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

Sister-Church Activities

The Covenant and First Evangelical Reformed Churches of Singapore, through their Evangelical Reformed Bible School, recently sponsored a new Bible study class. Rev. Lau Chin Kwee, pastor at Covenant, set the course direction for this three-month course. The course title was “Spiritual Gifts.” It was designed to address spiritual gifts in the church, treating I Corinthians 12, and applying it to the unique situation faced by those two congregations in Singapore. The course was to include also some workshops for practical applications as well. This class was to meet every week at the First E.R.C. beginning February 6 and running through April 30.

Mission Activities

Our Home Missionary, Rev. T. Miersma, was in Florence, KY for three weeks in mid-February to investigate the possibility of a field in this area. The request to investigate this area came from the Council of the South Holland, IL PRC to the Mission Committee last fall. It was South Holland’s belief that this area was worthy of being investigated and that they (South Holland) had gone as far as they could in this work. Rev. Miersma also planned to make a trip to Pittsburgh, PA during that three-week period to visit some families there who have expressed interest in the Reformed faith and our churches.

In the most recent issue of “The Closer Look,” a monthly newsletter of the Hudsonville, MI PRC, Rev. B. Gritters, Hudsonville’s pastor, provided an interesting report of his and Mr. Tom Bodbyl’s recently concluded visit with our missionary, Rev. R. Hanko, his family, and the Covenant Reformed Fellowship in Northern Ireland.

Rev. Gritters writes that the “CRF is eager to organize. And that was the work that Tom and he discussed with them throughout the stay there. They met with all the men of the Fellowship and tried to lay out the questions the Consistory of Hudsonville and the Mission Committee had asked to be discussed. Then, throughout the stay, they had dinner (‘tea’) with each family, family visitation with the family, and then lengthy discussion with the adult family members about organization. They also met with the whole group the Sunday evening before they left, summarized for them what they had found, and left them with their very favorable impressions of the group and our missionary’s work.

“They also tried to meet with Rev. Hanko daily to discuss his work as missionary. They were very encouraged by the diligence he shows in his work. He spends day and night preparing for sermons and speeches, Bible studies and visits. He writes letters to people all over the UK (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland) answering questions that are raised from their bi-weekly Newsletter. Many of their visitors, as well as isolated groups of believers, have come to them through the Newsletter that he writes and mails out to over 500 addresses. The members of the CRF receive his ministry with great joy and enthusiasm. We are thankful that God gives them a faithful missionary and pastor.”

Rev. Gritters concludes his report by writing, “Seek God’s blessing on the CRF, which hopes to become, God willing, the C PRC in Northern Ireland. May God grant them the desires of their heart.”

Congregational Activities

The Reformed Fellowship of the South Holland, IL PRC invited all those in their congregation interested in hearing a lecture on the doctrine of the last things to join them on Sunday, February 25, in the assembly room at South Holland PR School, to hear Prof. D. Engelsma, of our seminary, speak on that topic. A coffee pot was also promised to be on.

Evangelism Activities

This past year the Evangelism Committee of the Faith PRC in Jenison, MI has tried something a little different, in that they have advertised in the Traverse City paper, Cadillac paper, and Muskegon Chronicle, offering a one-year free subscription to the Standard Bearer. These three cities are all between one and two hours north of the Jenison area and represent smaller areas that may have been overlooked in the past. Faith has also been encouraged by the results, a total of seven families so far have requested this subscription.

The Evangelism Committee of the Grandville, MI PRC is experimenting with video taping their worship services for possible broadcasting at a later date.

Young People’s Activities

The Young People’s Society of the Randolph, WI PRC again invited the young people of the South Holland, Peace, Bethel, and Pella congregations to a skiing outing at Cascade Mt. in Portage, WI. This was to be an overnight trip with a gym-night scheduled for Friday night, February 2, and skiing on Saturday, February 3. The expected 70 young people were to stay with members of our Randolph church.

Minister Activities

Rev. W. Bruinsma declined the call he had been extended from our Doon, IA PRC.

Rev. M. Dick, of the Immanuel PRC in Lacombe, AB, Canada, has accepted the call he had been extended from the Grace PRC in Standale, MI.