The Reformed Book Outlet, a special ministry of several Bible societies of Hudsonville PRC, has special recommendations on the theme of comfort this month. Check out their November newsletter for a list of all the titles you may purchase for yourself or for others.

And with the holidays coming, be sure to make use of this store for your gift-giving. Besides good Reformed literature, the RBO sells a good selection of music CDs, greeting cards, and other items.

To view or download a pdf of this newsletter, see the attachment.

One of the major stories in the news in the last week has been the "super" typhoon (named "Haiyan") which hit the central portion of the Philippines. With the death-toll rising and wide-spread damage reported, our concern is obviously for our own missionaries, church members, and mission station members scattered in various places there, including near the area most strongly hit.

Missionary-pastor D.Kleyn has informed us that he and his wife, the Smits and their family, as well as all the members of the churches and missions stations they serve are safe. Manila was not hit as hard as expected but the island of Leyte (where we have a mission station) was. Rev.Kleyn reports that though there was significant damage to PR fellowship members' homes in Leyte, all lives were spared, for which they are very thankful.

Let us remember to pray for our missionaries and fellow saints in that part of the world, especially now as they deal with the aftermath of this powerful storm.

Doon PRC Consistory added this note:

This past week the Lord sent a powerful and destructive typhoon through the central Philippines.  The typhoon did not affect Manila, so that our missionaries and their families and all the churches and contacts in Manila are doing fine.  To the best of our knowledge, this is also true of our contacts in the central Philippines and that the Lord was pleased to spare their lives. We thank God for His protection and care.  We pray He may continue to watch over our fellow saints in the Philippines.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Psalm 46:1-3

What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word. Psalm 56:3,10

UPDATE: 

The consistory of the First Reformed Church of Bulacan has informed our missionaries in the Philippines that eleven families from the Protestant Reformed Fellowship in Albuera, Leyte had their homes and possessions almost completely destroyed, along with their building for worship by the recent typhoon.  The FRCB consistory will be investigating the benevolent needs as soon as possible though travel to the affected area remains very difficult.  At this time added assistance from our PRCA diaconates is not needed.   Continue to remember the affected saints there, as well as the consistory of the FRCB as they seek to provide the necessary assistance and God's Word of comfort.

The week of October 21, 2013 our two missionaries in the Philippines, Rev.R.Smit and Rev.D.Kleyn, made their monthly trip to Negros and Southern Negros Occidental to carry on their labors among the people and pastors in Bacolod City and Sipalay. Through their blog Rev. and Mrs. Kleyn took us along on the journey southward.You are encouraged to visit that blog post and take the trip with them, as they show us the scenes along the way and the labors in which they are involved in teaching Reformed doctrine and Reformed church government.

Remember to keep these men and their wives and families in prayer as they make many sacrifices to bring the gospel of sovereign grace to these more remote areas of the Philippines. And pray also for those who hear the gospel, that they might be convicted of its truth, embrace it with believing hearts and minds, and walk in its light. 

The picture above is of the group in Bacolod City. Below is Missionary R.Smit teaching his classes on church government.

Rev. Jim Laning (Hull PRC, IA) and Rev. Cory Griess (Calvary PRC, Hulll, IA), on behalf of the Foreign Mission Committee, leave this week for Myanmar where they will spend a week visiting with contacts and hosting a conference with a view to fulfilling the mandate that synod gave to the FMC in Article 33 of the 2013 Acts of Synod. Please remember these pastors in prayer as they travel and labor in Myanmar and leave their families behind.  Lord willing they will depart on Thursday, November 7, and will return on Saturday, November 16. Contacts from 6 different regions of the country (roughly about 40 men) will be traveling (some of them a considerable distance), to meet with them and to receive instruction. 

The decision of the 2013 PRC Synod in Art.33 was as follows:

That Synod approve the FMC sending a delegation to investigate and to advise synod about possible labors in Myanmar without the presence of full-time missionaries. 

Four grounds:

a. There is no opportunity presently to send American missionaries to labor full-time in Myanmar.

b. It may be possible to send regular delegations to give instruction to native Burmese pastors.

c. Rev.Titus informs us that he has numerous contacts in Myanmar who are seeking instruction in the truth of the Reformed faith. It would be good for us to investigate this by sending a delegation to do some preliminary mission work among the saints there.

d. Rev.Titus, whose native languages are Chin and Burmese, is also able to speak English fluently, thus making it possible for us to speak to the saints in Myanmar, whether they speak in Burmese or in Chin.

Original announcement: The organizational meeting for the Classis of the PRC of the Philippines is planned for Thursday, October 31. The churches forming this new Classis are the Berean Protestant Reformed Church (Cubao, Metro Manila, Rev. Vernon Ibe) and the First Reformed Church of Bulacan (Muzon, Bulacan Rev. John Flores). The meeting will include signing ceremonies, a meditation from Scripture, singing, prayer of thanksgiving, a group photo, as well as an opportunity to hear greetings and thanksgiving to God from other churches. The brethren there would be thrilled with your greetings (card,
letters) at this meeting. Send to: P.O. Box 1173 ACPO, Antipolo City, Rizal 1870, The Philippines.

UPDATE: "The Consistories of the Berean Reformed Church and the First Reformed Church in Bulacan in the Philippines inform our ecclesiastical friends in the CERCS CPRNI, and PRCA that regretfully it was necessary for us to postpone our organization as a federation in order to have more time to complete the necessary legal and procedural preparations for proper organization.  Continue to pray for us as we look forward to the day when the Lord by His providence and blessing will make it possible for us to be established as a denomination of faithful churches of Jesus Christ in the Philippines, knit together in the blessed truth and Gospel on Wednesday, April 9, 2014, if our God wills."

The Reformed Witness Hour announces its messages for the month of November 2013. Our speaker will once again be Rev.Wilbur (Bill) Bruinsma, PRC missionary-pastor laboring in Pittsburgh, PA, who will be continuing his series on Isaiah 40 as well as delivering a special Thanksgiving message from Proverbs. The four titles to his messages are displayed here.