Sunday, December 27, 2015

Mission In India






Since September of this year, we have begun a mission in Kalyan, India just outside of Mumbai (Bombay).  Since its beginning, there have been over 150 baptisms and 18 weddings.  We have just broken ground on the church building.  Pray for our mission and the minister and congregation.

New Church Building





Congregation


Pastor Michael Goel Baptizing Converts

Sunday, November 8, 2015

Reaffirmation Of Christmas Directive

Why don’t Puritans celebrate Christmas?

  • Jesus commanded that we commemorate his death, not his birth.—Luke 22:19, 20.
  • Jesus’ apostles and early disciples did not celebrate Christmas. The New Catholic Encyclopedia says that “the Nativity feast was instituted no earlier than 243 [C.E.],” more than a century after the last of the apostles died.
  • There is no proof that Jesus was born on December 25; his birth date is not recorded in the Bible.
  • We believe that Christmas is not approved by God because it is rooted in pagan customs and rites.—2 Corinthians 6:17.




Many Christians still celebrate Christmas despite knowing about its pagan roots and lack of support from the Bible. Such persons could ask: Why should Christians take such an unpopular stance? Why make it an issue?

The Bible encourages Christians to think for ourselves, to use our “power of reason.” (Romans 12:1, 2) It teaches us to value the truth. (John 4:23, 24) So while we are interested in how others view us, we adhere to Bible principles even if it means that we become unpopular.

Although Puritans choose not to celebrate Christmas ourselves, we respect each person’s right to decide for himself in this matter. We do not interfere in the Christmas celebrations of others.

Millions of Christians worldwide celebrate Christmas for various reasons. Some enjoy festive times with friends and family. Others think about God or devote time to helping the poor or needy. By themselves, these are undoubtedly worthy deeds. However, they are clouded by the dark side of this holiday.

First, many celebrants believe that Christmas is a birthday celebration for Jesus. However, historians widely concur that the date of his birth is unknown. The Christian Book of Why notes that “the early Christians refused to set aside a date marking Jesus’ birth” because they wanted “to divorce themselves from all pagan practices.” Interestingly, the Bible gives no indication that Jesus ever celebrated his own birthday or anyone else’s. In contrast, he did command his followers to commemorate his death.—Luke 22:19.

Second, many scholars agree that most Christmas traditions have their roots in non-Christian and pagan customs. These include Santa Claus, as well as using mistletoe and the Christmas tree, exchanging gifts, burning candles and Yule logs, hanging decorative wreaths, and caroling. Regarding some of these customs, the book The Externals of the Catholic Church observed: “When we give or receive Christmas gifts, and hang green wreaths in our homes and churches, how many of us know that we are probably observing pagan customs?”

You, though, may wonder what is wrong with following these seemingly innocent customs. Consider this third point as an answer. God does not approve of the blending of pagan customs with pure worship. Through His prophet Amos, God said to His wayward worshippers in ancient Israel: “I hate, I despise your festivals . . . Spare me the din of your songs.”—Amos 5:21, 23.

Why such strong words? Consider what the people of the northern kingdom of ancient Israel were doing. Their first king, Jeroboam, placed golden calves in the cities of Dan and Bethel and induced the people to worship these rather than to worship God properly at the temple in Jerusalem. The king also instituted festivals and appointed priests to help the people celebrate them.—1 Kings 12:26-33.

What those Israelites did was seemingly for a good cause. After all, were they not doing all these things in the name of worshipping God and pleasing him? God’s strong words through Amos and other prophets indicate clearly just how God felt about such practices. Through the prophet Malachi, God said: “I am your God; I do not change.” (Malachi 3:6) Does that not tell us how God feels about the many Christmas celebrations today?

After considering the above facts, millions of people have decided to abstain from celebrating Christmas. Instead, they find joy and true satisfaction in spending time with their friends and family and in helping the poor and needy whenever they wish throughout the year.



Wednesday, July 8, 2015

US Synod President Paul Duff and Newly Consecrated Bishop Charles Winston

US Puritan Synod President, Bishop Paul Duff

We wish to congratulate Bishop Paul Duff, of the Houston Presbytery, on being elected President of the US Puritan Synod.  The results of voting: 358 Yea, 21 Nay.

Bishop Duff's term shall be from July 15, 2015 to July 31, 2018.

Giving Sermon At Installation Service


We also wish to congratulate newly consecrated Bishop of the San Francisco Presbytery, Rev. Charles Winston.  Voting results:
Rev. Winston 214
Rev. Liang 106
Rev. Saltillo 63

Bishop Winston shall begin as Bishop on July 15.  Bishop Winston shall pastor Columbia Heights Puritan Church in San Francisco, CA.

Bishop Charles Winston, Consecration Service

Saturday, June 27, 2015

Puritan Church In America Response To Supreme Court Ruling


As Christians, we are committed to Biblical faith and ethics. Puritans stand on the authority of Christ and God's Truth in Scripture as central to our lives.

What the Bible says about marriage is clear, definitive and unchanging. We affirm biblical, traditional, natural marriage as the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. The Scriptures' teaching on marriage is not negotiable. We stake our lives upon the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

Consequently, we will not accept, nor adhere to, any legal redefinition of marriage issued by any political or judicial body of any secular nation or court. We will not recognize same-sex "marriages", our churches will not host same-sex ceremonies, and we will not perform such ceremonies. 

While we affirm our love for all people, including those struggling with same-sex attraction, we cannot and will not affirm the moral acceptability of homosexual behavior or any behavior that deviates from God's design for marriage. We also believe religious freedom is at stake within this critical issue – that our first duty is to love and obey God, not man.

Therefore, we strongly encourage all Christian pastors, leaders, educators, and churches to openly reject any mandated legal definition of marriage and to use their influence to affirm God's design for life and relationships. 

We join together with those all over the world who define marriage as between one man and one woman for life.

Monday, June 22, 2015

Bishop Candidates For Presbytery of San Francisco

Rev Charles Winston


Born in Souix City, Iowa and graduated from Sioux City High School.  Graduated from Hyles-Anderson College.  Graduated from Manchester Puritan Seminary (Manchester, Iowa) and ordained Puritan Minister in 1991.  STD from Cromwell Puritan Graduate Seminary, 1998.

Pastor Dubuque Bible Church, Dubuque, IA 1993-1996
Pastor Gardenview Fellowship, Kansas City, MO, 1996-2000
Pastor Kansas City Bible Church, Kansas City, MO, 2000-

Mission work performed in Mexico and The Philippines.



Rev. Jaime Saltillo

Born in Los Angeles, CA and graduated from Roosevelt High School.  Graduated from Southern California Bible Institute.  Graduated from Western Puritan Seminary and ordained Puritan Minister in 1997. 

Pastor Los Angeles Union Gospel Mission, Los Angeles, CA 1997-2007
Pastor Happy Hollow Bible Church, Orange County, CA 2007-2014
Pastor Barstow Downtown Bible Fellowship, Barstow, CA 2014-

Mission work performed in Guatemala, Peru, Puerto Rico, and Antigua.



Duan Liang


Born in Kingman, AZ.  Graduated from Wilson High School in Flagstaff, AZ.  Graduated from Christ For The Nations (Dallas, TX) and ordained a Puritan Minister in 1989.

Pastor Royal Lane Congregational Church, Dallas, TX 1989-2000
Pastor Glendale Chinese Bible Fellowship, Glendale, CA 2000-2009
Pastor Los Angeles Chinese Fellowship, Los Angeles, CA 2009-
Director of Orange County Gospel Mission, 2012-

Mission work in Taiwan, China, and Hong Kong

Sunday, June 21, 2015

Retirement of Bishop Peter Morimoto - US Synod President

US Synod President - Bishop Morimoto


June 21, 2015

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

It is with heart filled with gratitude and some sadness that I tell you I shall retire as Bishop of the San Francisco Presbytery on July 12, 2015.  I shall also resign as US Synod President after the Puritan Church Convocation on July 11.

My decision to retire was not an easy one, because I love you.

I am eternally grateful to God for allowing me the wonderful opportunity to be with you these past years. My time as bishop has been filled with the splendor and joy of knowing and serving you.  I am also grateful for the 35 years I have been a minister in the Puritan Church. I look with joy as being pastor of Alameda Christian Fellowship in Alameda, CA from July 15.

Thank you Lord, for allowing me to serve you and your people as Bishop of the San Francisco Presbytery. Thank you for giving me the grace to be US Synod President. It has been a blessing that only you through God could grant. I am so grateful that you selected me to be your instrument of grace. You have been so generous with your grace in so many moments of my life. I trust and pray that I have served your beloved people with the love you and they have shown me constantly since the first moment of my arrival as a minister.

I ask that you pray for the candidates that have been selected to replace me as the Bishop of the Presbytery of San Francisco.  May we be guided by the Holy Spirit.

In Christ's love, His unworthy servant,

Rev. Peter Morimoto
US Synod President
Bishop, Presbytery of San Francisco 


Candidates for Bishop of the Presbytery of San Francisco 

Rev. Charles Winston, Kansas City, MO
 


Rev. Jaime Saltillo, Barstow, CA




Rev. Duan Liang, Los Angeles, CA

2015 Convocation



The 2015 Convocation of the Puritan Church in America is scheduled for July 8-11 in Boston,MA.

The Convocation shall be held at the Boston Plaza Hotel.

We will cover the following:

Electing a new bishop for the Presbytery of San Francisco, CA following the retirement of Bishop Peter Morimoto on July 15.

Electing a new USA Synod President following Bishop Morimoto's retirement.

Addressing the anthropocentric global warming issue.

Politics and the church.

Homosexual marriage.

Statement on Israel.

We ask that all pastors arrange to attend and that all member representatives of churches attend as all measures will require voting to adopt.

Monday, June 1, 2015

2015 Directory

Use the Contact Form on the sidebar to the right to enquire more information for Puritan Church in America church and fellowship locations.  

Many of our churches are home churches, some meet in hotels or the congregation has had a building constructed. Some are very old churches.  There is no "typical" Puritan congregation.  Some have split from their denominations for various reasons and come to our call to be autonomous fellowships.  

A few simply wish to share unity with Puritans as a fellowship of believers where we welcome them and they welcome us.  All share the Puritan desire to give glory to God in all we do.

USA Presbyteries

 

Plymouth Presbytery (yellow)
Bishop Rev. James Hill

Houston Presbytery (striped)
Bishop Rev. Paul Duff 

San Francisco Presbytery (maroon)
Bishop Rev. Peter Morimoto


Mission Presbyteries

Japan Presbytery
Bishop Rev. Daniel Rea

Hong Kong Presbytery
Bishop Rev. Paul Wong

UK Presbytery
Bishop Rev. Peter Masters

Australia - New Zealand Presbytery
Melbourne, Australia
Christ Church, New Zealand
Bishop Rev. Paul Warneke


Churches in full communion

Free Reformed Churches of North America

Independent Baptist Church

Reformed Presbyterian Church General Assembly

Reformed Presbyterian Church North America

Church of Christ (Free Churches)

Traditional Church of Christ


 

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Statement On Idols, Images, and Ancestors

As there have been many converts from Buddhism, Hinduism, and other faiths over the years we feel it is necessary to make the following statement.

It is a tradition in Buddhist, Shinto, and Hindu homes to have an altar with incense, candles, and statues.  These home altars are used to offer daily food and drink to ancestors.  This practice must stop in Christian homes.  Once one has accepted Christ as Savior then all associated Pagan traditions are to end.

Some have had images or shrines in their home for years after converting to Christianity.  People may see these as merely cultural items, or they may even feel attached to some of these items. But God is the one who says how He should be worshipped, and the Bible teaches that He does not want us to use images. (Read Exodus 20:4, 5; Psalm 115:4-8; Isaiah 42:8; 1 John 5:21) 

So you can take a stand for true worship by destroying any items you own that are connected with false worship. By all means, come to view them as Christ does—as something “detestable.”—Deuteronomy 27:15.

Ancestor worship also is common in many false  religions. Before learning Bible truth, some believed that the dead are conscious in an invisible realm and that they can help or harm the living. Perhaps you used to go to great lengths to appease your dead ancestors. The Pagan dead are in Hell and have no conscious existence anywhere. Thus, attempts to communicate with them are of no use. Any messages that seem to come from a dead loved one really originate with the demons. Therefore, God forbade the Israelites to try to talk with the dead or to participate in any other form of spiritism.—Read Deuteronomy 18:10-12.

If the use of images or the practice of ancestor worship was part of your former way of worship, what can you do? Read and ponder over Bible passages that show you how God views these things. Pray to Jehovah daily about your desire to take a stand for true worship, and ask him to help you to think as he does.—Isaiah 55:9.

As the Apostle Paul urges in Romans 12:1:

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.