Pastor Shane Lems talks about his recent Ordained Servant review of John Swinton’s book Finding Jesus in the Storm: the Spiritual Lives of Christians with Mental Health Challenges. (Eerdmans, 2020). Shane is pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church (OPC) in Hammond, Wisconsin.

Read the review and read the book. The review can be found here.

The Ruling Elder Podcast on Prescription Medication with Jason Poquette (Season 2, Episode 6, June 2024) is available here.

Shane’s book recommendations
Lost Connections by Johann Hari (Bloomsbury USA, 2018)
The Wonderful Works of God by Herman Bavinck (Westminster Seminary Press, 2020)
Rediscovering the Holy Spirit: God’s Perfecting Presence in Creation, Redemption, and Everyday Life by Michael Horton (Zondervan, 2017)

Ruling Elder Mike Cloy talks about how ruling elders and churches can support and shepherd military families. Mike served in a career of 27 years that included combat commands at the battalion and brigade level, and having served and retired in the rank of full colonel.

Mike speaks of the dedication to service and the pressures it places upon those serving, and their families. He speaks of the deep bonds formed in combat and of the importance of elders and churches reaching out to those in military service with the good news of Jesus and the power of the gospel.

To read more about Mike (and a pair of night-vision goggles) see Christopher H. Wisdom’s article, “A Chaplain in the Lord’s Service” in New Horizons, (Feb, 2020).

Mike’s recommended reading…
A. Craig Troxel, With All Your Heart: Orienting Your Mind, Desires, and Will toward Christ, Crossway, 2020.
Nick Thompson, Growing Downward: The Path of Christ-exalting Humility, Reformation Heritage Books, 2022.
Nick Thompson, Restless Devotion: An Urgent Call to Godward Discontentment, Reformation Heritage Books, 2025

If you would like to contact Mike his email address is opcmikecloy@gmail.com

Ruling Elder Joe Jager talks to the Ruling Elder Podcast about Foreign Missions. He gives excellent suggestions on how to encourage missions and missionaries. Matthew 9:37-38
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Post Production Joe recommends the following books as impactful on his walk as a Ruling Elder:

• The Elder: Today’s Ministry Rooted in All of Scripture by Conelis Van Dam (a friend from the Canadian Reformed Churches) P&R Publishing 2009
  • Provides a biblical foundation for the office of elder.
• The Elder and His Work by David Dickson, P&R Publishing, 2004
  • Good practical guide. Of course all such manuals must be carefully adapted and used in specific local situations.
• The Elders Handbook: A practical Guide for Church Leaders by Gerard Berghoeg and Lester De Koster Christian’s Library Press: Grand Rapids Michigan 1979
  • This was my first introduction when I was ordained as an elder in a Canadian Reformed Church. It provides some very practical guidance for new elders. There is also a companion volume entitled The Deacons' Handbook: A Manual of Stewardship by the same authors.