Posted on 11/29/2004 2:21:26 PM PST by Gamecock
Orlando, Fla. - Ligonier Ministries, a Christian educational ministry located in Orlando, Florida, acquired Soli Deo Gloria Ministries (SDG) on September 22, 2004. SDG is a publishing ministry that specializes in reprinting classic Puritan manuscripts. Both ministries have set a standard for teaching biblical truth that seeks God's glory, and together they will be able to expand their efforts to provide theological materials to help deepen and strengthen the life of the church.
"I am very excited about this acquisition because SDG fits so beautifully with the ministry of Ligonier. This gives us the opportunity to give wider distribution and greater visibility to the classical work of the Puritans," stated Dr. R.C. Sproul, founder and chairman of Ligonier Ministries. Ligonier Ministries will promote the product line published by SDG through seasonal catalogs, the international "Renewing Your Mind" radio broadcast, the monthly Tabletalk magazine, and annual conferences.
SDG Ministries will become a division of Ligonier Ministries. The founder and president of SDG, Dr. Don Kistler, will become the managing editor of that division. "The merger of SDG Ministries with Ligonier Ministries is simply a natural fit," stated Dr. Kistler. "They have long been the premier distributor of the literature we have been printing, and this will give us more exposure to the Christian church, as well as more resources with which to operate. I cut my teeth on the Puritans studying under Dr. R.C. Sproul, and to work under him is a dream come true. I look forward to many years of fruitful ministry together, exposing people to the holy God the Puritans knew and served."
Dr. Kistler founded SDG in 1984 at Grace Community Church in southern California, where Dr. John MacArthur is the pastor. As the demand for Dr. Kistler's materials increased, SDG became an independent ministry, and it moved to western Pennsylvania in 1986. SDG published its first book The Saints' Happiness in 1988, and it sold out three weeks before the book was completed. In 1990, SDG began hosting conferences, which include topics on the Puritans, contentment, finding hope, and others. Dr. Kistler currently speaks approximately forty weekends a year on those topics in churches throughout the country.
The acquisition will supply Dr. Kistler with more time to devote to discovering and reprinting Puritan works. Through publishing and speaking engagements, he will be able to pursue his vision to expose contemporary Christians to the literature of Puritan writers. As readers respond to the rich theological truths taught by the Puritans and their obedience to God, they will not only be encouraged, but they will be exhorted to live these truths and in doing so bring glory to God. SDG has reprinted more than 250 titles and has sold 650,000 volumes around the world. Some of these works have not been published for 400 years. Due to the expenses involved in reprinting a work, sometimes the books are only available for brief periods of time. As Ligonier Ministries moves into the book-publishing market, it will provide the funding necessary to preserve classical literature for the Christian community. Folding SDG into Ligonier Ministries will not only increase the visibility of the materials published by SDG, but it will also keep the materials in circulation.
Tim Dick, Executive Vice President of Ligonier Ministries, said, "I am pleased by the merger because of the services that SDG provides to Christians by preserving these Puritan treasures. By adding the SDG product line to our existing catalog of Reformed literature and resources, Ligonier Ministries is poised for long-term growth and usefulness to the church. We will be able to offer even more materials that proclaim, explain, and defend the holiness of God."
The Puritans were recognized for their complete submission to the Lord starting around 1560. At a time when the church and state authorities in England wanted religious "uniformity," the Puritans desired clarity of religion exercised in the freedom of one's conscience, and they desired to be governed solely by the Bible. Despite the persecution they faced, their devotion and consistency have yielded many relevant treasures of knowledge for Christians in this millennium. "There is enough fuel in the Puritans to power a new reformation," said Mr. Dick.
Dr. Kistler said, "I would agree with Dr. Sproul's mentor Dr. John H. Gerstner, who commented, 'The Puritan movement was the greatest movement the church has seen since the days of the apostles themselves.' I think that the Puritans are so important because they challenge both mind and heart, and show us a God who is high, holy, exalted, and glorious, beyond anything we have ever seen or thought before."
Being in the Army, I am used to making acronyms into words. I never did it with GRPL.
I am chuckling out loud.
I think I see 6 pedals on the rear TULIP......
Beautiful. 8~)
Well Lass, mind you, i'm partial to Plaid with blue wode facepaint< /braveheart>, but we do have historical reasons for Orange.
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