News

This Week's PRC and Sister-Church News, December 8-14, 2019

Isaiah 7 14On this forty-ninth Lord's Day of 2019, December 8, the following news and information concerning PRC congregations, the Seminary, sister churches, and mission fields may be reported.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

Q. 35.  What is the meaning of these words — “He was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary”?
A.  That God’s eternal Son, who is and continueth true and eternal God, took upon Him the very nature of man, of the flesh and blood of the Virgin Mary, by the operation of the Holy Ghost; that He might also be the true seed of David, like unto His brethren in all things, sin excepted.

Q. 36.  What profit dost thou receive by Christ’s holy conception and nativity?
A.  That He is our Mediator, and, with His innocence and perfect holiness, covers in the sight of God my sins, wherein I was conceived and brought forth.

Heidelberg Catechism, Lord's Day 14

CONGREGATIONAL NEWS:

  • On December 1 Kalamazoo PRC extended a call to Rev. E. Guichelaar (Randolph, WI PRC). May the Lord make plain His will for him in this call. Rev. M. DeVries (current pastor) plans to become emeritus at the end of the year.

  • Today Rev. J. Mahtani preaches his farewell sermon at Cornerstone PRC (Dyer, IN). He has accepted the call from Grandvillle PRC to serve as minister on loan to Covenant ERC in Singapore and plans to be installed in that position on Sunday morning, December 29. The Mahtanis hope to leave for Singapore shortly after the new year. May the Lord bless all these plans and preparations (*see the update under CERC news below).

  • The congregation of Cornerstone PRC will vote on Jan.5 for a new pastor from the Council's trio:  Revs. J. Engelsma (Doon PRC), G. Eriks (Hudsonville PRC), and R. Kleyn (Covenant of Grace PRC, Spokane, WA).

  • The Consistory of Immanuel PRC (Lacombe, AB) has formed a new trio form which to call a pastor: Revs. H.Bleyenberg (Providence PRC), N.Langerak (Crete PRC), and A.Stewart (Covenant PRC, N.Ireland). Rev. R. Barnhill is bringing the Word there today and next Sunday.
  • The Council of the newly organized Unity PRC has formed a trio of Revs. J. Engelsma, E. Guichelaar, and R. Van Overloop.  The congregation plans to call on Wednesday, December 18.

  • Rev. M. Kortus (Hope PRC, Redlands, CA) is again leading the services in First PRC, Edmonton while Rev. A. Spriensma (PRC home missionary) is in Hope PRC (Redlands, CA) bringing the Word.

DENOMINATIONAL NEWS:

NDecker chapel Dec 2019
Rev. N. Decker (Grandville PRC) leading chapel at seminary this past week.

PRC Seminary News:

  • The seminary is now entering its fifteenth and final week of regular classes in the first semester in the school year. Next week exams will be held (Dec.16-20). It is a busy time for faculty and students. Continue to pray for the seminary in your daily prayers.
  • The faculty announces that Sem. Josiah Tan (CERC-Singapore) has been licensed to speak a word of edification in the churches. Contact Prof. B. Gritters (rector) for scheduling.

  • The Fall 2019 issue of the PRT Journal is being completed and should be available later this month. Watch for articles based on presentations given in Mexico this past summer and plenty of profitable book reviews.

  • Remember the Seminary's Dordt400 Conference in April of this year? The speeches and presentations given at this event have now been compiled, expanded, and edited (by Prof. R. Cammenga) and form the newly published RFPA book, For God's Glory and the Church's Consolation: 400 Years of the Synod of Dordt. Visit the website to order your copy, or come to the seminary bookstore to find one! And if you are looking for the videos and audios of the speeches, visit this page.

  • Looking for some good Reformed books to read, Bible study materials or seminary publications to use, or perhaps some gifts for the holiday season? Come and visit the seminary's bookstore! We have a variety of Bibles, commentaries, and good books - used and new (including Reformation titles!) - for our members and friends. And you may also make use of our library - here's the link to our online catalog if you wish to search for something to read or use.

  • Need for Ministers: Synod 2019 took a decision to place the urgent need for seminary students before our churches. Please remember in your prayers to petition the Lord of the harvest for pastors, and please encourage young men, whom you observe to have the gifts, to consider the ministry. If you wish to listen to a couple of sermons by our professors that address this need, listen to "The (Suffering) Minister's Steadfast Confession" and "The Beautiful Feet of the Gospel Preacher."

Maranatha PRC logo
*Who is the pastor of this PRCP? (see below)

SISTER-CHURCH NEWS:

  • Concerning our sister church in Singapore, Covenant ERC, we may note the following:
    • Rev. A. denHartog and his wife continue to serve the CERC while she is vacant. They plan to be there until Sunday, January 12, 2020.
    • Concerning Rev. J. Mahtani's application to serve in CERC (today's bulletin update): "By now you would have received the news that the application of the Employment Pass for Rev J. Mahtani has been rejected. Though we are sad to receive this reply from MOM, yet we continue to trust in the Lord to direct and lead us in our needs. We have submitted an appeal to MOM to re-access our request. This would take two to three weeks or even longer. We urge you to bring this petition before the Lord to seek His gracious provision for Covenant."
    • Her latest newsletter (October 2019) - Reformed News Asia - was posted recently and may be found on this page. 
  • Concerning the PRC in the Philippines, we may note the following from the bulletins of the Berean PRC, PRC in Bulacan, Maranatha PRC, and Provident CC:
    • Berean PRC: Rev. V. Ibe led the worship services today.
    • *Maranatha PRC: "Rev. R. Smit, our Missionary, will lead us in both services. He will continue teaching the Belgic Confession Lesson 28. D.V."
    • Provident PRC: Rev. D. Holstege led her services today.
    • Denominational News:

~ The PRCP Classis finished its work last November 30. "Among other things, Classis decided to add two new standing committees so that there are now four. Elders Bien and Alex were both appointed to Committee 3 (Finances, Emeritus, Seminary Student Aid). Elder Bien was also appointed to Committee 2 (Missions and Contact with Other Churches). Elder Alex was also elected as the new treasurer of the PRCP. Classis adopted a budget for the operations of the PRCP for 2020 and increased the classical assessment to P150 per family per month."

~ A new mission newsletter was published and distributed this Fall. You may find that October 2019 update here.

~ And for more on the life and work of our "sisters" in the Far East read the news under Philippine missions.

  • The PRC also has a "corresponding relationship" with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) of Australia. We remember these brothers and sisters in our prayers and labors also.
    • This year the EPC has a new student attending the PRC seminary. Isaac Peters along with his wife Rebeka and four children are living in West Michigan and Isaac is in the first year of a three-year program.

ReformedBookOutlet
Don't forget to include the Reformed Book Outlet in your gift-giving ideas this month! They have a special sale going on in December according to Hudsonville PRC's bulletin:

The Reformed Book Outlet is having their annual December sale. We have books, Bibles and Bible covers all 25%
off MSRP. This is a great time to add a few good reads to your religious library or help someone to build theirs!
Check us out on Facebook and Instagram to see highlights of some of the books we carry.

SPECIAL NOTICES:

  • Do you have an interest in good Reformed literature and a solid Reformed and biblical magazine? Visit the Reformed Free Publishing Association's website (www.rfpa.org), where you will find information on books in all major Christian categories, as well as on the bi-monthly periodical, the Standard Bearer.  Don't forget that these books and magazine make for great gifts!

  • If you are in need of some pamphlets and/or articles published by the PRC for use in evangelism and/or witnessing, visit the PRCA Evangelism page for a complete list of materials available in digital format or by order from the publishing church.

RWH Logo 2019

  • Remember to listen to the Reformed Witness Hour each Sunday - on a radio station near you or on Sermonaudio wherever you are!
    • From October to January (2020) the RWH welcomes Rev. W. Bruinsma of our Pittsburgh PRC to the microphone. He is doing a series on women in the Bible, with today's message being "Hannah's Prayer for a Son," based on 1 Samuel 1:9-18. Listen to the broadcast on the station near you or visit the links provided here to listen to this program.
    • From the Reformed Witness Hour Committee:

~ Have you seen our recent flyer passed out last month in the PRC? If you haven't, you may find a copy attached to this news post.
~ Special RWH newsletter note:
Did you know that Reformed Witness Hour messages are downloaded each month by saints all over the world—saints living in South Africa, Cambodia, Nigeria, and China? If you would like to stay informed about the reach of this distinctly Reformed radio and internet ministry and about ways you can support this witness, sign up at http://eepurl.com/gikNsL for a bimonthly newsletter.A new Spanish edition of the RWH has been produced and may be found on this YouTube channel (PRC Espanol). Why not check it out - and help spread the word!

 adult bible 1

ESPECIALLY FOR PRC Young People and Young Adults:

  • December 15: The Young Calvinists will be host a Christmas singspiration for young people and young adults in Trinity Protestant Reformed Church at 7:45 p.m. There will be food in the narthex afterwards. Come celebrate the birth of our Savior with us!

  • Please make note of next year's Protestant Reformed Young People's Convention date and location to be hosted by Georgetown PRC. The convention will be held Aug 10-14, 2020 at the Lake Williamson Camp in Carlinville, IL. Visit prcconvention.com for more information. Chaperone registration will open January 1, and conventioneer registration opens March 15.
  • THE EVANGELICAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF AUSTRALIA would love to invite any young people and young adults, aged 13 and up, to their biennial youth camp. This youth camp will be held in Brisbane, Australia from the 28th of December 2019 – 3rd January 2020. Rev. Martyn McGeown from the Limerick Reformed Fellowship of the Republic of Ireland will be our guest speaker, taking the camp on the topic of ‘The Christian’s Armour’ (From Ephesians 6). Amongst other activities, the theme night will be on the “Australian Bush”. The cost for the camp is $250 AUD (approx $170 USD). This is a great time to meet other young people, fellowship with them and learn about our Saviour. Please contact Megan at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for the full flyer + registration form, or for any additional questions/information.

cog members 2018
Photo of part of the Limerick Reformed Fellowship (2018)

PRC MISSION NEWS:

Domestic Labors:

  • Remember in prayer our home missionary, Rev. A. Spriensma, who continues to labor in the West Michigan area and beyond through Byron Center PRC, the calling church. Currently he is bringing the Word in Hope PRC, Redlands, CA.
  • Limerick Reformed Fellowship News:
    • Rev. M. McGeown is preaching the gospel in the LRF today.
    • From the LRF bulletin: "Pastor will speak at the Youth Camp of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Australia, which shall take place from Saturday 28th December to Friday 3rd January. He will give seven speeches/sermons and then preach in Brisbane EPC on Sundays 5th and 12th January."
    • The last mission newsletter from the Limerick Reformed Fellowship - The September 2019 edition - may be found here.

Philippine Missions:

  • From Maranatha PRC bulletin today re the work in S. Negros Occidental:

    Let us pray for Rev. Daniel and Sharon Kleyn, our Missionary couple who visits in Sipalay, Negros Occidental monthly. They have spent the day with the congregations of two of the pastors who normally attend the monthly classes: the Reformed Free Church in Inayauan (Pastor Ezekias Rosal) and the Reformed Church in Sialay, near Sipalay (Pastor Eduardo Donasco). The plan is to expand the work in Negros from teaching pastors to also preaching in their congregations and guiding them to organize properly as Reformed churches. All are very excited about this development because the SNO pastors are very enthusiastic and committed brethren who are eager to develop their churches.

  • The newest Philippines mission newsletter has been published and posted! The October 2019 issue may be read here.
  • For more on life and activities in the Philippines from the personal perspective of the missionary's, visit the Kleyn's blog, the Holstege's, and the Smits!

Let us continue in prayer to the Lord for the fulfillment of the needs of these busy pastors and missionaries in the Philippines. May the Lord of the harvest give them grace to be faithful and encouraged in all their labors.

India:

Myanmar:

  • Let us also remember Hope PRC's (Grand Rapids, MI) support of and involvement with Rev. Titus' work in Myanmar; for his latest report, visit this page.
Last modified on 09 December 2019

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