Dr. John W. Howe became the third Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida on January 1, 1990. Dr. Howe earned a BA in philosophy, University of Connecticut, and a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School. He was awarded Doctor of Divinity degrees from Berkeley at Yale, The University of the South, Sewanee, and from Nashotah House, and earned his PhD from the Graduate Theological Foundation with studies at Oxford University. Bishop Howe has conducted preaching and teaching missions throughout the United States and in some 17 countries around the world. His publications include four books, two monographs, and numerous magazine articles. In 2020 he was received as a bishop in good standing in the Anglican Church in North America. As 2021 drew to a close, he stepped down after six years of serving as Senior Pastor of The Lake Of The Woods Church in Locust Grove, Virginia. Currently, he is enjoying more time with his family and looks forward to dedicating more time to his personal writing projects.
Dr. Howe is delighted to announce the release of his personal memoir entitled “Be to the Flock a Shepherd.” (The title comes from the charge given to a new bishop at the time of ordination.) It is the story of God moving in his life in wonderful, surprising, and often miraculous ways, and the lessons God has unfolded to John personally and to the congregations he has served. Dr. Howe has been privileged to serve as a prep school chaplain, parish minister, Episcopal bishop, and pastor of a multi- denominational congregation. He has done teaching missions both here and abroad. As a witness to God’s astonishing grace and favor, and it has been his pleasure to recount the stories of God's goodness. If you want to know our Lord better, this book will be a blessing and a help. It is now available from Amazon for $12.99. RECENT BOOK REVIEW
These teachings were originally delivered by Bishop John W. Howe when he was rector of Truro Episcopal Church in Fairfax, Virginia from 1976 to 1989, and was Bishop in Central Florida from 1989 to 2012. More recently, the scope of this project has expanded to include his sermons and special teaching series delivered while serving as Senior Pastor of the Lake of the Woods Church in Locust Grove, Virginia (2015-2021). As additional recordings surface, we hope to digitize and add them to this collection of work. To learn how you can help, click here.
It was through a special young lady I hardly knew (circa 1980) –– She asked if I might be interested in listening to a set of cassettes comparing different religions. I did… and I was captivated. Such was my introduction to the teachings of John W. Howe. From that time on I began to collect more of his material. Though his tape ministry offered sermons as well, I focused on his teachings in that they provided useful handles on scripture I was only vaguely familiar with at that time. As the unfolding saga of God’s nature, his plan and his work was revealed, I recognized the timeless truth of this teaching. Accordingly, I treasured my cassettes and kept them for decades. They would remain relevant always I knew, as God’s truth is unchanging.
Back then, these messages propelled my understanding and cemented my new-found faith. Dr. Howe’s commitment to teaching provided the exposure I needed to the whole counsel of God. By his design, I found myself systematically covering the entirety of scripture. And as I collected the tapes, I allowed their content to change my life. However, as time marched, the format of cassette tapes became increasingly obsolete!
It wasn’t until 2016 that I actually met Dr. Howe in person. After several years serving as Bishop of Central Florida, He had returned to Virginia and Lake of the Woods in particular, to become our Senior Pastor! Armed with aging boxes of tapes, it wasn’t long before I proposed this project and requested his permission – to preserve his teaching, by digitizing my old cassettes and whatever others I could round up. My plan was to construct a website to host them and make his messages available to all. In 2018, after some experimentation and a brief feasibility study, a proof-of-concept website was delivered that contained five lectures. Clearly, the site has evolved since then, and the evolution continues.
You see, too often, we only get tidbits, here and there, and occasionally a very inspirational sermon. It’s really no wonder why most folks understanding of scripture is so shallow or disconnected. The Bible is so rich, but it can be very intimidating... in fact overwhelming, to the uninitiated. My introduction to this teaching was therefore a godsend when it came. And now I had the chance to make these teachings available to all.
With the aid of like-minded others, offering their own collections, the BibleBanquet website began to take form. It now houses over 1,000 recordings covering nearly every book of the Bible. Though this collection is not exhaustive of Dr. Howe’s work, it arguably contains the largest repository of his recorded spoken word. For anyone who desires to understand the truth of scripture more clearly, or know God more deeply, BibleBanquet.com stands poised to help meet that need.
Admittedly, since the advent of the internet, and more recently the COVID crisis, there is no shortage of online Bible instruction. But here at BibleBanquet.com you’ll find the expressed wisdom, knowledge, and teaching of a true man of God whose work spans several decades, and breadth covers the entire witness of scripture… all in one place. Additionally, it come to us with excellent delivery.
Also, and especially appreciated, are several special lecture series covering specific topics, and difficult subjects targeted for seekers, skeptics, fence-sitters, etc. God welcomes honest doubt and he’d love to meet you or your loved ones right here. (Hint – Who do you know that needs to hear some of these?)
While these audio files are no substitute for the personal study of scripture, or for fellowship with other believers, but they are as welcome an adjunct as any that I can imagine.
So with Dr. Howe’s blessing, I now find myself privileged to share these wonderful recordings.
A feast awaits you at BibleBanquet.com. Dig in and allow these messages to change your life, or just as importantly, someone else’s you know.
To me, this trove of teaching material is of inestimable worth, and it is my simple desire to share it. My hope is that you too will find blessing and be drawn to share the Good News more readily. –– Tom S.
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Copyright 2018, John W. Howe ~ Updated: 09/14/2024