Rev. David Engelsma declined the calls extended to him by Southeast Church in Grand Rapids and the congregation of our church in Hull, Iowa. 

From a trio of Rev. Arie den Hartog, Rev. Marvin Kamps, and Rev. Bernard Woudenberg, Southeast has extended a call to Rev. den Hartog. 

Hull formulated a trio of Rev. den Hartog, Rev. Dale Kuiper, and Rev. Ronald Van Overloop. The call was extended to Rev. Van Overloop. Rev. Van Over-loop had also received a call from our South Holland, Illinois congregation to serve as home missionary in the Birmingham, Alabama area. After a trip to Birmingham for a first hand look at the field and after meeting with the council of the South Holland church, Rev. Van Overloop accepted the call. It can probably be assumed that the call from Hull was declined. 

The consistory of our church in Loveland, Colorado, has informed each of the churches in the denomination that their pastor, Rev. George Lanting, “has been dismissed from his ministerial duties in the Loveland Protestant Reformed Church according to Article 11 of the Church Order.” The notice continues with the information that “Rev. Lanting is now eligible for a call in our churches.” This action was approved in a special meeting of Classis West held in Loveland in early May. The Loveland consistory has scheduled a special congregational meeting for Monday,. June 11, to call a minister from a trio consisting of Rev. Marvin Kamps, Rev. Jason Kortering, and Rev. James Slopsema. 

Pulpit supply for Loveland has been scheduled by Classis West as follows: Rev. Rodney Miersma on May 20 and 27, Rev. Kortering on June 10 and 17, Rev. C. Hanko for July 1, 8, and 15, help from the seminary for the six Sundays of July 22 through August 26, and Rev. Wayne Bekkering on September 2 and 9. 

Sometimes news from a source close at hand comes in from a bulletin of one of our churches located over 2,000 miles away. The summer schedule of our seminarians was published in the Redlands, California church bulletin. Assignments as of the end of May were as follows: Carl Haak to Victoria, British Columbia, to work with home missionary Rev. Robert Harbach. Ronald Hanko to Loveland, Colorado during July and August. Ronald Camminga to Hull, Iowa for the summer months. And Steve Houck to work in the Charlotte, Michigan area where our churches have been conducting mission work for the past several months. 

The congregation of our church in Holland, Michigan has scheduled a special program in their church on Tuesday, July 3 at 7:30 PM to commemorate the 50th anniversary of their congregation. Holland’s pastor, Rev. John Heys, personally extends to all Standard Bearer readers to meet with the Holland, congregation on this joyous occasion. Rev. and Mrs. Heys returned on May 31 after spending the past several months on the other side of the globe as ‘minister on loan’ in Christchurch, New Zealand. 

Redlands recently completed a solicitation for money for their new church building. $80,100 was raised. This generous support will permit the church building committee to proceed with the preparation of detailed plans for the auditorium and social hall with meeting rooms. In addition, permits must be obtained from and plans approved by the City of Redlands. It is estimated that, the Lord willing, actual construction of the new church could begin in early 1980. 

At the end of April, the Pella bulletin carried this appropriate announcement: “Catechism is over for this season as well as society meetings. It is very easy for us to forget about study of the Bible. But let us not neglect this spiritual exercise in which we grow in the knowledge of our Creator and of His salvation for us in His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Daily study of the Scriptures is a must for every child of God.” 

In order to provide an opportunity for Bible study and spiritual refreshment, our church in Hudsonville is scheduling a “Summer Society” to meet every other week during the summer months. They plan to begin with a discussion of Genesis 1. The first meeting also featured an after recess program presented by Prof. H. C. Hoeksema in which he presented practical guidelines and suggestions for profitable study of Scripture. This ‘summer society’ idea sounds like a good idea — especially during a season of the year when most church activities scheduled during the week are in recess. 

K.G.V.