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PRC Synod 2015: Day 1 - Sermon & Examination of Sem.R. Barnhill

RevKKoole Pre Synod sermon 2015Last night the pre-synodical worship service was held at Faith PRC, the calling church for this year's synod. Rev.Ken Koole, last year's synodical president, led the service and preached from Genesis 6:8 under the theme, "Noah, One Who Found Grace in the Eyes of the Lord." When the sermon is posted, you will find it here on Faith PRC's Sermonaudio page.

Today (Tuesday, June 9) the examination of Sem.Ryan Barnhill begins, with his specimen sermon delivered first. Following the approval of his sermon and exegesis, his examination will continue later today. Prof.B.Gritters will examine him first in the area of church polity and then in the area of OT history (cf. pictures below).

With synod's approval, this part of the exam will also be live-streamed - beginning at 2:30 ET. To watch this part of the examination, check in at this page of Faith PRC's website. If there is nothing on the video, the exam is not taking place yet, or there is a break.

It is our prayer that the Lord will uphold and strengthen Sem. Barnhill as he undergoes this examination.

Daily summary of synod's activities:

The second clerk of Synod provides the following summary of the activities and decisions of Synod for its first day. Even though some of this is covered already above, we include his full summary report here.

Synod convened Tuesday morning at Faith PRC in Jenison, MI. The first order of business was to elect officers with the following results: Rev.Steven Key, President; Rev. Carl Haak, Vice President; Rev. Doug Kuiper Clerk; Rev. Allen Brummel, Second Clerk (cf. picture below).


Synod seated delegates from our sister churches: Deacon Tang Yoon Chuan from the Covenant Evangelical Reformed Church in Singapore and Deacon Philip Hall from the Covenant Protestant Reformed Church in Northern Ireland.


The examination schedule proposed by the Theological School Committee for Seminarian Ryan Barnhill was approved with the specimen sermon scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Seminarian Barnhill addressed the delegates and a good number of visitors with the theme: "Fear Not, Israel" based on Isaiah 43:1,2. Synod declared the sermon Reformed and edifying and approved proceeding to the rest of the exam, with the sections conducted by Prof.B.Gritters on Church Polity and Old Testament History beginning at 2:30 p.m.


Prof. Gritters, who accepted an invitation to speak for a summer conference of the CERC in Singapore, found out later that the travel arrangements required him to leave for Singapore on Wednesday. The rest of the examination will continue Wednesday morning at 10:00 a.m. with Prof.R.Cammenga examining Mr. Barnhill in the area of Dogmatics. Synod approved the live streaming of the sermon and the examination from Faith PRC’s website.


Synod recessed for the day and opportunity was given to the committees to begin their pre-advice work. Lord willing, Synod will convene at 8 a.m. Wednesday to begin treatment of Committee 1's pre-advice regarding the work of the Domestic Mission Committee.
Rev. Allen Brummel, Second Clerk

RBarnhill Synod 2015 1

Sem.Ryan Barnhill delivering his sermon before synod.

RBarnhill Synod 2015 2 ProfGritters Synod 2015

Sem.R.Barnhill being examined by Prof.B.Gritters in church polity and OT history.

Synod 2015 Officers

Synod 2015 Officers: Rev.C.Haak, Rev.A.Brummel, Rev.D.Kuiper, Rev.S.Key

Rev.R.Kleyn Declines Call to Serve as Second Missionary to the Philippines; Peace PRC Announces New Trio

Image result for pray ye the lord of the harvestOn Sunday, June 7, 2015, Rev.R. Kleyn (Covenant of Grace PRC, Spokane, WA) announced that he had declined the call he had received on May 17 through the Doon PRC to serve as second missionary to the Philippines.

May the Lord of the harvest grant contentment to Doon PRC and to missionary-pastor D.Kleyn in this decision, and may He give them confidence that He will provide another man for the field in His time and way.

Let us continue to pray for the mission work being carried on in the Philippines and for the churches and saints there. For the latest news from this field, visit the Kleyn's blog.

In other news, Peace PRC (Lansing, IL) announced a new trio from which to call a pastor. The trio consists of Revs.G.Eriks (Hudsonville PRC), B.Huizinga (Hope PRC, Redlands, CA), and S.Key (Loveland, CO PRC). The congregational meeting is scheduled for Sunday, June 14.

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PRC Synod 2015 to Convene June 9, 2015

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This week Tuesday (June 9-12, 2015) the PRC Synod 2015 will begin it meetings and deliberations at Faith PRC in Jenison, MI. Below you will find the first announcement notifying the churches of this annual meeting and some of the special events connected to it.

Visit this PRC news section next week for daily reports and pictures.

The pre-synodical service will be held on Monday evening, June 8, at 7:00 P.M., in Faith PR Church in Jenison, MI. (Collection will be for the Academy for Reformed Theology in Germany.) Rev. K. Koole, president of Synod 2014, will preach the sermon. This service will be streamed live at http://faithprc.org/watchlive.cfm. Synod convenes Tuesday morning at 8:30 in Faith Church.

Mr. Ryan Barnhill will be examined at this year’s synod. His specimen sermon will be delivered Tuesday morning, beginning at 10:30. Pending synod’s approval, this sermon, as well as the rest of Mr. Barnhill’s examination and his graduation, will also be streamed live at the above-mentioned link. The schedule for the rest of the examination must yet be determined by synod. Those who plan to view the examination online can look for the schedule to be announced at the time of the specimen sermon.

Graduation is planned for Thursday evening, June 11, at 7:30 in Faith Church. Prof. R. Cammenga will deliver the commencement address: “The Minister and His Marriage.”

For a preview article by Prof.R.Dykstra on this meeting of Synod and its work, see this news item on the 2015 synodical agenda.

Reformed Witness Hour Messages for June 2015

haak smallFirst PRC of Grand Rapids, MI and the Reformed Witness Hour Committee announce the messages scheduled for June 2015 on the RWH radio program.

Rev. Carl Haak, pastor of Georgetown PRC in Hudsonville, MI, will begin a series on God's holy institution of marriage, fitting for the summer season of weddings and engagements. Young married couples, those who are engaged to be married, and young adults are especially encouraged to listen to these timely messages.

Below is the schedule of messages, which you will also find attached in pdf form. For stations and time of broadcast, visit the RWH website, where you may also listen to and download past messages from the archive section.

June 2015 Flyer Page 1

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Spring and Summer Report from the PRC Seminary - June 2015

Sem front May2014 1The PRC Seminary is now on recess for the summer, but that does not mean that there is not a lot of Seminary-related activity taking place. There is, and Prof.R.Dykstra's most recent Rector's report published in the June 2015 Standard Bearer proves it. Here is his summary of the past semester and what the summer holds for faculty and students.

This past semester might be called the semester of doctors. It started with a laparoscopic appendectomy gone awry, resulting in an appendix that disintegrated before removal. That put one student in the hospital and produced complications for weeks that slowed his recovery. Then our fourth-year student was diagnosed with mono, bronchitis, and infected sinuses, so we did not see him around for a while. After that it was wave after wave of colds, flu, and one case of pneumonia that took out various students from week to week. A visiting student informed us that he had been diagnosed with tuberculosis, with the result that all who were in that class were instructed to be tested (no positive results, happy to say). And now at the very end of the semester, one student is hobbling around on crutches with a badly injured knee, wondering what the surgeon will recommend.

Other than that, we are well, thanks.

From every other point of view, this was an exciting semester. Abilities developed through ten weeks straight of practice preaching. Students started teaching catechism in the churches. Reams and reams of paper were devoured for exegesis, church history, dogmatics, and church polity assignments/papers. And, very important, the instruction was well received by the diligent students one and all.

Exciting news is found elsewhere in this issue of the SB, namely, that five of the students have been licensed to speak a word of edification in the churches. As most readers know, a large class just finished its second year of seminary. To all the seminarians the Lord gives gifts in differing amounts, and causes them to develop at varying rates. Thus one cannot expect that the entire class would be ready for licensing at the same time. We thank God that these five have developed to this point, and that the others are working diligently toward this goal.

For some of the students, instruction will continue into the summer, though it will be of a different kind. Five students will have a mini-internship focusing on missions. This has been done twice in the past eight years. Many years ago bequest money was set aside (according to the designation of the giver) to be used specifically for training in missions. That money enables us to offer second-year students the opportunity to live on a mission field for a time in order to get hands-on experience. Five students responded with enthusiasm. Accordingly, two will go to Pittsburgh, one to the Philippines, and two to Spokane (a small, young congregation with extensive outreach activity).

Last, and surely not least, seminarian Ryan Barnhill has completed his fourth year of seminary training. The faculty wholeheartedly recommend him for examination at the synod of 2015. Another minister will soon take his place in the ranks. How good our God is to us.

We thank God for His grace abundantly bestowed to the students and the professors alike. And we thank God for the continued support of the churches.

Prof. Russell Dykstra, Rector

In addition. the professors will keep busy this summer, preparing for the next semester and carrying out special speaking engagements. Prof.R.Dykstra is teaching the PR Teacher's Institite seminar in NW Iowa in May and June. Prof.B.Gritters will be travelling to Singapore in June to speak at the the Covenant ERC's annual church camp. And Prof.R.Cammenga will be heading to the Philippines in August to teach his course on the Theology of John Calvin.

Summer is also a time for maintenance and upgrade work to be done at the Seminary. A new driveway is being constructed to the south of the building and the parking lot is being expanded and repaved. According to an adopted schedule, old and tired furnaces and AC units are being replaced with more efficient and effective ones. And there is always an assortment of other little projects that are more easily handled during the "off-season."

And, of course, plenty of library work is also being done, as Prof.D.Engelsma's books are being sorted and processed. More time for denominational archive work is also found during these months, so that continues as well.

We encourage you to stop by and visit us this summer, whether you come from far away or are nearby. You will receive a warm welcome by all who are here.

New Issue of Salt Shakers Magazine - May 2015, #32

SS32 eMag May 2015 Page 1"Covenant Keepers", the youth ministry of the Covenant Evangelical Reformed Church of Singapore (our sister church), has just published issue #32 of "Salt Shakers" (May 2015),their youth magazine.

Once again the "SS" is packed with interesting and edifying articles, and our PRC young people especially are invited and encouraged to read it. Below you will find a note from the "SS" Committee introducing the contents of this issue and images of the cover and table of contents.

Dear Beloved Readers,

The Salt Shakers Committee is thankful to bring to you the May 2015 edition of our magazine! We give thanks to God that by His grace we may continue to publish this youth magazine and confess the blessed Reformed truths. Catch the exciting report by Rev. Andrew Lanning on Investigating Missions in Kolkata, as well as Brother Ishu Mahtani's Vesak Day article Speaking the Truth in Love. Do also read and be edified by the many other interesting articles from our excellent writers, who we thank most heartily for their contributions.
As we give thanks and for the release of SS issue 32, work for issues 33 and 34 are well under way and we look forward to bringing them to you soon, God willing! Once again, if you wish to ask Salt Shakers any questions on doctrine and living which may be published in our new Questions rubric, do email them to us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We thank those who have sent in their questions already at this time.
Love in Christ, Chua Lee Yang on Behalf of the Salt Shakers Committee

You are encouraged to visit the"Salt Shakers" webpage where you will find a downloadable e-copy for your reading and spiritual growth. Or you may find the full copy attached here in pdf form.

SS32 eMag May 2015 Page 2

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