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

Evangelism Activities

This year’s catechism collections from the Lynden, WA PRC are being used to support the outreach evangelism of the Trinity PRC in Houston, TX. We thank Lynden for sending the following brief review of Trinity’s outreach in Houston so that we can share it with you.

One of the specific areas of outreach for our Trinity congregation continues to be its work among the Hindu Indians, and particularly among a group of people called Sindhis, who originally came from Sind, Pakistan. Over the years a large population of Indians have migrated to this country from India and have chosen Houston as their home. For the past couple of years Rev. Mahtani, Trinity’s pastor, who is himself a Sindhi, has been working with a few Sindhi Christians by having Bible studies with some of them, making visits to Indian areas of businesses, attending and speaking at other Indian Christian Conferences, etc. This has developed into a monthly meeting at Trinity with the specific purpose of bringing the Gospel to many Hindus residing in Houston. These meetings begin with instruction from God’s Word and conclude with a discussion of the message as well as a topic of interest chosen by the Sindhis. 

A series on Christian marriage was recently concluded, and in October a new series on the Ten Commandments was begun. Anywhere from a dozen to about 20 people attend.

The Evangelism Committee of the Covenant PRC in Wyckoff, NJ was able to sponsor a Reformation Lecture on October 27. Rev. Dale Kuiper, pastor of the Southeast PRC in Grand Rapids, MI, spoke on the subject, “The Reformed View of Angels.”

We should also include here that Covenant is starting to iron out details for an upcoming Spring Conference. They have chosen the theme, “Family Values.” Further information regarding speakers and the date for the conference will be included here as soon as it becomes available.

Rev. Carl Haak, pastor (of the Bethel PRC in Itasca, IL, was the guest speaker at a Reformation Day Lecture sponsored by the Pella, IA PRC. Pastor Haak spoke on the theme, “Soli Deo Gloria.”

On November 10 the Reformed Witness Committee, made up of members from the Doon and Hull, IA PRCs along with the Edgerton, MN PRC, sponsored a lecture by Prof. H. Hanko, from our seminary, in the B.J. Haan Auditorium at Dordt College in Sioux Center, IA. Prof. Hanko spoke on the topic, “The Covenant Family.”

Congregational Activities

The Council of the Faith PRC in Jenison, MI has decided that the catechism collections for this year will be for the Free Christian School in Edgerton, MN.

The Monday night catechism classes at the South Holland, IL PRC recently had a special assignment to coincide with Reformation Day. They were to read the October 15th issue of the Standard Bearer on “The Reformation of 1924” and answer a sheet of questions prepared by their pastor. I wonder if you or I could pass that test.

The congregation of the Peace PRC in Lynwood, IL held a special dedication service for their new church building on November 17. Thanks be to God for providing them a place in which to worship.

Young People’s Activities

The Lodging committee of the South Holland, IL PRC’s Young People’s Society has made tentative plans to host next year’s young people’s convention at Wheaton College the week of July 29 to August 2.

Sunday afternoon, November 19, the Federation Board of our Young People’s societies sponsored their annual Thanksgiving Mass Meeting. This year’s meeting was hosted by the two societies of the Hudsonville, MI PRC. Rev. B. Gritters, pastor at Hudsonville, spoke on a theme based on I Timothy 4:3, 4, emphasizing that we can use the things listed in these verses . . . if created by God, if Christ died for us, if God is a God of providence, and if these things are sanctified by God’s Word and prayer.

Minister Activities

Rev. R. Harbach, emeritus minister in our churches, underwent surgery in mid-October to repair a detached retina. The surgery went well and Rev. Harbach returned to his home in Raybrook Manor in Grand Rapids, MI.

Rev. R. Dykstra, who accepted the call to our Hope PRC in Walker, MI, was scheduled, the Lord willing, to preach his farewell sermon at the Doon, IA PRC on November 19. He was to be installed as Hope’s tenth pastor one week later, the 26th of November. There was a special meeting of Classis West held in the Edgerton, MN PRC on November 9. This classis was called to conduct the classical examination of Pastor-elect Allen Brummel.

There was a special worship service held the night before, at which time Allen Brummel preached an assigned sermon as part of his exam. Mr. Brummel capably gave account of his faith and his knowledge at this special meeting, and Classis unanimously voted that Edgerton proceed with his ordination.

On November 13 the ordination service of Pastor-elect Brummel took place in Edgerton, with Rev. Dykstra, as their moderator, preaching the sermon and Rev. R. Moore reading the form for ordination. Indeed, this is always a time of special blessing for our churches when Christ prepares a minister of the Word of God for the ministry of our churches.

Rev. S. Key received the call to serve as pastor of the Doon, IA PRC.