Faith In Focus 

John Haverland. Trowel & Sword, March 1993

Preamble: In 1993 John Haverland, the then editor of Faith in Focus, the magazine of the Reformed Church of New Zealand, sent the following article/advertisement to be included in Trowel and Sword. In it he refers to the history of the two magazines and various reasons CRC members on both sides of “the ditch” should be reading each other’s magazines. These reasons are just as valid today as they were then, but unfortunately, Australia has let itself down by no longer producing Trowel and Sword. If you have done the maths you will have discovered that this year is the 50th. anniversary of “Faith in Focus”. Yes it is still going strong. We have been in touch with its current editor, Walter Walraven and have been assured that he would still be extremely happy to have new subscribers from Australia. It is an excellent publication, only available online, but past copies can be viewed at https://faithinfocus.org.nz/ Subscription is $40 per year, although I am unclear whether that would be the same in A$. Please contact Walter at walterwalraven@icloud.com for further information. One final point, “Faith in Focus” could serve as an excellent template for a renewed Trowel & Sword if we in Australia chose to take up the challenge.

Faith In Focus.

Greetings from one church magazine to the readers of another!

As the present editor of Faith in Focus am writing about our magazine to encourage you to subscribe. So this is a hybrid of an article and advertisement, included with the kind permission of your editor!

Let me be clear about what am not trying to do. I am not attempting to pull readers away from Trowel and Sword. Many of us in New Zealand have been and still are subscribers to Trowel and Sword. We receive it regularly and read it with profit. Some of our congregations have bulk subscriptions to the magazine, the session supplying every family or unit with a copy.

Nor am I suggesting that Faith in Focus is a superior magazine, although we do strive to make it as readable, informative and interesting as possible.

Why then am I encouraging you to subscribe and read our denominational magazine? There are a few reasons.

One is that most of us read very little in the way of Christian literature. Good Christian reading material usually comes off a poor second or third to television, videos and easy-to-read novels. Reformed magazines in our homes would help stimulate systematic reading.

Another reason is that many in the Reformed Churches of Australia know little about the ministers in New Zealand. It would be helpful to the trans-Tasman calling process for you to have an informed knowledge of the ministers of our churches.

A third reason, and my main one, is that this would foster understanding, relationships and communication between our two denominations.

At our synod in October last year we were privileged to have the Rev. John Westendorp represent your churches as a fraternal delegate with Dr Bill Berends representing the Reformed Theological College. Their presence and contribution reminded us yet again of the family bonds that we share as sisters.

We want to strengthen these family ties. One of the best ways to do this is to know a little more about each other; what each is thinking, writing about, reflecting on, what is going on in our churches, what issues we are struggling with and debating. Not to be a *sticky-beak’; not to peer over each other’s shoulder; rather to understand and help each other.

Originally Trowel and Sword was intended for both denominations. That is why it carries Australian Gleanings and a Letter From New Zealand. However, over time. Trowel and Sword has had more Australian contributors and consequently more of an Australian flavour. This is an understandable development and there is merit in each denomination having its own magazine.

Yet, in view of the ties that bind us, there is also value us keeping contact with each other. As I have mentioned, many of our churches and members subscribe to Trowel and Sword. Because of this we understand you better. I would suggest you would understand us better if many of your churches and members subscribed to Faith in Focus.

Perhaps you want to know a little more before you sign up! The Reformed Churches of New Zealand have been producing Faith in Focus for eighteen years. Each issue has some regular features: An Editorial: a Reflection on contemporary events; a section edited by Joyce Larsen entitled, “From a Woman’s Point of View”, some News from the Churches and a four page pull-out supplement designed especially for office bearers.

A recent development is to make every third issue a feature, focusing on a particular subject. Features so far have included one on Evangelism and another on The Reformation. Further feature issues planned for this year include: Marriage, Christian Education, Time, Suffering and Death.

Our contemporary church and society are in great need of reformation. The stated aim of both our magazines is the edification and defence of our Reformed Presbyterian faith and life in Australia and New Zealand. Let’s benefit from each other’s ideas and insights towards this great end. 

John Haverland.

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