During this season of Advent in the church calendar, we focus on the theme of waiting—waiting at once for the annual celebration of the Incarnation at Christmas and for the return of Christ at the end of the age. Accordingly, I want to begin by wishing all of you a joyful Christmas as well as God's blessings in the new year.
In this final month of the 2022, I again issue a special appeal for your financial and prayer support for my work with Global Scholar's Canada. Here once again is where your funding goes:
- I draw a small monthly salary from these funds to supplement my private and public pension income, and together they cover a portion of the time and energy put into the various responsibilities I have taken on.
- The funds cover equipment, supplies, books, and other incidental expenses incurred in my work. The computer on which I work and the connected printer are two of the major pieces of equipment provided by your generous contributions.
- Assuming that the pandemic eases and my health improves, I hope that opportunities to travel will return. Your contributions will help to make this possible, especially where resources in the host country are scarce.
GSC's page for giving can be found here. Once you are in the page, scroll down to the heading marked DONATION DETAILS, and then choose one of the options under FUND. Americans may donate through our sister organization in the US. If you cannot afford to give, please do continue to pray for my work. God does work through our prayers for each other. Thanks once again to those of you who have been faithful in supporting my work both financially and in your prayers.
The Canadian periodical Faith Today carries an insert in its latest issue called LOVEISMOVING, which calls itself "Canada's Christian Young Adult Magazine." Included in its pages are four books which their staff recommend. One staff member, Ilana, recommends my first book:
In Political Visions and Illusions, David Koyzis gives an overview of the historical background of key ideologies of our time, including liberalism, conservatism,nationalism, and socialism. While the book isn't a "light" read, it is written in an accessible way, so that even those without much background knowledge on the topics will find it valuable and informative. For each ideology, Koyzis highlights the good as well as the subtle ways these ideologies become idolatrous. For any Christian seeking to engage thoughtfully in public life, particularly in politics, this book is a necessary read.
I am, of course, grateful for this endorsement.
Late last month I was privileged to interview Jonathan Chaplin on the subject of his most recent book, Beyond Establishment: Resetting Church-State Relations in England. In this book and in our conversation, Chaplin advocated that the Church of England, of which he is a lifelong member, take the initiative to sever the centuries-old link to the British state. In so doing, he quite handily lays to rest the arguments of the antidisestablishmentarians. (Remember that word from elementary school?) In July Chaplin interviewed me on my Political Visions and Illusions, so I was in effect returning the favour. Both interviews were part of the Iron Sharpens Iron series of the Thinking Faith Network.
A recent article in Christianity Today reveals that, for first time, the largest segment of American Protestantism is now made up of nondenominational churches. This inspired me to write a response to this major shift in that country's religious life: Nondenominational churches and the liberal narrative. While the move to independent congregations is understandable in the wake of the deterioration of the Protestant mainline, I believe that over the long term this trend will eviscerate the institutional character of the gathered church community and make of it one more voluntary association. While this post didn't exactly go viral, it was picked up on Twitter by Presbyterian pastor Derek Radney who called it "a must read for American Christians." Days later I recorded a video commentary based on the post.
During the World Cup soccer/football competition, the people at Invisible College in Brazil put together an alternate national team composed of Reformed Christian thinkers and authors, and in their infinite wisdom they made me a goalie! This is quite the step up from my elementary school years when I was invariably the last person in gym class to be chosen for any team sport.
On 7 December I was privileged to address an online gathering of ANAJURE, the National Association of Evangelical Jurists in Brazil, at the invitation of its executive director, Gabriel Dayan Stevão de Matos. Two days later I talked with the latest cohort in the CARE Leadership Programme in the United Kingdom. CARE stands for Christian Action, Research, and Education.
One of IVP's editors, Jon Boyd, mentioned my article, Can Christian Higher Education Stay the Course, in Excursus.
By now those of you who have contributed financially to my work should have received a personal thank you card from me. Let me reiterate my gratitude for your generous support for my academic ministry with Global Scholars Canada. For those of you not in a position to offer this form of support, I nevertheless deeply appreciate your prayers for my continued work. May the new year bring God's blessings to you and your households.
Yours in Christ,
David Koyzis, Global Scholar
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