Mr. Wigger is a member of the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan.

Seminary Activities

Our seminary recently extended a thank-you to the council and congregation of the Hull, IA PRC for their gracious hosting of the internship of Seminarian Cory Griess this past year. These internships have proven to be very profitable for the students and congregations involved, and with God’s blessing will continue to be in the future. In addition, our seminary was also grateful to Hull for their love and kindness shown to Cory and his wife, Lael, during Lael’s long hospitalization in Sioux Falls, SD and after the birth of their twin sons, Simeon and John Owen.

However, the story does not end there. Because John Owen needed to undergo further testing and treatment of his stomach issues, doctors in Sioux Falls recommended that the family return soon to Grand Rapids, MI to begin that transition in his care. Since the preemie twins were not allowed on a commercial flight, the only other option appeared to be a long drive back, with stops every two hours to feed the babies. Thankfully, Mr. Tim Talsma, a member of the Faith PRC in Jenison, MI, learned of the Griess’ plight and offered to fly the family back to Grand Rapids in his plane. Christmas Day was the only day that provided a window of good weather to fly, so Mr. Talsma graciously flew himself and Lael’s father out to Sioux Falls. He picked up Lael and Lael’s mother, who was out in Sioux Falls helping with the twins, and flew them back. They returned to Grand Rapids in two and a half hours time.

Cory and his father-in-law drove their family vehicle back to Grand Rapids. The two of them left as soon as the plane took off and drove all day Christmas, arriving back at 3:30 a.m. the following morning.

Before they got back, some of the Griesses’ extended family, with volunteers from Georgetown PRC and the seminary students, had already moved all Cory and Lael’s belongings into a new duplex, so that all they had to do was plop into their already-moved-in and made-up bed. And for the first time in four months they had the whole family under one roof again.

We join with our Hull congregation as we thank God for the six months the Griesses could spend in the Hull congregation. We rejoice with them that, arriving as a couple, they left as a family, and we pray for God’s continued blessing upon them for all their spiritual and physical needs.

The consistories of the First PRC in Holland, MI and the Randolph, WI PRC have agreed to the request of the seminary faculty that they host the internships of Seminarian Martyn McGeown and Seminarian Daniel Holstege, respectively. These two men are currently in their third year of seminary and, the Lord willing, will serve those internships from July through December of this year.

Congregation Activities

Once again this year the members of the Georgetown PRC in Hudsonville, MI enjoyed their yearly church conference. This year’s conference was held over a two-day period, January 30, 31, at the Camp Geneva Retreat Center in Holland, MI. Rev. Ken Smith, from the Biblical Counseling Center, addressed the conference on the subject, “Conflict Management for Peaceful Living.”

Mission Activities

As many of our readers know, Rev. R. Smit, pastor of the Immanuel PRC in Lacombe, AB, Canada, accepted the call from the Doon, IA PRC to serve as missionary in the Philippines. Our denomination’s Foreign Mission Committee and Doon are presently making preparations for the Smit family to move to NW Iowa during the second week of February, the Lord willing. They will live there for several months as Rev. Smit prepares for the move to the Philippines. He will be doing some mission course work, intensive language training in Tagalog, and other preparation work assigned by the FMC. May God bless the saints in the Philippines, the saints in Immanuel, the Smits, and our denomination as we seek to heed our Lord’s calling in Matthew 28:19-20.

The Pittsburgh Mission has scheduled the celebration of the Lord’s Supper to take place for the first time there on March 15. In anticipation of that event, Pittsburgh’s confessing members were encouraged to learn more about the sacrament through a series of classes by Rev. Bruinsma on the meaning, implications, and importance of the Lord’s Supper. These three classes were scheduled for February 11, 18, and 25.

School Activities

The kindergarten and 1st and 2nd grade students of Hull PR Christian School in Hull, IA gave a chapel on January 22 at the Hull PRC. Rev. A. Brummel spoke on the theme, “Treasures of Snow,” from Job 38:22.

Have you noticed, as we have, the increasing number of teaching positions that are currently open in at least nine different PR schools? By our count, and this is early February, so that number will change, there are eleven positions currently open.

Young Adult Activities

The Young Adults of the South Holland, IL PRC hosted a special music night on February 1 at Cornerstone PRC. The young adults were looking for volunteers of all ages to share their God-given musical talents. Instruments of all kinds were welcome, as well as solos, duets, quartets, etc. A collection was taken to benefit the South Holland Young Adults Retreat of 2009.

Minister Activities

Rev. G. Eriks of the Hudsonville, MI PRC declined the call he received from the Calvary PRC in Hull, IA.

The Byron Center, MI PRC has extended a call to Rev. R. Kleyn, pastor of the Trinity PRC in Hudsonville, MI, to be their next pastor.

The Lord blessed Rev. Andy and Stephanie Lanning, of the Faith PRC in Jenison, MI, with the addition of another daughter, Megan Elisabeth, to their family. Megan was born on January 22.