Mission Activities

Monday, August 31 was a public holiday in the Philippines. Since many were not at work that day, the young adults of the area churches planned a “sports fest” for those in the Manila area. Under God’s blessing, the day was a great success! The weather, fellowship, and the turnout from the Berean PRC, Provident Christian Church of Marikina, and the Protestant Reformed Church in Bulacan were excellent. Rev. Vernon Ibe led in opening devotions and the games began. Included were chess, badminton, volleyball, table tennis, and basketball. Rev. Daniel Kleyn was able to join the fun after a couple of hours in a Classis Standing Committee meeting in the morning. Since his specialty, arm wrestling, was not included in the schedule, he signed up to compete in table tennis (ping pong), only to be eliminated by someone with an identical last name. Oh well, as they say…, maybe next time!

7M (Metro Manila Monthly Monday Morning Minister’s Meeting) actually continues to meet twice a month with the pastors Kleyn, Trinidad, Ibe, Flores, Filiano, and Andres present. The group is studying the Church Order and also using Prof. Gritter’s lectures on Catechetics. The location of the meetings used to vary. Now the group meets each time in Provident Christian Church of Marikina, as that location works best for all.

On September 13 Rev. Arie den Hartog along with three Council members from Southwest PRC attended the worship services at the Pittsburgh, PA mission, overseeing the work of the missionary and the members of the mission, including the administration of the Lord’s Supper. May the Lord continue to bless this work, and may it be an encouragement for our Pittsburgh missionary, Rev. Wilbur Bruinsma.

Minister Activities

Rev. Carl Haak announced on September 13 that the Lord of the harvest had led him to decline the call that had been extended to him to become the second missionary to the Philippines. This letter of decline was read in the calling church at Doon, IA, whose congregation has now been calling for a second missionary for over one year. Rev. Daniel Kleyn and his wife Sharon continue to labor in the metro Manila area of the Republic of the Philippines.

Congregation Activities

Men of the congregation in Doon, IA gathered at the church and parsonage on Saturday morning, September 12, to plant shrubs and place landscaping rock around the church sign and the parsonage. They also backfilled the curb of the newly cemented parking lot and sowed new grass. It was a fresh, cool fall morning and all enjoyed God’s creation and good fellowship. The donuts were delicious too!

There were hardly enough days in the week recently in the church life in First PRC of Edmonton, AB, Canada! On Sunday the Young People and Young Adults met at church. Monday the pre- and post-confession classes met to study the Canons of Dordt; the Ladies’ Circle of the school also met that night. Tuesday found the Heidelberg Catechism and Essentials of Reformed Doctrine classes hard at work. Wednesday was Adult Bible Society, and Thursday included a consistory meeting. Friday saw the church visitors meeting with the council, while Saturday was the day for the Beginners, Juniors, and Seniors catechism classes to be held. Seven days of activities, just enough days in the week! We certainly notice the healthy busyness in all our churches now that catechism and Bible studies are in full swing.

Sister Church Activities

The following was found in the bulletin of the Covenant Protestant Reformed Church in Ballymena, Northern Ireland and also printed in the Ballymena Times and Ballymena Guardian newspapers on September 8:

Teaching Classes at the CPRC: Our children go back to school in September but have you ever felt as an adult that you could do with some classes in the Christian faith? The Covenant Protestant Reformed Church (CPRC) in Ballymena is a church that emphasizes teaching, as well as doing. Besides our regular Sunday services (11 a.m. and 6 p.m.) and catechism classes for children, we have two weekly classes on Tuesday mornings and Wednesday evenings. We all know a certain amount about prayer but what about Christ’s intercession for His people? How does Scripture assure us of His love, power and wisdom in praying for us, purifying our prayers and bringing us to our heavenly Father in prayer? This is the subject of Article 26 of the Belgic Confession, penned by Reformation martyr, Guido de Brés, in the Lowlands. The Belgic Confession class resumes this Wednesday (9 September) at 7:45 p.m. The Tuesday morning class (11 a.m.) is studying Hosea, the first-listed of the twelve minor prophets in the Old Testament. Jehovah told Hosea to marry a prostitute, so that, through his sad home life with his wife and her three children, God’s relationship to wayward Israel would be mirrored. Questions and discussion are encouraged, and tea and coffee are served at both classes at the CPRC, 83 Clarence Street (off the Cullybackey Road) in Ballymena. For more information go on-line (www.cprc.co.uk). All are very welcome!

A nice job of local evangelism.

Rev. Martyn McGeown, missionary-pastor of the Limerick (Ireland) Reformed Fellowship, a mission of the Covenant Protestant Reformed Church of Northern Ireland, spoke recently on the topic of “The Trinity” as part of his “Back to Basics” lecture series.

Evangelism Activities

The Evangelism Committee of the Edgerton, MN PRC sponsored a presentation in nearby Chandler, MN on September 25. Pastor Doug Kuiper spoke on the topic “Search the Scriptures, a Presentation Regarding Bible Study.” Again, all those whose names did not begin with “B” were asked to bring bars or cookies.

Denominational Activities

Classis East met in regular session September 9 at Byron Center PRC (MI) and is scheduled to convene next January 13, 2016 at Trinity PRC, Hudsonville, MI. For the report of the September 9 Classis, see page 46 of this issue.

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1.