Five hundred years ago, on 31 October 1517, Dr. Martin Luther published his 95 theses. It is commonly believed that he nailed them on the door of the church in Wittenberg. Within a few years, these 95 theses were spread all over Europe. The invention of the printing press greatly helped the spread of the Reformation over Europe.

Another event that greatly helped the growth of the Reformation movement, was the attack of Europe by the Ottoman Empire. This empire was spreading westwards and had conquered large parts of Eastern Europe. The Pope in Rome as well as the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire (Germany) were very concerned about this growing threat of Islam from the east. Because of that the emperor did not have the time to pay attention to the unrest going on in Germany, until it was too late for him to stop the Reformation.

Nothing happens by chance and we believe that God directed the course of history in such a way that the Reformation could be so successful. We see God’s work in history.
Also now God works. He still directs the course of this world and His Son Jesus Christ is gathering His Church. If you believe the mass media, then there is no place for the church in this world and what happens in the church is of no importance at all. But we know better. We know the Bible. Through the Bible we receive a Christian perspective on the news of this world. There is more to say about what is happening than the media do.

The internet made it possible for information to spread quickly all over the world. It is believed that the impact of the internet on the spread of information over the world is just as huge as the impact of printing press in the time of the Reformation. And just as the Reformation made use of the printing press to spread the gospel of salvation only by faith, only through grace, so also we may use the internet to give a Christian perspective on the events of this world: Soli Deo Gloria: it is all to the glory of God.
We are thankful that on Reformation Day 2017 we can launch this website: Reformed News.

We hope that it may serve to protect, share and spread the riches which have been rediscovered in the time of the Great Reformation and which we as members of the Church of Christ still received from God through the faithful preaching of God’s Word.
Our first focus is the membership of the Free Reformed Churches of Australia. We realize, however, that much what is of benefit for the members of these churches, can also be of great help to others. We hope, therefore, that this website will get known far beyond the Free Reformed Churches and if you benefit from it, please help us spread the word by sharing this website with others.

Anthon Souman
Editor in Chief