Covenant Christian High

   If you think this newsletter is very newsy, wait till you read the June edition!  This is because we are anticipating the writing of a positive report on the visit of some ten or twelve students from Covenant Christian High who will be in Pittsburgh April 6-11, 2005.  The senior class was considering a mission project, and we are glad that they decided to pick Pittsburgh.  Original plans were for them to work on expanding the driveway of the house in which the missionary lives, but everyone got cold feet (due to lack of professional experience and to the weather forecast), so they instead are planning to help catalog the missionary’s library.  In return for this favor, your missionary plans to show Covenant’s students a little bit of hospitality, bring them to a few sites in Pittsburgh, and also give them an evening of instruction on personal evangelism.  It happens to be spring break for some of you, so if you are tempted to join us that special week, look at the attached information and directions, and come!

 

Seminarian Andy Lanning

   At least one other family has accepted our well-meant offer.  Our third-year seminarian, Andy Lanning, together with his wife, Stephanie, and their two young children, will be spending April 2-11 in Pittsburgh, D.V.  We will miss them the first weekend because my family and I will be in Grand Rapids for a scheduled meeting with Southwest Council.  But upon our return we will have the pleasure of visiting with them, with the Covenant students, and with the missionary assistant!  One might wonder why we arranged all this to take place at the same time!  Quite frankly, all this fell into place quite naturally, or should I say, providentially.  The arrangements for a seminarian to come to preach in Pittsburgh in the spring were made a while ago; then the offer came from Covenant to visit Pittsburgh; and then, most recently, the Lord gave us a volunteer assistant in Wesley Koops.  We just decided to receive them all as showers of blessings from on high!

 

SW Delegates Visit

   Three elders and two deacons from Southwest PRC, the calling church for eastern missions, visited Pittsburgh in the month of February 2005.  I teamed up with the elders so that we could conduct family visitation with all the members and regular visitors in the mission.  We had some hearty talks around the table as the men met with the missionary, and with the Steering Committee.  We also enjoyed several hearty meals in the homes of the saints, who have learned to exercise the grace of Christian hospitality.  Personally, I was richly blessed in going from house to house with Elder DeKraker from Southwest Church.  An Indian preacher with a Dutch elder visiting an African-American family!  You figure that one out!  All I can say is:  “I believe in one holy catholic church!”

 

As Mighty Arrows

   Not too long ago, we had a visitor during our Wednesday evening catechism classes.  Actually, I was walking to the office from our home (about a half-hour walk) when a neighbor friend asked if he could join me for a walk that beautiful evening.  The brother has a liberal Presbyterian background and he started telling me his stories.  He has visited some of our services and we have had an ongoing discussion about the Reformed faith.  During the conversation, I extended the invitation to him to join us for the evening for catechism.  He decided to do so.  He joined both the Heidelberg Catechism class and the Essentials class.  During the lessons, questions arose with regard to man’s total depravity and the atoning work of Jesus Christ.  Our visitor raised questions and made comments, which stirred some good discussion.  I was deeply impressed that the young people in our catechism classes were able to stand firm over against the un-Reformed language and ideas of the elderly Presbyterian visitor.  We have some ten or twelve such young people in our mission.  Yes, four of them are the missionary’s children, but we have several others.  It is heartening to see these young people confess their faith.  They are, in the words of Psalm 127:4, “as arrows are in the hand of a mighty man.” 

 

Comparative Studies on the PRC and other Denominations

   During last year’s study season, and also during our ongoing study season this year, the young adults of our group have been presenting papers comparing the doctrines and practices of the PRC with various other denominations.  We are now compiling a file of these study papers on the PCA, the OPC, the Episcopal, the Seventh-Day Adventists, the Pentecostals, the Baptists, etc.  These papers are not lengthy or scholarly, but they give a brief and accurate picture of what we believe as churches over against the rest of the church world.  It is good to see these young people take an interest in studying these things so that they might be equipped to be better witnesses.

 

Management by the Members

   Another encouraging development in the last several months was the passing on of leadership duties to the members of the mission.  From the inception of my labors here in 1998, we have gradually formed several committees: the Evangelism Committee, the Media Committee, the Ladies Fellowship, the Young Adults, etc.  As the missionary, I have been serving as the chair for most of these committees.  The time has come for me to relinquish that role and give the chairmanship to the men on the Steering Committee.  They are ready.  I still serve as advisor to these committees, but it is heartening to see how the Lord is using these saints to do the work.  The reality of the organic life of the church is being experienced in spite of the fact that they are not yet organized as a church institute.  It is a thrill to your missionary to see the exercise of the office of all believers as the mission group here continues to develop more and more.

 

Slow But Steady

   The overall progress of the labors in Pittsburgh is slow but steady.  The saints in Pittsburgh continue to grow in their appreciation for our Protestant Reformed distinctives.  We have four families, eleven children, and ten to twelve individuals.  When you add the missionary and his family, we have an average of forty at the services.  Often we have visitors, both locally, and from other places.  Adding these visitors to the numbers, we quite often have fifty in worship.  We know numbers are not the most important thing, but it is encouraging to see the Lord gathering His church under the preaching.

 

Allentown Visit

   Elder Gary Boverhof and I once again visited the saints in Allentown, PA in February 2005.  We had a blessed visit, going from house to house, and bringing the Word of God to the small group of believers in that area.  Our Bible Study focused on Unconditional Election, with a careful study of John 3:16 and the other passages that use the word “world.”  It was widow Minnie Bleeker’s 83^rd birthday, so we brought in a cake and sang!  I think we must have sung happy birthday half a dozen times during that four-day visit to Allentown!  The widow’s relatives in Holland heard about this gesture, and have expressed gratitude that she has found a “church family” with the PRC.  The small group of three or four saints meet to listen to PR video services every Sunday at the Labarres residence in Schnecksville, PA.  During our visit, we worship publicly at a rented room in the Holiday Inn at Dorney Park, Allentown.  This last time, the meeting room was unavailable due to renovations.  We had to worship in a guest room – they did take the beds out and put in chairs, so it was really not bad.  I told the group that I have preached in tents in India and Ghana, in underground churches behind locked doors in China, in kampong houses (I guess you would call them shacks) in Singapore and Malaysia, but this was the first time I preached in a guest room in the Holiday Inn!  We had a blessed time!  Elder Gary Boverhof said I did not snore too badly.  I likewise felt that he behaved himself rather well again.J  The next visit to Allentown is in May 2005.  A flyer is attached, so you can help us spread the word.

 

Witnessing at the Airport

   On the way to Allentown, I was stuck at the airport in Pittsburgh for several hours.  Actually we were already on the plane and ready to take off when the pilot announced that there was a problem with the steering gear.  Instead of crying about it, the four of us sitting at the front of the jet-plane started communicating with the air-stewardess and acknowledging that recognizing a technical problem before takeoff was much better than finding one in flight or at landing.  We had to leave the plane and wait at the airport for several hours.  Some of us found a restaurant in which to get something to eat.  By the time the food came, seven or eight of us were sitting together, and they knew I was a missionary.  I gave thanks for the food, and we continued our new acquaintance.  Some were from Pittsburgh, others from Allentown.  So I started inviting them to church.  I also suggested that we send two wings back to the plane for the stewardess.  This was done, and the pilots were also given a cup of tea each to keep them warm.  By the time we were back in the plane, I had given out twelve of my name cards, and one of the passengers asked the stewardess if she would allow me to have the intercom so I could pray before we took off.  (I am glad she said that is not allowable, though she profusely thanked me for the wings!)  A few days later I got an e-mail from one of the men expressing the desire to meet the next time he is in Pittsburgh.  His e-mail, and the entire experience, made me think of Ecclesiastes 11:1:  “Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.”

 

Officebearers’ Conference & Classis West Meeting

   After the labors in Allentown, I flew directly to Chicago for the Officebearers’ Conference and for Classis West.  It was a blessing to be with the men from Classis West again, and it brought back fond memories of those days when I labored in Houston, Texas.  I was privileged to speak at the officebearers’ conference together with three other men.  I had not met Rev. Bekkering for quite some time, so it was a delight to be there as Classis deliberated on his emeritation.  I was especially thrilled to be able to spend a few days again with Rev. Tom Miersma, our western home missionary.  The saints in Bethel were very hospitable, and we even took time to go out for an Indian meal together one evening.

 

Memorial Day Picnic

   With this newsletter you will get our flyer for our annual Memorial Day picnic.  Once again we are going to meet in a local park, and we expect a good turnout.  In the past we have had both local contacts and fellow saints from our churches join with us.  This year, Rev. VanOverloop will be our guest speaker.  He has been asked by the Steering Committee here to speak on “The Christian’s Calling in the War against Terrorism.”  Would you like to come join us?

 

Directions and Information

   Many still call or write for directions, for information regarding accommodations, our times for services, and our other activities.  So, in light of the upcoming Memorial Day Picnic, I am attaching with this newsletter a double-sided sheet which gives you information that will help you plan your trip. The Holiday Inn is most accessible from the Turnpike, but the Comfort Inn has an indoor pool and Jacuzzi, and the price includes breakfast for all in the room.  Take your pick!  Mark your calendars!  Come visit!

 

High School Graduation & Party

   If coming for the Memorial Day weekend, please note that Benjamin, our third son, will be graduating from Trinity Christian School on Friday, May 27.  We have found the commencement exercises at this school to be very enjoyable and, I might even add, edifying.  If you are in the area, we would like to invite you not only to attend the commencement, but also join with us on Saturday, May 28, 2005, as we are planning a graduation party for Ben at the school cafeteria from 4:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.  Remember, our worship services on Sunday are at this school, so if you came by for the commencement or the party, or both, you will less likely get lost on Sunday.

 

Other Family News

   In our family, we have a birthday bash every February.  Five of our children were born in February, and Ben was born March 1.  It is good to see the children grow, and also to see how they are making friends at school, some of whom they invited over on their birthdays.  Here is a secret:  We usually go to Dairy Queen the day after Valentines and buy their heart-shaped ice-cream cakes for 50% off and the kids get to enjoy their favorite cake for their birthdays! 

 

Call from Edmonton

   Finally, and again by the time you receive this newsletter my decline will have already been announced, I was greatly honored to have received the call from our congregation in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.  My wife and I have made it a matter of prayer for a few years now that for the sake of fulfilling our covenant responsibilities I might be able to serve in an established church rather than on the mission field.  But the Lord who bids us to stay and to go made it clear, and I had to decline this call.  Let us continue to pray for our vacant congregations, and let us continue to pray for our mission fields, that the Lord of the harvest may continue to provide for us faithful ministers of the gospel.

 

Visit with Southwest and DMC

   My family and I are looking forward to being in the Grand Rapids area April 1-3, 2005.  There are meetings scheduled for April 2 with Southwest and DMC members, and we will be able to join with Southwest at the Lord’s Table on Sunday.  We look forward to visiting with the members of our calling church and with others of you we know and love.

 

Closing Words

   Let us end the way we began.  Spring is here!  Let us enjoy the warmth of the season, delighting especially in Jehovah’s goodness and grace to us His adopted sons and daughters through the Son of His love, our Lord Jesus Christ.  Let us take heed to Hebrews 12:1-2:  “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

 

In His Love,

Rev. Jai Mahtani