On this last Lord's Day of January 2017, we post the following news items from the PRC congregations and her mission fields:

Congregational news:

• Today Heritage PRC in Sioux Falls, SD celebrates her tenth anniversary. We rejoice with them and pray God's continued blessing on them. This is the note found in her bulletin leading up to the celebration:

On Sunday evening, January 29, during our 4:00 p.m. service, we will commemorate 10 years of worship services in Sioux Falls.  After the evening worship service we will have a congregational luncheon. Under the auspices of the Domestic Mission Committee and oversight of Edgerton PRC, worship services began on January 28, 2007 in the Ambassador Room at the Holiday Inn downtown, with Rev. Rodney Kleyn preaching for the morning service and Rev. David Overway preaching in the afternoon. Rev. Brummel will preach an appropriate sermon and we urge you to invite family and friends to join us in celebration of God’s faithfulness.  A group photo will be taken after the evening service, so we encourage everyone to be present.

• Last Sunday (Jan.22) the congregation of First PRC, Holland MI voted to extend a call to Rev. A. Lanning (CERC, Singapore).
• Last Sunday (Jan.22) the congregation of SW PRC, Wyoming MI voted to call Rev. R. Kleyn (Covenant of Grace PRC, Spokane, WA).
• Byron Center PRC has called Rev. R. Van Overloop to serve as home missionary. UPDATE: Today Rev. R. Van Overloop announced that he had declined this call.

Mission News:

• Georgetown PRC reports that Mr. and Mrs. Deane Wassink returned home safely from their trip to Vellore, India, where they assisted Pastor Paulraj and Prof. Gritters in the ongoing labors. We thank the Lord for their work and support in this endeavor.
• We remember in prayer Rev. J. Mahtani (Cornerstone PRC, Dyer, IN) as he considers the call from Doon PRC to serve as third missionary to the Philippines.
• The annual delegation of Doon PRC and the Foreign Mission Committee of the PRCA plans to visit the Philippines from February 3-14, the Lord willing. Coming on this delegation are Rev. Allen Brummel (along with his wife Crysta) and Elder Alan De Boer.

 God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah. That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. Psalm 67:1-3

"Covenant Keepers", the youth ministry of the Covenant Evangelical Reformed Church of Singapore (our sister church), has just released the January 2017 issue of "Salt Shakers" (#41),their youth magazine.

Once again, this issue of "SS" is filled with interesting and profitable articles, and our PRC young people especially are invited and encouraged to make it part of their reading content.

Below you will find a note from the "SS" Committee introducing the contents of this issue and images of the cover and table of contents. The entire issue is also attached here in pdf form.

Beloved Readers,

The Salt Shakers Committee is pleased to bring you Issue 41 of Salt Shakers!

In this issue, we begin our consideration of the theme for the first half of this year: "Dare to Stand". It has never been easy for God's people to stand for the truth, and 2017 will be no different. This year, we also mark the 500th anniversary of the 1517 Reformation and the preserving of God's church through the centuries. Though the way may oftentimes appear bleak, the cause is God's alone, and it will never fail!

Once again, we are thankful for the Lord' grace in sustaining the continued publishing of Salt Shakers, and for all our writers and their excellent contributions. 

Pro Rege,
Chua Lee Yang, On Behalf of the Salt Shakers Committee

On this January 22, 2017 Lord's Day, the following news items may be given from the PRC congregations and her mission fields:

Concerning ministerial calls:

• First PRC, Holland MI will call today from her trio of Revs. C. Haak (Georgetown PRC, Hudsonville, MI), R. Kleyn (Covenant of Grace, Spokane, WA), and A. Lanning (CERC, Singapore). *Update: The congregation voted to extend a call to Rev. A. Lanning.
• SW PRC, Wyoming MI plans to call today from her trio of Rev. S. Key (Loveland PRC), Rev. R. Kleyn, and Rev. C Spronk (Faith PRC). *Update: The congregation voted to call Rev. R. Klyen.
• Rev. R. Van Overloop continues to consider the call from Byron Center PRC to serve as home missionary.

From Georgetown PRC:

INDIA DELEGATION: Professor Barry and Lori Gritters returned home safely on Wednesday from a three week stay with the PRCV of India. The Lord greatly blessed their time with Pastor Paul Raj and the Vellore congregation. Prof. Gritters taught in the PRCV's Sola Gratia Program (training of area Pastors and office bearers in Reformed doctrine), lead Bible studies for the members of the PRCV and members from the CMC (Christian Medical College) of Vellore, preached in area villages, lead seminars in neighboring cities for interested pastors, and spoke at other sizable gatherings of the Reformed Faith. The Lord has "opened a door of utterance to speak the mysteries of Christ" (Col. 4:3) for us in India. We thank the Gritters for their faithful work. - Council of Georgetown PRC.

Contact Committee labors:

Rev. R. VanOverloop and Mr. Sid Miedema are finishing the annual visit with the Covenant Protestant Reformed Church in N. Ireland this weekend. They are in CPRC mission field in Limerick, Ireland today. They and their wives plan to return tomorrow, January 23. May God grant them a safe return to the States.

Concerning the Philppines missions:

• From Provident CC bulletin we learn that Rev. D. Holstege begins his labors by preaching in that congregation today.
• We remember in prayer Rev. J. Mahtani (Cornerstone PRC, Dyer, IN) as he considers the call from Doon PRC to serve as third missionary to the Philippines.
• The annual delegation of Doon PRC and the Foreign Mission Committee of the PRCA plans to visit the Philippines from February 3-14, the Lord willing. Coming on this delegation are Rev. Allen Brummel (along with his wife Crysta) and Elder Alan De Boer.

Theme: Holding Forth the Word of Life (Philippians 2:15-16)

Dates: August 7-11, 2017

Location: Michindoh Conference Center

Chaperone Registration for the 2017 Young People's Convention hosted by First PRC of Holland began Monday, January 2, 2017.

The convention is planned for August 7-11 at Michindoh Conference Center in Hillsdale, Michigan. To register, go to our website www.prcconvention.com  and follow the instructions under the Chaperone Tab. If you have any questions, email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

From the Council of Hope PRC (Grand Rapids, MI) come these two reports from Rev. Titus from the end of 2016 (October and November).

Monthly Report from Rev. Titus – October [2016]:

Dear, brethren

Greetings in our sovereign covenant Lord's name. I believed that for His mercy you are doing well in this cold winter there. Here still not changed, hot, I hope soon a little cold weather will arrive, that might be on December.

It was quite wonderful that, our covenant Lord controls all the affairs of our live spheres that in your country, the least except person was elected as your president. I tell you a funny story about that, in my country, almost all believed that Hilary will be elected, so many publication companies prepared so many books on Hilary, and as soon as the election result comes out they will sale those books, but the result is not as they thought, they do not know what to do with those books. For us who believed absolute sovereignty of our covenant Lord, we just smile at them.

Our country's peace talk with various rebels groups is still on paper because, at border area, especially Chinese border, all sorts of fighting going on again, to reach peace agreement is far away yet, only God can give us peace. And fighting with Islamist extremists also going on at Bangladesh border, Rakhine state.

But one thing, we benefit in new government is freedom of worship, which we treasure very much. Previous government we never felt that way. And one more benefit is loud-speakers sickening sounds, in previous governments, they backed Buddhism, so the monks used those loud-speakers, especially on Sunday, so loud that we even could not hear preaching. But in new government, a new law on sound decimal level, we can stay quitter as well as worship time. Last time, one of visitors from among you made a remark on too-loud Buddhist monks loud-speaker, "Its not a quite religion!" I fully agree on that, but now quite changed.

In His providence care we can still have Tuesday Bible class, and we still discussing "Essentials of Reformed Doctrine." We reached lesson 10.

I am still very busy, editing my KJV Burmese translation, I started editing the book of Philippians and I preached every week from out of that editing. And I reached translating chapter 15 of the book of Deuteronomy. Evening services Heidelberg Catechism, now I start seventh time of preaching on it.

And every week put out Sunday Digest, I am still translating "For They Truth's Sake" by Prof. Hanko, now I am still translating "The Image of God in Man," from the chapter of "The Covenant with Man." And I reached "Come, Ye Children," by Gertrude Hoeksema, "Two Spies Go to Jericho." Catechism classes, younger one, we started HeidelBerg Catechism, by Rev. Wilbur Bruinsma, this week we reach lesson 5. Older youth, I am teaching "Essentials of Reformed Doctrine, A Guide in Catechetical Instruction by Rev. Herman Hoeksema, Revised by Prof. Herman Hanko," we reached Lesson (27).

About my health, I start suffering, nervous breakdown again, so, I have to slow down half of my works, that suffering was obvious only in night time, trembling, sweating, dizzy, fear. I one time suffered quite the same, about 8 years ago. Please pray for my health also.

Thank you very much for supporting my ministry till today, without your help I cannot do all the things that I do for His people. Please, continues to pray for us, so that the name of the Lord will be glorified here in this land. I and my family also pray always for all of you and your families and congregations. The Lord's blessings to you all.

Your brother

Rev. Titus

Monthly Report from Rev. Titus – November [2016]:

Dear, brethren

Greetings in our sovereign covenant Lord's name, blessed Christmas to your all and blessed New-year. I believed that for His mercy you are doing well in this cold winter there. Even here a little cold now, I give thanks to our faithful Father in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Crookedness of our political system

Sometime, people wonder why we Burmese Christian interested so much in politic? There are good reasons for that, that is the crookedness of the system. I have to begin from 1950s. Our country got her independence at 1948 from British colonization. From that day till 1958 we had a very good democratic government and our country was the most advance country in Asia. And from 1958, the first military coup happened and every thing changed, at 1962 second military coup happened and all those progress and funs were just a dead history. After that the military government took Burmese-way-socialism, then every things dead, nothing was in progress. For that reason, at 1988 national demonstration broke out, and another more severe military rule started, the system of the rule is like this:

1) At the bottom, there is 10 homes chief, (whether in small village or town, or city)

2) then, 100 homes chief, so under this chief there are 10 lesser chiefs, so what ever happen to each family these 10 lesser chiefs must report to that chief.

3) then, county chief.

4) then, administrator.

Besides that, you have,

1) police, police detective department

2) secret-police department

3) military, military police, military anti-riot police

4) military intelligence

5) Socialist party cadre informants

So, what every you do in the backyard of your house, they are watching and ready to report and what ever confession they want they will torture you to made one. Then, you are sentence to whatever they want. So, you are all the time watched.

Besides, the military government blinded the people with so-called national solidarity, by false propaganda of, "Buddhist-Burmese race," so, like us not Burmese tribe, not Buddhist people were treated as second-class-citizen and ever area of life we are look-down.

Besides, all schools are government controlled, no private school, no Christian-Parental-school, no home-school. So, we all have to go to those government controlled schools where Buddhism prayer is every day duty, then we Christian people do not want to do, then teachers angry, we are looked as out-casts, many young children afraid to those Buddhist teacher, participated those religious things.

And at school, Socialist party came and by-force teaches Socialism to all youth, and we all must follow their instructions of military drill, and all sorts of rubbish things. I and some friends are so angry and did not want to do that, we are punished spanking with bamboo stick.

And all factories and businesses are controlled, you have no choice only what this "Buddhist-Burmese race" so called "Burmese-way-Socialism" government willing to give you, and you must work. And there were so much forced-labors as well, when the government people came and shout with a-loud-speaker, when you were in your bed, middle of the night, tomorrow one person from each house must come out to work for this and that, you have to go with your own, and work otherwise you are in big-troubled.

Besides, the government claimed that all the land of the country is government-own, so even if you have you own paddy-field from generations, that do not count, all your lands are government's, so crops you cannot choose to grow whatever you like, but the government prescribes this crop and that crop to grow, no talk-back to them, you will be put in jail and die inside. And after you grow, from the harvest you have to pay the government that prescribed to all the farmers. So, city people no escape from the government, as well as country side people as well, the only people enjoy life then was, the military chiefs and their associates. They became very rich by manipulating the people under the name of socialism and jingoism of "Buddhist-Burmese race."

Under that kind of rule, politic comes into even your bed-room, you cannot say what happen to politic, I have no business with them, because even what you eat they control. I remember, when we were young, we have to queue very early in the morning, at the so-called "co-op" shop, to have rationed rice. Though the leaders are too much to live luxuriously, we the people are every thing rationed.

The result was as many as can run away from the country they run-away to Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Europe, America. But like us, who love the Lord and know we have to stay where the Lord put us, every day in a struggle, to escape from spies, to have enough food to survive. On Sunday, when we worship, every time worry, whether or not military police come, are we informed by our own neighbors or 10 home chief. When we send our children to school, will they be treated by teachers badly? We pray with tears all the time.

So, when the system is changed, by our Covenant Lord's providence, we are so happy, and so keen to know what is going on. And what more changes the Lord bring to us? we like to know. Not because, we are so much on politic, but as you see the system squeezed us so much.

Even now, the so-called 2008 Constitution was very bad, yet we can breath a little fresh air already from 2015 election. Now, the civil government is elected by the people, but all army, police, fire department, and crucial posts in the government are controlled by army still, e.g in the parliament 25% seats are army people, without election they come and sit there, to show-off army power. So, the civil government that lead by Lady Aung San Su Kyi, has to make a lot of twist and turns to cross-over all sorts of blocking make by army people. Yet, we have quite freedom of worship now for His mercy and covenant faithfulness. During those years, your friendship, your encouragement, your fellowship with us and all kinds of support and prayers are so crucial for our stand for the truth, we treasure them very much, especially by me personally.

In His providence care we can still have Tuesday Bible class, and we still discussing "Essentials of Reformed Doctrine." We reached lesson 11. I go quite slow, so that we can discus the material in our country's setting.

I am still very busy, editing my KJV Burmese translation, I started editing the book of Colossians and I preached every week from out of that editing. And I reached translating chapter 19 of the book of Deuteronomy. Evening services Hidelberg Catechism, now I reach LD 7.

And every week put out Sunday Digest, I am still translating "For They Truth's Sake" by Prof. Hanko, now I am still translating " A Particular and Unconditional Promise," from the chapter of "The Covenant with Man." And I reached "Come, Ye Children," by Gertrude Hoeksema, "Israel Wins the Victory at Ai." Catechism classes, younger one, we started Heidelberg Catechism, by Rev. Wilbur Bruinsma, this week we reach lesson 9. Older youth, I am teaching "Essentials of Reformed Doctrine, A Guide in Catechetical Instruction by Rev. Herman Hoeksema, Revised by Prof. Herman Hanko," we reached Lesson(30).

Since, I have translated "Essentials of Reformed Doctrine," and its explanation book, which I received from Rev. Kortering many years ago, the Lord willing, I will start translating a new book, "Unfolding Covenant History," by Homer C. Hoeksema.

About my health, the nervous breakdown, start recovering again, I sleep more, reduce a lot in reading, more talking with my wife and family. And eat some medicines which Doctor gives, for His mercy and your prayers fear at night milder now, there is still but not very severe as before.

Thank you very much for supporting my ministry till today, without your help I cannot do all the things that I do for His people. Please, continues to pray for us, so that the name of the Lord will be glorified here in this land. I and my family also pray always for all of you and your families and congregations. The Lord's blessings to you all.

Your brother

Rev. Titus

For this third Sunday in January 2017 the following PRC congregational, denominational, and mission news may be noted:

'CONGREGATIONAL NEWS:

• Rev. G. Eriks (Hudsonville PRC) declined the call from Southwest PRC last week.
• The Council of First PRC Holland, MI has announced a new trio from which to call a pastor: Revs. C. Haak (Georgetown PRC, Hudsonville, MI), R. Kleyn (Covenant of Grace, Spokane, WA), and A. Lanning (CERC, Singapore).
• Update: The Council of SW PRC has formed a new trio from which the congregation will call a new pastor.  The ministers on the trio are Rev. S. Key (Loveland PRC), Rev. R. Kleyn, and Rev. C Spronk (Faith PRC). 

MISSION NEWS:

• Rev. and Leah Holstege and their four children arrived safely in the Philippines this past week. We remember them in prayer as they settle into a new home and land to take up the work of serving Christ and His Church in the Philippines.
• The congregation of Doon PRC will call today from the Council's new trio for missionary to the Philippines: Revs. G. Eriks (Hudsonville PRC), J. Mahtani (Cornerstone PRC, Dyer, IN), C. Spronk (Faith PRC, Jenison, MI). Update: Rev. J. Mahtani received the call to serve as third missionary to the Philippines.
• Prof. B. Gritters and his wife Lori are finishing their work in Vellore, India today on behalf of Georgetown PRC. They will begin their trip home tomorrow, returning to the States Tuesday. May the Lord grant traveling mercies and a safe return. The other part of the team, Deane and Donna Wassink, will be staying another week yet. For pictures and reports from this mission labor visit Georgetown PRC's Facebook page.

India delegation (Gritters and Wassinks) with Pastor Paulraj and Kasthuri.

Farewell presentation for Emily Moelker and Liz Van Drunen from the young people of Vellore PRC.

• Rev. R. Van Overloop continues to consider the call from Byron Center PRC to serve as home missionary.

DENOMINATIONAL NEWS:

• Rev. R. VanOverloop and Mr. Sid Miedema are serving on the annual delegation to conduct church visitation with the Covenant Protestant Reformed Church in N. Ireland. They and their wives left this past Thursday and arrived safely. They will also visit the mission work in Limerick, Ireland. They plan to return January 23. May the Lord bless their work.
• Rev. A. Spriensma is in Franklin, PA this weekend and Lord's Day on behalf of the DMC.

The Reformed Free Publishing Association has just published their latest newsletter, the "RFPA Update" (Issue 30, Winter 2017), in which they provide updates of their publishing endeavors, their recent annual meeting, and changes to the staff.

You are encouraged to visit their website to read all of it, or you may find it attached here in full as a pdf.

Below is the first page of the newsletter, both in image and text form. Here you may read about their upcoming publication in connection with the 500th anniversary of the great Protestant Reformation of the 16th century.

This year the Reformed Free Publishing Association (RFPA) will commemorate the five hundredth anniversary of the Reformation of 1517 by publishing The Gospel Truth of Justification, a book on the truth of the gospel that was the heart of the Reformation.

The book is a thorough explanation of the divine, saving act of justification and a vigorous defense of the doctrine, not only against the old heresies of Rome and of Arminianism, but also against the contemporary attacks on justification by the new perspective on Paul, Evangelicals and Catholics Together, and the federal vision.

Originally conceived by the author as a polemical work against the modern attacks on, and departures from, the truth of justification, the book became instead a thorough and systematic, largely positive treatment of the doctrine.

Instead of contending with the theologians, it instructs Reformed and Presbyterian believers, including perhaps some ministers, in the truth that is the heart of the gospel and that, therefore, bears on all the other truths of the gospel. The book explains justification as imputation; that justification is by faith; the essential importance of justification’s being by faith “only”; the meaning of justification’s being “by the faith of Jesus”; the assurance of faith, with particular reference to the error of Puritanism; the “when” of justification, including a careful, moderate, and biblical defense of eternal justification; the origin of justification in the counsel of the covenant; the merit of Christ’s active obedience; the still controversial relation of Paul and James; the necessary relation of justification and election; and more.

The book is permeated with biblical exposition, and the doctrine is founded upon scripture.

Although not mainly polemical, the book throughout defends justification by faith alone, especially against contemporary false doctrines and teachers. It names names. This alone makes the book worthwhile. For the present-day Reformed churches and theologians, facing an assault on the gospel truth of justification that threatens and undoes everything that the Reformation confessed and for which the reformers contended, either fall into a cowardly silence or subtly compromise the fundamental gospel truth. Thus, there is a great falling away (unto perdition)—not of the “liberal” Protestant churches, which became apostate long ago and are ready, if not eager, to fall into the embrace of Rome—but of the Reformed and Presbyterian churches that still have a reputation of “conservative” and orthodox.

Nevertheless, the book is more than a contemporary defense of justification against modern heresies and heretics, including the new perspective on Paul, the federal vision, N. T. Wright, and Norman Shepherd. It is also more than only a historical commemoration of the sixteenth-century Reformation’s stand on behalf of the truth of justification by faith alone. These two features alone would make the book timely.

In two respects the book can justly, if audaciously, claim to be a development of the doctrine that was the heart of the Reformation. First, contemporary heresies have occasioned development of the doctrine, for example, the ultimate grounding of justification in the counsel of the covenant. Second, the book is a systematic, thorough, concentrated treatment of justification. The reformers worked the truth of justification into their commentaries, theological treatises on various subjects, and polemical works. They did not, so far as I am aware, produce a work devoted strictly to justification in a systematic, concentrated, thorough treatment of the doctrine.

The RFPA contributes to the commemoration of the Reformation, therefore, not only by remembering the gospel truth of justification, but also by explaining the doctrine to a new, much later generation of Protestant believers, by defending it against contemporary foes, and by developing it further.

Luther—to whose memory the book is dedicated—would be glad.