On this first Lord's Day of August 2017 (August 6) we note the following news and information from PRC congregations, mission fields, and sister churches.

CONGREGATIONAL NEWS:

• Candidate Justin Smidstra is considering the call from Southwest PRC (Grandville, MI), received July 16.
• On July 30 the congregation of First PRC in Holland, MI extended a call to Candidate J. Smidstra.
• Candidate Matt DeBoer is considering the call from Edgerton PRC, received on July 23.
• Candidate Joe Holstege is considering the call from Zion PRC, received on July 23.
• The Council of Immanuel PRC (Lacombe, AB) has a new trio consisting of Rev. E. Guichelaar and Candidates Matthew De Boer and Brian Feenstra. There will be a congregational meeting TODAY after the afternoon service. *UPDATE: The congregation voted to call Rev. E. Guichelaar (Randolph, WI PRC).
  

DENOMINATIONAL NEWS:

• The Synod of 2017 called Rev. D. Kuiper to serve in the PRC Seminary as professor of church history and NT studies, in replacement of Prof. R. Dykstra. On July 2 he announced his acceptance of this call. We give thanks to God for providing a man for this position, and pray for him and his family as well as Edgerton PRC as he makes this transition and prepares for his new post (cf. picture below).
  • Rev. Kuiper's farewell from Edgerton PRC is planned for Sunday, August 13.
  • His installation as professor is planned for Wednesday, Sept.20, in Faith PRC, D.V.

• The PRC Contact Committee has sent Prof. R. Dykstra and Rev. J. Engelsma to Australia to visit the Evangelical Presbyterian Churches on behalf of the PRC. They will be taking part in a two-day Reformation Day conference, attending the meetings of the Presbytery of the EPC, and preaching in the EPC. The 2015 Synod of the PRC approved holding a conference with the EPC on the ground that “such face-to-face meeting and discussions with the men of the EPC are excellent ways both to make the corresponding relationship meaningful and to further the relationship.” Prof. and Mrs. Dykstra leave July 18, and will return (after a time in Singapore) August 16.  Rev. and Mrs. Engelsma will leave July 24 and return August 7. All the Lord willing.

• *Update: If you would like to listen to the speeches given at the most recent EPC-PRC Conference, you may find them on the EPC homepage, or at the links below.

  • EPCA & PRCA Conference

    Lecture 1
    Genuine Church Unity - Prof. Russ Dykstra

    Lecture 2
    Singing Again the Songs of Zion - Rev. Mark Shand

    Lecture 3
    The Doctrine of the Church Visible and Invisible - Rev. David Higgs

    Lecture 4
    The Sweetness of the Heart - Rev. Joshua Engelsma

    Lecture 5
    Church and State in the Scottish Reformation - Rev. David Torlach

    Lecture 6
    The Reformation's Response to the Radical Reformation - Prof. Russ Dykstra

SISTER-CHURCH NEWS  - This bulletin information from Covenant PRC in Ballymena, N. Ireland pertains to her pastor's current furlough in the U.S.:

The Stewarts will be in N. America from 17 July to 14 August. The Lord’s Day schedule in the CPRC while Rev. Stewart is away is as follows:
23 July - services led by the elders with DVDs (Pastor preaches in Spokane, WA)
30 July - Rev. McGeown preaches while Rev. Bleyenberg takes services in the LRF (Pastor preaches in Edmonton and Lacombe, Alberta, Canada)
6 August - Rev. Bleyenberg preaches (Pastor preaches in Lynden, Washington)
13 August - Rev. Bleyenberg preaches, with tea after the evening service—Group A on the tea rota (Pastor preaches in Providence and Hudsonville in Michigan)
20 August - Rev. McGeown preaches (Pastor preaches in the LRF)

MISSION NEWS:

• On July 30 Rev. A. Spriensma ACCEPTED Byron Center PRC's call to serve as home missionary. We thank the Lord for providing us a home missionary once again and we pray for pastor Spriensma and Byron Center PRC as they transition to this new position.
  
• On July 24 Doon PRC voted to extend a call to Rev. C. Spronk to serve as a third missionary to the Philippines.
  
• From the bulletin of Provident Christian Church in Marikina, the Philippines we find the following notes concerning our missionaries and their labors today and in this coming week:
  

  • Rev. Holstege will preach both times today. The first service will be at 9:00, Church Order at 10:15, merienda at 10:45, and second service at 11:00.

  • Next Sunday, August 13, Sem. Matt Kortus will lead both of our worship services, Lord willing. He and his wife Sarah are in the Berean PRC today. They plan to return to the USA on Monday, August 21.

  • Rev and Leah invite you all to church Wednesday night at 6:30 for a fellowship meal which they will provide. Afterward at 7:30, we will have our Bible study of the Canons of Dordt, Heads III/IV, Articles 16-17.

  • The Kleyns arrived safely in California last week and Rev. Kleyn gave a presentation on our Philippine mission work. They are now in Michigan where Rev. Kleyn will give another presentation, a speech to the young people, and some preaching. They plan to return to the Philippines on Tuesday, August 29.

The Kleyns' recently posted pictures and descriptions of the summer mission internship of Seminarian Matt Kortus. Below are a couple of samples. Find more at the link provided.

Participating in the 7M meeting

Leading the worship service at Provident CC, Marikina

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This coming week, August 7-11, 2017, is the annual PRC Young People's Convention, hosted by First PRC of Holland, MI, and held at Michindoh Conference Center in Hillsdale, MI.

Let's be in prayer for the 460-plus conventioneers and the 60 chaperones this week. May God keep them safe and grant them a blessed time of fellowship and spiritual growth through all the activities, speeches, devotions, and discussions.

The pre-Convention Singspiration will be held at Fair Haven Church (corner of 28th Ave. and Baldwin St. in Jenison, MI) on Sunday evening, August 6, at 8:15 pm. Please note that there will be no printed song sheets. Fair Haven will project the lyrics, but you are welcome to bring your own Psalter if you would like.

Attention PRYP Conventioneers: Registration is Monday morning, August 7, at Heritage Christian School. Incoming sophomores and juniors can come from 6:45 to 7:15. Incoming seniors and post high from 7:00 to 7:30. The buses will begin departing at 7:30. See you there!

Location: Michindoh Conference Center

UPDATE: If you wish to see some videos from the YP's Convention, visit this Nick Kleyn YouTube channel.

First PRC of Grand Rapids, MI and the Reformed Witness Hour Committee announce the messages scheduled for August 2017 on the RWH radio program.

Rev. Carl Haak, pastor of Georgetown PRC in Hudsonville, MI, continues his four-month service for the RWH program, as he completes a series on marriage and the family, and gives a special Christian education message this month.

You are encouraged to listen to these important messages and to let others know about them too. Help spread the word about the Reformed Witness Hour, now in its 76th year of broadcasting the truths of God's sovereign, particular, efficacious grace!

Below are the messages scheduled for this month, also in flyer form (attached in pdf).

August 6, 2017 - A Beautiful Example of Fearless Submission, I Peter 3:5-6

August 13, 2017 - Homeward Bound, 2 Corinthians 5:1

August 20, 2017 - God's Gift of the Family, Psalm 68:6

August 27, 2017 - Christian Education is Covenant Education, Isaiah 38:19

On this final Lord's Day of July 2017 (July 30) we may report on the following news and information from PRC congregations, mission fields, and sister churches.

CONGREGATIONAL NEWS:

• Candidate Justin Smidstra is considering the call from Southwest PRC (Grandville, MI), received July 16.
• Candidate Matt DeBoer received the call from Edgerton PRC on July 23.
• Candidate Joe Holstege received the call from Zion PRC on July 23.
• On July 23 Rev. A. Brummel declined the call from Immanuel PRC (Lacombe, AB). The Council has a new trio consisting of Rev. E. Guichelaar and Candidates Matthew De Boer and Brian Feenstra. There will be a congregational meeting August 6 after the afternoon service.
  
• The Council of First PRC of Holland, MI announces a new trio from which to call a pastor: Rev. G. Eriks, Rev. C. Spronk and Candidate J. Smidstra. The congregation will vote this morning, July 30. *UPDATE: Cand. J. Smidstra has received this call.

DENOMINATIONAL NEWS:

• The Synod of 2017 called Rev. D. Kuiper to serve in the PRC Seminary as professor of church history and NT studies, in replacement of Prof. R. Dykstra. On July 2 he announced his acceptance of this call. We give thanks to God for providing a man for this position, and pray for him and his family as well as Edgerton PRC as he makes this transition and prepares for his new post (cf. picture below).
  • Rev. Kuiper's farewell from Edgerton PRC is planned for Sunday, August 13.
  • His installation as professor is planned for Wednesday, Sept.20, in Faith PRC, D.V.

• The PRC Contact Committee has sent Prof. R. Dykstra and Rev. J. Engelsma to Australia to visit the Evangelical Presbyterian Churches on behalf of the PRC. They will be taking part in a two-day Reformation Day conference, attending the meetings of the Presbytery of the EPC, and preaching in the EPC. The 2015 Synod of the PRC approved holding a conference with the EPC on the ground that “such face-to-face meeting and discussions with the men of the EPC are excellent ways both to make the corresponding relationship meaningful and to further the relationship.” Prof. and Mrs. Dykstra leave July 18, and will return (after a time in Singapore) August 16.  Rev. and Mrs. Engelsma will leave July 24 and return August 7. All the Lord willing.

• Synod of 2017 concluded its sessions on June 21, at Hudsonville PRC. Summary reports on each day may be found under the synod section of this website.

SISTER-CHURCH NEWS  - This bulletin information from Covenant PRC in Ballymena, N. Ireland pertains to her pastor's current furlough in the U.S.:

The Stewarts will be in N. America from 17 July to 14 August. The Lord’s Day schedule in the CPRC while Rev. Stewart is away is as follows:
23 July - services led by the elders with DVDs (Pastor preaches in Spokane, WA)
30 July - Rev. McGeown preaches while Rev. Bleyenberg takes services in the LRF (Pastor preaches in Edmonton and Lacombe, Alberta, Canada)
6 August - Rev. Bleyenberg preaches (Pastor preaches in Lynden, Washington)
13 August - Rev. Bleyenberg preaches, with tea after the evening service—Group A on the tea rota (Pastor preaches in Providence and Hudsonville in Michigan)
20 August - Rev. McGeown preaches (Pastor preaches in the LRF)

MISSION NEWS:

• On July 2 Byron Center PRC voted to call Rev. A. Spriensma (her pastor) to serve as home missionary. TODAY he announced his acceptance of this call. We thank the Lord for providing us a home missionary once again and we pray for pastor Spriensma and Byron Center PRC as they transition to this new position.
  
• On July 24 (this past Monday) Doon PRC voted to extend a call to Rev. C. Spronk to serve as a third missionary to the Philippines.
  
• From the bulletin of Maranatha PRC in Valenzuela, the Philippines we find the following notes concerning our missionaries and their labors today and in this coming week:
  

  • Rev. D. Kleyn is preaching the morning service. Sem. M. Kortus is speaking a word of edification in the second service today.
    

  •  Tomorrow morning, Rev. Daniel and Sharon Kleyn will be leaving for a 4-week furlough to the U.S.A. Rev. Kleyn will be preaching in some of the PRC congregations, speaking at the Young People's Convention, and giving a number of presentations concerning the Philippines mission work. The Kleyns hope to spend the majority of their time in Michiganand thus be able to spend time with their families there. They plan to return August 30, the Lord willing. May God give them safe travels and bless them during their time away. [To which we add our hearty "Amen"!]

On Saturday (July 8), the men of the PRC Philippine's Delegation along with the Steering Committee members of the PRFA visited with the families and individuals of the PRFA at their homes.  Brother Eric Mescallado and Rev. Kleyn visited some of the families together and Rev. Flores and Seminarian Matt Kortus visited the other half of the fellowship. On Sunday, worship services were held with the PR Fellowship in Albuera, Leyte.  The Kleyns' recently posted pictures and descriptions of this trip. Below are a couple of samples. Find more at the link provided.

The PR Fellowship gathered for worship in Albuera, Leyte.

 
Rev. R. Kleyn leading the service in Tagalog (with his guard dog?!).

And Mrs. S. Lanning recently posted some pictures on her blog about the recent installlation of new officebearers in our sister church in Singapore, Covenant ERC. Below are a couple from that post.

The new officebearers in the CERC.

Reading and signing the Formula of Subscription.

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As we find ourselves in the middle of summer 2017, a number of significant things concerning the PRC Seminary in Wyoming, MI may be noted:

1. Our seven senior seminarians passed their oral examinations before the PRC Synod the week of June 13, and all were declared candidates for the ministry of the Word and sacraments in the PRC on Thursday afternoon, June 15. All are eligible for a call beginning July 15, 2017.

The seminary graduation program was held that night in Hudsonville PRC, with Prof. B. Gritters apeaking on "The Ministry: An Existence, Not an Occupation." We extend hearty congratulations to Matthew DeBoer, Brian Feenstra, Joseph Holstege, Jonathan Langerak, David Noorman, Stephan Regnerus, and Justin Smidstra, and pray God's blessing on them as they prepare to find their place in Christ's church.

At the time of this writing, three of our candidates have received calls from the churches: Matt DeBoer to Edgerton PRC, Joe Holstege to Zion PRC, and Justin Smidstra to Southwest PRC.

2. In spite of the largest graduating class in the history of the PRC, the 2017 Synod took special note of the need for students to study for the ministry of the Word.

Synod instructed “the Stated Clerk in his letter to the churches to include a notice of the future, urgent need for seminary students.” (Article 21).  

As the seminary opens its doors this fall, it will have one student in his second year – he is from our sister church in Singapore. And there will be three students in the third year – all of whom desire to serve as pastors in the PRCA. The seminary’s Rector reported that “it may well be a couple years before another member of the PRCA enters seminary.” This means that while there will be, D.V., students graduating in 2019, it will be several years after that before anyone graduates.

What also makes the need great is the fact that eleven of the current 35 ministers are over 61 years of age. This indicates the need for seminary students. Even as we are very thankful for the current crop of seven candidates, Synod saw it important to inform the churches again of this urgent need. Please pray to the Lord of the harvest and please encourage young men, whom you observe to have the gifts, to consider the ministry.

In that connection our young man may read the editorial of Rev. K. Koole in the April 1, 2017 issue of the Standard Bearer, "Our Need for Seminary Students; Time to Be Praying" and listen to the recent sermon, "A Prayer for Laborers in the Lord's Harvest," preached by Rev. Josh Engelsma in Doon PRC.

3. The Synod of 2017 called Rev. Douglas Kuiper to serve in the PRC Seminary as professor of church history and NT studies, in replacement of Prof. R. Dykstra. On July 2 he announced his acceptance of this call. We give thanks to God for providing a man for this position, and pray for him and his family as well as Edgerton PRC as he makes this transition and prepares for his new post (cf. picture below). Rev. Kuiper's farewell from Edgerton PRC is planned for Sunday, August 13. His installation as professor is planned for Wednesday, Sept.20, in Faith PRC, D.V.

4. FALL 2017 CLASSES TO AUDIT: The Seminary is inviting auditors to sit in two classes this coming semester.  Classes begin on Tuesday, August 29. 

Prof. R. Cammenga will be teaching Dogmatics and NT History.  Dogmatics will treat the locus Theology, in which we study the truths concerning God (His knowability, essence, persons, attributes, and works), giving considerable attention to the fundamental truth of the Trinity.  NT History will cover the history of the intertestamental period and the life of Christ up to the Passion Week. 

If you are interested, please contact the seminary at 616-531-1490 by August 25 to “register” for the class.  You can find the class schedule attached here or at the bottom of the Seminary homepage.

5. The PRC Seminary, with help from Faith PRC's Evangelism Committee, is planning a special two-day 500th anniversary Reformation conference for the weekend of October 27-28 at Faith PRC. The details of the event may be found on the poster below.

A special website has also been created for the conference (in early stages of development yet). Find that at www.500thReformation.com .

We hope you make plans to attend this significant event! Mark your calendars now and plan to join us as we celebrate God's great work of reforming His church in the 16th century.

On this fourth Lord's Day of July 2017 (July 23) we may report on the following updates on news and information from PRC congregations, mission fields, and sister churches.

CONGREGATIONAL NEWS:

• On July 16 Rev. R. Kleyn (Covenant of Grace PRC, Spokane, WA) declined the call from First PRC (Holland, MI).
  
• On July 16 the congregation of Southwest PRC (Grandville, MI) voted to extend a call to Candidate Justin Smidstra.
• On July 2 the congregation of Immanuel PRC (Lacombe, AB) voted to extend a call to Rev. A. Brummel (Heritage PRC, Sioux Falls, SD). *UPDATE: This morning he announced that he had DECLINED this call.
  
• The Council of Edgerton PRC announces a trio of Rev. Huizinga (Redlands, CA), Candidate Matthew De Boer, and Candidate Justin Smidstra. *UPDATE: Tonight the congregation voted to extend a call to Cand. Matt DeBoer.
  
• The Council of Zion PRC has drawn up a new trio from which to call her first pastor: Revs. B. Huizinga (Hope PRC, Redlands, CA), A. Lanning (Covenant ERC, Singapore), and Candidate J. Holstege. *UPDATE: Cand. J. Holstege received this call on July 23.
• The Council of First PRC of Holland, MI announces a new trio from which to call a pastor: Rev. G. Eriks, Rev. C. Spronk and Candidate J. Smidstra. The congregation will vote next Sunday morning, July 30.

DENOMINATIONAL NEWS:

• The Synod of 2017 called Rev. D. Kuiper to serve in the PRC Seminary as professor of church history and NT studies, in replacement of Prof. R. Dykstra. On July 2 he announced his acceptance of this call. We give thanks to God for providing a man for this position, and pray for him and his family as well as Edgerton PRC as he makes this transition and prepares for his new post (cf. picture below).
  • Rev. Kuiper's farewell from Edgerton PRC is planned for Sunday, August 13.
  • His installation as professor is planned for Wednesday, Sept.20, in Faith PRC, D.V.

• The Contact Committee is sending Prof. R. Dykstra and Rev. J. Engelsma to Australia to visit the Evangelical Presbyterian Churches on behalf of the PRC. They will be taking part in a two-day Reformation Day conference, attending the meetings of the Presbytery of the EPC, and preaching in the EPC. The 2015 Synod of the PRC approved holding a conference with the EPC on the ground that “such face-to-face meeting and discussions with the men of the EPC are excellent ways both to make the corresponding relationship meaningful and to further the relationship.” Prof. and Mrs. Dykstra leave July 18, and will return (after a time in Singapore) August 16.  Rev. and Mrs. Engelsma will leave July 24 and return August 7. All the Lord willing.

• Synod of 2017 concluded its sessions on June 21, at Hudsonville PRC. Summary reports on each day may be found under the synod section of this website.

SISTER-CHURCH NEWS  - This from Covenant PRC in Ballymena, N. Ireland:

The Stewarts will be in N. America from 17 July to 14 August. The Lord’s Day schedule in the CPRC while Rev. Stewart is away is as follows:
23 July - services led by the elders with DVDs (Pastor preaches in Spokane, WA)
30 July - Rev. McGeown preaches while Rev. Bleyenberg takes services in the LRF (Pastor preaches in Edmonton and Lacombe, Alberta, Canada)
6 August - Rev. Bleyenberg preaches (Pastor preaches in Lynden, Washington)
13 August - Rev. Bleyenberg preaches, with tea after the evening service—Group A on the tea rota (Pastor preaches in Providence and Hudsonville in Michigan)
20 August - Rev. McGeown preaches (Pastor preaches in the LRF)

MISSION NEWS:

• On July 2 Byron Center PRC voted to call Rev. A. Spriensma (her pastor) to serve as home missionary.
  
• The Council of Doon PRC announces a new trio from which to call a missionary to serve as a third missionary to the Philippines: Rev. Allen Brummel (Heritage PRC in Sioux Falls, SD), Rev. Clay Spronk (Faith PRC in Jenison, MI), and Rev. Richard Smit (First PRC in Grand Rapids, MI). Doon plans to vote on Monday, July 24. *UPDATE: Rev. C. Spronk received this call from the congregation.
  
• From the Provident Christian Church bulletin we find the following notes concerning our missionaries and their labors today and in this coming week:
  

  • Today Rev. D.Holstege will preach both times. Also, beginning next week, Rev. Holstege plans to start giving brief instruction on the articles of the Church Order (CO). The goal is to prepare PCC for organization as a Protestant Reformed Church. Rev. Kleyn and Sem. Kortus will worship with the Maranatha PRC today.

  • Rev. and Sharon Kleyn and Matt and Sarah Kortus traveled to Negros for the pastors classes in Sipalay this past Monday-Wednesday.

• And from the bulletin of the Berean PRC in Antipolo City (where Rev. V. Ibe is pastor) we find these significant announcements:

  • The visit and fellowship of our pastor, Rev. Holstege and Seminarian Matt Kortus with the saints in Sitio Karugang, Gabaldon NE on Friday (July 21, 2017) went well. Rev. Ibe led the saints there in their study of the Essentials of Reformed doctrine on lesson #11.

  • The next 7M is scheduled on July 25, 2017 at Provident Christian Church in Provident Village at 9:30 A.M. Seminarian Matt Kortus is scheduled to give a speech on ‘Theistic Evolution,’ the Lord willing.

On Saturday (July 8), the men of the PRC Philippine's Delegation along with the Steering Committee members of the PRFA visited with the families and individuals of the PRFA at their homes.  Brother Eric Mescallado and Rev. Kleyn visited some of the families together and Rev. Flores and Seminarian Matt Kortus visited the other half of the fellowship.  The Kleyns' recently posted pictures and descriptions of this trip. Below are a couple of samples. Find more at the link provided.

The PR Fellowship gathered for worship in Albuera, Leyte.

 
Sem. Matt Kortus with some of the members with whom he visited.

And Mrs. S. Lanning recently posted some pictures on her blog about the recent installlation of new officebearers in our sister church in Singapore, Covenant ERC. Below are a couple from that post.

The new officebearers in the CERC.

The laying on of hands on the newly installed officebearer.

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On this July 16, 2017 Lord's Day we give the following updates on news and information from PRC congregations, mission fields, and sister churches.

CONGREGATIONAL NEWS:

• This morning Rev. R. Kleyn (Covenant of Grace PRC, Spokane, WA) announced his DECLINE of the call from First PRC (Holland, MI).
  
• On July 2 the congregation of Immanuel PRC (Lacombe, AB) voted to extend a call to Rev. A. Brummel (Heritage PRC, Sioux Falls, SD).
• The Council of Edgerton PRC announces a trio of Rev. Huizinga (Redlands, CA), Candidate Matthew De Boer, and Candidate Justin Smidstra.
• The congregation of Southwest PRC (Grandville, MI) calls July 16 from a trio of Rev. Jon Mahtani (Cornerstone PRC- St. John, IN), Candidate Joe Holstege, and Candidate Justin Smidstra. UPDATE: Cand. Justin Smidstra has received this call.
  
• The Council of Zion PRC has drawn up a new trio from which to call her first pastor: Revs. B. Huizinga (Hope PRC, Redlands, CA), A. Lanning (Covenant ERC, Singapore), and Candidate J. Holstege.

DENOMINATIONAL NEWS:

• The Synod of 2017 called Rev. D. Kuiper to serve in the PRC Seminary as professor of church history and NT studies, in replacement of Prof. R. Dykstra. On July 2 he announced his acceptance of this call. We give thanks to God for providing a man for this position, and pray for him and his family as well as Edgerton PRC as he makes this transition and prepares for his new post (cf. picture below).

• The Contact Committee will be sending Prof. R. Dykstra and Rev. J. Engelsma to Australia to visit the Evangelical Presbyterian Churches on behalf of the PRC. They will be taking part in a two-day Reformation Day conference, attending the meetings of the Presbytery of the EPC, and preaching in the EPC. The 2015 Synod of the PRC approved holding a conference with the EPC on the ground that “such face-to-face meeting and discussions with the men of the EPC are excellent ways both to make the corresponding relationship meaningful and to further the relationship.” Prof. and Mrs. Dykstra leave July 18, and will return (after a time in Singapore) August 16.  Rev. and Mrs. Engelsma will leave July 24 and return August 7. All the Lord willing.

• Synod of 2017 concluded its sessions on June 21, at Hudsonville PRC. Summary reports on each day may be found under the synod section of this website.

SISTER-CHURCH NEWS  - This from Covenant PRC in Ballymena, N. Ireland:

The Stewarts will be in N. America from 17 July to 14 August. The Lord’s Day schedule in the CPRC while Rev. Stewart is away is as follows:
23 July - services led by the elders with DVDs (Pastor preaches in Spokane, WA)
30 July - Rev. McGeown preaches while Rev. Bleyenberg takes services in the LRF (Pastor preaches in Edmonton and Lacombe, Alberta, Canada)
6 August - Rev. Bleyenberg preaches (Pastor preaches in Lynden, Washington)
13 August - Rev. Bleyenberg preaches, with tea after the evening service—Group A on the tea rota (Pastor preaches in Providence and Hudsonville in Michigan)
20 August - Rev. McGeown preaches (Pastor preaches in the LRF)

MISSION NEWS:

• On July 2 Byron Center PRC voted to call Rev. A. Spriensma (her pastor) to serve as home misisonary.
  
• The Council of Doon PRC announces a new trio from which to call a missionary to serve as a third missionary to the Philippines: Rev. Allen Brummel (Heritage PRC in Sioux Falls, SD), Rev. Clay Spronk (Faith PRC in Jenison, MI), and Rev. Richard Smit (First PRC in Grand Rapids, MI). Doon plans to vote on July 24.
  
• From the Provident Christian Church bulletin for today we find the following notes concerning our missionaries and their labors today and in this coming week:
  

  • Sem. Matt Kortus will lead both our worship services today. Next Sunday, Lord willing, Rev. Holstege will preach both times. Also, beginning next week, Rev. Holstege plans to start giving brief instruction on the articles of the Church Order (CO). The goal is to prepare PCC for organization as a Protestant Reformed Church. You can find the CO in the back of the Psalter.

  • Rev and Sharon Kleyn and Matt and Sarah Kortus plan to travel to Negros for the pastors classes in Sipalay this Monday-Wednesday. May God grant them a safe and blessed trip.

• And from the bulletin of the Berean PRC in Antipolo City (where Rev. V. Ibe is pastor) we find these significant announcements:

  • Our pastor, Rev. Holstege and Seminarian Matt Kortus are scheduled to visit the saints in Sitio Karugang, Gabaldon NE on Friday (July 21, 2017). Ptr Ibe will lead the saints there in their study of the Essentials of Reformed doctrine on lesson #12.

  • The outreach work of Bulacan PRC in Albuera Leyte is making good progress, by the grace of God! The saints there were visited by the delegates from Committee #2 of the PRCP on July 7-10, 2017. We heard from Rev. Kleyn that the trip went well as well as the visits and fellowship with the saints there. This visit will further encouraged them in the faith and work towards the institution of a Protestant Reformed church in their midst, if the Lord wills! The congregation is asked to remember them in our prayers!

 The Kleyns' recently posted pictures and descriptions of the recent Classis meeting of the PRCP, as well as of a wedding held in Provident CC. Below are a couple of samples. Find more at the link provided.

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On this July 9, 2017 Lord's Day we give the following updates on news and information from PRC congregations and mission fields.

CONGREGATIONAL NEWS:

• Rev. R. Kleyn (Covenant of Grace PRC, Spokane, WA) is considering the call from First PRC (Holland, MI). He plans to answer by July 16.
  
• On July 2 the congregation of Immanuel PRC (Lacombe, AB) voted to extend a call to Rev. A. Brummel (Heritage PRC, Sioux Falls, SD).
• The Council of Edgerton PRC announces a trio of Rev. Huizinga (Redlands, CA), Candidate Matthew De Boer, and Candidate Justin Smidstra.
• The congregation of Southwest PRC (Grandville, MI) calls July 16 from a trio of Rev. Jon Mahtani (Cornerstone PRC- St. John, IN), Candidate Joe Holstege, and Candidate Justin Smidstra.

DENOMINATIONAL NEWS:

• The Synod of 2017 called Rev. D. Kuiper to serve in the PRC Seminary as professor of church history and NT studies, in replacement of Prof. R. Dykstra. On July 2 he announced his acceptance of this call. We give thanks to God for providing a man for this position, and pray for him and his family as well as Edgerton PRC as he makes this transition and prepares for his new post.

• The PRC Synod of 2017 concluded its sessions on June 21, at Hudsonville PRC. Summary reports on each day may be found under the synod section of this website.

MISSION NEWS:

• On July 2 Byron Center PRC voted to call Rev. A. Spriensma (her pastor) to serve as home misisonary.
  
• On June 25 Rev. H. Bleyenberg (Providence PRC, Hudsonville, MI) DECLINED the call Doon PRC extended to him to serve as a third missionary to the Philippines.
  
• From the Provident Christian Church bulletin for today we find the following notes concerning our missionaries and their labors today and in this coming week:
  

  • From Friday (July 7) to Monday (July 10), Rev. Kleyn and Sem. Kortus will accompany a delegation of the PRCP to the Protestant Reformed Fellowship in Albuera, Leyte. Pray for safety and a blessing on their trip.

 The Kleyns' recently posted pictures and descriptions of the recent Classis meeting of the PRCP, as well as of a wedding held in Provident CC. Below are a couple of samples. Find more at the link provided.

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