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The PRC Weekly Congregational and Mission News - April 30, 2017 (Updated)

Ps32 8 mountainsThe 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.

Last modified on 30 April 2017