A genial welcome to all our readers as you take up this special issue of Sword and Shield. The purpose of this issue is to commemorate the second annual meeting of Reformed Believers Publishing, which was held on October 21. 

The setting for the meeting was utterly unique, for the meeting was held in the large work bay of Wonderland Tire in Byron Center, Michigan. The ladies who set up for the meeting had the place looking festive with fall decorations, and they had plenty of donuts and coffee and cider to season our fellowship afterward. It was exciting for many of us to be back in the tire shop, where the members of First Reformed Protestant Church had worshiped for several months while we waited for God to provide us with our own building. Last year, the annual meeting was held in a parking lot. This year, in a tire shop. And I think I speak for everyone present when I say that we wouldn’t trade it for all the buildings in the world. Give us the truth, though it be in a barn or a parking lot or a tire shop. God has given us the truth and beautiful accommodations besides.

This issue contains the speeches, or articles based on the speeches, that were delivered at the annual meeting. Notable for the meeting was the fact that Rev. Martin VanderWal was able to be present at the meeting in person. The opportunity to hear him and speak to him face to face was a great encouragement to all. His speech on the matter of discernment through reading, as that discernment is worked by the word of God, identified what probably has been an overlooked aspect of this reformation: the need for biblical discernment.

I found Rev. Nathan Langerak’s speech to be foundational for the reformation that God is working. It exposed the powerful tactic of the devil of convincing men that the confession of the truth must include a calculation about the honor of man. The speech also laid out in clear and stark terms that there are only two possible evaluations of this past year: either it was reformation, or it was schism. What one says about that must determine what he does about it. The speech was not only invigorating, but I believe it will be one of the “go-to” sources to explain what the reformation has been all about.

The board of Reformed Believers Publishing also has written an excellent article for this issue, reminding us all of the bondage of stifling silence that the Lord has delivered us from. The believer must speak. It is inevitable that he speak. “I believed, therefore have I spoken” (Ps. 116:10). To make the believer silent, you must take away his faith. To make him silent, you must convince him that people and their feelings are above the truth. So it was in the Protestant Reformed Churches and in the Standard Bearer. Thank God—thank God!—that he has delivered us and that he always causes his truth to prevail.

We also include some photos of the evening that we hope will renew pleasant memories for those who were present. We hope that for those who could not be present, the photos also will be a little window to share in the joy of the evening, even if only in a passing glimpse. 

May the Lord speed the truths written herein to your hearts and the next issue into your hands.