This past Sunday, September 28, 2014 our sister church in Singapore, the Covenant Evangelical Reformed Church, voted unanimously to extend a call to Rev.A.Lanning to serve as her own pastor (He being her only candidate.).

For the last two years Rev.Lanning has been serving as minister-on-loan from the PRC to the CERC, with Grandville PRC being the calling church for this special position. But now Covenant ERC wants Rev.Lanning to serve as her own minister, and for this purpose she has now called him.

He has until October 19 to answer this call. May the Lord give him clear knowledge of His will and godly submission to it, for the good of the church of Christ in that place as well as here.

On Sunday, September 21, 2014, the Council of First PRC in Grand Rapids, MI announced to the congregation a new trio from which to call a pastor (following the emeritation of Rev.J.Slopsema in July).

The new trio is made up of Rev.B.Huizinga (Hope PRC, Redlands, CA), J.Mahtani (Cornerstone PRC, Dyer, IN), and R.Van Overloop (Grace PRC, Standale, MI).

The congregation plans to vote from this trio on Thursday, Oct.2, 2014 at a special congregational meeting.

On Wednesday, September 24, 2014, Pastor-elect Joshua Engelsma was examined by the delegates of Classis West meeting in Peace PRC, Lansing, IL. Part of the exam included preaching a specimen sermon before the delegates of Classis and the congregation of Peace PRC at a special worship service the evening before, held in Crete PRC.

Following a thorough examination in all areas of theology and practical theology (pastoral care), pastor-elect J.Engelsma was unanimously approved for ordination as a minister of the Word and sacraments in the PRCA. Doon PRC's Council, from whom Josh had received his call into the ministry, was instructed to proceed with his ordination and installation into the ministry.

This is planned for Friday evening, Oct.3, at 7:00 p.m. in the Doon PRC with Prof. David Engelsma conducting the service. Pastor-elect Engelsma's inaugural sermon will take place on Sunday, Oct.5, during the evening service (6:00 p.m.).

The picture below is of Pastor-elect J.Engelsma and his wife Courtney, as he receives his Classical diploma from the president of Classis, Rev.Erik Guichelaar (compliments of Rev.R.Van Overloop, one of the delegates ad examina representing Classis East).

We give thanks to Jesus Christ, the King of the church, for giving pastor-elect J.Engelsma the grace to sustain his exam before Classis, and for providing us as churches with another herald of the gospel. May He now give him additional grace to enter into the ministry and to fulfill its glorious labors in faithfulness to the charge given him. Let us pray for this brother as he prepares to take up his labors.

*Note: For a full report of the meeting of Classis West and the Officebearers' Conference, see the pdf attached to this post.

Late Sunday night, the Lord's Day of rest September 21, 2014, Rev. Dale H. Kuiper, aged 78 (born Nov.22, 1935), entered into his eternal rest after suffering more strokes the week before while residing at Sheldon Meadows Living Center in Hudsonville, MI.

Rev.Kuiper was ordained in September of 1967 and served as pastor in six Protestant Reformed congregations as well home missionary for the PRC. He retired from SE PRC in Grand Rapids, MI in 2003.

He is survived by his wife Velerie (nee Miersma), nine children and twenty-nine grandchildren, as well as several brothers and sisters. For the full obituary, visit this page on the Vanderlaan Funeral Home website.

Arrangements for visitation of Rev.Kuiper's family and his funeral are as follows:

On Sunday evening, September 21, 2014, the congregation of Faith PRC (Jenison MI) voted to extend a call to Rev.C.Spronk (Peace PRC, Lansing, IL) to serve as her next pastor.

May the Lord grant this pastor wisdom to discern the Lord's will with regard to these calls.

On Sunday morning, September 21, 2014, the congregation of Doon (IA) PRC voted to extend a call to Rev.Cory Griess of Calvary PRC (Hull, IA) to serve as the next missionary to the Philippines. We pray for this pastor and his family as he weighs this call, as well as his existing one.

His plan is to answer this call on or before October 19, 2014.

In other news from the Philippines, some of the churches and people with whom our missionaries labor have been affected by the heavy rains and flooding of the past week. This is one such note that appeared in a church bulletin:

Rev. Kleyn and Rev. Smit reported that the latest flooding in the Philippines and the area of Manilla was significant. Rev. Kleyn wrote: " From what we’ve heard from the pastors and members of the various churches, they’re all doing fine. Some will no doubt have some cleanup to do, but I would think it won’t be to the extent of what was needed after Typhoon Ondoy in 2009. We may learn more about this as the day and weekend progresses. We’re thankful everyone is fine, and that the flooding wasn’t worse. Especially thankful to know the Lord’s hand directs all things. Thanks for your prayers and concerns.