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

Congregation Activities

The Cornerstone PRC in St. John, IN hosted a conference on “Depression” Friday and Saturday, February 27 and 28, at the Spring House Inn in Porter, IN. Rev. Jai Mahtani, our churches’ missionary to Pittsburgh, PA; Mr. Steve Hoekstra, a Christian counselor; and Mrs. Ellen Bruinooge, a counselor at Pine Rest Hospital in Grand Rapids, MI, either spoke or led sectionals at this conference.

Preceding the spring meeting of Classis West on March 3 in the Hope PRC in Redlands, CA, there was an officebearers’ conference hosted by the Hope congregation with the theme, “The Divine Work of Sanctification.” There were four speeches scheduled: “Sanctification: The Justified Sinner Delivered from Sin’s Dominion,” by Rev. Doug Kuiper; “The Christian: A New Man in an Old Nature,” by Rev. Daniel Kleyn; “Perfectionism: The Mark of a True Christian?” by Rev. Martin VanderWal; and “The Church: The Holy Spirit’s Instrument for Sanctification,” by Rev. Garrett Eriks.

The Georgetown PRC in Hudsonville, MI held their annual Family Conference this year at Camp Geneva on the shore of Lake Michigan, between Holland and Grand Haven, on February 20 and 21. This year’s featured speaker was Rev. Jason Kortering, who spoke to the group on the theme, “What on Earth Are We Doing Here?”

The Grace PRC in Standale, MI now has a choir. In early February, more than twenty-five members of Grace attended an organizational meeting, with a number of others expressing interest. Practice began later that month, with a view to giving two programs this year, one in the spring and one in the fall.

A group from the Trinity PRC in Hudsonville, MI visited our seminary on Tuesday morning, February 24. Plans called for a tour of the seminary and an opportunity to sit in on a church history class and a dogmatics class, as well as enjoying lunch with the professors and students.

Sunday evening, February 22, a nice crowd gathered at the Hudsonville, MI PRC to enjoy a piano concert entitled, “Praise with the Piano III.” Those in attendance delighted in fourhanded piano duets from various members of local PR churches. Religious and classical music was performed by nine fourhanded duos.

The consistory of the First PRC in Edgerton, MN presented a proposal to their congregation to remodel the upstairs bathroom in their parsonage. This was approved at a congregational meeting in February, with necessary funds coming from a collection taken at the meeting and through funds from Edgerton’s Building Fund.

Good progress continues to be made on the church renovation project at Southwest PRC in Grandville, MI. In late February the carpet was laid and worship services were scheduled to be held there again, the Lord willing, on Sunday, March 7.

Mission Activities

Rev. Wilbur Bruinsma and Mr. Dave Moelker, both members of our churches’ Domestic Mission Committee, spent the weekend of February 27-March 1 visiting with the PR Fellowship of Fayetteville, N.C. Rev. Brunisma preached twice on Sunday and the men were also able to visit with each family and encourage them in their witness in the Fayetteville area.

Our eastern home missionary, Rev. Jai Mahtani, and Mr. Gary Boverhof from the Domestic Mission Committee visited with the saints in the Allentown, PA area February 13-16. Plans for the visit included meeting on Friday evening with the heads of households to discuss possible mission labors in the area, a couple of house visits on Saturday, and finally two worship services on Sunday.

School Activities

Students attending our Christian schools typically enjoy a field trip or two each school year. One such trip caught our attention recently when the students of Hope Christian School in Redlands, CA invited parents to join them on a Whale Watching Field Trip on February 27. The children left school around 7:30 in the morning and set out for Balboa to watch whales in their annual migration up the coast of California. A field trip like that certainly makes the yearly visit to an area museum seem rather ordinary.

Young People’s Activities

As this summer’s young people’s convention looms closer and closer, we notice an increase in the level of fundraisers by the young people’s societies of our churches. Each society is busy raising the necessary money to make this summer’s convention a reality.

The young people of the Doon, Iowa PRC sponsored a taco supper on March 1.

The South Holland, IL young people invited their congregation to a soup supper on February 27.

Hudsonville’s young people sponsored a breakfast fundraiser on March 6, while the young people of Trinity PRC in Hudonville hosted a hamburg fry on February 28.

The young people of Southwest PRC sponsored a Bean Bag Toss Tournament on February 28 at Adams Christian School.

Minister Activities

The PRC in Wingham, Ontario has formed a trio of Rev. Wilbur Bruinsma, Rev. Mike DeVries, and Rev. James Slopsema. They will call one of these men to be their pastor on March 9. At that meeting they will also select a name for their congregation.

Rev. Charles Terpstra has declined the call he was considering to serve as the next pastor of the Immanuel PRC in Lacombe, AB, Canada.

Rev. Ronald VanOverloop declined the call that had been extended to him to serve as pastor of the Faith PRC in Jenison, MI.

The Byron Center, MI PRC has extended a call to Rev. Ronald VanOverloop to serve as their next pastor.

On March 4, the council of the Hudsonville, MI PRC formed a trio of the Revs. Garrett Eriks, James Slopsema, and Ronald Van Overloop. Their congregational meeting to call one of these men was scheduled for Sunday morning, March 28.