Eastern Home Missionary
Newsletter
Rev. Jai Mahtani
216 Thornberry Drive
Pittsburgh PA 15235
Tel: (412) 371-2299
E-mail: jaimahtani@msn.com
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe
all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the
end of the world. Amen." Matt 28:19-20
August 2002
To:
Council & Congregation of Southwest Protestant Reformed Church,
PR congregations, denominational mission fields & contacts in eastern US
Dear friends and fellow saints,
Greetings from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania!
Greetings to you in the love of our God and Savior! In His great faithfulness, God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing for the sake of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. As we continue to experience His lovingkindnesses and tender mercies here on the mission field, we trust you also are able to testify of His goodness to you wherever you are, in this land or abroad.
Thanks for Visiting the Pittsburgh Mission
Several of you have visited us this summer. This is no complaint. We
have been busy but blessed by many visitors to the Pittsburgh Mission. We have had
out-of-town visitors to our services and to our home the last seven weeks straight! God's
people who are interested in missions have stopped by on the way to or from vacation;
young people have made a special point to travel many miles to come visit the field; we
even have had visitors come all the way from Singapore! It is encouraging to see this
interest, and it is healthy for the cause of home missions.
In the month of July, two elders and two deacons from Southwest PRC came
to visit. From the beginning of its appointment as the calling church for eastern missions
in 1998, the Southwest Council has tried to stay in close contact through regular visits.
Twice a year, I travel to Grand Rapids to meet with the Council and give a report to the
churches there; and twice a year, delegates from the Council are sent to Pittsburgh to
meet with me and the men on the Steering Committee, to conduct family visitation, and,
when necessary, to do diaconal work.
Our Fifth Annual Reformation Day Celebrations
We are gearing up for our fifth annual Reformation Day Celebrations with
our western home missionary, Rev. Thomas Miersma, as our speaker this year. These
Reformation Day Celebrations have become an annual affair in Pittsburgh and have proven to
be a rallying event for many of our contacts. While of course it is our hope and prayer
that these contacts come on a regular basis to join with us in the establishment of a
Protestant Reformed congregation in Pittsburgh, we are thankful for the attendance of
those who simply come to show their support for our mission labors in Pittsburgh. Whether
you live in the area or must come from a distance, consider joining us November 1-3. More
Information on the event is attached with this newsletter.
Also enclosed with this newsletter is information on our upcoming study
season. We have many opportunities on the mission field to preach and teach God's Word. As
is the case in all of our churches, catechism preaching, Bible studies, and other
platforms for instruction and study of God's Word are given a high priority in all our
labors. We look forward to another season of study with a twofold purpose: the
strengthening and spiritual growth of the saints in the mission, but also the spread of
the gospel of grace in the community in which we are called to labor and serve. It is our
prayer that those of you who live in the area will take advantage of these many
opportunities to study the Word of God (see information enclosed) and consider attending.
Some of you visiting Pittsburgh have found out for yourselves how difficult it is to
navigate around here without written directions. There also have been some changes in exit
numbers. Therefore we are also including updated information with this newsletter. Keep
these handy. You never know; it might be your turn to visit us some day. And we would
prefer that you not find yourselves "down in the pits" looking for us in Pittsburgh.
Till next time, God be with you in His tender love.
In His love,
Rev. Jai Mahtani