Mr. Wigger is a member of the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan.

Minister Activities 

Since our last “News” three of our vacant congregations have formed new trios from which they soon will call a pastor.

The Edgerton, MN PRC will call from a trio of Rev. Bruinsma, Rev. S. Houck, and Candidate John Marcus.

Covenant PRC in Wyckoff, NJ has a trio of Rev. M. Dick, Rev. S. Houck, and Rev. A. Spriensma.

The Loveland, CO PRC has a trio of Rev. A. Brummel, Rev. S. Key, and Rev. J. Laning. 

Congregation Activities 

The evening of September 14 the congregation of First PRC in Grand Rapids, MI was invited to their annual Fall Fellowship Dinner. For closing devotions, their pastor, Rev. J. Slopsema, gave a ten-minute talk meant to encourage the members of First in their Bible studies this year.

We are happy to report that beginning September 1 you can find information regarding our Southeast PRC on the web. Interested? Check it out at www.southeast prc.org.

With catechism classes well under way in all our churches, we couldn’t help but notice how our Byron Center, MI PRC solved a problem facing parents bringing their children to catechism. The problem: what do fathers do while waiting for their children during the hour of catechism instruction? The solution: start a Men’s Bible Study, which meets weekly during the catechism season.

The men and boys of First PRC in Holland, MI were able to enjoy a camp-out September 16 & 17 at P.J. Hoffmaster State Park on the shore of Lake Michigan.

Members of Bethel PRC in Roselle, IL were invited to an open house/house-warming September 17 at their parsonage. All were encouraged to come and to bring a friend. There was food, games, prizes, and even a ping-pong tournament. Members were also told not to worry if they were not used to Asian food, the Mahtanis promised to have American too.

Several of our churches were made aware of the need of financial help of the Presbyterian Churches in America due to hurricane Katrina. Some of their churches were damaged in areas devastated by the hurricane. The Georgetown PRC in Hudsonville, MI and the Kalamazoo, MI PRC made information available for their congregations and provided donation boxes for this cause, while Bethel PRC in Roselle, IL sent money from their Benevolent Fund, as well as scheduling two collections in September for those fellow saints in their hour of need.

On Sunday, September 18, a tour group of approximately 40 seniors from our Grand Rapids, MI PRCs were able to worship with our Wingham, Ontario congregation. After the second service there was a short break for refreshments and then a short singspiration followed in the sanctuary. 

Young People’s Activities 

The young people of the Doon and Hull, IA PRCs were invited to attend a combined young people’s meeting on August 28 for the purpose of choosing a convention theme and speakers. There was also a convention year kickoff singspiration for the Doon and Hull congregations on September 4 in the Hull PRC. Everyone was invited to come and enjoy an evening of singing Jehovah’s praises and to show support for their young people as they work toward the 2006 convention.

Denomination Activities

The Hope Heralds, a male singing chorus consisting of men from the PR churches in Grand Rapids, MI, brought their latest concert year to a close with a flurry of activity. September 11 they presented a concert of sacred music at the Grandville, MI PRC. This was followed two days later, September 13, with a trip to the Kalamazoo, MI PRC and a program there. Finally, the following Lord’s Day, September 18, the group presented their concert one last time at Cornerstone PRC in Dyer, IN.

A radio debate on amillennialism vs. preterism between Prof. D. Engelsma and Rev. Don Preston took place Sunday evening, September 18. Readers of the Standard Bearer will no doubt remember that Prof. Engelsma, past editor of this magazine, wrote articles critical of preterism, deeming the full preterist view as heretical. On the other hand, Rev. Preston, a former amillennialist, is the minister at Ardmore Church of Christ and is the author of numerous books and articles on preterist eschatology. The topic for discussion was “Amillennialist vs. Preterist.” You could listen live that evening via radio or the Internet, but for those of us who could not, we can still listen, since the debate was archived at www. voiceofreason.com.

While on the web, you may also go to the website www. rfpa.org to view progress on the construction project of the new RFPA building.

For future consideration we also include here information on the next family conference sponsored by the British Reformed Fellowship. This conference is planned, the Lord willing, for August 5-12, 2006, at Cloverley Hall Conference Centre, Whitchurch, Shropshire, England (near Wales). The speakers will be Prof. H. Hanko and Prof. D. Engelsma. The subject will be: “The Five Points of Calvinism.” For information on the Conference Centre check www.cloverleyhall.com. 

School Activities

Supporters of Faith Christian School in Randolph, WI were invited to a dedication/open house on the school grounds Saturday, September 17, to mark the completion of Faith’s latest addition. The dedication began at 3 P.M., with the open house to follow.