The fifth 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 this issue too is filled with informative and edifying content (for information on Issue #4, click on this link)!

Worthy of special mention is the fact that this issue contains the next set of devotions on the Belgic Confession, covering Articles 15-16 on the doctrines of man's original sin and God's sovereign election. Written by Revs.M.MeGeown and D.Holstege, these devotions on the BC take you through the month of May (May 7 - June 3) You will find great spiritual profit in using these devotions.

In addition, the newsletter also contains information about the CLM's pamphlet and book ministries and about activities going on in the CERC. You will want to find out what literature is being promoted this month and what recent U.S.A. visitors to Singapore were privileged to experience.

To receive your own digital copy of this newsletter and those to come, visit the Christian Literature Ministry page at the CERCS' website and click on the "subscribe" button. There you will also find a downloadable digital copy of the devotional booklet for May.

First PRC, Grand Rapids and the Reformed Witness Hour Committee announce the messages scheduled for May 2014 on the RWH program. Rev.Rodney Kleyn, pastor of the Covenant of Grace PRC in Spokane, WA, plans to finish his series on the book of Job and then also give a special Ascension Day message. Below is the schedule, which you will also find attached in pdf form.

Missionary-pastor Daniel Kleyn recently participated in a special conference hosted by the Provident Christian Church in Marikina, the Philippines. He made a special post about it on his blog, which included several pictures. You are encouraged to visit that post here, while learning about the basics of the conference here.

This past Thursday (April 17) was a public holiday in the Philippines.  Provident Christian Church in Marikina, one of the churches we are working in, decided to have an outreach conference that day.  The people invited many friends and family.  Some of the members did this by handing out copies of the pamphlet, "Knowing The True God" by Rev. Houck with an invitation to the conference tucked inside.  In God's providence, several visitors attended.

The audience consisted of many from PCC as well as several visitors.

In news of minister calls/trios the following can be reported from this past Sunday, April 20:

The congregation of Doon (IA) PRC voted to call Rev.C.Spronk, pastor of Peace PRC, Lansing, IL.

Faith PRC received a letter of decline from Rev.R.Kleyn, currently serving in Covenant of Grace PRC in Spokane, WA.

 And First PRC, Grand Rapids, MI had this notice to the churches this week:

"With our pastor Rev. J.Slopsema scheduled to retire this year on June 30, the Council of First PRC has formed a trio of ministers for the purpose of calling a new pastor on May 1. The trio is Revs. G. Eriks (Hudsonville), C. Haak (Georgetown), and S. Key (Loveland).

The Beacon Lights is a magazine for PR young people and their parents, as well as for all - young or old in their faith - who desire to grow in grace and in the knowledge of their Savior Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 3:18). The purpose of this news item is to promote the "BL" among our own members and our friends, so that you may become a subscriber or if you are a subscriber to make sure that you are reading this fine Reformed publication.

Each month is loaded with interesting and edfying articles geared to the young people and their special needs as Reformed Christians. A glance at this month's cover demonstrates this (see the image of the cover here).

The "BL" has an attractive, newly redsigned website, which contains information on the magazine and archives of the past issues. From the "About" page you will find this:

Psalm 144:12;   "That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace."

In January 1941, the first issue of Beacon Lights was published. The periodical, then under the editorship of Rev. Cornelius Hanko, was produced by a mandate of the publication committee of the Protestant Reformed Young People's Federation. The magazine was distributed as a means towards achieving the goal of the Federation which, presented by Rev. Hanko in the first issue of Beacon Lights, is as follows: 

1. To unite all Protestant Reformed Young People’s Societies so that they may work in close unity and secure a sense of solidarity.
2. To seek the mutual edification of the members of this Federation and to strive for the development of talents as becomes Christian young people. 
3. To strive to maintain our specific Protestant Reformed character with a united front. 
4. To promote the welfare of the Protestant Reformed Churches, in which we have a name and a place. 

Still today the staff of Beacon Lights strives towards this goal, as well as edifying those in other denominations. Beacon Lights is written for the young people by young people as well as by adults. This magazine is also written for the parents of young people, so they may be made aware of what their children are facing in this world. The world will only get darker as it nears the end. Sin is rampant. Temptations attack from all sides. We pray that Beacon Lights may serve as a light shining in the darkness of this world to guide young people in their Christian lives.

The "BL" staff has recently produced and mailed out some beautiful posters with a powerful message to promote this cause of the Reformed faith among our young people. We include one here. If your church does not receive hers, contact the "BL" through their website.

And if you would like to subscribe, visit this page. Do you receive and read the Beacon Lights?

Georgetown PRC's India Outreach Committee has published their latest newsletter, and it continues the stories from the labors of the most recent visitors to Vellore, India - Prof.Barry and Lori Gritters along with elder Deane Wassink and his wife Donna, who travelled there in January of this year. Read the entire newsletter here, or download it in pdf form for printing and distribution (see below).

The following related news items taken from two recent church bulletins contain significant information about the activities of two of our pastors, and so are posted here for the benefit of our members. May we remember to pray for these men and their wives as they travel and conduct these busy labors on behalf of their respective churches. May God be pleased to make these labors fruitful for the good of our churches and our sister churches.

From the SW PRC (Wyoming, MI) bulletin:

At the request of Covenant Protestant Reformed Church in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, the Council has released Pastor den Hartog for a three-week trip to Northern Ireland this spring. 

Pastor den Hartog will be filling the pulpit of Covenant Protestant Reformed Church while Rev. Stewart will be traveling to Australia and to Singapore to discuss the possibility of a sister-church relationship between Covenant Protestant Reformed Church and the Covenant Evangelical Reformed Church of Singapore. Rev. Stewart will also be giving a series of speeches for Covenant Church while in Singapore.

Our pastor will be giving three speeches and also traveling to Limerick where Rev. Martyn McGeown is the missionary.  Pastor and Sherry plan to leave Grand Rapids on April 17 and return home on May 6.

And from the Covenant PRC (Ballymena, NI) bulletin:

Rev. Angus & Mary Stewart leave tomorrow (April 14, 2014), for our pastor to speak at an EPC family camp in Tasmania (17-21 April), preach at Brisbane EPC (27 April) and lecture and preach in Singapore (29 April - 6 May). May the Lord watch between us when we are absent one from another (Gen. 31:49).

Rev. M.McGeown will speak in S. Wales this Tuesday on “The Christian as Prophet, Priest and King.” Please remember this witness in your prayers.

Rev. & Sherry den Hartog arrive this Friday. Rev. den Hartog’s schedule is:
Sunday, 20 April, preaching in the CPRC
Wed., 23 April, CPRC lecture on “The Importance of the Historical Adam”
Sunday, 27 April, preaching in the LRF (Rev. McGeown in the CPRC)
Monday, 28 April, LRF lecture on “Living in Perilous Times”
Fri., 2 May, CPRC lecture on “The Role of the Father in the Christian Home”
Sunday, 4 May, preaching in CPRC