The Carl F. H. Henry Center for Theological Understanding in Deerfield, IL is pleased to announce the release of the new book, The Great Commission: Evangelicals and the Story of World Missions (B&H, 2008). Edited by TEDS faculty members Dr. Martin Klauber and Dr. Scott Manetsch, the book presents addresses given in 2006 to honor longtime faculty member Dr. John Woodbridge. The festschrift provides a substantial historical survey of evangelical missions from eleven different scholars, including prominent evangelical church historians and theologians. Chapters cover such topics as the genesis of evangelical missions, the globalization of evangelicalism, and the high and low points of the missions enterprise. A concluding chapter by D. A. Carson focuses on the need for continued missions work in a world that decries such efforts as imperialist and intolerant.

The Henry Center is pleased to bring word of this important text to a wider audience. Scholars, pastors, and church members alike will benefit from the book’s scope and its focus on the great commission, the creation mandate of Christ’s spiritual kingdom. Interested persons may purchase the book here and may listen to messages from the 2006 conference here. The Center hopes that The Great Commission will stimulate many readers to reflect constructively on the responsibility of world missions even as we give thanks for those like Dr. Woodbridge who have gone before us in this great work.

The Henry Center is pleased to announce that Owen Strachan recently began work as the Managing Director of the HCTU. Strachan replaces Ben Peays in the position. Strachan, 26, is from Machias, Maine and completed his undergraduate degree at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, ME with a major in history (honors). After internships at Capitol Hill Baptist Church, the United States Department of State, and a writing stint at 9Marks Ministries, he matriculated at Southern Seminary in 2004 for an M. Div. in Theology. Concentrating on biblical and theological studies, Strachan met his wife, formerly Bethany Ware, in the midst of his seminary course. During his time in Louisville, Strachan worked as an intern and an Editorial Assistant to President R. Albert Mohler, Jr. He also served as a research assistant for professors of literature, theology, and history, and was a teaching assistant for the President. He is a contributing writer for 9Marks Ministries.

Strachan completed the M. Div. in December 2007 and began his work at the Henry Center under Dr. Doug Sweeney in January 2008. He is a PhD student in Historical Theology, also under Dr. Sweeney, and hopes to author a dissertation on Harold Ockenga and the rise of the neo-evangelical movement. He and Bethany live in Highland Park, IL. In addition to reading works of history and church history, Strachan enjoys the reading cultural reflection by the likes of Tom Wolfe, playing and watching basketball, and spending time with his wife. He is delighted to work at the Center and looks forward to advancing its mission for the propagation of biblical wisdom, the marriage of church and academy, and, ultimately, the glory of God.

Frequent visitors to the Center website will notice some key changes.

We have restructured the site to put our content and our notices within easy reach. You will notice three new “boxes” on the homepage: one for “Recent Media”, one for “Upcoming Events”, and a third for the “Center Blog”. The Center staff hopes that by creating these easy-access areas, visitors will be able to find what they need on the site more quickly. We don’t want our website to be a castle, a seemingly impenetrable reservoir. We would like it to be more like a department store, if only because we want our resources and notices to be clearly displayed.

Please do not hesitate to contact us with feedback on our revised design. We do hope that you enjoy the update and that it proves helpful to you.