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

Minister Activities

Rev. J. Slopsema, pastor of the First PRC in Grand Rapids, MI, has declined the call he received to become pastor of the South Holland, IL PRC. Following that decline, the South Holland PRC made a new trio, consisting of the Revs. A. denHartog and J. Mahtani, and Candidate D. Kleyn.

Rev. J. Mahtani, pastor of the Trinity PRC in Houston, TX, was scheduled to leave for India on October 20 to speak at the S.W.A.M.I. (Sindhis With A Mission International) Conference in Pune (central part of India). He had been asked to give three messages on the wonder of the resurrection. After the conference, he planned to spend a few days in Madras (south India) renewing contacts made during previous trips to India. He was then planning to make a brief visit to Singapore to preach on November 2 in the ERCS and also meet with some Sindhi believers there. He was to return home, the Lord willing, on November 7.

Rev. M. Joostens, pastor of the Lynden, WA PRC, recently experienced severe pain in the left side of his chest and numbness in his left arm. Tests revealed that there is some blockage. This will require a period of rest for Rev. Joostens. What possible future treatment is required is not known at this time. Lynden’s consistory has arranged to have Candidate Daniel Kleyn there through November to help relieve their pastor of much of his work load.

Rev. C. Haak, pastor of the Bethel PRC in Itasca, IL, submitted to hip replacement surgery in October, after which he will need a few weeks for recuperation and rehabilitation.

Denominational Activities

The Fall Meeting of the Eastern Men’s and Ladies’ League was held on September 23 at the Hope PRC in Walker, MI. Rev. C. Terpstra spoke on the topic, “God’s Word and Man’s Revising: How Must we Respond to Inclusive Language and Gender Neutrality?”

The annual RFPA meeting was also held in late September, at the Southwest PRC in Grandville, MI. Rev. M. Dick spoke on the topic, “The RFPA and Religious Stew.”

There was a Fall Ladies’ League Meeting held on October 21 in the Doon, IA PRC. Rev. R. Smit, pastor at Doon, spoke on the subject, “Luther’s Rib.”

School Activities

What a blessing the teachers of our children were able to enjoy in early October at their annual Teachers’ Convention held in Northwest Iowa. Imagine 95 teachers, out of a possible 135 PR teachers, from 8 states representing 15 different schools, and teaching nearly 1,600 students! This year’s convention began with a speech by Rev. C. Haak entitled, “Teaching our Children to Labor for Meat that Endureth,” from John 6:37. Rev. Haak exhorted the teachers to call students not to conform to this world, but to labor for spiritual things—the meat that endureth.

We also rejoice in the advance of the cause of PR secondary education recently seen in Northwest Iowa. On September 29 nearly 70 men from our Doon and Hull, IA and Edgerton, MN congregations became members of the new Midwest PR Secondary School Society. May God continue to prosper them as they work towards the future goal of having a PR high school in Northwest Iowa.

Congregational Activities

On Sunday, October 5, Rev. R. VanOverloop, pastor of the Georgetown PRC in Hudsonville, MI, celebrated 25 years of faithful ministry. To help celebrate this special occasion, Georgetown’s congregation was invited to stay after the evening service for refreshments.

In conjunction with the PR Teachers’ Convention, the Voices of Victory, a men’s quartet from our Faith and Byron Center, MI PRCs, presented two concerts of sacred music—the first in the Hull, IA PRC on October 1, and the second on October 3 in Pella, IA, sponsored by our congregations there.

Also in conjunction with the Teachers’ Convention, Rev. C. Haak presented a public lecture on October 2 in the Hull, IA PRC. He spoke on the subject of Christian Education.

The congregation of the Edgerton, MN PRC met recently and approved putting permanent pads on their pews, installing a new sound system and tape recorder/player, and having some landscaping done around their church and parsonage next spring.

Rev. R. Miersma, pastor of the Immanuel PRC in Lacombe, Alberta, CN, writes that dedication for their new church home was held on October 10. “It was a joyous and blessed evening which we were able to share with our sister church in Edmonton. Our new parsonage is now going up across the parking lot from our church. It should be ready for occupancy around December 1. It is hard to fathom God’s goodness to us as He bountifully provides for our little flock. To Him be all the glory.”