Foi et Vie Réformées

Ministry Statement - Newsletter january 2000

In joyful obedience to the command of our Lord Jesus-Christ to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God to all nations and make of them disciples (Matt. 28:18-20; Luke 1:8);

-in the recognition that the Lord of the Church has established her and given her true marks -namely the pure proclamation of His Word, the pure administration of the sacraments and the pure exercise of discipline- within the dynamic of this Great Commission and not outside or parallel to it (Matt. 28:18-20);

• in the firm belief that the Sovereign Triune God has chosen for Himself a people before the foundation of the world, that He sends servants and uses means unique to each epoch in order to gather His elected ones within His Covenant of Grace (Eph. 1:3-14; Isaiah 55:10-11; 56:3-8; Rom. 10:14-18; II Tim. 4:1-2);
• confessing that mankind is lost in its sins without the saving power of Jesus-Christ -the only Mediator-, and that only the Holy Spirit has the power to bring regeneration in the heart of sinners for a radical conversion and a life of sanctification to the glory of God (John 3:16; Rom. 8:12-17);
• confessing that the Bible is the Word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit of God Himself beyond its human authors (II Tim. 3:16, II Peter 1:20); and that this Holy Scripture is authoritative normative and sufficient in all matters of life and faith;

the ministry of "FOI ET VIE RÉFORMÉES" (Reformed Faith and Life), is wholeheartedly committed to:

• Proclaiming the whole counsel of God in the French language through the means of radio-broadcasts, literature and any other appropriate means;
• Maintaining strict adherence to the Reformed creeds and confessions (Gallicana & Belgica confessions; Heidelberg Catechism; Dordt Canons inter alia);
• Presenting a Biblical world and life view in its ministry and underscoring a non-dualistic approach of life, whose totality stands under the lordship of Jesus-Christ;
• Underscoring a covenantal approach to the Proclamation of God's Word.

The ministry and minister of "FOI ET VIE RÉFORMÉES" do not stand on their own, independent of any church supervision. They stand under the oversight of the Church Council of Potchefstroom-North Reformed Church (R.C.S.A., South Africa) in full cooperation and agreement with the Radio Administration Committee (R.A.C.) a Reformed interdenominational response to the Lord's great commission to the Church, based in the U.S.A. Each member of the R.A.C. adheres strictly to one or several Reformed creeds and confessions, as mentioned above.

Further, in the following matters pertaining to the life of the Church and her doctrine, "FOI ET VIE RÉFORMÉES" takes the following stances :

• It seeks to encourage and facilitate appropriate forms of diaconal help towards Christian churches and communities on the African continent.
• It proclaims that in the true Church, ethnic, tribal and cultural differences are not an obstacle to the unity of believers in the universal faith delivered once for all.
• It aims at establishing or strengthening self-supportive churches and equipping the saints, particularly to the special offices of elder and deacon. It does not condone the ordination of women to the special offices of minister and elder in the Church. Further, it seeks to bring French speaking churches in fellowship with each other for mutual intercession, for a common testimony to the Kingdom of God and for the reformation of society according to the Word of God.
• It repudiates the teaching of evolution as the means whereby the Creator would have brought the different species of life on earth.

Dear friends of "Foi et Vie Réformées"

In the beginning of this year, I wish to share with you with gratitude about the presence and the blessings of our Lord towards our radio-ministry in French. Truly he is the Lord of all the millenia and of all the ages: you have been intrumental by your prayers and your support in making it possible for a group of confessing Reformed Christians (RRAC) to start a Reformed radio-ministry in French maintaining the same line as the one followed by Rev. A.R. Kayayan for many years. After a little more than one year, we have 2 weekly programmes running in Africa on Short Waves, weekly broadcasts on a number of local stations (the last being Radio-Outreach in Bujumbura, capital of the little state Burundi), but also one programme per week put on satellite (every Sunday evening)… This last broadcast started early in December, and will allow more local stations in Francophone countries of Africa to receive our programmes, so that the Gospel of our Lord may be clearly proclaimed and heard.

In the meantime, letters of listeners start coming in. Let me share with you the following excerpts written by a listener of Tizi-Ouzou (Algeria): "I am infinitely thankful to my Heavenly Father who directed me towards listening the programme "Foi et Vie Réformées". Every Monday evening I follow with much enthusiasm what you teach me. It is very rich in divine science and educative wisdom, accessible to any believer, and meets our spiritual desires and needs. It greatly contributes to strengthening my faith and roots in my mind the reasons to believe, as well as the joy to believe in my heart.". All the glory be to God, Who, through our radio-broadcasts, allows us to reach isolated Christians surrounded by an hostile Muslim environment -like this Algerian listener-.

We are greatly encouraged by these positive reactions, and we envisage to enlarge the spectrum of our broadcasts in Africa. Many doors are open to "Foi et Vie Réformées", provided that the necessary funds allow us to make use of these possibilities. We are considering putting one weekly programme on the air via FEBA-Radio, in order to reach the islands of the Indian Ocean (Madagascar in particular, but also Mauritius, the Comores and Seychelles islands) as well as parts of Eastern Africa. The Muslim influence in this region of the world is strong and growing.

North Africa, and predominantly Muslim countries like Algeria, Tunisia or Morocco can also be more efficiently reached via powerful European stations (like Deutsche Telekom), which can sell us time on the air. Would you believe that even Radio-Moscow opens its doors to Christian programmes like those of "Foi et Vie Réformées"? Will you pray with us that these exciting new doors may be used for spreading the Biblical faith, which alone can bring salvation and transform lives?

But our ministry also consists in sending written material to our listeners, and planning visits to young Christian communities in need of solid training. Available literature, as well as the text of the broadcasts, are freely sent to whoever asks for it. At the moment, the text of our programmes is used in several places during Sunday worship services in Central Congo, where qualified ministers of the Word are scarce. Alongside the buying of time on broadcasting stations (whether they are Christian or not), mailing costs are also part of our expenses: most of our listeners can not afford to buy books or help us with the mailing of Christian literature to them.

Before travelling to West Africa, I had the privilege to attend the annual meeting of our Reformed Radio Administation Committee (RRAC) in the U.S.A. and could meet personally some of its members for the first time. Among other things we looked forward to the setting of a website where all information and documentation concerning the ministry of "Foi et Vie Réformées" could be stored and made available to any Internet user in the world. We are thankful though that through Eurafilm we may already be able to supply you with the present newsletter as well as other documents concerning our radio-ministry.

From West Africa to the West Indies (Caribbean islands): in its 20th of August edition, a French magazine reports that Haiti still ranks as the poorest country in the world. The journalist describes the misery he saw in Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. With some irony, he notes that one of the capital's "tap-tap" (buses) presents a sign on which one can read: "Christ able". The journalist sarcastically comments: "If Christ made a stop in Port-au-Prince, he did not stay there for long". From my side, I can only say: Christ is present in Haiti, which is called like any other nation in the world to submit to His law and rule, if it is to prosper economically and otherwise. Christ is also present in Haiti in the life of many believers. Further Christ will be present in Haiti because the programmes of "Foi et Vie Réformées" are now being sent to four FM stations, which will broadcast them. There too, they will speak to listeners about justice according to God, about the question or revenge and forgiveness, unity in Christ, God's sovereignty over all spheres of life, true worship and idolatry, Biblical work ethics etc.

The challenges are great, but the reasons to be thankful far greater, for our great God is working powerfully by His mighty Spirit. He is the One Who gives, and no one can repay Him for His gracious gifts. Therefore, together with the apostle Paul (Rom. 11:33-36), we can rejoice:

"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!
Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?
Who has ever given to God,
That God should repay him?
For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen"

Pasteur Éric Kayayan

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