The eighth issue of "Reformed News Asia" has been released by the Christian Literature Ministry of our sister church in Singapore, the Covenant Evangelical Reformed Church, and it is another issue filled with informative and edifying content (for information on the previous issue, #7, click on this link)!

One of the special features of this issue is once again the devotions on the Belgic Confession, covering Articles 24-25 (see pdf attachment) on the topics of man's sanctification and good works, and the abolishing of the ceremonial law. Written by Missionary-pastor M.MeGeown (Limerick Reformed Fellowship, Ireland), these devotions on the BC take you through the month of August (August 13-Sept.3 - for the beginning of August, see issue 7). You will find great spiritual profit in using these devotions day by day.

In addition, the newsletter also contains information about the CLM's pamphlet and book ministries and about activities going on in the CERC, including some of the special events revolving around the visits of Prof.R.Dykstra and Rev.N.Decker (see picture below).

For more information on how to subscribe to this newsletter, visit this page on the CERC website.

First PRC of Grand Rapids, MI and the Reformed Witness Hour Committee announce the messages scheduled for August 2014 on the RWH program. Rev.Carl Haak, pastor of the Georgetown PRC in Hudsonville, MI, will continue his series on the OT prophecy of Jonah and give a special Christian education message as school will soon begin once again.

Below is the schedule of messages, which you will also find attached in pdf form.

For stations and times for listening to the RWH program, visit the RWH website.

The British Reformed Fellowship has its conference in Scotland this week (Saturday to Saturday, July 26 - August 2).  Prof David Engelsma and Prof. Herman Hanko (both emeritus professsors of the PRC Seminary) are the speakers, giving three speeches each on the topic “Be Ye Holy, The Reformed Doctrine of Sanctification.” 

The venue is the beautiful and historic Gartmore House in Gartmore, Stirling and a variety of attendees are once again present.

The conference is sponsored by our sister church in Northern Ireland, the Covenant Protestant Reformed Church of Ballymena.

For pictures of the conference so far, visit this site of Mr.John Van Baren. He will continue uploading them to this site, so check in on it daily.

You may also enjoy the video he took of the conference farewell psalm-sing from the Scottish Psalter.

Though the PRC Synod of 2014 completed its work over a month ago (June 10-13), two new resources are available on its work and decisions.

First, the 2014 Acts of Synod & Yearbook has been published and distributed to the churches for our members. This publication is the official, public record of the decisions of this year's Synod, as well as the annual, updated directory of churches, ministers, committees, and officers of the PRC.

If you have not yet received it, you should be shortly. If you did not receive a copy and are interested in receiving one, contact our Stated Clerk, Don Doezema, at the PRC Seminary (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). 

Second, the July 2014 issue of The Standard Bearer is the annual "Synod" issue, with a report on Synod's actions by Prof.B.Gritters in the editorial ("Synod 2014: The PRC Working Together") and many pictures featured in the center as well as on the cover of this Reformed magazine (see image below).

If you would like to receive a copy of this issue, or subscribe to this periodical, contact the "SB" through its website.

The 2014 Young people’s convention hosted by Hope PRC of Redlands, CA and scheduled for the week of August 4-9 is rapidly approaching. Hope PRC has some special announcements related to this event and we publish them here to help get the word out. Look for more of these notices in the days ahead.

Here is one related to a change of venue for her worship services on Sunday, August 3.

Due to the large number of people who will be worshiping with us the Sunday before the convention, the August 3 services for Hope PRC Redlands will be held at the Campus on the Hill SDA church in Loma Linda.  The church is located at 11057 Hill Dr, Loma Linda, CA 92354.  Worship services will take place at their regularly scheduled times of 10 AM and 6 PM.  For more information, visit our web site at www.hopeprc.org. 

As an additional note, no smoking is allowed anywhere on the premises.

Don't forget to attend the special pre-Convention Singspiration here in Michigan at Fair Haven Ministries in Jenison (28th Ave & Baldwin), Sunday night, August 3, at 8:15 p.m. Join the young people in praising God through singing and send them off to their Convention in California with prayers for blessing!

After a six-week furlough in the United States missionary-pastor Daniel Kleyn and his wife Sharon returned home to their place of labor in the Philippines this past Thursday (July 17, 2014).

On their latest blog post they reported on the last parts of their furlough, including a trip to the West where they gave presentations in First PRC, Edmonton, AB, Lynden PRC, WA, and Covenant of Grace PRC in Spokane, WA (see picture here).

And they included this note at the end after they had arrived back in the Philippines:

"We arrived home again late Thursday night, July 17.  All thanks to God for prospering our journey and for blessing the work.  We were greatly encouraged and refreshed through the furlough, and are now glad to be home again to take up our work here in the Philippines."

They report that the effects of the latest strong typhoon, which went through the Philippines just south of Manila this past Wednesday, brought down trees and caused flooding. The missionaries homes did not experience the flooding, but the lower level of Rev. and Mrs. Ibe’s home did.

We pray that they and the Smits may experience God’s continued care and blessings in their labors in that part of God's kingdom and church.

Let us also remember to pray for Rev.S.Key (Loveland, CO) as he considers the call to serve as missionary in the Philippines to replace Rev.R.Smit.

Our sister church in Northern Ireland, Covenant PRC, Ballymena, has just published her latest newsletter. In the July 2014  Rev.Angus Stewart reports on the latest activities in and outside the congregation, along with the upcoming BRF Conference.

Be sure to read this newsletter to be better informed of what our "sister" and her pastor are doing and have planned. This newsletter is also attached here in pdf form (see below).

Today, July 16, Rev. Nathan Decker and Prof.Russell Dykstra (from Singapore) travelled to Brisbane, Australia on behalf of the Contact Committee of our denomination. While there, they will be participating in a conference on the doctrine of the covenant (July 19), leading worship in the Brisbane congregation of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Australia (July 20), and serving as observers at the denomination’s presbytery meetings (July 21-24).

On July 24, Rev.Decker will then travel to Singapore in order to lead the worship services of the Covenant ERC on July 27, while Prof.Dykstra remains in Australia to deliver some speeches on Christian education.

We pray that God would give them traveling mercies and bless their time and work with fellow saints and churches of the Lord Jesus Christ.