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

Congregation Activities 

April 3 marked the 50th anniversary of the worst tornado ever to hit the Hudsonville, MI area. To commemorate that event, the National Weather Service and the City of Hudsonville planned a commemoration ceremony at Hudsonville High School on April 3 for survivors and families of those who died. Sometime before that evening Rev. G. Eriks, pastor of the Hudsonville, MI PRC, was approached to be part of that evening because of the well-known sermon that Hudsonville’s former pastor, Rev. Gerrit Vos, preached on Psalm 46 the Sunday after the tornado. (This sermon can be found in the devotional he wrote, O Taste and See.) Hudsonville’s consistory approved Rev. Eriks speaking at that event, at which he opened with prayer, read part of Rev. Vos’ sermon, and made a few comments. Hudsonville’s congregation was reminded to pray for their pastor and that the Word spoken there might comfort God’s people and warn that Jesus Christ is coming.

A Special Request/Talent Program was held Sunday evening, March 26, following a farewell supper for Pastor-elect Dennis Lee and his wife, Ling, and their three sons, Jonathan, Benjamin, and Jason, who have been members of the Georgetown PRC in Hudsonville, MI for the past five years. You can imagine the congregation’s mixed emotions: joy in the Lord’s call to the ministry in Edgerton, MN, and sadness in seeing the Lee family leave the fellowship in Georgetown.

We can also add here that Pastor-elect Lee was scheduled to be ordained to the ministry of the Word, the Lord willing, on April 7 at the Edgerton, MN PRC.

The Building Committee of First PRC in Grand Rapids, MI was pleased to report recently that the closing on their new parsonage took place in mid March. First expects to take possession of the home in June, when the seller moves out. We believe this home is next door to First Church, as opposed to their present parsonage, which is several miles away.

Sister Church Activities

The Evangelical Churches in Singapore request our prayers for Rev. Lau Chin Kwee, minister in First ERCS. Rev. Lau suffers from Amyloidosis, a rare and potentially fatal disease of essential organs of the body. In Rev. Lau’s case, his liver is affected, and it has also affected his food absorption rate and bowel system. As there is no known cure, the only alternative is a liver transplant. However, even that procedure would not reverse the damage already done. Let us remember Rev. Lau, his family, and the saints in Singapore in prayer that the Lord may strengthen and sustain them in these difficult trials and that they may continue to put their trust in the Lord.

Rev. and Mrs. J. Kortering hoped to return home the end of March, having been in Singapore assisting our sister churches there since the death of Rev. Cheah back in September of last year.

Mission Activities

An open house to welcome Rev. W. Bruinsma as our new Eastern Home Missionary, along with his family, was set for April 1 at the mission office of the Pittsburgh, PA Mission. During the first hour there was a time for refreshments and conversation, followed by an introduction of Rev. Bruinsma by Mr. Brian Suber, a member of Pittsburgh’s Steering Committee. Rev. Bruinsma concluded the celebration with a brief speech/meditation.

The truth of the catholicity of the church as we confess it in the Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 21, and taught in Scripture in such places as Ephesians 2:11-22 was brought to our minds recently when we looked at the website of the Covenant PR Fellowship in Ballymena, N.I. (www.cprf.co.uk/ articles/languages.htm). They now have some or all of the Three Forms of Unity and the ecumenical creeds in Chinese, Croatian, Czech, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Italian, Latin, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, Ukrainian, and Welsh.

The Reformed Witness Hour program in Indonesia is being cancelled. Pray that new avenues might be opened for the spread of the Word over the world via radio.

Our churches’ Domestic Mission Committee arranged for two visits in March and April with the PR Fellowship of Fayetteville, N.C. Dave, Bonnie, and Kris Moelker were there March 16-19. While there, Mr. Moelker led a Bible study on “The Covenant and Finding a Mate.” Rev. M. Dick, pastor of the Grace PRC in Standale, MI, along with his family, were also scheduled to be there, the Lord willing, March 30-April 2. Pastor Dick also anticipated leading a Bible study while there, as well as preaching both services on April 2nd.

Young Adult Activities

The Young Adults of the Loveland, CO PRC hosted their annual Young Adults’ Retreat at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, CO on March 20-23. Professor H. Hanko and Rev. R. Miersma spoke on the topic, “Lessons Learned from Lot.” This year’s retreat was the largest ever, with 69 young adults from our churches making the trip to Loveland. For the first time ever, the host society arranged for a day of snow tubing and sledding in Rocky Mountain National Park. The plan was to tube and sled on a prearranged tiny hill. The young adults didn’t even consider it, and made their own jumps, etc., on a much larger hill. It was a great success and Loveland will be sure to include this activity again in the upcoming years. During the retreat it snowed several inches in Estes Park, so the retreaters from out of state got a nice taste of some Colorado winter weather. Besides the two speeches, the retreat featured two discussion topics, “Attitudes Toward Sinners” and “Overly Concerned About Tomorrow.” The retreat was an opportunity to enjoy Christian fellowship with young adults, reflect on God’s Word through speeches and discussions, and have a great vacation in the snowy Rocky Mountains.

School Activities

The Midwest Society for P.R. Secondary Education hosted a promotional speech on Friday, March 31 in the auditorium of the Hull, IAPRC. Prof. R. Dykstra spoke on the timely topic, “The Covenant, Faith, and Our Own High School.”

The students of Covenant Christian School in Lynden, WA presented their school’s spring program on March 31 at the Lynden, WA PRC. The theme for the program was “A Living Sacrifice,” from Romans 12:1. Supporters of Covenant were invited to join the students as they presented their voices, hands, and minds in a sacrifice of thanksgiving to God.

Minister Activities

Rev. J. Slopsema declined the call extended to him from the Covenant PRC in Wyckoff, NJ to serve as their next pastor.

Rev. J. Slopsema received the call from Faith PRC in Jenison, MI to become their next pastor.