The Impact of Our Work
Many of those impacted by Chalcedon twenty or thirty years ago now tutor their grandchildren, not to mention their other spheres of influence.
- Mark R. Rushdoony
A number of weeks ago, I spoke at a family conference on business and entrepreneurship in Washington State. Rather than speaking on those topics, I was asked to give introductory talks on theonomy and Christian Reconstruction. It was a very pleasant time, and I was encouraged by both the positive feedback and the desire to build not just personal income, but kingdom and family capital. The business emphasis was on being efficient and provident in family finances.
Something else was memorable about that group. Several people told me about how they had become acquainted with my father’s work on Christian Reconstruction. More than one said they had heard my father speak at a Northwest conference on Reconstruction. Another said it was at a Coalition on Revival (COR) conference. Others said someone gave them a book. I have heard many such comments before.
Scripture tells us God’s Word will not return to Him void (empty). However, we do not always see the results of our Kingdom activities – the reality that all things work together for good. The Northwest Conference on Christian Reconstruction was an annual event organized and financed by a Seattle couple in the 1980’s and early 1990’s. The impact of their investment in Kingdom work is still very much alive.
The COR conferences were organized by Jay Grimstead, now in his 80’s, who lives near me and attends Chalcedon Chapel. (He leads our singing and his wife Donna plays the piano). The impact of COR’s efforts are still in effect.
And what about the impact of a book given to a friend or made available for sale on a book table? I cannot tell you how many times someone told me of how they were a few chapters into one or another of our books and they realized they had found insights that would transform their life.
The impact of our work might not be fully manifested for many years (The Northwest Conference on Christian Reconstruction ended well over twenty years ago). The books we print today may influence a reader fifty years or more from now. Your gift to Chalcedon does more than pay a bill each month; it enables a message that can have an impact beyond your life or mine. Many of those impacted by Chalcedon twenty or thirty years ago now tutor their grandchildren, not to mention their other spheres of influence.
Chalcedon is a ministry for today and, by God’s blessings, for generations to come.
- Mark R. Rushdoony
Mark R. Rushdoony graduated from Los Angeles Baptist College (now The Master’s College) with a B.A. in history in 1975 and was ordained to the ministry in 1995.
He taught junior and senior high classes in history, Bible, civics and economics at a Christian school in Virginia for three years before joining the staff of Chalcedon in 1978. He was the Director of Chalcedon Christian School for 14 years while teaching full time. He also helped tutor all of his children through high school.
In 1998, he became the President of Chalcedon and Ross House Books, and, more recently another publishing arm, Storehouse Press. Chalcedon and its subsidiaries publish many titles plus CDs, mp3s, and an extensive online archive at www.chalcedon.edu.
He has written scores of articles for Chalcedon’s publications, both the Chalcedon Report and Faith for all of Life. He was a contributing author to The Great Christian Revolution (1991). He has spoken at numerous conferences and churches in the U.S. and abroad.
Mark Rushdoony lives in Vallecito, California, his home of 43 years with his wife of 45 years and his youngest son. He has three married children and nine grandchildren.
