February 8, 1985 

Readers of The Standard Bearer will be interested in information about the work being done on behalf of Reformed education in Northern Ireland. They will recall that the Covenant Christian School in Northern Ireland made an urgent request, last summer, for help in the form of a Protestant Reformed teacher for the 1984-1985 school year. In answer to this request, Mr. Deane Wassink and his family went to Northern Ireland, so that Mr. Wassink could teach. 

Our people responded generously to our request for money for the partial support of Mr. and Mrs. Wassink. We believe that we now have enough to take care of the expenses involved in the Wassinks’ going to Ulster. We are thankful that the Lord moved so many to contribute liberally towards this work. 

With the dedicated help of his wife, Mr. Wassink has been serving the cause of Reformed education faithfully and well, in Northern Ireland. He teaches several grades, administers the day-to-day operation of the school, and promotes the cause of Reformed, Christian education as he has opportunity. 

The parents and other supporters of the school deeply appreciate Mr. Wassink’s coming and labor on their behalf, as well as the gracious help of those in the U.S. who have made this possible by their prayers and gifts. We have just received a letter (dated 30 January, 1985) from the Covenant Christian School Society, through its Secretary, which reads, in part:

. . . the extreme thankfulness we feel here for your kindness in all that you have done for us, by giving both your time and money to help send and support Deane over here. Without Deane it would have been impossible to have had our second year as a school. So thank you very much indeed on behalf of all the Society members for keeping our school going for another year. 

Starting a Christian school in a place where there is no tradition of Christian Education, and where there simply is no other parent-controlled Reformed Christian School has not been an easy thing. Not only do we have to contend with attacks from an aggressively secular and humanistic non-Christian world around us, but we also have to deal with the attacks of dear Christians who do not understand or who strongly disagree with what we are trying to do . . . . 

Please, pass on our thanks to all those who have become our fellow laborers through their giving. We are indeed grateful to them and trust that the Lord will rest His blessing upon their kindness.

In accordance with the original plan, Mr. Wassink will finish his year’s commitment to the school this summer and then return home. We have learned that the Wassinks are scheduled to arrive in the States on June 15, the Lord willing. 

There is still time to write the Wassinks, who will be encouraged by correspondence from us. The work is not easy. Their address is: 

Mr. and Mrs. Deane Wassink 

28 Hillmount Gardens 

Larne, County Antrim 

Northern Ireland BT40 1TF 

We intend to keep in contact with the school through the Rev. George Hutton; and if we think that further help of the school is called for, we will bring this to the attention of our people. 

“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10). 

Committee for Reformed Education in Ulster, 

Jack Lenting, Chairman