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

Mission Activities

In recent news from Ghana we learn that the work on their new permanent place of worship is nearing completion.  As of mid-February, the  plastering was nearly finished on the inside of the church building and the roof was very near completion.

In addition to that positive news, we also found that the council of the Hull, Iowa PRC, the calling church for Ghana, as well as our churches’ Foreign Mission Committee, have approved new volunteers to go to Ghana when the Boumas leave. They are Arnold and Charlotte Bleyenberg from the Edgerton, MN congregation.

Still more, we read that both the Hull, IA PRC and our churches’ FMC have decided, with recommendation from the missionary and committees that have visited the field, that a second missionary should be called to labor in Ghana.  This recommendation will be treated by this year’s synod, which will meet in June.

Rev. Moore was also able to speak to about 65 students at the La Presby School in early February. He spoke on the topic of the Holy Spirit and His work in the church.  Also, on the 28th of February Rev. Moore was scheduled to speak at the Morning Star School, one of Ghana’s leading schools.

On behalf of our Foreign Mission Committee, Rev. W. Bruinsma, pastor of the Kalamazoo, MI PRC, and Rev. D. Kleyn, pastor of the Edgerton, MN PRC, traveled to the Philippines on February 12 in order to labor among several groups who have contact with our churches. They were scheduled to remain in the Philippines for two weeks, returning on February 26.  On the two Sundays they were there, they planned to preach for the Bacolod Reformed Fellowship and the Cubao Berean Fellowship (Manila).  During the week they planned to labor in Daet (Body of Christ Bible Churches) and in Cagayan de Oro (Bible Study Fellowship). The purpose of this work is to determine whether synod 2001 should declare the Philippines a mission field of our churches.

The small group in Fayetteville, NC with which our churches have a growing relationship has now the added blessing of monthly lively preaching, either from our missionary, Rev. J. Mahtani, or one of our pastors from the west Michigan area.  Each minister will preach two Sundays, hold mid-week Bible study and children’s catechism classes, and make contacts and visitations.  In addition, plans also call for a monthly series of Bible studies on the doctrine of marriage.  This will be each Saturday at 6:00 p.m.  In an effort to reflect this growing relationship, the group of saints there is now known as the Protestant Reformed Fellowship of Fayetteville.

School Activities

On February 8 Seminarian Angus Stewart spoke at the PTA meeting of Heritage Christian School in Hudsonville, MI on the broad subject of the public school system in Ireland and how it differs from our schools here in this country.

With thanksgiving to God we are happy to report that progress continues toward the opening of a new Protestant Reformed High School this fall in the Lansing, IL area.  Recent news from there indicates that the PR Secondary Board has now contracted a man to serve as the administrator of the new high school.  Besides that, the Board also recently extended invitations to parents of 8th and 9th grade students in the South Holland, Peace, and Cornerstone churches to attend an informational meeting at the 1st Lansing Church of Nazarene, the proposed rental facilities for the high school.

Congregation Activities

A special Society night was planned for the congregation of the First PRC of Holland, MI on January 30.  Rev. B. Woudenberg, an emeritus minister in our churches, agreed to come back to Holland and treat the doctrinal side of the 1953 controversy.

Young People’s Activities

The Young People’s Society of the First PRC in Edmonton, AB, Canada hosted an elegant Valentine Supper for all adults and young adults, single or married, in the congregation on February 14. Likewise, the Young People’s Society of the South Holland, IL PRC invited all the adults of their congregation to an Elegant Dinner on February 16.  Guests could choose to be served either at 5:30 or 7:30 p.m. and to be seated either with 2 or up to 8 at a table.  Both dinners were fund-raisers for the 2001Young People’s Convention.

Minister Activities

Rev. W. Bruinsma has declined the call to be missionary-on-loan to Singapore. The Randolph, WI PRC formed a trio consisting of the Revs. W. Bruinsma, J. Laning, and J. Slopsema, and on February 12 they extended a call to Rev. Laning.