"Covenant Keepers", the youth ministry of the Covenant Evangelical Reformed Church of Singapore (our sister church), has just published issue #26 of "Salt Shakers", their youth magazine.

This is another issue packed with interesting and edifying articles. This is the note that came with this issue introducing it to the reader:

Dearest Salt Shakers readers,

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!

We thank the Lord for yet another release of the Salt Shakers!

Here are some of the articles featured in this new issue:

- "Temptation Through Time"
- "Trusting in God’s Timing"
- "Redeeming the Time"

 Now, can you guess what the theme of this issue is? Yes! The theme is “Time”!

As we draw closer to the midway mark of the year, may we remember to use our time wisely for God’s glory, for all our time is His alone. May we be good stewards of the time God has given to us!

Below you will find the first two pages of the magazine, including its table of contents. You are encouraged to visit the"SS" webpage where you will find a downloadable e-copy for your reading and spiritual growth.

The following bulletins carried the latest news on the upcoming furlough of Missionary-pastor Daniel Kleyn and his wife Sharon. To follow their activities while on furlough, visit the Kleyn's blog!

From the Provident Christian Church Bulletin (Marikina, the Philippines):

Rev. D. Kleyn, a missionary in the Philippines of the Protestant Reformed Churches in America, will be teaching and preaching for us today, the Lord willing.

The Kleyns will be leaving tomorrow (June 2) for a 6 week furlough in north America, God willing. During the furlough, the Kleyns will have opportunity for vacation time with their families. Also, Rev. Kleyn will meet with the consistory of Doon PRC (his calling and sending church), and the Foreign Mission Committee. He also plans to attend the PRCA synod, preach in some of the churches, and give presentations regarding the mission work that Rev. Smit and he are doing in the Philippines. The Kleyns plan to return to the Philippines on July 17.

While Rev. Kleyn is gone, Rev. R. Smit has agreed to preach and teach for us here in PCC for two Sundays – on June 29 and July 6. He has also agreed to lead most of our Thursday evening Bible study and doctrine classes, starting on June 5, God willing.

And from the June 1, 2014 Doon PRC bulletin (the calling church):

Rev. and Sharon Kleyn plan to begin their furlough this week. There are many purposes to the furlough, one of which is to give the missionary and his wife a time of refreshment and encouragement in the work. In thanksgiving for the opportunity we have as the calling church, let’s especially use the Kleyns’ time in our midst to fellowship with and encourage them. The Kleyns will initially fly to Michigan, and then travel to Iowa arriving in Doon on Thursday. They will be lodging in the parsonage.  Rev. and Sharon plan to attend the church picnic with us on Saturday, and Rev. Kleyn will be preaching for us on Sunday. The following Wednesday they will be back in Michigan so that Rev. Kleyn can be present when the Philippine mission field is the object of Synod’s attention.

Rev.D.Kleyn will be giving at least three main presentations on the mission work in the Philippines while he is on furlough in the U.S. These are noted below. Take an interest in the work and be sure to attend one of these interesting presentations.

From Calvary PRC bulletin (Hull, IA): Rev. D. Kleyn plans to give a presentation on the mission work in the Philippines on Sunday evening, June 8, at 8:00 p.m. in Calvary PRC in Hull.  All are welcome to attend.  Hope to see you there.

Picture of the audience at the Calvary PRC presentation (June 8, 2014).

Bethel PRC (Roselle, IL): Save The Date! Tuesday, June 10, 7.30PM: Rev. Daniel Kleyn, one of our denomination's missionaries in the Philippines will be giving a presentation on the ongoing work there at our church.

From First PRC, Holland, MI bulletin: Rev. D. Kleyn plans to give a presentation on the mission work in the Philippines on Sunday, June 22 at 8:15 p.m. in the First PRC of Holland.  All are welcome and invited to attend.

 The Foreign Mission Committee and the Council of Doon PRC as the calling church have agreed to honorably release Rev. Richard Smit from his missionary labors in the Philippines on or around July 1, 2015 due to the changing needs of his family, the completion of significant goals on this mission field, and the belief that his particular work there is drawing to a close. 

They also wish to convey their thanks to God for Rev. Smit's faithful years of missionary service and his family's devotion to this work.  Rev. Smit will be recommended soon for a call to the pastoral ministry in our churches as his work in the Philippines officially ends next year.

The full letter from the FMC and Doon PRC which was sent to the PRC congregations is attached here in pdf.

First PRC, Grand Rapids and the Reformed Witness Hour Committee announce the messages scheduled for June 2014 on the RWH program. Rev.Carl Haak, pastor of the Georgetown PRC in Hudsonville, MI, will be giving some special messages related to Ascension Day, Pentecost, Father's Day, and Independence Day here in the U.S. Below is the schedule, which you will also find attached in pdf form.

On Sunday, May 25, 2014, Rev.G.Eriks announced in his congregation (Hudsonville PRC) that he was led to decline the call from our First PRC of Grand Rapids, a call he had received by vote of the congregation on May 1, 2014.

Rev.Eriks has served as pastor of Hudsonville PRC since July of 2005.

Our sister church in Northern Ireland, Covenant PRC, Ballymena, has just published her latest newsletter. This one covers the recent visit of Rev.Angus Stewart to the EPC in Australia and the CERC in Singapore, the visit of Rev.A. den Hartog to the CPRC of Ballymena while he was gone, as well as the latest activities in and outside the congregation, along with the upcoming BRF Conference.

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

On Sunday morning, May 18, 2014, Rev.C.Spronk, pastor of Peace PRC (Lansing IL) announced that he was led by the Lord of the church to decline the call which came to him from Doon (IA) PRC on April 20, 2014.

Pastor Spronk was ordained and installed in Peace PRC in September of 2007.

As we get close to the mid-point of May already, we can mention a few updates from "Seminary hill":

1. The students are currently taking their final exams this week (May 12-19). This is always a busy and somewhat stressful time for them, especially for the first year men. Pray for them, that they may hold up well, physically, mentally, and spiritually, so that they may give a good account of themselves to the Lord.

2. Senior Joshua Engelsma has completed his two written exams and now awaits his oral examination before the 2014 PRC Synod, beginning June 10 in his home church, Hope PRC, Walker, MI.  Remember him in prayer in a special way as he prepares for this, and then awaits a call from the churches, D.V.

3. Junior Ryan Barnhill eagerly awaits the start of his Seminary internship as part of his final year at Seminary. His internship is planned for July 1-December 31 in Edgerton MN PRC. He and his wife Miranda and daughter Mya plan to move there the end of June. Bring their needs too to the Lord as they prepeare for this significant part of his ministerial training.

4. Besides wrapping up their class instruction for this semester, the professors have also kept busy with preaching this past month, including some out of town assignments. Prof. R.Cammenga has recently preached in both Hope PRC in Redlands, CA and Loveland PRC, Loveland, CO. Prof.B.Gritters spent this past weekend and Lord's day in Pittsburgh preaching for Missionary-pastor W.Bruinsma who gave a lecture on Calvinism in the area. And Prof.R.Dykstra, who has been doing the Heidelberg Catechism preaching for Faith PRC during her vacancy, is preparing to spend part of his summer in Singapore preaching and speaking for Covenant ERC once again.

5. We extend special congratulations to Prof.B.Gritters as he marks thirty (30) years in the ministry on May 14 (ordained May 14, 1984)! We give thanks to God for enabling him to serve the churches as pastor of two congregations (Byron Center PRC from 1984-1994 and Hudsonville PRC from 1994-2003) and as Professor of Practical Theology and NT Studies since 2003. May God continue to bless him in his labors in the Seminary and in the churches.

6. The Theological School Committee recently approved the purchase of emeritus Prof.David Engelsma's library. This is being packed and brought to Seminary this week by our librarian and will make for a wonderful addition to our holdings. It will also give Mr.C.Terpstra plenty to do this summer, as he also completes work on the Letis collection of books and materials.

7. The Seminary grounds are once again looking good and showing their Spring beauty (See the picture from today, May 13). Thanks to Oomkes Landscape for re-seeding after a rough snowplow season, to Kregel's Landscape for some new trees up front and fertilizing, to Don and Judi Doezema for flower replanting, and to our lawn service man, Brad Gritters, the grounds have recovered from a harsh winter and are back to life.