Mr. Wigger is an elder in the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan.

Evangelism Activities

Our churches, as heirs of the Reformation, have the privilege annually to celebrate the great work of God that we call the Reformation. Many of our churches sponsored lectures around the end of October or in early November to do just that.

The Extension Committee of the Lynden, WA PRC sponsored a lecture October 29 at their church. Rev. Ron Hanko, their pastor, spoke on the theme, “Reformation and Christian Living.” During this lecture Rev. Hanko looked at three important questions: How did the Reformation change the way Christians live? How did the Reformation promote godliness and holiness? How has Christian living declined since the Reformation?

Members of the Bethel PRC in Roselle, IL sponsored a Reformation Celebration on October 22. Rev. Ron Cammenga was this year’s featured speaker, speaking on the topic, “The Heart of the Reformation: Does it Beat Today? Does it Beat in You?”

The Evangelism Committee of the South Holland, IL PRC invited all interested to join with them for a lecture on October 29. Rev. Ron VanOverloop examined the idea, the motivation, and the method of “Personal witnessing of our faith to others.”

Also on October 29, the Evangelism Committee of the First PRC of Holland, MI sponsored a Reformation Day lecture entitled “Solo Christo,” the second of the five solas of the great historic Reformation. Their pastor, Rev. Charles Terpstra, was the speaker.

Rev. Richard Smit, pastor of the Immanuel PRC in Lacombe, AB, Canada, was the featured speaker at a Reformation Day lecture on October 29 sponsored by Immanuel’s Evangelism Committee. Rev. Smit spoke on the subject, “The Faith Alone by Which We Are Justified.”

The Reformed Witness Committee, made up of members from our two congregations in Iowa (Doon and Hull) along with members from the Edgerton, MN PRC, sponsored a Fall Lecture on October 29 at Dordt College Chapel. Rev. Steven Key, pastor of Hull, spoke on the theme, “Restoring the Foundation for Christian Piety.”

Mission Activities

Not only did many of our congregations sponsor Reformation celebrations last month, but several of our mission outreaches did the same.

Prof. H. Hanko, spending time in South Wales on behalf of our Domestic Mission Committee, spoke on October 22 in Leicestershire on the theme, “Revival or Reformation: What Does the Church Need?”

The Young Adults of the Ghana Mission hosted their second annual Reformation Day Lectures at the University of Ghana on October 29 and 30. Our missionary, Rev. Rodney Miersma, spoke on “The Sixteenth Century Reformation” and “Reformed Yet Always Reforming.”

The Pittsburgh Mission sponsored an entire weekend, October 28 through 31, for a Reformation Celebration. Revs. Wilbur Bruinsma and Carl Haak were the featured speakers and also preached on the Lord’s Day. On Thursday a local religious radio station gave Missionary Jaki Mahtani, Rev. Bruinsma, and Rev. Haak a three-hour live interview, along with opportunity for listeners to call in and ask questions. Rev. Mahtani reported that the entire three hours were filled dealing with questions from listeners. Then on Friday evening, Revs. Haak and Bruinsma helped develop this year’s theme in Pittsburgh, “Reaching the Nations with the Gospel of Grace,” by speaking on “The Reformation’s Return to the Gospel of Grace,” and “The Missionary Zeal of the Reformers.” On Saturday there was a forum on missions, with members from our various Evangelism Committees present to discuss their work.

The weekend of October 22-23 Rev. Rodney Kleyn and Elder Dave Moelker worshiped with the PR Fellowship of Fayetteville. These two men were there as representatives of our churches’ Domestic Mission Committee. Plans called for Rev. Kleyn to preach twice on Sunday, as well as for both men to visit with the Fellowship’s steering committee and some of the member families.

Young People’s Activities

The Young People’s Societies of the Faith PRC in Jenison, MI, next year’s host for the annual young people’s convention, sponsored a concert on October 31 at Fair Haven Ministries in Jenison, MI. This concert featured the Trinity Men Singers, the Voices of Victory, and the Hope Heralds. The evening included a time of singing by each group and concluded with all the men together singing praise to God. Each group sang songs of praise and thanksgiving to God, a wonderful way to bring a day of worship to a close. A collection was taken to cover the cost of the facility and to help with expenses of the 2005 YP Convention.

Saturday, October 30, young people from the Grace PRC in Standale, MI and young people from the Hudsonville, MI PRC were busy with or took part in Christian Service Day and Fall Clean-Up Day respectively. The young people from these two churches gave of themselves by performing free services for members of their congregations.

Minister Activities

Monday, October 18, one of our churches’ emeriti ministers, Rev. George Lanting, was taken home to be with His Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Rev. Lanting served our churches for 33 years. After his ordination in 1953, he served congregations in Grand Haven, MI; First of Holland, MI; First of Edgerton, MN; Loveland, CO; and Pella, IA. We extend our Christian sympathy to the family.

Our seminary announces with gratitude to God that Seminarians Andrew Lanning and Clay Spronk, both juniors, have been licensed to speak a word of edification in the churches. They both spoke for the first time on October 31.

Rev. Ron Cammenga accepted the call he received to serve as pastor of the Faith PRC in Jenison, MI.First PRC in Edmonton, AB, Canada extended a call to Rev. Slopsema.

Rev. Audred Spriensma, currently serving as denominational missionary in the Philippines, has declined the call to Bethel PRC.

The Doon, Iowa PRC has a new trio consisting of Revs. A. Brummel, D. Overway, and C. Terpstra.

From a trio of the Revs. W. Bruinsma, J. Mahtani, and J. Slopsema, the congregation of

The Hudsonville, MI PRC will call a pastor from a trio of the Revs. A. Brummel, W. Bruinsma, and C. Terpstra.