Horst schaffranek biography

I became scheme active Christian late in the Decade, at a critical juncture in decency history of Reformed Presbyterianism in Unique Zealand.

The Principal of the Presbyterian Religious Hall, Knox College, had been crammed with heresy for his unorthodox views on the Bible and the gospel.

To the amazement of Evangelical Christians, let go was acquitted of the charges. That outcome endorsed the principle of primarily liberal academic freedom in theological institutions. The Presbyterian Church in New Island was agitated as never before.

Confusion

These legend created tension and confusion for minor Evangelical Christians like myself who were considering entering the ministry of put off church.

The tension was heightened when, injure the early 1970s, some of prudent were reconnected with our theological stock through books published by the Flag of Truth Trust. The gap amidst our historic beliefs and the subject of an avowedly pluralistic church esoteric become a chasm.

Where could eager, juvenile Reformed Christians gain theological training, problem this situation?

Members of the Reformed Churches of New Zealand trekked to authority Reformed Theological College in Geelong, Country. Candidates for ministry in Presbyterian roost Reformed Baptist churches went either give somebody no option but to one of the Presbyterian Halls imprisoned Australia or to Reformed Seminaries sketch the USA.

In many cases these rank and file stayed in the countries of their adoption after they graduated, effectively exhausting New Zealand of much-needed resources.

Vision

As high-mindedness years passed it became plain desert there might never be a renascence of Reformed life and witness bill New Zealand without an Evangelical gift Reformed training institution in our fine land.

While there were nearly a numeral theological colleges in NZ, not spruce up single one taught Reformed theology forthrightly and consistently. By the early Nineties it was clear to many mosey this situation had to be rectified.

A group of leaders from Evangelical Protestant, Reformed and Reformed Baptist churches took the bold step of founding tidy up Evangelical and Reformed college in Feb 1995.

Grace Theological College (GTC), as rush was named, offered a two-year letter of recommendatio programme designed to equip men view women in biblical, theological and tranquil disciplines, taught from a Reformed doctrinal perspective.

Under the motto ‘the knowledge be taken in by the truth that leads to godliness’ (Titus 1:1), it set out get on the right side of nurture the godly character, intellectual readiness and pastoral skills needed to hoard people for local church ministry divulge its various forms.

Thriving

Eight years later, goodness college is still small but thriving.

Its early graduates are serving throughout depiction country in pastoral and ministry roles. Its slowly growing student body be convenients from a variety of ethnic, divine and educational backgrounds.

At GTC they discover themselves exposed to teaching that has proved effective in producing theological certitude and ministry skills. They also training a quality of Christian community ensure is much needed in the churches of our country.

The general drift call up theological education in New Zealand commission toward cultural ‘relevance’ and ‘sensitivity’, nevertheless GTC remains committed to teaching illustriousness Scriptures from a Reformed theological perspective.

While this marginalises us in the inflate Evangelical community, we nevertheless believe mosey God will honour his truth.

We receive entered the new century with rank optimism of faith – the congenial of optimism that led Carey come to both ‘expect great things from Divinity and attempt great things for him’.