What other’s are saying about the book…

As a retired administrator for our denomination, I consider it an honor to both review as well as highly recommend your most recent writing, the book entitled “Church on the Rock(s).”

First and foremost, I believe that the mere fact you are a lay person interested enough in the “church” as a whole to undergo the grueling task of bringing to formal light a most valued assessment of the average “today’s church”, lends an important level of objectivity and credibility to this book. Through your hard-hitting candor, I believe you have been granted divine discernment in which to identify ways in which Satan’s “creeping compromise” has, once again, found a way to infiltrate organized religion. Through the identification of key issues of spiritual dysfunction facing many church congregations of all denominations today, I believe your book is destined to become an invaluable resource towards revival, by way of your exposure of core issues in which “the church” can apply “corrective solution” to “identified problem.”

I personally found the book to be extremely, “religiously” challenging which, I believe, is exactly what our Lord and Savior, Jesus, had in mind when He delivered His scathing review of the ways and means of the church leaders of His day. Because of the impact I feel the book “Church on the Rocks” is destined to deliver, I would rate it as “highly recommended reading” for anyone wishing to effect positive change in the church.

Herb Larsen,

BA Religion; MA Education

What a treatise. Richard must truly have had a direction from the Lord to boldly approach these present problems so evident in many churches today. He did not deal with them in any anguish or antagonism but careful analyzed where discrepancies had crept into God’s business and leaders and laymen had allowed them to come in and gradually derail the power and authority of the Holy Spirit.

Many, even believers don’t want to be the one like John the Baptist, say it as it really is. True believers must clearly understand that the perfect plan of salvation finally put into place by God, His only Son Jesus has no room for tolerance that only develops compromise which is not acceptable when a perfect plan was able to atone for the sins of everyone present and future. Identifying seemingly every facet that can so easily affect church progress. Not just one area but many with the Lord’s direction.

The writer not only identified these problem areas but gave scripture that showed the biblical plan of correction, redemption.

Remember the Lord has this so carefully laid out the results would be blessing after blessing even beyond what we could think of or imagine.

It’s a book every Christian should read and adhere to the corrections. Men and women are subject to error and need a suggestion book so they can identify things that will harm us and the whole church if allowed to expand will not only upset our pathway to heaven but also bring the church to a position where godliness, power and progress are missing.

We need to make reading time for this one.

Arne Bryan

Founder/Director

Prayer Canada

Richard Oostra’s involvement in Christian ministry leadership over a period of more than fifty years, throughout North America as well as on the Continent, has enabled him to have a unique perspective on the state of the church as it has evolved into its current condition. His analysis of the distressed conditions and serious short-comings generally evident in the church today is most insightful and urgently needs to be carefully considered. More importantly, his call for repentance and corrective action is one that we fail to heed to our peril and to serious loss for the cause of Christ.

Dr. William R. Goetz

Pastor and Administrator

This new book received many responses including from several pastors whose most common remarks were: “This book had to be written.”

They all agreed that prayer alone for church restoration or revival is incomplete, if this is not accompanied with a confession of sins and errors practiced by the church of today, and a willingness to repent. It is not merely a return to theological accuracy but to a biblical obedience in church formation that is desperately needed.

Many disillusioned believers were blessed by the book because they had become disappointed with their church, but didn’t know the reason what specifically was disturbing them.

Others in leadership positions are beginning to realize the importance that hiring staff must not be based on merely academic but more on spiritual enablements, giftedness and motivation.

One pastor was first upset when he read about the errors many churches through the years have practiced. “But I overcame my fury,” he wrote, “I began to see that you had spoken constructively and had a point.”

Our greatest desire of having published this book is to see a return to biblical teaching and spiritual restoration in our churches. Considering the times in which we live we would do well to examine ourselves before the return of our Master.

This is what the book, “Church on the Rock(s)” is all about, and we highly recommend it to you.

Sincerely in Him,

Gus Henne, Publisher

Greetings Richard,

Thank you for sending a copy of “Church on the Rock(s). Congratulations on seeing your project come to completion.

May the Lord put your keen insights into the right hands for the renewing of the church for His glory.

Pat Massey, Ass. Ed.

Prairie Bible College

A just recently released book is finding an eager response by many. The book, “Church on the Rock(s),” is relating the decay in today’s churches to that of the nation of Israel in the days of Jeremiah. This book speaks out against the transgressions of the church by no longer being Christ- but men-controlled.

Instead of being one, as she was meant to be, they are now gathering under many names, each claiming to have the best interpretation of the Bible.

According to the author of this book, Richard Oostra, if a church would be truly Christ-controlled it would be a church that:

Would be simply based on the apostles’ teachings.

Is mysterious in character with divine answers to prayer.

Is a place where believers would deeply care for

each other.

Have ongoing ministries all week long.

Impacts its community by being available to all.

Displays the power and love of God to its surroundings.

All this and more we read in the book of Acts. In contrast this book speaks about the wrongs in the church of today.

Restoration of the church will take place before Christ’s return, either upon a voluntary basis or by tribulation. It is God’s desire to bring the church back to Himself.

Betty Irving, Distr.

For Successful Living

Thank you for caring enough to write the book, “Church on the Rock(s).” I just wanted to let you know that I appreciated reading it. You have taken on a matter that is of vital importance, and done it in your original and own style, which I, as an European, can fully understand. My prayer is that enough Christian leaders will be humble enough to listen to your heart, the facts and good logic. May it be one of the tools the Lord uses to bring revival to His Church.

Dr. Edmund Spieker

Fermata, Pastoral Care

As a church going Christian, I take pride in my personal beliefs, however, I do not follow my faith, blindly, and your criticisms are very constructive in nature and free of finger pointing.

Part two of your book (The solution for the church) is returning to basic fundamentals and with the power of the Holy Spirit enabling, would allow all of us to move forward to a new beginning.

Sincerely,

Frank Burke

I feel your book might be most relevant to today’s church.

Bob Friesen

Christian Info Society

Thank you for writing the book, “Church on the Rock(s).” This book gives the church of Jesus Christ a timely challenge to re-examine itself.

I have used many of these New Testament church principles while working as a missionary in Irian Jaya. Through this we have seen the Lord bless these churches as they were governed by biblical elders, teachers, pastors and evangelists.

Throughout this all we have witnessed Christ’s Spirit at work in astonishing ways in our midst.

Thank you for bringing out these biblical concepts in your book as a challenge to the church at home and I trust and pray that we may see her become again a vibrant witness in this world that Jesus intended her to be.

Dr. John T. Dekker

Partners International

and author “Torches of Joy”

Please note:

Dr. Dekker has practiced the same biblical principles as spoken of in the book, “Church on the Rock(s).”

Upon the basis of these principles and during his 25 years as a missionary God used him to establish 75 native churches that have grown continually.

You can read about this ministry in his book.

This book makes it very clear that the church is in need of another reformation. She has never been fully restored of errors within. She needs to become again that dynamic and mysterious organism she was meant to be.

Rev. M. J. Fullerton. CA

Whether agreeing or not with the author’s premises, one cannot escape the fact that Church on the Rock(s) is a clarion call to the church to take a hard look at what it is truly all about anyway. It will provoke our thinking in many different aspects of church-life today. Whatever your thoughts, let the heartbeat of the author stir you to action in some areas of your life.

Rev. Lou Sutera, Evangelist

Canadian Revival Fellowship