All Articles For News From Our Churches

Rev. Gise Van Baren, pastor of our Hudsonville Church, has declined the call extended to him by our Redlands, California congregation.  Rev. John Heys is retiring after preaching his farewell sermons on June 1. The congregation of our church in Holland, Michigan is scheduling a program and social hour for Rev. and Mrs. Heys on Friday evening, May 30 in the church. Members of our neighboring churches were invited to attend and to extend best wishes to Rev. and Mrs. Heys. 

Rev. Wayne Bekkering, pastor of our church in Randolph, Wisconsin, has accepted the call to be the first pastor of our new church in Houston, Texas, Trinity Protestant Reformed Church. From a trio of Candidate Ken Koole, Rev. James Slopsema, and Rev. Ronald VanOverloop, Randolph has extended a call to Rev. VanOverloop. A Farewell Potluck Supper was planned for Rev. Bekkering and his family on August 1 in Randolph Park. Rev. Bekkering planned to preach his farewell sermon on Sunday, August 7.

Hope Church in Walker, Michigan extended a call to Rev. Gise Van Baren which he subsequently declined. Their trio also included Professor Homer Hoeksema and Rev. Bernard Woudenberg.  Our Holland, Michigan congregation extended a call to Rev. David Engelsma. Their trio also included Professor Herman Hanko and Rev. Woudenberg. 

The installation of Rev. Wayne Bekkering as the first pastor of our newest congregation, the Trinity Protestant Reformed Church in Houston, Texas, took place on Thursday evening, August 18. Rev. George Lubbers of Pella, Iowa, conducted the service. This must have been a special occasion for Rev. Lubbers, as he had spent a number of years working in Houston as home missionary. 

Rev. Gise Van Baren declined the call he received from our Hope Church in Walker, Michigan. From a new trio consisting of Professor H.C. Hoeksema, Rev. Richard Moore, and Rev. Bernard Woudenberg, the Hope congregation extended a call to Professor Hoeksema. At this writing, Professor Hoeksema is on a trip to the Far East with his wife and daughter. 

Rev. den Hartog, our missionary in Singapore, is visiting the Grand Rapids area for a little while. The Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Society of First Protestant Reformed Church is sponsoring a night with Rev. den Hartog and his work in Singapore, November 16, at 8 P.M. in First Church. We welcome the den Hartogs into our midst again while they are on furlough for six weeks. If you want first hand information on how Rev. Lau Chin Kwee and his family are doing, then make sure that you take the time to talk with Rev. den Hartog and his family...

Rev. George Lubbers preached his farewell sermon in Pella, Iowa, on April 30 and has since moved to Jenison, Michigan, to begin his retirement. Pella called Rev. Rodney Miersma of Isabel, South Dakota, who has accepted his call and plans to move to Pella and take up his labors there by the end of May. Isabel has extended a call to Rev. Arie den Hartog of Covenant Protestant Reformed Church in Prospect Park, New Jersey. 

In the September 7 bulletin of our First Church in Grand Rapids we read: “Church News: Prof. Hoeksema has declined his call to Hope; Rev. Kamps declined Redlands; Holland has called Rev. Kamps.” Such an announcement would: attract little attention except for the fact that the clerk of First happens to be none other than K.G.V., our former news editor. Either Mr. Vink is so programmed to church news that he cannot help himself, or he loved the work so much that he desires to continue it on a miniature scale. 

When I asked the question last time, “What is the ‘Question Box’?” I was not referring to the “Question Box” that appears in this magazine. Instead, I was thinking about the “Question Box” that appears in the Katy Times. Now you ask, “What is the Katy Times?” The Katy Times is a newspaper found in Texas.

I finally received a welcome letter from Rev. T. Miersma written by his wife Jan. The letter cleared up the question about the difficulties they were having with the Canadian Consulate in Detroit. Actually there were no difficulties, as this quote will show, “To our surprise when we had the interview, on September 27, and asked about the possibility of getting such a permit (work permit), the vice consul replied, that he could write that up for us a minute, and so we could move immediately if we wanted. . . .