About the Guest(s)
:Michael Beatty is a pastor at Community Baptist Church located in Fargo, North Dakota. With a rich history of involvement in Reformed Baptist circles, Michael has been associated with churches formerly part of ARPA, now CBA. After departing ARBA, Michael has been focused on ecclesiastical independence. He pursued theological studies at Westminster Seminary in California and is leading a new initiative, the 3535 Foundation, aimed at enhancing church growth and understanding through a variety of initiatives including scholarships, missions, republication of classic texts, and conferences.
Episode Summary:
In this engaging episode of RenewalCast, hosts Colt Robinson and Jay Wiff welcome Michael Beatty, a dedicated pastor and theologian, who introduces listeners to the 3535 Foundation based in North Dakota. This episode delves deeply into ecclesiology and its significance for church foundation and growth, providing both historical and contemporary insights. Michael shares his journey through the Reformed Baptists movement, his educational pursuits, and the motivations behind establishing the 3535 Foundation.Throughout the discussion, Michael enumerates the multiple initiatives of the 3535 Foundation, focusing on four primary areas: the provision of scholarships for men interested in church ministry, supporting mission work and church planting, republishing primary ecclesiastical resources, and organizing annual conferences. This episode sheds light on the potential impact of such endeavors on enhancing church activities and promoting theological education, particularly amidst challenges like those observed during the COVID-19 pandemic. It highlights the importance of ecclesiology with respect to church governance and individual believers' roles within the broader framework of faith.
Key Takeaways:
- The 3535 Foundation is dedicated to bolstering ecclesiastical work through educating and resourcing churches.
- The foundation separates church duties from other organizational acts to maintain focus on core spiritual responsibilities.
- Michael stresses the importance of ecclesiology as a means to deliver Christ's blessings through church functions and governance.
- The COVID-19 pandemic challenged churches to rethink the intertwining of government regulations and church autonomy.
- The episode underlines how historical creeds like the 1689 Confession of Faith guide churches in aligning with theological soundness.
Notable Quotes:
- "All the benefits that we really see that Jesus gives to Christians all flow through the church."
- "The foundation is there to empower local churches to make decisions that are good for them."
- "We were doing a number of these missions works…ultimately, the church is called elders to teach and preach."
- "One of the things that sets us apart…is trying to have more reader helps in the volumes."
- "There's a lot of important institutions…but ultimately none of those make it into the new heaven and the new earth."
Resources:
- 3535 Foundation: [Learn more about their initiatives and how to get involved](website URL not provided in the transcript).
- Westminster Seminary California: Michael Beatty's educational institution.
- Community Baptist Church: The church where Michael Beatty serves as pastor.
- Historical Confessions: References to Savoy Declaration, Westminster Confession of Faith, and the 1689 Baptist Confession.
- Theology for Breakfast with Pat Abendroth: Reference to a theological discussion group attended by Michael.
Tune in to this episode to explore how the 3535 Foundation seeks to fortify church practice and faith through strategic initiatives. Stay informed and inspired by subscribing to RenewalCast for more insightful theological discussions.
