of experience perfectly suited to fill this new position. He is truly a master at taking a vision for ministry expansion and turning it into reality. The congregations he served in Florida launched numerous externally focused ministries — college campus ministries, homeless and disadvantaged outreach, Christian schools, weekly jail ministry, multiple language group Sunday morning worship services, upwards basketball youth outreach, Celebrate Recovery programs, and more. Jim has the unique ability to take any outreach possibility and turn it into a fully functional, successful ministry. 

As the Associate Director, Jim is available to partner with local church ministers, elders, and congregations to develop externally focused ministries which best fit their locality and context. In addition, he can also provide personal coaching, leadership development, and vision casting services to local church ministers and elderships. 

If you would like additional information about how you can work directly with Jim to achieve even greater ministry victories, contact Jim directly at jim@thecra.org. 

Welcome aboard, Jim! 

From my first exposure to Restoration Movement principles, the concept of New Testament Christianity resonated with me. I quickly embraced the tried-and-true concepts such as “The Bible only makes Christians only” and “The Bible is our only rule of faith and practice.” Occasionally I read or hear something that reminds me how much I love our Restoration Movement principles, and an article I recently read did this very thing. 

The article, which appeared on a Catholic website, entitled Why Women Cannot Be Deacons immediately attracted my attention. Without hesitation I proceed to read, curious as to how this proposition would be defended. 

What struck me about the article — and why it reminded me of how much I love the Restoration Movement — is that in 1,702 words there was not a single Bible verse cited in defense of the proposition. Yes, it did contain four Bible references, but these were not cited to strengthen the author’s argument. 

Instead, the article focused upon this one statement: “The central reality of the Eucharist is reserved only to ordained men due to the Sacrament’s properly nuptial signification.” In other words, in Catholicism, Communion (i.e., Eucharist) is seen as “the proleptici wedding feast. … It is the sacramental act of Christ giving Himself as bridegroom to His bride, the church.” In the Catholic church, deacons officiate the Lord’s Supper. Also, in Catholicism the Lord’s Supper is a preview of the coming celebration of the bridegroom Christ’s wedding with His bride, the church. Therefore, since the only proper biblical marriage is a man with a woman, only men can be deacons because they represent Christ in this wedding ceremony. 

Overall, the article was quite interesting. The problem, of course, is that the entire argument has no basis in Scripture. I can only imagine how much more compelling, instructive, and influential the article would have been had it simple stated, “Because the Bible says so,” followed by the Bible references proving just that. This is why this article reminded me how much I love the Restoration Movement. 

It is refreshing to answer Bible questions by simply turning to an appropriate Bible text and reading. When asked what is required for salvation, to turn to Mark 16:16 and read, “He who believes and is baptize will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”ii When investigating the purpose of the weekly observance of the Lord’s Supper, to turn to 1 Corinthians 11:25-26 and read, “This do … in remembrance of Me … for as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.” On and on we could go. 

Jesus promised the apostles the Holy Spirit would teach them all things (John 14:26) and guide them into all truth (John 16:13), and this the Holy Spirit did. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 2:20 the church is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets — to properly build the church we are to teach, and practice what is explicitly taught in the Scriptures. Furthermore, Peter exhorts us in 1 Peter 4:11, “if anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God.” In other words, we are to call Bible things by Bible names; even the language we use is to come straight from the Scriptures. 

Yes, I love the Restoration Movement and New Testament Christianity. It’s nice to be reminded of that, regardless of the source.