Foreward
Just a few months prior to this book’s publication, I asked Greg for the privilege of writing the forward to what I believe is going to be the first of many books and articles on this subject. He honored me with this opportunity.
My reasoning was two-fold. Firstly, I have always had a passion to see Christianity move into cultural relevance without moral or biblical compromise, and the title and topic intrigued me. But, secondly, I felt that you needed to know what I know about the author, the man behind the message.
I have been Greg’s pastor, fellow elder, and friend for more than two decades. We have ‘grown older together,’ fought some cultural battles together, prayed, worshiped and wept together, planned and envisioned together. There have been few men who have so passionately pursued the call as Greg has. He has given himself - his life, his broad skill set, his finances, his time and energy - to God and His cause. His family reflects those same values.
The first time I met Greg and Christine it was abundantly clear that their passion for reaching the next generation was deeply embedded into their hearts. For years, they faithfully served by ministering Sunday after Sunday to the children of Kelowna Christian Center . Within time, their stewardship of these lives was enlarged to include the youth ministry, then on to the administration of Heritage Christian School and Preschool, the oversight of our Ministry Training Institute, and now, it has resulted in the conception and birthing of the highly influential Heritage Christian Online School .
They have been unwavering in faith and faithfulness. The scripture states that when a man is found faithful in that which belongs to another (another man’s responsibility or vision), God gives them that which can be considered their own (Lu 16:12). I have been delighted to see their development into educational leaders and visionaries for this emerging generation: they have sown honorably, and they are now reaping an apostolic vision of their own.
Greg has always had a love for the word of God, and in his prayer times has often recited the apostolic prayers. A common, fundamental element to every one of these prayers has been the request that a spirit of wisdom and revelation rest upon the Church (Eph 1:17; Col 1:9). I sincerely believe that God has granted Greg his prayer, and released to him revelation as to the times and seasons the Church is in, and wisdom as to how to conduct itself in difficult times.
This book is a prophetic word into the future of the post-modern Church. It is a call to the Church to know God, but also to engage His Holy Spirit so as to locate the ways to use technologies and methodologies available to them to reach their own generation. It is a call to embrace culture without yielding to its spirit, to be a counter-culture movement that takes the lead, becoming the head and not the tail, history makers.
My son, Brodie stated in one of his messages recently, “One generation’s ceiling is the next generation’s platform.” Well, Greg has raised the ceiling with this book. He has placed a challenge to those of us blessed to be alive on this side of the year 2,000. He has requested intelligent interaction with culture, informed faith within the Church, discernment of the times we are living in, and a revelatory response to the challenges the message we are bringing to society is experiencing. How are you going to respond?
This is not an easy read, but it is an important read. I pray that you will be able to enter Greg’s mind and hear his heart. And, I sincerely pray that you are able to go beyond the history and theology and touch destiny with the message of this book.
David Kalamen
Kelowna BC, Canada
April 5th, 2006
Rev. David Kalamen is Senior Pastor of Kelowna Christian Center (www.kcc.net). He has served in this role since April 1982. His apostolic leadership has made this church one of the leading voices in Canada and the world for the gospel. He has been recognized nationally for his work in the Pro-Life Movement in Canada. He serves as a national director in the ministerial fellowship of O.B.F.F. His ministry has taken him to five continents and he has recently published “Life Purpose” which can be ordered online at: