All Articles For Faber, John M.

The exterior view shown is from the west, and very admirably highlights the main element of the building,—the one hundred tons of Wisconsin stone which comprises the entire front of the church. This wall is built in five staggered tiers; and between them are vertical windows of stained glass, through which the afternoon sun glows in many colors upon the inside wall. These are the only windows in the auditorium and are not visible from the pews, but are only appreciated by the reflected colors which set forth the uneven surface of the front wall in bas relief.

Rev. H. Veldman, of Hope Church in Grand Rapids, has accepted the call to “come over and help us” tendered him by our Hudsonville Church. He plans to take up his new charge within the month.  Rev. G. Lubbers, of the Southwest Church in Grand Rapids, has declined the call which he had received from our Edgerton, Minnesota Church.

It has been quite some time since you have heard from our Theological School and of the progress of our students. By the time you read this the school will have closed its doors for the summer vacation “Vacation” one calls it with tongue-in-cheek: for the faculty will be busy in preparation for next September’s work-load, and the students will be extremely busy this summer making a living. But more about that later. First we would like to take you with us to be an unseen guest at a typical day in school. 

In this article we shall try to answer some of the questions that you raise concerning the mission endeavors of our churches as they are implemented by the Mission Committee.

Have you ever read one of those magazine stories in serial form with short installments appearing each month? Then you will also remember wondering how many chapters were still forthcoming. In fact, some single chapters were strung out so long that one even wondered when he would be introduced to a new chapter. Well, the story of our work in the Jamaican Mission Field is one such, with parts of chapters written in installments. This time we will start another chapter.

Tongues are wagging, ears are tingling and credibility is being tried. The “citizen’s band radio” is so very busy these days that it is becoming more and more difficult to sort out the rumor-news from the true-news. The Mission Committee thought it expedient to tune up the “official band radio” to give you more of the Jamaican mission news — hence this installment that had been promised you. Some of which you heard on the citizen’s band was true, of course, but the deductions and analyses are being stretched to the “I can’t believe it” stage.

The emissaries to Jamaica have submitted an official report of their findings which will appear in the Agenda of Synod and which will be made known to our membership. But I would like to tell you of my personal first-time-visit to that tropical island.

(Editor’s Note: This report represents the personal viewpoint of the writer, and not necessarily that of the Rev. G. Lubbers or that of the Mission Committee. HCH) Having been privileged to serve the Mission Committee as one of the “emissaries of ’76” to Jamaica, I would like to share with you my personal impressions of the country, “our” churches and the ministers we are supporting.