C. J. Mahaney
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Charles Joseph Mahaney leads the apostolic team of Sovereign Grace Ministries (formerly People of Destiny International or PDI), a network formed to establish and support local churches, and was one of the founding pastors and leaders of Covenant Life Church, in Gaithersburg, Maryland.
Mananey was drawn into the precursor of Covenant Life, TAG, by Lydia Little. She introduced him, as a fiery young convert, to Larry Tomczak and asked Tomczak to take CJ "under [his] wing and help... grow in the faith"[1]. Lydia Little later ceased to be prominently involved with the group after being told by Mahaney that "it wouldn't be appropriate for you [as a woman] to be in a leadership position even though [you] have founded" it[2].
Mahaney served as a co-leader (with his mentor Larry Tomczak) of that church for 18 years, before the two parted ways, never to be seen on the same platform again. Tomczak himself has described the split as "an unbelievable nightmare" during which his family were "were threatened in various ways if we did not cooperate with [SGM]... A letter was circulated in an attempt to discredit me and to distort the events surrounding my departure"[3]. No formal public statement has ever been made by Mahaney on this situation.
Mahaney led Covenant Life Church for several years after the departure of Tomczak, before handing over responsibility to Joshua Harris. Mahaney's wife, Carolyn Mahaney, has also written several popular books and leads the Titus 2 Women's Ministry at Covenant Life Church.
For a long time, Mahaney had ties with both restorationism and Maranatha Campus Ministries[4]. Lately he has moved towards a less charismatic theology and has formed associations with conservative (and sometimes cessationist) Reformed Christian leaders[5].
He currently co-hosts the Together for the Gospel conference with Mark Dever, Ligon Duncan and Albert Mohler and serves on the Council of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals, and on the boards of The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood and the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation.
Contents |
[edit] Selected publications
- Why Small Groups?
- Disciplines for Life
- Christ Our Mediator
- The Cross Centered Life
- Living the Cross Centered Life
- Sex, Romance, and the Glory of God
- Humility: True Greatness
[edit] Other sources
- Clap Your Hands! by Larry Tomczak (includes stories from Mahaney's early days in ministry and details the origins of Covenant Life Church and Sovereign Grace Ministries)
[edit] References
- ^ Tomczak, Larry. Clap Your Hands, p.164.
- ^ "Women and the Church (an interview with Mahaney)". Retrieved on 2008-03-14.
- ^ Tomczak, Larry. Reckless Abandon, p.15.
- ^ Virgo, Terry. No Well Worn Paths, p.162, 164.
- ^ T4G 2008 Conference. Retrieved on 2008-02-28.
[edit] External links
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