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

Young Adult Activities

With the fall society schedule in our churches now in full swing, we thought we would include some information about a Post-High Group that meets the last Sunday of every month at Faith PRC in Jenison, MI. This group continues to enjoy gathering for fellowship and topical discussions led by one of the area ministers or professors. In addition, this past summer this group had the added pleasure of meeting together for a camping outing at the home of Dean and Donna Wassink, members of the Holland, MI congregation. About 55 young adults came from various Michigan and Illinois churches the weekend of August 23, 24 for dinner and discussion on “Knowing God’s Will for Our Life,” led by pastor-elect Rodney Kleyn. Thirty young adults stayed overnight and enjoyed a bonfire, many long games, and a night of sleep in a tent. Without exception these young adults continue to testify that this group provides them with a wonderful time of fellowship where friendships are made based on a common faith in our Lord.

Mission Activities

Rev. J. Mahtani, our denomination’s missionary to Pittsburgh, writes that the men on the Steering Committee met in August for a time of continued study on the office of elder. This was the fourth and final message related to that topic. The next eight meetings will be held for instruction on the office of deacon.

Rev. R. VanOverloop was able to bring the lively preaching of the Word to the PR Fellowship of Fayetteville, N.C. on August 25 and September 1.

The Spriensma family continues to make the adjustments to the climate, culture, and diet of the Philippines. Rev. A. Spriensma wrote in late August that his wife, Alva, had returned to the United States with two of their children to get them settled in college in Grand Rapids, MI. She hoped to return in about three weeks. In the meantime, Rev. Spriensma is working with previous contacts, and he and his youngest daughter are planning some trips to visit these contacts and to preach for them. He also writes that the saints there are very receptive to the gospel preaching.

Evangelism Activities

In a recent bulletin announcement the Evangelism Committee of the Hudsonville, MI PRC informed their congregation that their church services are now on cable TV channel 5 in Hudsonville and Blendon Township, and on channel 25 in Grandville and Georgetown Township. Selected worship sermons air at 1:00 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. Hudsonville also sponsored a booth again this year at the Hudsonville Fair, as they have for the past five or six years. Hudsonville displays mainly pamphlets, but also a few tapes. There are also advertisements about their church’s worship services and brochures advertising the Reformed Book Outlet. This booth is unmanned so that people are not intimidated, but can walk in freely and browse.

The consistory of the George-town PRC in Hudsonville, MI gave approval to their Evangelism Society to pursue a jail ministry through Crossroad Bible Institute. This ministry consists of grading prisoners’ answer sheets from correspondence Bible studies and sometimes sending notes of encouragement.

The Evangelism Committee of the First PRC of Edmonton, AB, Canada is tentatively planning on hosting a Family Conference the summer of 2003. The theme of this conference is “The Covenant Home.” The dates set for it are July 4—6, at the Parkland Immanuel Christian School. For those attending from afar, First intends to try to provide some limited lodging in homes, and to give information concerning campgrounds and motels in the area. So if your vacation plans for next summer are not final, keep this in the back of your mind.

Congregation Activities

Construction continues at the Byron Center, MI PRC. Their Building Committee was looking for a few good men to volunteer their services for a night of miscellaneous activities relating to that construction on August 27. They planned to remove the back wall of their sanctuary, to move materials from the parsonage to the church, and to do general clean-up.

Friends of First PRC in Grand Rapids, MI were invited to attend a concert of classical music on August 15. This concert included David Baldwin, organ; Crista Slopsema, piano; and Eric Phelps, cello. An offering was taken to support the Foreign Missionary Assistants Fund.

Approximately thirty young people from the Bethel, Hull, South Holland, Holland, and Randolph PRCs, the Pittsburgh mission, and the OPC in Batavia enjoyed a wonderful week in the Boundary Waters of Minnesota canoeing August 5-10.

Minister Activities

Rev. M. Dick declined the call extended to him by the Hull, IA PRC to serve as missionary to Ghana, West Africa.