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In September 1950, I began my theological studies at the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was my custom to spend Saturdays in the Seminary’s library. One day, I discovered An Introduction to Reformed Dogmatics, written by Auguste Lecerf and published in London by Lutherworth Press.

Dr. Auguste Lecerf taught at the Protestant Faculty of Theology, University of Paris. He founded The Calvinistic Society of France and authored The Geneva Catechism (1934) and Calvinistic Studies (1949).

An Introduction to Reformed Dogmatics dealt with the Nature of Religious Knowledge and the Foundation and the Specification of Religious Knowledge.

In the summer of 1951, I came across The Christian Graduate, a British journal that referred to a French quarterly journal, La Revue réformée, edited by Pierre-Charles Marcel, pastor of St. Germain-en-Laye, in France.

I wrote to Pasteur Marcel about my interest in subscribing to the Revue. I was delighted to receive a response offering to send me the Journal and several of his books:

• A L’Ecole de Dieu,
• Le Baptême : Sacrement de L’Alliance de Grace,
• L‘Actualité de la Prédication, and
• La Sécularisation du Monde Moderne et La Réponse réformée.

In 1956, I had settled in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and joined the Christian Reformed Church. During the 1957-1958 academic year, I studied at Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Providentially, that led to my founding and leading an Arabic radio ministry beamed at North Africa and the Middle East. The broadcasts were transmitted over Radio Station ELWA in Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa. Eventually, radio stations in Cyprus and Monaco carried the radio missions, supported by the Christian Reformed Church of North America.

On Saturdays, my message dealt with Bible doctrines based on Pierre Marcel’s book A L’Ecole de Dieu.ⁱ This book is based on John Calvin’s Catechismⁱⁱ and the Heidelberg Catechismⁱⁱⁱ.

I spent 36 years (1958-1994) proclaiming the Gospel to Arabic-speaking people. The ministry couldn’t have been properly done without the theological training I received in Pittsburgh (1950-1953) and in Grand Rapids. Also, my training was complemented, thanks to the French Reformed scholars, notably Auguste Lecerf, Pierre-Charles Marcel, and several of their French colleagues.

Ultimately, it’s all part of God’s calling and enabling me to embark on a journey that continues online via the articles I post on Academia.edu. See Bassam Michael Madany - Independent Researcher (academia.edu) and Middle East Resources - South Holland, IL (unashamedofthegospel.org).

SOLI DEO GLORIA

ⁱ Pierre-Charles Marcel (1910–1992) was a leading French Reformed Christian pastor and philosopher who studied under France's leading evangelical-confessional mind, M. Auguste Lecerf (1873–1943). Marcel studied in the Netherlands Christian philosophy under Herman Dooyeweerd. My articles posted on Acadenia.edu testify to the help I received from Auguste Lecerf’s works and the Calvinist authors that followed him:

• THE TEACHINGS OF THE HOLY BIBLE (academia.edu)
• A Note on The Teachings of the Holy Bible (academia.edu)
• THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD ACCORDING TO CALVIN (academia.edu)
• Karl Barth Interpreted by Pierre Courthial (academia.edu)
• The Calvinistic Doctrine of the Lord's Supper 3 September 2018.doc (academia.edu)

ⁱⁱ John Calvin (1509-1564) wrote the Catechism of Geneva where his theology is at its most distilled and simplified. Covering the Apostle’s Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and the Sacraments.’ John Calvin's Geneva Catechism by John Calvin | Goodreads

ⁱⁱⁱ The Heidelberg Catechism (1563), was published in 1563 in Heidelberg, Germany. Zacharias Ursinus (1534–1583) and Caspar Olevianus (1536–1587) wrote this catechism. Ursinus was familiar with the catechisms of Martin Luther, John Calvin, Jan_Łaski, and Leo Jud.