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

Mission Activities

The Foreign Mission Committee of our churches has postponed their next scheduled trip to the Philippines until the first two weeks of April. This was necessary in order to get a second minister to go with Rev. R. Moore, pastor of the Hull, IA PRC, and it also gives the FMC and the delegation more time to prepare for the investigating work they will be called upon to do, which apparently will focus on contacts in a different part of the Philippines than the last delegation visited back in October.

Speaking of that last trip to the Philippines in October reminds me that Rev. R. Smit, one of the delegates on the trip, was able to show slides of that visit at a Christmas Social for the Adult Bible Society of the Edgerton, MN PRC.

Evangelism Activities

We pass along an interesting correspondence received through the evangelism efforts of the Loveland, CO PRC: “I thank my Lord for allowing you to create one of the finest and definitely most needed pages about true God of the Bible and His Salvation plan (www.prca.org). I am a member of the … in New Jersey. I was born in Poland and right now I participate in a mail list with many people in my old country. I would like to ask you for permission to translate some of your material into Polish and to make it available for my Polish friends who seek for the Truth. Would this be possible?”

Loveland’s Evangelism Committee evidently answered yes to that question, because their next bulletin contained a follow-up to that request. “Thank you very much for allowing me to use your materials. Every time I finish translating a pamphlet (into Polish) I’ll send it to you. I will do my best to translate it as accurately as possible.”

Congregation Activities

It hardly seems possible, but the six-month internship of Seminarian Garry Eriks is already finished. It came to a close at the end of 1998. The congregation of the Loveland, CO PRC, where Garry served his internship, got together after their New Year’s Day worship service for a time of fellowship and farewell for the Eriks family. We also express our appreciation for his labors this past half year and may God graciously bless the work of Garry as he completes his final semester in our seminary.

At their annual congregational meeting in early December, the members of the South Holland, IL PRC approved three proposals brought from their council. First to remodel part of the balcony of their sanctuary for audio/visual/choir use. Second, to transfer their mission fund balance into their Evangelism Committee fund. And third, to repair their organ.

At a similar meeting in December, the membership of the Byron Center, MI PRC decided to repaint their sanctuary.

Winter weather has slowed down the progress of building on the Georgetown PRC in Hudsonville, MI. Carpenters continue to work on the inside ceiling in the sanctuary, and by now perhaps the remaining windows have been installed.

Progress also continues on the sanctuary of the Bethel PRC in Itasca, IL, with the latest information telling us that the installation of siding is complete and dry-walling is nearing completion, with much inside hardware also put in.

We trust that this past Christmas season you were able to spend some time celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ with the children of your church. Many of our Sunday Schools present their annual Christmas programs sometime in December. What a wonderful way to be reminded of the promise, love, light, and hope of Christmas. We want to thank all the children for again showing us adults how thankful we should be to Him for His unspeakable gift.

School Activities

We also want to pass along our thanks to the choir of Covenant Christian High School in Grand Rapids, MI. We were there recently to show our support for two of our nieces who sing in the choir, and we really enjoyed the evening. Not only did they sing some good spiritual songs, but they did it with a smile on their faces. It truly makes for an enjoyable hour when the audience sees that those singing are really enjoying themselves, and, more importantly, expressing the joy of their salvation in song.

Members of the three P.R. churches in the Chicago, IL area were encouraged recently to join together for the annual school bus waxing at the DeJong Farm. We assume this waxing is done inside a heated building.

Minister Activities

In a follow-up to our last “News,” we are happy and thankful to report that Samuel Laning, infant son of Rev. and Mrs. James Laning, came home in mid-December after a hospital stay of approximately two months. We can all testify, “By thee have I been holden up from the womb” (Ps. 71:6a).