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Members of A True Church—whose evangelical charity keeps them from naming themselves The True Church—took the time to come to Pasadena to preach to thousands of evangelical heretics and strengthen fellowship with whatever true believers they might find there. The Call took the time to bring together tens of thousands of brothers and sisters to beg the Holy Spirit to fall afresh on their dead churches and oblivious cities. I find both of these efforts signs of hope.

Vestiges of apostolicity—and really much more than just vestiges—remain even at the extremes of our complicated and self-mutilating movement. Neither God's field nor God's building has finally conquered the other. Our farmers and our builders keep entering the fray not just out of a wish to prevail, but also out of hope that we can work things out.

The reason Paul could address his letter to all the saints in Corinth is the reason we can all be called evangelicals. It is a label I still bear with pride.

Telford Work is assistant professor of theology at Westmont College, Santa Barbara, California. He maintains a website at http://telfordwork.net.

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February 2004, Vol. 48, No. 2