By the time this appears in print, Rev. C. Hanko and Prof. Hoeksema will be well into their work on the other side of the world. About the middle of June they left Michigan and the United States, and headed for Australia and New Zealand. According to Southwest’s bulletin, they will, “as representatives of our churches, be busy working with contacts in that area until about the first part of August.” Along with the writer of that announcement, “we wish them God-speed and we pray that the Lord may richly bless them and their activities among the brethren ‘down under.'”

Rev. Van Overloop and two other representatives of the council of Hope Church spent several days near the end of May investigating the mission field in Houston. The June 8 bulletin of Hope, Church included a summary of the report with which the three returned to their consistory. They reported that “their time was taken up in seven visits with the individual families and six meetings (including two worship services) with most of the group collectively. There are ten families which attend the services with some regularity. The nucleus of the group manifested an earnest desire to organize, a love of the truth, a desire to walk holily, and a sincere willingness to receive further instruction. In the opinion of the emissaries, sufficient officebearer material was found in this nucleus. Other factors reported were a potential for growth and a strong desire to be financially independent. Having considered all this the council decided that, D.V., organization should take place early this fall, pending the approval of the Mission Committee.”

During the first part of May, Rev. Kortering traveled northwest, to spend a few days in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, in order that he might, along with Rev. Woudenberg, study the progress of the work there. Rev. Lubbers arrived in Lynden a few days later and he and Rev. Kortering together conducted church visitation. Rev. Lubbers then continued on to Redlands and Loveland for further visits and lectures.

A rather busy couple of weeks it was for Rev. Lubbers. In addition to the church visitation, he showed his pictures of Jamaica in Lynden on May 11. The following day he was in Redlands where he lectured on the Biblical concept of sanctification. A couple of days later found him in Loveland, where he again delivered that lecture entitled, “What It Means to Live a Sanctified Life.” On, the 18th he preached both sermons in our Loveland Church. Then it was back to Pella. He and Mrs. Lubbers were home just long enough for him to mow the lawn and write the bulletin, and for her to wash and iron, and then they were off by car for Grand Rapids for a wedding later in the week.

There was one series of eight consecutive days in there, during which Rev. Lubbers spoke no less than eight times. One of those eight speeches happens to have been given at the Rest Home in Pella. It was entitled “The Great Shepherd, and a Wonderful Confession.” In addition to the speech, incidentally, he also sang a solo. The old people there, he said, assured him that they appreciated the song; but, he added ruefully, they didn’t say anything about the singing.

After all that, he deserved a little recreation. In Grand Rapids he played eighteen holes of golf on Memorial Day, and matched exactly the score of Prof. Decker. The latter managed a 53 on the last nine. He’s not talking about the first.

The last of May and the first of June is the time for graduations. From the various bulletins we notice that Rev. Lanting addressed the graduates in Loveland, Rev. Moore in Doon, and Rev. Engelsma in South Holland. In the Grand Rapids schools, Prof. Hoeksema spoke at Hope’s commencement exercises, Rev. Veldman at Adams’, and Prof. Hanko at Covenant’s. One other graduation program there was, yet. At a Friday morning, May 30, exercise in the Seminary auditorium, four young men graduated from the pre-seminary department. Congratulations to Wilbur Bruinsma, Michael DeVries, Richard Flikkema, and Richard Peterson.

The people of our Doon congregation held the dedication service for their new church building on Friday, May 16. Prof. Hanko, who was pastor there before his call to the seminary, gave the address. The Men’s Society of our Randolph Church sponsored a public lecture on the evening of May 21. Rev. Van Baren drove out on that occasion, and spoke on the subject, “The Antichristian Kingdom—How Near is it?”

We have a requested announcement, yet, from the Anniversary Field Day Committee:

“We urge everyone to remember the Field Day August 6. Note that the location of the celebration has been changed to Douglas Walker Park, west of Byron Center on 84th St. If you are planning to come and have not yet notified the committee, please do so. This information is necessary for the evening meal. You may call either 451-3400 or 453-3253. If out-of-town, mail your card or just a piece of paper with your name, the number attending, and the ages of the children, to 1550 Ferndale S.W., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49504. See you there.”

—DD