Trivia question

When Heritage PRC in Sioux Falls, SD was organized in 2010 it became the first PR church in South Dakota in how many years? The only previous South Dakota PRC was located where? Answers later in this column and more trivia next time.

Minister activities

Prof. R. Dykstra and his wife Carol returned to the USA in early May after serving the CERC of Singapore for five months. Rev. J. Smidstra and his wife Kelly traveled to Singapore in late April and he intends to fill the pulpit there into late August.

Rev. C. Griess (First PRC in GR) declined the call from Hudsonville PRC to be their pastor. Rev. R. VanOverloop (Grace PRC) declined the call to Kalamazoo PRC. Wingham PRC (Ontario, Canada) had formed a trio, but their congregational meeting was on hold due to increased restrictions in Ontario. The Council of Byron Center PRC formed a new trio: Rev. R. Barnhill (Peace PRC), Prof. R. Dykstra (PRCA Seminary), and Rev. C. Spronk (Faith PRC) with Prof. Dykstra receiving the call on May 2. He plans to respond by June 6.

Congregational activities

The Building Committee of First PRC of Holland, MI organized a Spring Work Bee for Saturday, May 1. Some of the main projects the committee hoped to accomplish included cleaning up around the transformer and seeding the area, adding black dirt and seeding the area by the parking lot driveway, trimming around the west side of church, and removing limbs from the lower section of pine trees.

More outdoor spring activities included the following:

• Adams Christian School Foundation held its 32nd Annual ACS Foundation Golf Scramble at Egypt Valley Country Club.
• Southwest Young People’s Softball Tournament at Whistlestop Park in Byron Center.
• The 2nd Annual Hope Foundation Golf Tournament was to be held at Sunnybrook Country Club.

Young people’s activities

Unity PRC Young People held a hanging basket sale on Saturday, May 8 in Byron Center from 9 a.m. to noon. A large variety of annual flower baskets and ferns were available along with free coffee and cookies. Since the Convention has been canceled for this summer, the Unity YP are donating the profits for this sale to the Unity PRC Building Fund. Thank you for your support!

Seminary activities

The faculty of the PRTS announces that the internship of Seminarian Marcus Wee will take place this summer and fall (July-December) at Faith PRC under Rev. C. Spronk. Senior student Josiah Tan is preparing to be examined at the 2021 PRC Synod at the request of his home church, Covenant ERC in Singapore.

With joy the faculty also announces that it has licensed student Matthew Koerner to speak a word of edification in the churches. His first service is scheduled for Holland PRC on May 30.

School activities

The Covenant Christian School of Lynden, WA Junior High invited all to their Geography Fair, scheduled for Friday, May 7 in the school gym. There were displays, food samples from around the world, almost-authentic costumes, games, prizes, and more! Not something you’d want to miss!

The school also held a Spring Cleaning School workday on Saturday, May 1st. Supporters cleaned up the grounds and did some building maintenance. They brought their rakes, shovels, and wheelbarrow and joined for a morning of good Christian fellowship and hard work.

Denominational activities

Classis East met on May 12th in Trinity PRC in Hudsonville, MI.

A glance back in time—2009-2010

Candidate Cory Griess was led by God to decline calls to Byron Center PRC, First PRC of Holland, MI, and Immanuel PRC in Lacombe, AB, Canada. Candidate Griess accepted the call to Calvary PRC in Hull, IA and became Calvary’s first pastor…. Trinity Christian High School in Hull, IA dedicated its new building…. Men and boys of First PRC in Holland, MI enjoyed their annual camp-out at PJ Hoffmaster State Park near Muskegon…. Nine students attended our seminary…. Kalamazoo, MI PRC celebrated 55 years as a congregation…. Rev. Garrett Eriks celebrated ten years in the ministry…. Rev. Thomas Miersma accepted the call to serve as pastor in Lacombe, AB, Canada…. A senior retreat was held the first week of October at the YMCA in Estes Park, CO with 183 PRC members registered…. Our two student interns were Mr. Martyn McGeown and Mr. Dan Holstege…. Seminarians Nathan Decker, Jon Mahtani, and Brian Huizinga were assigned to internships later in the year…. Rev. S. Key accepted the call from Loveland, CO PRC…. Covenant PRC in Ballymena, NI continued to make progress on their church building…. The consistory of Hope PRC in Redlands, CA decided to begin regular Bible studies with the members of the Tucson, AZ PR fellowship…. Rev. Audred Spriensma, pastor of Kalamazoo, MI PRC accepted the call from Byron Center, MI PRC…. We celebrated the organization of our new congregation in Sioux Falls, SD. Heritage PRC became the 31st congregation in our denomination and the first in South Dakota in 18 years (since Isabel). Rev. A. Brummel accepted the call to serve as their first pastor…. Rev. D. Lee accepted the call to Bethel PRC…. Rev. J. Laning accepted the call to Hull, IA PRC…. Rev. M. DeVries accepted the call to serve as the next pastor of Kalamazoo, MI PRC.

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