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

Mission Activities

Our denomination’s missionary to the Philippines, Rev. A. Spriensma, writes that the work continues to progress in Manila. The saints there are eager to listen to lectures and sermons and ask questions. In February Rev. Spriensma and his wife, Alva, hope to go to Bacolod to repeat the pastors conference that they sponsored in Manila in December. Presently there are twenty or more signed up for it, and in March, the Lord willing, the Spriensmas will probably go again to visit in the Daet/Labo area.

On Thursday, January 30, Rev. W. Bruinsma, pastor of the Kalamazoo, MI PRC, along with Mr. Henry Boer of the Hudsonville, MI PRC, left for our churches’ annual visit to the mission work in Northern Ireland on behalf of the calling church and the Domestic Mission Committee. Synod 2003 will be seeking a progress report on the work there, and advice from Hudsonville and the Domestic Mission Committee for the future. The emissaries will be inquiring into the welfare of Rev. Angus and Mary Stewart, conducting family visitation with them, and bringing greetings to the Fellowship. Plans called for them to stay two Sundays and return, the Lord willing, on February 10.

Denomination Activities

In the past couple of months, two radio stations have been added to the list of outlets over which the Reformed Witness Hour can now be heard. The first is radio station KARI in Lynden, WA. The RWH can be heard there on Sunday mornings at 8:30 a.m. And the second station is Gospel 846AM in Northern Ireland. Plans call for the RWH to begin broadcasting there on Sunday, March 2, in an 8:30 a.m. time slot.

Congregation Activities

Sunday evening, January 19, the congregation of the Grandville, MI PRC officially welcomed their new pastor, Rev. K. Koole, and his family to their fellowship with a welcome program. A light lunch followed the program. The members of Grandville were also able to enjoy each others’ fellowship the night before the welcome to the Kooles, with a family ice skating party. Organizers were looking for a minimum of 100 people to sign up, so undoubtedly Grandville’s members had something to talk about Sunday morning after church.

A web site is under construction for the congregation of the First PRC in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. You are encouraged to take a look at http://www. members.shaw.ca/firstPrc Edmonton.

On Wednesday, December 18, the congregation of First in Edmonton was invited to attend their Christmas Children’s and Choir Program under the theme, “Christ’s Birth Foretold and Fulfilled.” Looking over their program, which they thoughtfully sent along with bulletins, shows lots of participation from the congregation and children. We thought it rather interesting that for the final number of the program the congregation sang, “Eere Zij God” or “Glory to God.” They had their choice — they could sing either in Dutch or in English. The song was sung only once, which must have been a rather unique sound, reminding us once again that the church is made up of every nation, tribe, people, and language.

Members of the Lynden, WA PRC were invited to a Game/Social Night in their church basement on the evening of January 1. The congregation was asked to bring their favorite appetizer and game.

Speaking of Lynden, I am reminded to remind you that now that the Netherlands Reformed Church in Lynden has completed the renovations to their church building and are finished using Lynden’s building, Lynden has voted to hold their church service times at 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. each Lord’s Day. So make a note if you plan to be there over a Sunday any time soon.

Minister Activities

The congregation of the Faith PRC in Jenison, MI extended a call to Rev. B. Gritters, presently serving our churches in Hudsonville, MI, to be their next pastor. From a trio of the Revs. S. Houck (Peace PRC in Lansing, IL), J. Slopsema (First PRC in Grand Rapids, MI), and C. Terpstra (First PRC in Holland, MI), the congregation of Southeast PRC in Grand Rapids, MI has extended a call to Rev. C. Terpstra. Rev. R. VanOverloop, pastor of Georgetown PRC in Hudsonville, MI, has received the call to serve our churches as missionary to Ghana with Rev. W. Bekkering.