W. J. Ern Baxter (1914-1993)
Ern’s teaching is as current today as it was 30 or more years ago, if not more so. His message goes to the roots of the West’s contemporary cultural crisis. It provides a foundation in biblical orthodoxy for the victory of Christ in history and casts a vision for the increase of God’s government in the world.
As an 18 year-old bible school student I was first privileged to sit under Ern’s ministry and then regularly over the next 20 years in various conferences in Australia and America. Ern not only exercised a worldwide ministry as a Bible teacher and conference speaker, especially across the larger Charismatic Renewal, but also served as an apostolic father of the movement to which we related over those years.
His ministry provided for us a strategic theological and visionary foundation. Having pastored the largest evangelical church in Vancouver, Canada, for 25 years, and serving as a key leader in the Healing Revival and then as an influential teacher in the Charismatic Renewal, Ern brought a unique blend of Reformed theology and charismatic experience. He carried a burden for the Word and Spirit to be held in balanced tension. With a personal library of over 9,000 volumes he was an avid student of the Scriptures, theology, and church history, often referring to his commentaries as his close friends and confidantes.
His public ministry brought together an incomparable ‘anointed’ eloquence with solid theology. Ern possessed a powerful prophetic grasp of the majesty of God and his world purpose, articulating the vision of God’s government ruling the nations through the redeemed community.
Ern’s friendship with R. J. Rushdoony, facilitated a cross-pollination between the Charismatic Renewal and the Reconstruction Movement throughout the late 1970’s and 80’s. This occurred through numerous Shepherd’s conferences in the U.S.A and Australia, in addition to joint-publishing projects.
In our estimation, Ern Baxter was the prince of preachers in the 20th Century. But more importantly, an authentic man of God who carried a profound prophetic burden. We commend his ministry and message to you. Though dead, he still speaks!
David Orton
