Sovereign Grace Churches: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
Timothy6 20 (talk | contribs) Unverifiable claim- please see discussion page |
||
| Line 88: | Line 88: | ||
}} |
}} |
||
</ref>. |
</ref>. |
||
Neither the official website of Sovereign Grace Ministries nor that of [[Covenant Life Church]] contain any reference to [[Larry Tomczak|Tomczak's]] role in their history |
|||
<ref> |
|||
{{cite website |
|||
|url = http://www.sovereigngraceministries.org/ |
|||
|title = SGM Official Website |
|||
|accessdate = 2008-02-28 |
|||
}}</ref><ref> |
|||
{{cite website |
|||
|url = http://www.covlife.org/ |
|||
|title = Covenant Life Official Website |
|||
|accessdate = 2008-02-28 |
|||
}}</ref>. In fact, no current written or printed output of SGM acknowledges its co-founder. |
|||
==Recent Developments== |
==Recent Developments== |
||
Revision as of 15:05, 5 March 2008
Sovereign Grace Ministries (SGM) is a group of Christian churches primarily located in North America [1]. It also encompases congregations in Bolivia, Ethiopia, Great Britain and Mexico[2].
Previous Names
Sovereign Grace Ministries was known as People of Destiny International until 1998, when its name was shortened to PDI Ministries[3]. British restorationist leader Terry Virgo claims that the change was a result of then-leaders Larry Tomczak and CJ Mahaney becoming "increasingly uncomfortable" with the "People of Destiny International" tag[4]. A further name change came in the early 2000s, as the group rebranded itself "Sovereign Grace Ministries".
History and Leadership Changes
The organization of over 70 member churches grew out of the charismatic renewal of the 1970s under the leadership of Larry Tomczak and has its roots in the Gathering of Believers (now Covenant Life Church) in Maryland. It was formally established in 1982[5]. CJ Mahaney, whom Larry Tomczak had been asked to "take under [his] wing and help... grow in the faith" in 1972, was the co-founder of both Covenant Life and People of Destiny[6][7]. The pair were both close to the leaders of British restorationism - speaking at New Frontiers' Bible Weeks and Stoneleigh Conference - and were also associated with Maranatha Campus Ministries for a period[8].
Tomczak eventually left the leadership of PDI in 1998 and has subsequently suggested that the increasingly Calvinistic theology of PDI was a major factor in this parting of the ways [9][10]. He has also described the parting of the ways as "an unbelievable nightmare" during which his family were "were threatened in various ways if we did not cooperate with [SGM]... A letter was circulated in an attempt to discredit me and to distort the events surrounding my departure"[11]. Other notable charismatic figures, such as Lou Engle, founder of The Call prayer concerts, and Che Ahn, pastor of Harvest Rock Church in Pasadena, also ceased to be formally associated with PDI during this period[12].
Recent Developments
In recent years, Sovereign Grace has moved closer to the Reformed wing of the evangelical church. It has partnered with speakers such as John MacArthur, author of Charismatic Chaos (which accuses the charismatic movement of "error" and of being responsible for undermining the "sufficiency of scripture") [13]. Other friends of SGM include Mark Dever, RC Sproul and John Piper, who speak at the Together for the Gospel Conferences[14].
SGM currently describes its theology as "evangelical, Reformed, and charismatic"[15]. Sovereign Grace's apostolic leadership team is currently led by C.J. Mahaney and is based in Gaithersburg, Maryland where it shares a building with Covenant Life[16][17].
Publishing Ventures
Magazine
SGM/PDI published a magazine for about twenty years. It was initially entitled "People of Destiny", with the title later changing to "Sovereign Grace"[18]. The first issue had the the words "Are You A Pioneer - Or A Settler?" on the front cover[19]. Larry Tomczak was the founding editor of the magazine, while CJ Mahaney oversaw its closure.
Books
Larry Tomczak was a popular author with mainstream Christian publishers from the early 1970s onwards[20][21][22][23]. During the 1990s, SGM launched the self-published series of "Pursuit of Godliness" books, each penned by SGM authors[24][25]. In recent years, since published author Joshua Harris joined the staff of Covenant Life Church, CJ Mahaney has also achieved mainstream Christian recognition as an author[26].
Related Articles
External links
References
- ^ "SGM Official Website". Retrieved 2008-02-29.
- ^ "SGM Official Website". Retrieved 2008-03-04.
- ^ "Christianity Today". 1998-04-27. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
- ^
Virgo, Terry. No Well Worn Paths. p. p.145.
{{cite book}}:|page=has extra text (help) - ^
"Charisma Magazine". Charisma Magazine. 2000-07. Retrieved 2008-02-09.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Tomczak, Larry. Clap Your Hands.
- ^
Tomczak, Larry. Clap Your Hands. p. p.164.
{{cite book}}:|page=has extra text (help) - ^
Virgo, Terry. No Well Worn Paths. p. p.162.
{{cite book}}:|page=has extra text (help) - ^
"Charisma Magazine". Charisma Magazine. 2000-07. Retrieved 2008-02-09.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Tomczak, Larry (1998). What Do You Believe About How People get Saved?.
- ^
Tomczak, Larry. Reckless Abandon. p. p.15.
{{cite book}}:|page=has extra text (help) - ^ Engle, Lou. Digging the Wells of Revival.
- ^ MacArthur, John. Charismatic Chaos.
- ^
"T4G 2008 Conference". Retrieved 2008-02-28.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|name=ignored (help) - ^ "SGM Official Website". Retrieved 2008-02-28.
- ^ "SGM Official Website". Retrieved 2008-02-28.
- ^ "SGM Official Website". Retrieved 2008-02-28.
- ^
"People of Destiny, Sovereign Grace". 1982-2002?.
{{cite magazine}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Cite magazine requires|magazine=(help) - ^
"People of Destiny, Issue One". 1982.
{{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires|magazine=(help) - ^ Tomczak, Larry. Clap Your Hands. ISBN 978-0884192527.
- ^ Tomczak, Larry. Divine Appointments. ISBN 978-1560433200.
- ^ Tomczak, Larry. Reckless Abandon. ISBN 978-0884198765.
- ^ Tomczak, Larry. God, the Rod and Your Child's Bod.
- ^ CJ Mahaney and Robin Boisvert. Why Small Groups. ISBN 978-1881039068.
- ^ CJ Mahaney and Greg Somerville. How Can I Change?. ISBN 978-1881039037.
- ^ CJ Mahaney. Living the Cross-Centred Life. ISBN 978-1590525784.