PRC and Sister-Church News Highlights for July 28, 2024 *(Updated)

Today, July 28, is the thirtieth Lord's Day of this year of our Lord 2024, and another rest stop on our pilgrim journey through this world. "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

Below you will find special highlights of PRC and sister-church news. It is our hope that these reports not only inform you but also give you opportunity to pray for the needs of these churches and mission fields throughout the world.

Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul. While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being. Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God. ~ Psalm 146:1-5

If you are new to this website and the PRCA, we invite you to join us in worship today or on any of the Sunday's of this year at one of our local congregations near you; or you may listen online through one of the PRC's livestreams.

CONGREGATIONAL NEWS 

• Last Sunday Rev. R. Barnhill (Heritage PRC) declined the call to Lynden PRC (WA). 
  
  
• Last Sunday Loveland PRC extended a call to Cand. A. Haveman. He has up to six weeks to consider this call and any others he may receive.
  
  
• Rev. M. DeBoer (Edgerton PRC-MN) is considering the call to Hope PRC (Walker, MI - received July 7). He plans to answer next Sunday, August 4.
  
  
• Rev. N. Decker (Grandville PRC) is considering the call to Zion PRC (Jenison, MI - received July 9). 
  
  
• Georgetown PRC's Council has formed a trio of Revs. R. Barnhill (Heritage PRC Sioux Falls, SD), A. Brummel (Calvary PRC, Hull, IA), and D. Noorman (SW PRC). A congregational meeting is planned for tonight after the evening service. UPDATE: Rev. D. Noorman received this call.
  
  
• The Consistory of Hope PRC-Redlands, CA has announced a new trio from which to call a pastor: Revs. G. Eriks (Unity PRC) and A. Brummel (Calvary PRC), and Candidate Arend Haveman. A congregational meeting is planned for today after the morning worship service. UPDATE: Rev. G. Eriks received this call.
  
  
• Hudsonville PRC's Council has chosen a new trio from which to call her next pastor: Revs. A. Brummel, Rev. M. DeBoer, and Rev. D. Lee. The congregation will vote today after the Sunday evening service. UPDATE: Rev. M. DeBoer received this call.
  

Classical appointments and pulpit supply for today in the vacant PRCs: Sem. B. Feenstra and Rev. A. Spriensma in Georgetown PRC;  Prof. D. Kuiper and Rev. J. Smidstra in Hope PRC-Walker; Rev. M. DeBoer (2nd week) in Hope PRC-Redlands; Prof. B. Huizinga and Rev. D. Noorman in Hudsonville PRC; Rev. C. Haak (2nd week) in Loveland PRC; Rev. W. Bruinsma (2nd week) in Lynden PRC; Prof. B. Gritters and Rev. D. Noorman in Zion PRC. May we count it a blessing of our church federation that we can help one another in these needs. Let us remember to pray for the men who supply these pulpits and for the vacant congregations. And may we continue to pray for men to hear the call to serve as pastors and missionaries!

Special Congregational/Evangelism Notices:

• Byron Center (MI) PRC: "The Community Bible Study meets this Thursday, August 1, at 7:30 PM at church to continue our study of the book of Philippians. Discussion will begin at chapter 3:8. You would be welcome to bring friends and neighbors to join us!"
• Zion PRC (Jenison MI): "Jail Ministry: Howard and Dan Pastoor are representing our Evangelism Committee this afternoon at the Kent County Jail. Pray for Howard and Dan as they do this and that the Lord will use them to bring them comfort and hope to the inmates that they visit."

PRC DENOMINATIONAL NEWS

• The Synod of the PRC concluded its work on June 20 at Trinity PRC at Hudsonville, MI. Daily reports may be found on these pages. May the Lord be pleased to add His blessing to the decisions reached.
  
  
• After approving the examination of Arend Haveman, the 2024 PRC Synod has declared the brother a candidate for the ministry of the Word and sacraments in the PRC, eligible for a call on or after July 13. We give thanks to the Lord for providing another laborer in His vineyard.

• PRC 100th Anniversary Celebration: All the members of the PRCA, our sister churches, and close contacts are encouraged to come together at Calvin University from June 2-6, 2025 (note the new dates) to participate in this commemorative week. Visit prca100.org for basic event information and to sign up for email updates.
  
  

PRC Seminary Notices:

• The PR Theological Seminary has completed its second semester and is enjoying its summer break. Faculty, students, and staff are busy with normal and special duties during these months, all in preparation for a new semester, which will begin, D.V., on August 26. Continue to pray for faculty, students, and staff as we labor during these months. The first semester's schedule and calendar (2024-25) have been posted on this webpage.
• Prof. B. Huizinga will be participating in the British Reformed Fellowship Conference again this year. That will run from this Saturday, August 3 through August 10.
• Sem. Bruce Feenstra (entering junior year) has been licensed to to speak a word of edification in the churches. We are grateful for the brother’s progress to this point in his training. All scheduling of Mr. Feenstra must be done through the seminary, either by sending a request to the seminary secretary (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or the rector, Prof. D. Kuiper (doug.kuiperThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
• Sem. Aaron Van Dyke (entering his senior year) is interning this summer and fall in our Wingham, Ontario congregation, under the supervision of Wingham’s Consistory and the mentoring of Rev. Daniel Holstege. The internship runs from July 1 through December 31. Continue to pray for Mr. Van Dyke and his family during his internship.
• The Spring 2024 issue of the PR Theological Journal is currently available. The digital editions (pdf and epub) have been posted on the journal page (visit the link here). This latest issue features three main articles, one dealing with the history of common grace at the 1924 Synod in the Christian Reformed Church (which led to the formation of the Protestant Reformed Churches), one involving another translation of H. Bouwman's work on the Reformed Church Order, and another chapter from Prof. D. Kuiper on the history of Classis West in the PRC. Plus, there is a good number of book reviews again, on a variety of subjects. If you want to be added to our mailing list (either print or digital) or wish to pick up a copy, contact Bethany Engelsma, the seminary secretary (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). 
• ADVANCE NOTICE: The annual Seminary Convocation will be hosted by Byron Center PRC on Wednesday, September 4, at 7:00 p.m. Professor C. Griess will be speaking on Colossians 2:8-10, "The Spoiled Pastor." All are invited and encouraged to attend.
• 100th Anniversary Seminary Conference: Did you know that ministers in our mother 100th Anniversary Seminary Conference: Did you know that ministers in our mother church in 1924 viewed common grace as the middle way between being liberal and fleeing the world? And that our denomination’s fathers rejected common grace as compromising the antithesis? Come to the next seminary conference to hear a fresh perspective on the doctrine that gave rise to our denomination. The theme is “By Grace I Am What I Am”: The PRCA’s Rejection of Common Grace. Mark your calendars for Thursday, October 31, through Saturday, November 2, at Grace PRC in Standale, MI. Help us praise God for His grace on the occasion of our centennial!
• For the latest seminary news and information, visit the seminary's website - and don't forget the blog!
  
  

Cloverley Hall Christian Conference Centre in England, location of this week's British Reformed Fellowship Conference (see below under Covenant PRC-N. Ireland

SISTER-CHURCH/MISSION NEWS:

• Covenant ERC, Singapore and her Kolkata, India mission work:
  • Pastors J. Tan and M. Wee are faithfully serving the CERC. Both pastors preached today. This week's bulletin contains a note about a Fall trip to her mission field in Kolkata, India: "Delegations consisting of Pastor Josiah Tan and Elder Lee Kong Wee will be visiting Kolkata from 18 - 23 Oct 2024. Pastor Tan will be preaching and together with Eld Lee, will be conducting COF/Baptism interviews, God willing. Their visit is also to encourage the brothers and sisters that they are not alone in this pilgrimage journey on earth."
    
  • A new issue of Salt Shakers is available - May 2024, #72, the second of this year!  Once again you will find a variety of articles on timely subjects in this issue! Written especially for young people and young adults, SS is edifying for all adults!

• Covenant PRC, N. Ireland:
  • Rev. A. Stewart continues to minister the Word faithfully in the CPRC, Ballymena, N. Ireland - and beyond! Special note today: "We welcome Rev. & Nancy Hanko and all visitors from the US and Brazil who are here before the BRF Conference. Rev. Hanko will be preaching for us today."
    
    
  • 2024 BRF Family Conference begins this week!  Reformed believers from around the world will gather for the 2024 British Reformed Fellowship family conference at Cloverley Hall Conference Centre in Shropshire, England, from Saturday, August 3, to Saturday, August 10. Our speakers, Prof. Brian Huizinga and Rev. Ron Hanko, will lecture on “Then Comes the End: The Reformed Doctrine of Eschatology. Note: "We plan to livestream the videos of the BRF conference speeches to the BRF Facebook page (www.facebook.com/britishreformedfellowship) and elsewhere, but we are unsure how good the internet connection will be."
  • The June 2024 issue of "Covenant Reformed News" is the latest available. Read the articles by Rev. A. Stewart on "Nehemiah's Night Ride" and Rev. R. Hanko's response to a question about "Who Is the Man of Roman's 7?"
    
  • The CPRC YouTube channel may be found here.

• PRC in the Philippines and her mission work in various places:
  • Berean PRC bulletin: Rev. V. Ibe led her worship services today.  And, "Our brethren and sisters in the Lord at All of Grace Protestant Reformed Fellowship in Gabaldon Nueva Ecija will join us in our worship services today via live streaming on our official Facebook page. We pray for God’s continued care and blessings upon them as they hear the Word of God."
  • "Rev. Ibe and Deacon Ruel Dela Fuente’s scheduled visit to the pastors and saints in Bacolod and Sipalay City on July 22 – 23 went very well by the grace of God. Rev. Ibe lectured on Reformed Church Government [Church Order of Dordt 1618-19, Art. 77] and the assurance of salvation based on Scripture and the Three Forms of Unity. We pray for God’s continued spiritual strength and growth for the churches in these areas as they learn and receive the Reformed truth of God’s sovereign particular grace in Christ Jesus and for His sake only. Soli Deo Gloria!"
  • Provident PRC bulletin: Deacon Ruel dela Fuente led both worship services today through PRCA’s recorded video sermons.

REFORMED RESOURCES for EDUCATION, EDIFICATION, and EVANGELISM

Listen to the Reformed Witness Hour each Sunday - on a radio station near you, on Sermonaudio, or on your favorite podcast - wherever you are!

• This month - July 2024 -  the RWH is broadcasting four gospel messages by Rev. W. Bruinsma, as he concludes his series on women in the Bible. Today's message is titled "God Opens Lydia's Heart" based on Acts 16:13-15.
  
  
• The Reformed Witness Hour publishes each month's messages in an attractive booklet. These printed sermons are a great blessing to many and are distributed all over the world, including to many prisoners in the U.S. If you or your Evangelism Committee would like to receive these, let the RWHC know and they will add you to the mailing list (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

From the RFPA: New Release! A Cloud of Witnesses: Selected Sermons on the Epistle to the Hebrews by Herman Hoeksema is now available. RFPA Agents will place these books in the church mailboxes of all Book Club, Level Automatic members, and preorders soon. If you would like to purchase these books or other recent releases, visit rfpa.org or contact the RFPA at (616)457-5970 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

• The Reformed Book Outlet (downtown Hudsonville, MI) is now operating out of its new store in downtown Hudsonville (3472 Harvey St.). Visit the store and browse the variety of resources for your Reformed-Christian faith and walk, including many children's titles. They are open Tuesday-Friday, 10-5, and Saturday 10-1. 
  

• In need of sound biblical and Reformed catechism materials for children and young people? Check out the PRC's full curriculum of materials here. Call the PRC Seminary for help with any of these materials (616-531-1490).
  
  
• For sound, distinctively Reformed literature on a variety of subjects and for all ages - including church history and Bible study materials - visit the Reformed Free Publishing Association website or stop in at their Jenison (Michigan) location.

This Week's Thought for Contemplation

 WHO IS JESUS? JESUS IS THE LAMB OF GOD

JESUS IS THE LAMB

In the Old Testament, there were all the sacrifices that were made. In Genesis 4, the Lamb is pictured in the first of the flock that Abel offered as a God-pleasing sacrifice. When Abraham is called to sacrifice his son Isaac, Isaac asks, “but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” In response, Abraham said, “My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering.” With Abraham’s obedience, the Lord did provide a ram caught in a thicket by his horns. Abraham beheld the lamb and took it for a burnt offering instead of his son. In Exodus 12, Moses is told to tell Israel of the necessity of taking a lamb without any blemish. They were to kill it and put the blood over the doorposts of their houses and eat the flesh. God would see the blood and would pass over that house with the plague of death.

To whom do all these lambs point? Obviously, these animals themselves could not save. They point to Jesus, the suffering servant in Isaiah 53: 7. John in our text identifies Jesus as the Lamb of God. He is the Lamb that God himself provides for our salvation. And in Revelation 5 and 21, the Lamb is praised by the hosts of heaven and glorified upon the throne.

The sacrifice of the lamb could be for an individual, for a household, and also for the whole nation. The lamb must be “without blemish and without spot (I Pet. 1:19).” What a picture of Jesus. He had no sin of his own. He does not rebel, but “he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.” What willing obedience to his Father in heaven, and willingness to be a sacrifice for our sins. Jesus is the Lamb of God!

 JESUS TAKES AWAY SIN

Do you see your need for Jesus, God’s Son, who came down from heaven? He came down and took on our human nature. He took our place with all of our sins on himself. Why? So that you and I who believe on him would be passed by with God’s anger. God is a righteous God who must punish sin.

Jesus became sin who knew no sin. “For he made him to be sin who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him (II Cor. 5:21)” This means that God transferred our sin to Jesus, the Lamb of God as our substitute. And God transferred Jesus’ righteousness to us.

We are all sinners. “There is none righteous, no, not one (Romans 3:10).” “For we have all sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23).” How bad is it? The Bible tells us that we are dead in sin. A dead person cannot do anything to save himself. Rather we only make things worse! Read Romans 3:10-29. That sin makes us guilty before God. That sin must be punished by a righteous God by death. Jesus came into the world to suffer God’s wrath for our sins, and take our deserved death on himself.

Jesus takes away the sin of the world. He takes it away by his shed blood on the cross. It is his blood that washes away our sin like water washes away dirt. This is what baptism is a picture of. Have you been baptized? The Bible says, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." (1 John 1:8-10)

~ Taken from the series Who Is Jesus?" by Rev. A. Spriensma