Trivia question

How many formerly active PRC ministers, now listed as emeriti, are there? Answer later in this column.

Sister-church activities

The Classis of the Protestant Reformed Churches in the Philippines met November 1. Two significant matters at Classis were (1) Meetings with the delegation of the Contact Committee of the PRCA (Rev. R. Smit and elder David Kregel), and (2) Classis declaring the PRFA (Protestant Reformed Fellowship of Albuera, Leyte) to be official mission work of the denomination. Regarding the PRFA, the PRC of Bulacan was appointed as the calling church for this mission field and was instructed by Classis to arrange and send a monthly delegation, pending the availability of funds through special collections that all the PRCP congregations have been asked to take for mission work. This is exciting news for the churches there, a mission field on another island!

On November 19 the Berean Protestant Reformed Church of the Philippines celebrated her 11th anniversary as an instituted PRC. There was a special meal together that day. God be praised for His faithfulness to our sister!

The Church Camp committee of the Covenant Evangelical Reformed Church of Singapore announces their Church Camp from June 12-June 18, 2018. It will be held at the Bayou Waterpark Resort, Melaka. The theme will be “Holiness: Not a Condition but a Necessity” (I Pet. 1:16).

The CERC has planned a farewell for Rev. Andy Lanning and family on December 23 with a lunch included.

Evangelism activities

From the bulletin of Grace PRC, MI:

INDIA VISIT: Our Consistory granted a request from the Council of Georgetown PRC to send a delegation of Rev. and Sue Van Overloop and Rick and Ronda Wieringa to India for three weeks (November 15 to December 4). Pastor Van Overloop will be preaching in both the Tamil and English congregations, assisting in the teaching of the Sola Gratia Program and area seminars, and preaching in area villages. Our delegation hopes to conduct Church visitation with the Vellore PRC while there, participate in congregational Bible Studies, and visit with many of the members of the VPRC in their homes. The Wieringa’s will also be spending time helping at the GFH and getting to know the needs of the children. Finally, the delegation has been asked to give encouragement to Pastor Paul Raj, Kasthuri, and family in all the many tasks God has given them. Pray for the Lord’s blessing.

Hope PRC’s Reformed Witness Committee invited all to Covenant Christian High School to attend an informative program concerning Hope’s work in Myanmar with the Protestant Reformed Church of Yangon, Myanmar. Rev. Titus Sanceuluai, pastor of the church in Myanmar, along with his wife Certi, were part of the program. What a great way to learn more about the work there, the fellow saints in Myanmar, and get to know Rev. Titus and Certi personally! Rev. Titus also gave presentations in Hull, IA PRC, Trinity Christian High School, and Hull PR Christian school.

Minister activities

Our home missionary, Rev. Audred Spriensma spent time recently in the Franklin, PA area making contacts there and preaching for a group there on Sunday. Perhaps God will open doors there for future mission endeavors!

School activities

The Ladies’ Circle of the Free Christian School in Edgerton, MN made and sold delicious pigs-in-the blanket as a school fundraiser.

Heritage Christian School’s All School program was held on Thursday, November 30 at 7 p.m. at Fair Haven Church in Hudsonville, MI. All were invited to join the K-8th grade students, who presented a program on “The Comings and Goings of Jesus Christ.”

Advance notice, 50th Anniversary! By God’s grace, Covenant Christian High School in Grand Rapids, MI is celebrating its 50th year of Christ-centered education. We have much to be thankful for in this work of our Father. To that end, the school Board is putting together a program to commemorate this milestone. The planned date for the program is April 27, 2018 (program at Fairhaven) and April 28th (dinner and open house at Covenant). An exciting time for alumni, supporters, and students of Covenant!

Young people’s activities

The Young People of Doon, IA PRC invited the five local congregations to their Reformation singspiration. The Young People of Calvary PRC in Hull, IA invited the Siouxland area churches to their Thanksgiving singspiration. A joyful noise was made to the Rock of our salvation!

Congregational activities

The congregation at First PRC of Grand Rapids, MI held a farewell program for their minister and his family on November 19, as Rev. Richard Smit has accepted the call to be the third missionary to the land of the Philippines.

Trivia answer

The 2017 PRC Acts of Synod lists 12 Ministers Emeriti of the PRCA. With the recent addition of Rev. Ron Hanko, the count stands at 13. Nine of these men reside in the state of Michigan. The adjective “emeritus” is used to designate a retired professor or pastor, along with its plural, “emeriti.”

Also, results of the survey about surviving original members are nearly all in as of mid-November. Soon you should read about the results. We do have a small number of these celebrated folks in our midst! More trivia next time.