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Today, July 30, is the thirty-first Lord's Day of this year of our Lord 2023. 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.
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 listen online.
O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory. Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early. I will praise thee, O LORD, among the people: and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations. For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds. ~ Psalm 108:1-9
Georgetown PRC's Council has announced a new trio: Revs. Audred Spriensma (Cornerstone PRC-Dyer, IN), D. Noorman (SW PRC), and J. Mahtani (Hope PRC-Walker, MI). The congregational meeting will be held August 6 after the morning service.
Classical appointments and pulpit supply for today in the vacant PRCs: Rev. R. Smit in Doon (IA) PRC; Prof. C. Griess and Rev. M. DeBoer in Georgetown PRC; Cand. M. Koerner (2nd week) in Hosanna PRC, Edmonton, AB; Prof. R. Cammenga and Rev. J. Mahtani in Hudsonville PRC; Rev. G. Eriks (2nd week) in Loveland PRC; Rev. A. Stewart (1st week) in Lynden PRC; Rev. A. Brummel in Randolph PRC; Prof. B. Gritters and Rev. W. Langerak 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 Upcoming Congregational Activities: The Deacons at Hudsonville PRC are planning a conference for Saturday morning, September 16 at 8:30 AM. Rev. Matahni will begin with a short speech followed by breakout sessions. The topic of the conference is “Ministry of Mercy in Christ’s Church”. Potential, current, and former deacons are welcome! Please register for this event at bit.ly/Deacon2023.
Special PRC delegation from Doon PRC and the FMC: A delegation on behalf of the Foreign Mission Committee and the Doon Council has been in the Philippines for a week and a half. Brian and Denise Gritters (FMC) and Jim and Brenda Regnerus (Doon) are visiting Rev. Daniel and Sharon Kleyn and extending a farewell to the Filipino saints as the work of the FMC in the Philippines draws to a close. They plan to return to the states tomorrow. May our almighty Father grant safety in travel and His blessings upon these labors.
PRC 100th Anniversary: With gratitude to our faithful God, the PRCA look forward to our 100th anniversary. The celebration is planned for June 23-27, 2025, at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, MI. The various committees of the 100th anniversary steering commitee are busy preparing for this historic event, including a special commemorative book. Watch for further notices and updates!
Prof. B. Gritters teaching his church discipline class Wednesday nights (July 12 - August 16) in Hudsonville PRC (see more information on that and this week's class below)
PRC Seminary Notices:
Listen to the Reformed Witness Hour each Sunday - on a radio station near you, on Sermonaudio, or on your favorite podcast - wherever you are!
What is the Christian's calling with regard to the prominent and prevalent sin of gambling? Check out this resource for biblical answers.
"Why, then, is gambling sin? Why must we know it to be sin? And how must Christians respond to this sin? To answer these questions is the burden of this pamphlet.
"The industry of gambling is morally wrong!
"This is true, first, because it is motivated by greed. The goal of the gambling institutions is to get lots of money quickly! And they accomplish their goal well; gambling is a lucrative business. Notice that the goal of the gambling industry is not merely to get money; any businessman has that goal, because he needs money to live. But the goal of the gambling industry is to get lots of money quickly, without providing a beneficial service or a sound product in return. It manifests covetousness, which God's law forbids ('Thou shalt not covet,' Exodus 20:17), and the love of money, against which God's Word also warns us: 'But they that will [the word 'will' here means 'desire to,' DJK] be rich fall into temptation and a snare, ... For the love of money is the root of all evil' (I Timothy 6:9-10).
"Second, gambling is an improper way for the church or state to raise its funds. A government has the right to tax its citizens, and members of a country are required to pay taxes. Jesus said, 'Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's' (Matthew 22:21). Paul, having emphasized the importance of civil government, and that government is the servant of God, commands under inspiration of the Spirit: 'For this cause pay ye tribute also: ... Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour' (Romans 13:6-7). We see, then, that Scripture tells us that a government should raise its money by taxation! This is the right way, because it treats all citizens equally; every member of the country contributes to the support of that country. Taxation should also impress upon every member of the country the benefit that government is to us, and it should encourage responsible citizenship."
~ Rev. D. Kuiper in "The Sin of Gambling"
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Today, July 23, is the thirtieth Lord's Day of this year of our Lord 2023. 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.
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 listen online.
O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy; And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south. They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses. And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. ~ Psalm 107:1-9
Georgetown PRC's Council has announced a new trio: Revs. Audred Spriensma (Cornerstone PRC-Dyer, IN), David Noorman, and Jon Mahtani. The congregational meeting will be held August 6 after the morning service.
Classical appointments and pulpit supply for today in the vacant PRCs: Rev. R. Barnhill in Doon (IA) PRC; Rev. C. Haak in Georgetown PRC; Cand. M. Koerner (1st week) in Hosanna PRC, Edmonton, AB; Rev. M. DeBoer and Rev. J. Maatman in Hudsonville PRC; Rev. G. Eriks (1st week) in Loveland PRC; Elders lead in Lynden PRC; Rev. D. Holstege in Randolph PRC; Prof. B. Gritters and Rev. D. Lee 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 PRC delegation from Doon PRC and the FMC: A delegation on behalf of the Foreign Mission Committee and the Doon Council travelled to the Philippines last week. Brian and Denise Gritters (FMC) and Jim and Brenda Regnerus (Doon) are visiting Rev. Daniel and Sharon Kleyn and extending a farewell to the Filipino saints as the work of the FMC in the Philippines draws to a close. May our almighty Father grant safety in travel and His blessings upon these labors.
PRC 100th Anniversary: With gratitude to our faithful God, the PRCA look forward to our 100th anniversary. The celebration is planned for June 23-27, 2025, at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, MI. The various committees of the 100th anniversary steering commitee are busy preparing for this historic event, including a special commemorative book. Watch for further notices and updates!
Screenshot of Prof. B. Gritters teaching his church discipline class Wednesday nights (July 12 - August 16) in Hudsonville PRC (see more information on that and this week's class below)
PRC Seminary Notices:
Pastor and Mary Stewart leave on Tuesday for a holiday in the US. They will away for 3 weeks, returning on 15 August. May the Lord watch over all of us while we are apart.
Prof. Doug & Teresa and Daniel Kuiper arrive on Friday morning. Prof. Kuiper will be preaching for the CPRC on the next three Lord’s days.
Listen to the Reformed Witness Hour each Sunday - on a radio station near you, on Sermonaudio, or on your favorite podcast - wherever you are!
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"It by no means follows that a person may not be assured of the favor of God, and yet show great earnestness and importunity in praying for pardon. David might be much relieved by the announcement of the prophet, and yet be visited occasionally with fresh convictions, influencing him to have recourse to the throne of grace. However rich and liberal the offers of mercy may be which God extends to us, it is highly proper on our part that we should reflect upon the grievous dishonor which we have done to his name, and be filled with due
sorrow on account of it. Then our faith is weak, and we cannot at once apprehend the full extent of the divine mercy; so that there is no reason to be surprised that David should have once and again renewed his prayers for pardon, the more to confirm his belief in it. The truth is, that we cannot properly pray for the pardon of sin until we have come to a persuasion that God will be reconciled to us. Who can venture to open his mouth in God’s presence unless he be assured of his fatherly favor? And pardon being the first thing we should pray for, it is plain
that there is no inconsistency in having a persuasion of the grace of God, and yet proceeding to supplicate his forgiveness. In proof of this, I might refer to the Lord’s Prayer, in which we are taught to begin by addressing God as our Father, and yet afterwards to pray for the remission of our sins. God’s pardon is full and complete; but our faith cannot take in his overflowing goodness, and it is necessary that it should distil to us drop by drop. It is owing to this infirmity of our faith, that we are often found repeating and repeating again the same petition, not
with the view surely of gradually softening the heart of God to compassion, but because we advance by slow and difficult steps to the requisite fullness of assurance... The sinner, if he would find mercy, must look to the sacrifice of Christ, which expiated the sins of the world, glancing, at the same time, for the confirmation of his faith, to Baptism and the Lord’s Supper; for it were vain to imagine that God, the Judge of the world, would receive us again into his favor in any other way than through a satisfaction made to his justice."
John Calvin, Commentary on Psalm 51 (found on Providence PRC's bulletin today)
Greetings to our PRCA Congregations
Greetings in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, our Lord of the Harvest. Significant changes have taken place in our mission labors in the Philippines which we need to report to you.
Decision to Withdraw Our Missionaries
The Doon Council and the FMC decided in April 2023 to begin the process of withdrawing our missionaries from the Philippines. Synod 2023 expressed approval of this decision for these reasons:
"a. Since the PRCP has become more established, they want to carry out the mission work in the Philippines, rather than having our missionaries do this work. 1) The PRCP’s desire to perform their own mission work: “The testimony of the missionaries and the testimony of the recent 2023 delegation indicate that the PRCP desire to perform their own domestic mission work within the Philippines and do not desire the assistance of the PRCA in their mission work” (Agenda, p. 264). 2) At this time, SNO is not a viable mission field for our missionaries. Due to the presence of a dangerous communist group in SNO, it would not be safe for our missionaries to live there. In addition, the PRCP desire to take over this work in the future. 3) The impact of this for the missionaries: “The missionaries are no longer fulfilling many aspects of their mandate and call as missionaries” (Agenda, p. 264). Instead, the missionaries are now functioning more as visiting ministers by providing pulpit supply, teaching catechism, leading Bible studies, and helping the Classis periodically. This was not the reason they were called to the Philippines as missionaries.
b. The PRCP no longer intend to utilize the missionaries to provide seminary instruction to their prospective ministers. 1) Providing seminary instruction had become the primary work of the missionaries due to developments on the mission field. 2) However, the one student who was receiving instruction from the missionaries is no longer enrolled. In addition, the PRCP has made known their desire to utilize our denominational seminary moving forward. The Classis of PRCP wrote: “We are pondering now to send our future students in [sic] the PRTS in MI, USA [the Lord willing] just like what the Berean PRC did with Rev. Ibe ten years or so ago. The advantages we think outweigh the disadvantages” (Agenda, p. 286) 3) Thus, this important aspect of the work of the missionaries is no longer desired.
c. Doon PRC and the FMC have the calling to determine whether the missionary’s work should be continued. “During the initial term of service and subsequently, the calling church and the denominational mission committee shall regularly evaluate the missionary’s labors, primarily to help him develop the gifts necessary for mission work, and secondarily to determine whether the missionary’s work should be continued” (“Constitution of the Foreign Mission Committee,” VI.D.2; emphasis added).
d. A decision regarding the withdrawal of both missionaries from the field follows our normative practice of sending missionaries two by two into this particular field of labor (cf. Acts of Synod 2008, articles 57-58; Acts of Synod 2009, articles 35-37)."
Preparations and plans have been made, and also have been implemented, for our staggered withdrawal from the Philippines.
Decision to End Our Mission Work in the Philippines
In addition to its approval that our missionaries be withdrawn from the Philippines, Synod 2023 directed "the Doon council and the FMC to close the mission field in the Philippines and take the necessary steps to bring the work to completion." Here are the Synod's reasons:
"a. Since the PRCP has become more established, they want to carry out the mission work in the Philippines, rather than having our missionaries do this work. 1) The PRCP’s desire to perform their own mission work: “The testimony of the missionaries and the testimony of the recent 2023 delegation indicate that the PRCP desire to perform their own domestic mission work within the Philippines and do not desire the assistance of the PRCA in their mission work.” (Agenda, p. 264) 2) At this time, SNO is not a viable mission field for our missionaries. Due to the presence of a dangerous communist group in SNO, it would not be safe for our missionaries to live there. In addition, the PRCP desire to take over this work in the future. 3) The impact of this for the missionaries: “The missionaries are no longer fulfilling many aspects of their mandate and call as missionaries” (Agenda, p. 264). Instead, the missionaries are now functioning more as visiting ministers by providing pulpit supply, teaching catechism, leading Bible studies, and helping the Classis periodically. This was not the reason they were called to the Philippines as missionaries.
b. The PRCP no longer intend to utilize the missionaries to provide seminary instruction to their prospective ministers. 1) Providing seminary instruction had become the primary work of the missionaries due to developments on the mission field. 2) However, the one student who was receiving nstruction from the missionaries is no longer enrolled. In addition, the PRCP has made known their desire to utilize our denominational seminary moving forward. The Classis of PRCP wrote: “We are pondering now to send our future students in [sic] the PRTS in MI, USA [the Lord willing] just like what the Berean PRC did with Rev. Ibe ten years or so ago. The advantages we think outweigh the disadvantages.” (Agenda, p. 286) 3) Thus, this important aspect of the work of themissionaries is no longer desired.
c. There are still necessary steps that must be taken tobring the work to completion. These steps include, but are not limited to, ensuring that the ongoing work of the missionaries is properly transferred to the PRCP and determining who will manage the Philippine Book Fund (both inventory and funds) as well as the mission fieldwebsite."
According to this synodical decision, our foreign mission work in the Philippines is being brought to a fitting and brotherly conclusion.
Withdrawal of Rev. Smit and Family
We spent the latter half of April and most of May selling and disbursing our household possessions. What we wanted to keep (books and some household possessions), we put into 10 shipping boxes (20" x 20" x 20"). We expect that these things will arrive in Hudsonville, MI, by late July.
After our farewells in May to the PRCP congregations and our brethren in southern Negros Occidental, and after graduations at Faith Academy on June 2, we departed from Manila and travelled on a direct flight to Vancouver, B.C., Canada, on Monday, June 5. We spent a week in the Lynden, WA, area so that we could visit family and so that I could provide pulpit supply to the Lynden congregation on June 11. We arrived in Hudsonville, MI, on June 14, where we will remain in our interim housing during the summer months with our older children and siblings as we wait for the Lord to provide for me a place of labor in our churches in His good time.
Current Activities of Rev. and Mrs. Kleyn
Rev. and Mrs. Kleyn are currently doing the work of downsizing, selling items, and packing their remaining belongings and books.
Rev. Kleyn is preaching three Sundays a month in the vacant Provident PRC and one Sunday in Provident's outreach work in Guiguinto, Bulacan. He is teaching Provident's two catechism classes and leading its Wednesday Night Bible Study, which currently meets twice a month and is continuing its study in Acts.
The Kleyns are expected to depart from the Philippines in about mid-September, the Lord willing.
July Delegation of the Doon Council and FMC
For the brotherly closure of the mission work, a delegation from the Doon Council and FMC is being planned for a visit in the Philippines from July 21 to 31. This visit is intended to provide fellowship for the Kleyns, but it is also intended by the Doon Council and the FMC to express a formal and fitting "farewell" to our fellow saints in the PRCP and SNO. Mr. Jim Regnerus (Doon) and Mr. Brian Gritters (FMC) will serve on this delegation, and be accompanied by their wives and some of their daughters.
Southern Negros Occidental
Rev. Kleyn recently (June 19-20) travelled to SNO with Rev. V. Ibe, Elder Sonny Umali, and Elder Alann Penaverde in order to introduce the delegation of PRCP with the five pastors and several elders of the SNO congregations (Inayauan, Si-alay, Canturay, Maricalum (Sipalay), and Hinobaan). According to Rev. Kleyn's report, this visit seemed to be a good start to the transition of the work in SNO to the PRCP churches.
PRCP Congregations
The Contact Committee of the PRCP is currently working with the Contact Committee of the PRCA regarding pulpit supply needs in the latter part of 2023 and beyond. This possible pulpit supply for the two PRCP churches is very helpful since only Berean PRCis served by Rev. Vernon Ibe, while Provident PRC remains vacant. We pray that the Lord will also grant seminary students to the PRCP, and through their seminary training, faithful pastors. We commend the PRCP to the grace and Word of our God.
Conclusion
Synod 2023 thanked the current and former missionaries (Revs. A. Spriensma, D. Holstege, R. Smit, and D. Kleyn) as well as their wives and families for their selfless and dedicated labors over the years in the Philippines. In expressing thanks for the fruit that the Lord brought through our laborers, Synod echoed Scripture: “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.” (1 Corinthians 3:5-6)
Synod also thanked the FMC and the Doon PRC for their diligent labors for the past 22 years in the Philippines. We, too, express our sincere thanks for their faithful and persevering labors.
We also pray that the Lord in His mercy will guide our churches soon into another foreign field of labor in the areas, as designated by Synod, under the oversight of the FMC: Mexico, The Caribbean, Central and South America, Africa, and Asia (including the Middle East).
While we pray that the Lord's kingdom may come, may He grant us the grace and wisdom to be prepared for the privilege to serve Him through our calling churches and missionaries in another place in the Lord's harvest field (Mark 16:19-20).
In His Service and in Your Behalf,
Rev. Richard J. Smit and Family
Today, July 16, is the twenty-ninth Lord's Day of this year of our Lord 2023. 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.
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 listen online.
Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? who can shew forth all his praise? Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times. Remember me, O LORD, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation; That I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance. ~ Psalm 106:1-5
Georgetown PRC's Council has announced a new trio: Revs. Audred Spriensma (Cornerstone PRC-Dyer, IN), David Noorman, and Jon Mahtani. The congregational meeting will be held August 6 after the morning service.
Classical appointments and pulpit supply for today in the vacant PRCs: Cand. M. Koerner (2nd week) in Doon (IA) PRC; Rev. A. Spriensma and Prof. C. Griess in Georgetown PRC; Rev. M. Kortus (2nd week) in Hosanna PRC, Edmonton, AB; Sem. A. Van Dyke and Rev. A. Spriensma in Hudsonville PRC; Rev. S. Key in Loveland PRC; Elders lead in Lynden PRC; Prof. D. Kuiper in Randolph PRC; Prof. B. Gritters and Rev. J. Laning 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!
Congregational Evangelism Activities/Events
Special PRC delegation from Doon PRC and the FMC: "A delegation on behalf of the Foreign Mission Committee and the Doon Council will be travelling to the Philippines this week. Brian and Denise Gritters (FMC) and Jim and Brenda Regnerus (Doon) are scheduled to visit Rev. and Sharon Kleyn and extend a farewell to the Filipino saints as the work of the FMC in the Philippines draws to a close. May our almighty Father grant safety in travel and His blessings upon these labors."
PRC 100th Anniversary: With gratitude to our faithful God, the PRCA look forward to our 100th anniversary. The celebration is planned for June 23-27, 2025, at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, MI. The various committees of the 100th anniversary steering commitee are busy preparing for this historic event, including a special commemorative book. Watch for further notices and updates!
Screenshot of Prof. B. Gritters teaching his church discipline class this past Wednesday night in Hudsonville PRC (see more information on that and this week's class below)
PRC Seminary Notices:
Pastor Paul Raj. At his doctors consultation this week Paulraj received the good news that his chemotherapy and radiation therapy is now complete. The doctor reported that he believes the cancer is gone and that he may now return to his regular work as his strength returns. We praise the Lord for this wonderful news and asked for the continued blessing of the Spirit upon all of his labors in the Vellore Protestant Reformed Church. Below is part of a message from Paul sent to us yesterday:
“Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord, Words fail to thank you appropriately for all your love, care and support throughout the medical crisis that I allowed to endure. God has been so good in all of these. As of now, I speak moderately, yet I love to preach this Sunday for both congregations. Please continue to keep me in your prayers as I am on the way of recovery. ~ Paulraj”
Listen to the Reformed Witness Hour each Sunday - on a radio station near you, on Sermonaudio, or on your favorite podcast - wherever you are!
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"What does it mean to love your wife? The world says that love is simply an emotion. It is a warm, fuzzy feeling inside. It is something that you can fall into and also something you can fall out of. But that is not true love. Love is not a feeling, but a decision and a commitment. Love is demanded of us whether we feel it or not. Love is a decision and commitment to esteem our wife highly and consider her to be delightful and precious. It means we think this way and treat her this way even when she is undeserving of it and we do not feel like it.
"The husband’s love must be modeled after Christ’s. Consider these five characteristics:
"For the one who is already a husband, love your wife as Christ loves the church! For the one who is not yet married, prepare yourself to love your future wife with the holy love of Christ!"
Taken from the article "The Christian Man as Husband" by Rev. J. Engelsma, one of this month's featured reources
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Today, July 9, is the twenty-eighth Lord's Day of this year of our Lord 2023. 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.
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 listen online.
O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works. Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore. Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth; O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen. ~ Psalm 105:1-6
Classical appointments and pulpit supply for today in the vacant PRCs: Cand. M. Koerner in Doon (IA) PRC; Rev. R. Smit and Rev. C. Haak in Georgetown PRC; Rev. M. Kortus (1st week) in Hosanna PRC, Edmonton, AB; Prof. R. Cammenga and Rev. W. Langerak in Hudsonville PRC; Rev. J. Marcus (2nd week) in Loveland PRC; Rev. J. Smidstra (2nd week) in Lynden PRC; Sem. A. Van Dyke in Randolph PRC; Prof. B. Gritters and Rev. M. McGeown 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!
Congregational Evangelism Activities/Events
PRC Synod 2023: The PRCA Synod of 2023 convened on Tuesday, June 13, and completed her work on Monday, June 19. The pre-synodical service was held in Southwest Protestant Reformed Church Monday night, June 12. If you missed Rev. Steven Key's message, "In the Potter's Hand," visit the link here. The daily updates may be found on this section of the PRC website.
A highlight of synod was the approval of the examination and candidacy of Sem. Matt Koerner. He is eligible for a call on or after July 15. We praise and thank the Lord for another candidate for the ministry of the Word and sacraments in the PRC. May the Lord show him soon where He will have him labor.
Another significant decision was the adoption of the overture from Providence PRC to hire a third party to investigate sexual abuse in the PRC and to appoint an ad hoc committee to contract with an organization and to receive and review the reports of this body. For more on that decision, visit this page.
Special PRC delegation from Doon PRC and the FMC: "A delegation of Elder Jim Regnerus, representing Doon PRC and Elder Brian Gritters, representing the FMC along with their wives and few daughters plan to visit the Kleyns and also to be here for a few Sundays in the PRCP churches as conclusion to their many years of work in the Philippines. They plan to be here from July 21 to 31, the Lord willing." (Provident PRC's bulletin today)
PRC 100th Anniversary: With gratitude to our faithful God, the PRCA look forward to our 100th anniversary. The celebration is planned for June 23-27, 2025, at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, MI. The various committees of the 100th anniversary steering commitee are busy preparing for this historic event, including a special commemorative book. Watch for further notices and updates!
PRC Seminary Notices:
Listen to the Reformed Witness Hour each Sunday - on a radio station near you, on Sermonaudio, or on your favorite podcast - wherever you are!
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"Jesus has commanded all those who are His to be baptized with pure water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, thereby signifying to us that, as water washeth away the filth of the body when poured upon it, and is seen on the body of the baptized when sprinkled upon him, so doth the blood of Christ, by the power of the Holy Ghost, internally sprinkle the soul, cleanse it from its sins, and regenerate us from children of wrath unto children of God. Not that this is effected by the external water, but by the sprinkling of the precious blood of the Son of God,5 who is our Red Sea, through which we must pass to escape the tyranny of Pharaoh, that is, the devil, and to enter into the spiritual land of Canaan. Therefore, the ministers, on their part, administer the sacrament, and that which is visible, but our Lord giveth that which is signified by the sacrament, namely, the gifts and invisible grace; washing, cleansing, and purging our souls of all filth and unrighteousness; renewing our hearts and filling them with all comfort; giving unto us a true assurance of His fatherly goodness; putting on us the new man, and putting off the old man with all his deeds. Therefore, we believe that every man who is earnestly studious of obtaining life eternal ought to be but once baptized with this only baptism, without ever repeating the same, since we cannot be born twice. Neither doth this baptism avail us only at the time when the water is poured upon us and received by us, but also through the whole course of our life.” (Belgic Confession, Art. 34) - found in Trinity PRC's bulletin today
Classis East
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