Below is the public report on the meeting of Classis East at Byron Center PRC this week Wednesday, provided by Mr. Gary Boverhof, the Stated Clerk.

May 10, 2017

Byron Center PRC

Classis East met in regular session on Wednesday, May 10, 2017. The churches were each represented by two delegates. Rev. Wm. Langerak was the chairman for this session.

Rev. K. Koole was appointed as the new moderator of Southwest PRC. He replaces Rev. A. denHartog who has been on the west coast assisting our Lynden Church during the illness of Rev. Ron Hanko. Holland PRC, Southwest PRC, and Zion PRC were granted Classical pulpit supply for evening services from June through September, should they be needed.

Classis was informed that a brother intends to appeal to Synod a decision that Classis made during the January 2017 meeting. This decision was regarding admitting non-Protestant Reformed believers to the communion table.

                The new Stated Clerk of Classis East was instructed to send a letter of thanks to Jon Huisken for his 40 plus years of faithful service to Classis East. Further, to place a notice of thanks in the bulletins of Classis East as well as the Standard Bearer.

                Most the day was spent on a protest by a sister protesting the content of various sermons of her pastor. This was appointed to pre-advice committee for recommendations. After thorough deliberations, Classis declared that this protest was illegally before Classis on the basis that her work was not finished with her consistory. Classis appointed the church visitors of Classis East to assist the Consistory and appellant with advice and guidance in their work.

A committee was appointed to digitize the minutes and supplements of Classis East. Due to the scope of this work, the committee is to report to Classis annually with their progress.

Classis approved the expenses for its meeting of $1,268.80. The next meeting of Classis East will be at Grandville PRC on September 13, 2017 at 8:00 AM, Lord willing.

Respectfully Submitted,

Gary Boverhof, Stated Clerk

*UPDATE: On May 16, 2017 the Stated Clerk sent out this special note of thanks concerning the labors of Mr. Jon Huisken, previous Stated Clerk of Classis East:

At the May 10, 2017 meeting of Classis East it was decided to charge the Stated Clerk to send a letter of thanks to Mr. Jon Huisken and a bulletin announcement for his 40 plus years of faithful service as Stated Clerk of Classis East. This is a daunting task to express our thanks for such a monumental gift he has given the churches of Classis East.

Saying thank you for giving of yourself as a selfless laborer to the churches for so many years seams insufficient. Please know that your work has been deeply appreciated as the labor of love that it was for you.

Psalm 90: 17 “And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.”

In His service,

Gary Boverhof, Stated Clerk Classis East

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On this first Sunday in May 2017, the following news and information from PRC congregations and mission fields may be reported:

CONGREGATIONAL NEWS:

• Last Sunday, April 30, First PRC, Holland MI voted to extend a call to Rev. C. Haak (Georgetown PRC).
• Rev. G. Eriks (Hudsonville PRC) is considering the call from Zion PRC (received April 23).
• Rev. C. Griess (Calvary PRC, Hull, IA) is considering the call from Southwest PRC (received on April 16). *UPDATE: It was announced yesterday that Rev. C. Griess had declined this call.
• From several PRC bulletins we learn about this matter of prayer concerning Rev. Ron Hanko, pastor of Lynden, WA PRC:
  • Rev. Ron Hanko (Lynden, WA) is scheduled to undergo surgery on Tuesday in Seattle, WA, to remove a tumor from his appendix. The surgery is expected to be lengthy (several hours), as is the recovery from the operation (several weeks). Remember the Hankos and the Lynden congregation in your prayers during this difficult time for them.

MISSION NEWS:

• The congregation of Byron Center PRC will vote TODAY from a new trio of ministers from which to call a home missionary: Rev. C. Haak (Georgetown PRC), Rev. S. Key (Loveland PRC), and Rev. C. Spronk (Faith PRC). *UPDATE: Rev. C. Haak received this call.
• The Council of Doon PRC has formed a new trio for calling a third missionary to the Philippines: Rev. Garry Eriks (Hudsonville PRC), Rev. Clay Spronk (Faith PRC), and Rev. Heath Bleyenberg (Providence PRC). Doon PRC will have a congregational meeting on May 14 to call one of these men.
• From the Provident Christian Church bulletin for today we find the following notes concerning our missionaries and their labors today andin this coming week:
  • Rev. Holstege will preach both times today at PCC.The second sermon will teach us about giving, focusing on what is called “the general fund.” Rev.Kleyn will preach at Maranatha PRC today.
  • Today at 1:30, Rev. Holstege will lead the Youth Fellowship and Bible Study. We will discuss thesubject of the first sermon: honoring father andmother. All the youth are welcome to attend.
• From Hope PRC's Council: The delegation of Rev. Jim Laning, elder John Van Baren, and their wives arrived safely in Myanmar this past week for two weeks of labor, giving instruction and encouragement to the saints there. Several new updates have been given. You can follow their activity on the prca.org bulletins page. Select “Mission Stations” and click on “Myanmar Memoirs” for the updates. Remember our Myanmar people and the delegation in your prayers. Below are a couple of pictures of the seminar held in Yangon, led by Rev. J. Laning.

Men gathered for seminar on the Reformed doctrine of the church.

Rev. J. Laning giving presentation on the Reformed doctrine of the church.

 Also, in CLASSIS NEWS, Classis East is due to meet this Wednesday, May 10, at Byron Center PRC. An officebearers' conference is scheduled for Tuesday night (7 PM) at the church, with Prof. D. Engelsma speaking on "Pastoral Treatment of Spousal (Wife) Abuse in the PRC". Past, present and prospective office bearers are urged to attend this timely speech.

The Reformed Book Outlet, operated by the Bible study societies of Hudsonville PRC (MI), has published their newsletter for May 2017.

This is one of their 25% off months, so you will want to check out the specials listed below.

On the flyer below you will also find the store location and hours. Support this local bookstore and obtain good music and books at good prices!

The newsletter is also attached here in pdf form.

First PRC of Grand Rapids, MI and the Reformed Witness Hour Committee announce the messages scheduled for May 2017 on the RWH radio program.

Rev. Carl Haak, pastor of Georgetown PRC in Hudsonville, MI will begin his four-service for the RWH program, with special messages for Mother's Day and Ascension Day this month.

You are encouraged to listen to these important messages and to let others know about them too. Help spread the word about the Reformed Witness Hour, now in its 76th year of broadcasting the truths of God's sovereign, particular, efficacious grace!

Below are the messages scheduled for this month, also in flyer form (attached in pdf).

May 7, 2017 - To God, My Exceeding Joy, I will Go, Psalm 43

May 14, 2017 - A Joyful Mother of Children, Psalm 113:9

May 21, 2017 - Except Ye Be Converted, Matthew 18:1-5

May 28, 2017 - My Soul is Anchored in Heaven, Hebrews 6:20,21

The following is the latest news and information from PRC congregations and mission fields for this Lord's Day of April 30, 2017.

CONGREGATIONAL NEWS:

• Last Sunday, April 23, Zion PRC (Hudsonville/Jenison, MI) voted to extend a call to Rev. G. Eriks to become her first pastor.
• The Council of First PRC, Holland MI announces a new trio from which to call a pastor: Rev. Carl Haak (Georgetown), Rev. Rodney Kleyn (Covenant of Grace, Spokane, WA) and Rev. Doug Kuiper (Edgerton, MN). UPDATE: The congregation voted to extend a call to Rev. C. Haak at its meeting today.
  
• Rev. C. Griess (Calvary PRC, Hull, IA) is considering the call from Southwest PRC (received on April 16).

MISSION NEWS:

• The Council of Byron Center PRC has announced a new trio of ministers from which to call a home missionary: Rev. C. Haak (Georgetown PRC), Rev. S. Key (Loveland PRC), and Rev. C. Spronk (Faith PRC). The congregation will vote to extend a call at the congregational meeting on May 22 (the date of her annual meeting).
• From Hope PRC's Council: A delegation of Rev. Jim Laning, elder John Van Baren, and their wives will depart Tuesday May 2 for Myanmar for 2 weeks to give instruction and encouragement to the saints there. You can follow their activity on the prca.org bulletins page. Select “Mission Stations” and click on “Myanmar Memoirs” for daily updates. Remember our Myanmar people and the delegation in your prayers.
• From the Provident Christian Church bulletin for today we find the following notes concerning our missionaries and their labors:
  • Rev. Kleyn will preach for both worship services here in PCC today. Rev. Holstege and his family are in the PRC in Bulacan today where Rev. Holstege is preaching for both of their worship services.
  • Rev. Holstege is scheduled to lead both of our worship services next Sunday.
  • The Wednesday night Bible study will meet this week, May 3, at 7:30 p.m., the Lord willing. Rev.Holstege will continue leading us in a study of the Canons of Dordt. This week we will study Head II, Articles 8-9.
  • The Youth Fellowship and Bible Study will meet again next Sunday, May 7, at 1:30 p.m., the Lord willing. Discussion will be about the sermon that Rev. Holstege plans to preach on the 5th Commandment (“Honor thy father and thy mother”). All the young people are welcome and encouraged to attend.

 SISTER-CHURCH NEWS:

From this week's bulletin of Covenant ERC in Singapore we find this summary note of the recent delegation to Kolkata, India:

There will probably be a more formal presentation of the work in Kolkata coming later, but let’s consider just a few highlights today in the Pastoral Voice. First, our main work in Kolkata this time was attending and speaking at the CERC (Fellowship) Kolkata Church Camp, from Friday through Sunday. This was the first time that CERCK has had a church camp, and it went very well, by all accounts. The group already voiced their opinion that they would like this to be an annual event, and they are already looking forward to their second annual church camp in 2018! There were 37 people in attendance, with only three people who were unable to attend. About 85% of those at the church camp are regular attendees at the worship services on Sunday. The balance were newcomers who have attended a service or two, or who are currently attending the Friday Bible Study but not the Sunday worship yet.

The instruction at the camp included five speeches, three QA sessions, and one sermon at the worship service on Sunday. The theme of the camp was the doctrine of the church, with the theme verse being I Timothy 3:15 – “[T]hou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” This theme was chosen because CERCK is at an important crossroads in her life. She has been meeting under Rev. Singh’s instruction for several years and has more and more come to embrace the Reformed faith. In our judgment, we are getting nearer to the time when we should consider organizing CERCK as an instituted church. Although Session has not adopted a timeline for exactly when organization should take place, Session has already taken note that this is the next big step in our work in Kolkata, and that all of our work from now on will be geared toward that goal. Therefore, we used our time at the church camp in Kolkata to instruct the members of the fellowship in what it means to be a church, the importance of membership in the church, the calling and role of officebearers in the church, and the great callings that a church has in this world to worship God and preach His truth. The instruction was well received, and the members
indicated that they desire to be organized in due time. When Session meets again, it will begin laying out a more specific timeline for organization, with certain benchmarks to be met. Session will keep the congregation updated as these decisions are made.

Rev. Singh and Sonali are both doing well. They are obviously well received by the members of the Fellowship, and Rev. Singh gives good instruction to the group. Both Rev. Singh and Sonali send their warm Christian greetings to CERC Singapore. They are eagerly looking forward to fellowship with the saints in Singapore again. Although Session has not yet set a firm date, the Singhs will probably come to Singapore around the time of RDC again, in October or November. In the meantime, they earnestly desire our prayers for themselves and for the saints in Kolkata.

We thank God for gathering His church in Kolkata, and we thank Him for a successful church camp. Pray that God will continue to build His church, both in our midst and abroad, until our Lord returns to receive His completed bride to Himself.