With General Assembly before us, I thought it might be helpful to steal a line from an Indiana Jones movie (Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) and offer a challenge that may serve to encourage those who attend. In spite of the fact that our passions are often most...
As many now know, on May 14, 2024, the PCA Administrative Committee decided to cancel the Assembly-wide Seminar on supporting pastors and churches in this upcoming political season. Though there were several leaders who were to be part of the panel, most of the...
General Assembly (GA), the annual gathering of the PCA, is a unique thing. It is part business meeting, part conference, and part family reunion. When you walk through the halls of GA, you’ll see everyone from denominational leaders to local church elders, church and...
For some, the title of this little essay is a bit of an oxymoron. It is like “low-fat chocolate” or “non-alcoholic whiskey.” Hope-full Presbyterianism? That’s as weird as “happy Presbyterians,” am I right? I used to tell audiences that I loved the cover of my 2006...
Mike Khandjian from the Alliance for Mission & Renewal talks to his long-time friend Ray Cortese about ministry and how to make it over the long haul.
Pier 39 is overrun by tourists but it still holds a very special place in my heart. Nestled in the northeast corner of the San Francisco Bay Peninsula, visitors mingle alongside hundreds of sea lions as the crisp ocean breeze fuses scents of kelp with local kettle...
Universities are a funnel for students from all over the world. Will the church be able to reach them without both biblical hospitality and biblical teaching?
"'You know what I want? If somebody says, 'What denomination are you in?' and you say, 'The PCA' they would say, 'I have heard of you. That is the church where the weary and wounded are welcome.'" -Ray Cortese, A Beautiful OrthodoxyPastor Ray Cortese preached the...
Scotland native David Strain is the Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, Mississippi. David is a member of the Mississippi Valley Presbytery and the primary author of Overture 23. David Richter is the pastor of City Church of East Nashville. David...
Out of over 5,200 pastors currently in the PCA, only 67 are African American. This ratio is seen not only in our pulpits but is also reflected in most church pews across the PCA. The Mission to North America African American Ministries is trying to change that statistic by helping more African Americans make a healthy home in the PCA.
