All Articles For News From Our Churches

Trivia question According to the PRC Acts of Synod, which Protestant Reformed Church in Classis West has been served by the greatest number of different ministers? If you know how many, you are a trivia whiz! Answer later in this column. Attention young men Young Men’s Conference: Advance notice for highschool and college-age young men—April 28, 8 a.m.-12 noon at Georgetown PRC. The theme is “Run, Fight, Lead.” Congregational activities Members at Southeast PRC in Michigan had opportunity to attend a sledding party at Mines Golf Course on a Saturday in January from 2-4 p.m. Barbeque, hot dogs, and hot...

Trivia question Which Protestant Reformed minister made history on November 26, 2017? Would you like more information? Hint: it has to do with his installation. Answer later in this issue. Congregational activities The Edmonton congregation was invited to a night of food and fellowship, along with the Lacombe congregation, as Immanuel PRC welcomed Rev. Brian Feenstra and his family into their midst. Friday, January 12, was reserved for a potluck supper at Genesis PR Christian School, beginning at 6:30 p.m. All were requested to bring a dish to share, while beverages and dessert were provided. Following the meal there was...

Trivia question How many members of the Rev. Richard Smit family moved to Antipolo in December? And do you know the name of the subdivision in which our missionaries reside? Answers later in this article. Minister activities Upon receiving a decline from Rev. B. Huizinga, First PRC of Grand Rapids, MI formed a new trio of Rev. J. Mahtani, Candidate D. Noorman and Rev. C. Griess. On December 14 the congregation called Rev. Griess to be their next pastor. Southwest PRC announced her new trio consisting of Revs. A. Brummel, J. Mahtani, and Candidate D. Noorman. On December 17 the...

Trivia question In the November 1, 2017 issue of the Standard Bearer the trivia question was asked: How many surviving original members of the PRCA are there? Then we had to admit we did not know. Well, now we do. Answer later in this column. School activities We call your attention here to an exciting, upcoming event planned for April 12, 2018, D.V. For the first time ever six Protestant Reformed high school choirs will join together for a mass concert! Students from Covenant Christian High School (Grand Rapids, MI), Faith Protestant Reformed Christian School (Randolph, WI), Heritage Christian High...

Trivia question How many formerly active PRC ministers, now listed as emeriti, are there? Answer later in this column. Sister-church activities The Classis of the Protestant Reformed Churches in the Philippines met November 1. Two significant matters at Classis were (1) Meetings with the delegation of the Contact Committee of the PRCA (Rev. R. Smit and elder David Kregel), and (2) Classis declaring the PRFA (Protestant Reformed Fellowship of Albuera, Leyte) to be official mission work of the denomination. Regarding the PRFA, the PRC of Bulacan was appointed as the calling church for this mission field and was instructed by...

Trivia question Regarding the prior trivia question about surviving original members of the PRCA, responses are coming in nicely. As of November 1 we are awaiting responses from eight churches and the number of surviving original members is holding at eight also. We will keep you updated as things change. According to the yearbook chart contained in the PRC Acts of Synod, how many of today’s PRCA churches were organized before 1930? Answer later in this column. Sister-church activities From the bi-monthly report of Rev. A. Stewart and the Covenant PRC in Ballymena, Northern Ireland comes this comment: “We and...

Trivia question There is currently in circulation in the PRC a blue spiral bound book entitled “Survey of PRCA Consistories and Congregations: The Psalter.” Do you know how many songs are in it? Answer later in this column. Mission activities A Reformation Day Conference was held October 31 in Provident Christian Church in Marikina, the Philippines. The theme: “Reformation 500, the Anniversary” was to be expounded by speakers Revs. D. Holstege, D. Kleyn, and R. Smit. On October 1 Rev. Richard Smit accepted the call of Doon, IA PRC to be the third missionary to the Philippines. Rev. Smit’s installation...

Trivia question How many living original (1924) members of the Protestant Reformed Churches in America are there in our churches today? Answer later in this column…or not? Sister-church activities Prof. D. Engelsma lectured in Covenant Protestant Reformed Church of Ballymena, Northern Ireland October 21st on “Martin Luther: Theologian of the Glory of God” (11 a.m.) and “Justification in Paul and James” (1 p.m.); October 27th on “Martin Luther: Man of Conviction” and on November 3 on “Calvin’s Doctrine of the Covenant.” For those unable to attend, the speeches were streamed live on CPRC’s website and recorded (audio and video). Prof....

Trivia question Do you know how many PRCA churches have been organized since the year 2000? Answer later in this column. Minister activities On August 20 the congregation at Doon, IA PRC received a letter of decline from Rev. Clayton Spronk to be a missionary to the Philippine mission field. We are thankful for God’s clear revelation to Rev. Spronk. Also on August 20 the congregation at Byron Center, MI PRC called Rev. Brian Huizinga to be their next pastor. Rev. Huizinga declined this call on September 10. Candidate Matthew DeBoer accepted the call extended to him from the Edgerton,...

Trivia Question Rev. John Flores is the pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Bulacan in the Manila area of the Philippines. When Pastor Flores attended the Grace Ministerial Academy (Reformed Baptist seminary) in 2005, what book did he find in the library there that proved very helpful to him? Answer later in this column. Congregational Activities The congregation of Peace PRC in Lansing, IL made a big decision on July 31. The decision was made to purchase the New Hope Community Church Campus in Dyer, IN. This includes almost five acres of land quite near to the PR School....