News

News

News from Our Sister Church in Singapore (March 15, 2015)

The following news items pertaining to our sister church in Singapore (CERC) was found in the bulletin of Grace PRC this Sunday (March 15, 2015), as well as reported in CERC's bulletins in the last few weeks:

SINGAPORE: The [PRC] Committee for Contact with Other Churches was asked by our sister-church in Singapore, Covenant Evangelical Reformed Church, to conduct church visitation with them. To this end the Contact Committee is sending Rev. G. Eriks (Hudsonville) and Rev. S. Key (Loveland, CO) there, leaving this Thursday [March 19] and returning on the 30th.

INDIA: For almost two years there have been almost weekly Skype meetings with a minister in Kolkata, India named Emmanuel Singh by Rev. B.Woudenberg, Rev. J.Kortering, and our pastor [Rev.R.Van Overloop]. About six months ago Rev. A. Lanning along with an elder and a deacon of Covenant Evangelical Reformed Church in Singapore have joined these meetings. Rev. Singh and his wife have visited the saints in Singapore. Covenant ERC is sending their pastor and an elder (Rev. A. Lanning and Elder Fai Chong) to Kolkata, India for a week to visit Emmanuel Singh and to evaluate his work with a view to taking spiritual oversight of that work.

This is how the CERC reported it in one of their recent bulletins:

The Session of the CERCS will be sending a delegation of Elder Leong and Pastor Lanning to Kolkata, India this month as part of Session’s ongoing labour of investigating the possibility of CERC overseeing Emmanuel’s work in Kolkata and the surrounding villages. The delegation will depart 19 March (Thursday night) and return 25 March (Wednesday morning). The main work will be a two-day conference consisting of several speeches. Other labours will include discussions with Emmanuel and others about the work and evaluating Session’s ability to oversee the field. Let us pray for wisdom for the delegates, as well as for Emmanuel and the saints in Kolkata, as we heed our Lord’s command to “teach all nations” (Matthew 28: 19, 20).

Let us remember to pray for these men as they travel to Singapore and India and conduct the labors for which they were sent. May the Lord of the church be with them and bless their work.

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News From the Philippines Mission (March 15, 2015)

From the bulletins of both the Provident Christian Church and the PRC of Bulacan we find the following significant news items relating to the work in the Philippines, this being the final Sunday Missionary Rev.R.Smit and his family spend on the field:

Rev. and Tricia Smit and their family are scheduled to leave the Philippines this week in order to make their home and take up their work in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. Sometime in April, the Lord willing, Rev. Smit will be installed as the pastor of the First Protestant Reformed Church in Grand Rapids [April 19]. We thank the Lord for providing this call to Rev. Smit. We are also thankful for the faithful labors of Rev. Smit here in the Philippines over the past six years, and for the blessing of coming to know and being able to enjoy fellowship with the Smit family. We pray God will keep them safe as they travel and bless them as they adjust to their new life and work in His church. “The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand” (Psalm 121:5).

Smit Family Feb2015

Rev. Daniel Holstege recently declined the call to serve as a missionary in the Philippines. Doon PRC has since formed a new trio of Rev. Allen Brummel (Heritage PRC in Sioux Falls South Dakota), Rev. Nathan Decker (Trinity PRC in Hudsonville Michigan) and Rev. Garry Eriks (Hudsonville PRC in Hudsonville Michigan). The congregation plans to vote from this trio on Friday, April 3.

Rev. D.Kleyn’s preaching schedule is as follows:

< March 22 – Maranatha PRC in Valenzuela

< March 29 – Provident Christian Church

< April 5 – Maranatha PRC in Valenzuela

< April 12 – Provident Christian Church

Shall we remember to pray for the Smits as they depart - and continue regularly in prayer for the Kleyns - and Doon PRC - and the saints in the Philippines?

UPDATE: It may be added that the Smits family made it safely to their "new" Michigan home (First PRC's parsonage) late Wednesday, March 18 and are settling in. We thank God for these safe travels and pray for grace as they settle in to their new abode and the labors in First PRC. Rev.D.Kleyn and his wife updated their blog about the Smits' departure from the Philippines after seeing them to the airport. To see pictures of the other side of this trip, visit their blog (below is one image taken at the airport).

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Reformed Book Outlet - March 2015 Newsletter

ReformedBookOutletThe Reformed Book Outlet in Hudsonville, MI has published its March 2015 Newsletter, with a number of special items featured once again - from good Christian music to sound Reformed books.

Read the RBO newsletter below (also attached in pdf form), check out their website (also to check on business hours), visit the bookstore, and benefit from the good Reformed literature, music, cards, and other resources available.

RBO newsletter 3 15 Page 1

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Rev.D.Holstege Declines Call to the Philippines

Daniel HolstegeOn Sunday, March 8, 2015 it was announced in Doon PRC, the calling church for the PRC mission work in the Philippines, that Rev.D.Holstege (First PRC, Holland, MI) had declined the call to serve as second missionary there, for the replacement of Rev.R.Smit who will be leaving the field this month.

May the Lord of the harvest be pleased to provide a man for this field in His time according to His perfect will. And may He assure the Kleyns and the Smits that He will provide for all their special needs during this time of transition.

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Delegation from Hope PRC to Myanmar, March 5-18

Myanmar mapThe following notice appeared in a recent bulletin of Hope PRC of Walker, MI concerning their labors in Myanmar:

The Council has approved a delegation to Myanmar this Spring consisting of Rev. D.Overway and Elder D.Jessup.

The purpose of the trip will be to hold a seminar for theological instruction and to follow up with work that we began during our trip in November. Topics for the seminar are “God’s Covenant” and “The Importance of Our Creeds”.

The trip is being planned, Lord willing, for March 5–18.

Please remember the delegation and the saints in Myanmar in your prayers. 2 Timothy 2:2, “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”

For more on this labor and the previous visit made (November 2014), visit this news item.

Let us too remember to pray for these men as they travel afar and conduct these labors on behalf of their Council and congregation. May the Lord richly bless their work in this part of the world.

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Reformed News Asia - March 2015 Issue

RefdNewsAsia Banner

The fifteenth issue of "Reformed News Asia" has been released by the Christian Literature Ministry (CLM) of our sister church in Singapore, the Covenant Evangelical Reformed Church. Once again you will find an issue filled with informative and profitable content (for information on the previous issue, #14, visit this page)!

RNA March 2015 DevotionsOne of the special resources made available in this issue is the daily devotions, which continue a series covering the Heidelberg Catechism (LDs 10-13). Written by Rev.G.Van Baren and Rev.A.Brummel, these devotions on the "HC" take you through the month of March and into April (March 5- April 1). You will find great spiritual profit in using these devotions day by day (By the way, you may also find these same HC devotionals on the PRC website.).

Another item to note in this issue is this important one relating to our sister-church relation:

Session again has asked the PRC for church visitors this year, and the Contact Committee has agreed to send two ministers: Rev. Steven Key (from the PRC in Loveland, Colorado; L) and Rev. Garry Eriks (from the PRC in Hudsonville, Michigan; R). These brothers (and Mrs. Eriks) will be in Singapore from Friday, 20 March to Monday, 30 March.

Be sure to check out all the details of "Reformed News Asia" by subscribing to this important newsletter from our Singapore sister.

For more information on events and activities in the CERC (including the latest visitors from the U.S.), as well as on life in Singapore, with lots of great pictures and descriptions, visit the "Stories from Singapore" blog of the Lannings.

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Rev.C.Griess Receives Call from Peace PRC

RevCGriessAt her congregational meeting Monday night, March 2, 2015, Peace PRC voted to extend a call to Rev.Cory Griess (from the trio which included Revs.W.Langerak and J.Marcus), currently pastor of Calvary PRC in Hull, IA (since 2009).

May the Lord guide this servant into a clear knowledge of His will for him and his family as well as into faithful submission to it.

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Classis West Meeting March 4 in Doon PRC (Stated Clerk Report Now Added)

DoonPRCPicThe next regular meeting of Classis West is set for Wednesday, March 4, 2015 at the Doon PRC in Doon, IA.

The agenda looks to be light. At this meeting Classis will be voting for its synodical delegates, functionaries, and committee members.

Pray that the men may be given traveling mercies as they make their way to NW Iowa and that these delegates may be given wisdom for the work the King of the church, Jesus Christ, has in store for them.

UPDATE: Below you may now find the Stated Clerk's public report of this meeting (also attached in pdf form):

Classis West of the Protestant Reformed Churches

Rev. Douglas J. Kuiper, Stated Clerk
321 Maple St W, PO Box 212, Edgerton, MN 56128
Phone: (507) 442-4441
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Report of Meeting of Classis West
March 4, 2015

On March 4, 2015, the thirty delegates to Classis West met in the Doon, IA PRC. The day dawned sunny, clear, cold, and windy - a typical winter morning on the eastern edge of the plains. Inside, the delegates enjoyed warm fellowship.

Rev. Erik Guichelaar opened the session by reading 1 Timothy 4:11-16, and giving a meditation on verse 16. The young pastor reminded the delegates of the need both to be diligent in our labors, and to be personal examples of godliness, assuring us from God’s Word that in this way we will enjoy God’s blessing on us personally and on our congregations. After devotions, Rev. R. Hanko took the chair and capably led the Classis through its work.

For the most part, this was a routine spring meeting. Classis approved the labors of its stated clerk, classical committee, church visitors, and reading sermon committee. It provided Peace PRC with classical appointments. Classis approved Edgerton’s request for subsidy for 2015, and approved subsidy requests for six churches for 2016. Since 1999, Edgerton has been able to subsidize its own General Fund by drawing annually from the interest and principal of a sizeable bequest. Edgerton informed Classis that, because the bequest could be completely gone in about 5 years, Edgerton thought it prudent to subsidize its General Fund partly from that bequest fund, and partly from denominational subsidy - which Classis granted. All subsidy requests will now be forwarded to Synod 2015 for final approval or disapproval.

Voting for various functionaries and synodical delegates is always on the agenda of the spring meeting. Classis appointed Rev. J. Laning to a three year term on the classical committee. It chose Revs. S. Key, R. Kleyn, D. Kuiper, and J. Laning as church visitors for the next year, with Revs. A. Brummel and D. Lee as alternates. It brings to Synod the recommendation to approve Rev. D. Kuiper for a three year term as primus synodical deputy, and Rev. J. Laning for a three year term as secundus. It delegated to synod Revs. Brummel, Key, Kleyn, Kuiper, and Laning, and elders Keith Bruinsma (Peace), Chester Hunter (Edgerton), Alan Meurer (Bethel), Jack Lenting (Crete), and Jack Regnerus (Randolph). Alternate delegates are Revs. Griess, Huizinga, Langerak, Lee, and Marcus, and elders Jim Andringa (Hull), Glenn Feenstra (Hope), Jim Hoogendoorn (Doon), Victor Solanyk (Loveland), and Steve Van Drunen (Crete).

Classis dealt with two non-routine matters.

First, Peace PRC informed Classis that its congregation has authorized its council to investigate buying property or existing buildings south of its current location, “most likely in Indiana.” Recognizing that the Illinois/Indiana border is the designated boundary line between Classis East and Classis West, Peace asked Classis to bring to Synod its request to be permitted to remain in Classis West, should Peace move across the classical boundary into Indiana. Classis forwarded this request to Synod, with its approval.

Second, the stated clerk informed Classis that he was nearly finished preparing an index of the decisions of Classis West, and desired advice from Classis regarding the printing, distributing, and updating of this index. Classis decided to permit every consistory in the denomination to receive a printed copy, and every minister in the denomination to receive a printed and/or electronic copy of this index. Because the index contains publicly known information, Classis faced the question whether to make the printed version available to any member of the denomination who requests it. Classis decided instead that members of the congregations may ask their consistory to use their copy, as the consistory is in a better position to judge why the member desires to use it. The stated clerk was then instructed to update and redistribute the electronic version of this index every year, and the printed version every ten years. However, every year the stated clerk must send those who receive the printed version a looseleaf sheet of cumulative updates.

Glancing through the minutes, I see that consistories have asked for advice regarding erasure or increase of censure at 7 of the last 11 meetings. This meeting was one of those four at which no consistories sought such advice.

The expenses of this meeting totaled $8029.82.

Classis is scheduled to meet next on September 30 in Edgerton, MN.

Rev. Douglas Kuiper, Stated Clerk

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