Vol 74 Issue 18

Mr. Wigger is an elder in the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan. Evangelism Activities Despite the flurry of activity leading up to the much anticipated move of our First PRC of Holland, MI into their new church home this summer, their Evangelism Committee was able to find time to complete the publication of another of our churches’ many pamphlets into Spanish. The pamphlet, “The Christ of Arminianism,” by Rev. S. Houck, was translated by a contact of theirs in New York. First’s Evangelism Committee is also producing a new special welcome brochure to serve as their church’s introduction into...

May 13, 1998 Southeast Protestant Reformed Church Classis East met in regular session on Wednesday, May 13, 1998 at the Southeast PRC. Each church was represented by two delegates. Rev. R. Cammenga served as chairman for this session. The delegates ad examnia from Classis West, Revs. Haak, Houck, and Key, were present for the matter of Rev. Flikkema’s credentials. Classis dealt with several difficult issues. The first concerned Covenant PRC’s recommendation to classis that Rev. R. Flikkema’s ministerial credentials be terminated. Classis East rejected the advice of Covenant and extended Rev. Flikkema’s credentials for two years. If Rev. Flikkema is...

Baptism: Meaning, Mode & Subjects, by Michael Kimmitt. Plas Gwyn, Trelawnyd, Wales: K & M Books, 1997. 48 pages. $4 (paper). [Reviewed by the editor.] In six, brief chapters, this booklet treats of baptism’s meaning, mode, and subjects, as well as three main objections against infant baptism and certain implications of the study. The short study of the biblical doctrine of baptism is especially helpful regarding the mode of baptism, whether immersion or some other mode, e.g., sprinkling. Mr. Kimmitt takes a “scientific approach” to the subject, examining all of the references to baptism in the New Testament, in order...

Rev. Key is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Randolph, Wisconsin. We concluded our last article with a consideration of the exercise of Christ’s dominion. Our exalted Lord reigns unto the glory of God His Father and to the salvation of His people. He is King of the church, first of all. Christ rules in His church by His Word and Spirit. He exercises a kingly authority over and works by the power of grace in all those whom He makes subject to Himself by the gospel. By that rule of His grace, Christ calls us out of darkness...

Rev. VanBaren is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Loveland, Colorado. Confirmation of Matthew 24:7-8? We have been reading of the “natural” disasters which have been affecting our country. What does it all mean? And: is it an “angry Mother Nature” or the fulfillment of Christ’s prophecy? Newsweek, May 4, 1998, has this to say of the disasters:

Prof. Dykstra is professor of Church History and New Testament in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. This is the first part of the text of the address given at the seminary graduation of Nathan Brummel on June 15, 1998. This graduation speech addresses the particular calling of a minister in the Protestant Reformed Churches. It has application to ministers for obvious reasons. It also has value for elders who must see to it that ministers are faithful in their life and work. Every believer also can profit from a discussion of how the covenant affects one’s life and work, not only...

Rev. Kortering is a Protestant Reformed minister-on-loan to Singapore. This article is about opportunities—opportunities to practice missions. The world is changing. Nations are mixing with nations, ethnic groups are intermingling with others. This is the biblical pattern if we understand the nature of the world in the last days. Commercial leaders call it globalization. Politicians speak of the New World Order. World communications no longer depend upon the infrastructure of individual nations; satellites eliminate all of this. The Bible speaks of the coming of the anti-Christian world power (Rev. 13). It’s closer than we like to think. And we are...

The annual synod of the Protestant Reformed Churches(PRC) met at the Hope Church in Walker, Michigan from June 9-15. At the pre-synodical service on Monday evening, June 8, Rev. Ken Koole, president of the previous synod, preached to a full house on Haggai 2:1-9, “Encouraged to Persevere in the Lord’s Great Building Project.” The text of his sermon is the meditation in this issue of the Standard Bearer. Officers of the 1998 synod were Rev. Gise Van Baren, president; Rev. Ron Cammenga, vice-president; Rev. Steven Key, first clerk; and Rev. Barry Gritters, second clerk. Seminary About a day and a...

Rev. Koole is pastor of Faith Protestant Reformed Church in Jenison, Michigan. This is the text of the pre-synodical sermon preached in Hope PRC on June 8, 1998. For thus saith the Lord of hosts: Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts. Haggai 2:1-9 Haggai is the first of the three who prophesied following the return from...