Simpson Hall on Nyack College campus; home base for many delegates during the URCNA Synod 2012
A federation with churches in two countries—Canada and the United States—faces the problem of money flow. In this case the flow of money from north to south, from Canada to the U.S., is becoming increasingly clogged, and the mechanism in place to meet the challenge is no longer sufficient.
The Joint Venture Agreement (JCA) of the URCNA is not able to distribute funds from Canadian churches to American charitable causes and will no longer accept such monies.
When the JVA was established, the plan was that it would facilitate the distribution of financial gifts from URCs in Canada to URC causes in the United States. But tightening of restrictions on the transfer of funds outside of Canada has resulted in the unhappy situation of the JVA holding some funds intended for American charities without being able to forward them to those specific causes. Forwarding those funds is impossible unless the charity has a controlling percentage of Canadian representatives on its board.
Canadian treasurer Pam Hessels was on hand at Synod and was granted the privilege of the floor in order to help explain the problem.
“What is the role of the corporation?” she asked. “Do you want to lose control of 51% of your ministry?”
She said the requirements basically mean that a Canadian organization must have control to meet federal government requirements.
While the JVA will continue to pay for federational expenses, such as Stated Clerk remuneration, it will no longer collect monies for non-Canadian charitable causes. It will explore options for distributing the existing monies it holds, although it is very likely that those funds will not go to the causes for which they had been designated.
Rev. Neal Hegeman, Academic Vice President at Miami International Theological Seminary (MINTS), described the “sister-church” oversight of his work and encouraged missionaries and church planters to consider similar arrangements by developing sponsoring relationships with Canadian churches as well as American churches.
In other financial news, the The US Board of Directors was granted authority to appoint interim board members and a treasurer should it become necessary. Synod thanked Rev. Richard Stienstra for his years of service on the Canadian Board of Directors and gave him a hearty round of applause.
Synod adopted a budget with suggested “askings” of $13.60 per family.
For Classis Central US of the URCNA, the second half of September contained church planting good news and bad news. Classis Central rejoiced as it took a step forward in church planting with the establishment of its official Church Planting Advice Committee at its meeting on September 10-11, 2012, at Oak Glen URC in Lansing, IL. But Classis grieved an apparent step backward during the following week, when the Covenant URC church plant in Prinsburg, MN, dissolved.
Classis designated Immanuel URC in DeMotte, IN, as overseeing consistory for its newly established Church Planting Advice Committee and appointed the following five men to the Committee: Rev. Spencer Aalsburg (Chairman; Hills URC, Hills, MN), Rev. Jody Lucero (Clerk; Providence URC, Des Moines, IA), Elder Dave Buursma (Redeemer URC, Dyer, IN), Elder Grant Diekevers (Cornerstone URC, Sanborn, IA), and Rev. Tom Wetselaar (Immanuel URC, DeMotte, IN).
The decision to dissolve the Covenant URC church plant in Prinsburg was made subsequent to this meeting of Classis and related to matters discussed at it.
Covenant URC’s minister, Rev. Larry Johnson, had accepted a teaching position at a school in Michigan only a few days prior to Classis. Due to the short amount of time the supervising consistory, Cornerstone URC in Sanborn, IA, had to deal with the matter, Classis did not grant concurring advice regarding the handling of his ministerial credentials. After extensive discussion, Classis encouraged Cornerstone to continue working with Rev. Johnson toward a pastoral and procedurally appropriate solution.
On September 12 (one day after Classis had concluded), the congregation of the Covenant church plant in Prinsburg met to discuss options regarding their future. The Steering Committee proposed the church plant’s dissolution. The congregation agreed by vote with that proposal. The consistory of Cornerstone URC in Sanborn then voted to proceed with the decision to dissolve. Rev. Dan Donovan led the final worship service for the Covenant group on September 16. The approximately 25 members of the former church plant now must find new church homes.
The Prinsburg group began meeting in the fall of 2008 and Rev. Larry Johnson was called to the work that November. The group’s first worship service was held on January 18, 2009. The group met for worship at Central Minnesota Christian School in Prinsburg, a small rural community of approximately 450 people, located about 120 miles straight west of Minneapolis.
During Classis Central’s September meeting, delegates also discussed an overture from Oak Glen URC to add a new article to the Church Order regarding lapsed members. Because there were differences of opinion regarding the issue and how to deal with it, the overture was tabled indefinitely.
Classis Central US appointed an alternate to the federational Mission Committee and appointed both a representative and an alternate to the URCNA Songbook Committee. Delegates additionally provided advice to four churches regarding discipline matters.
Representatives reported on the work of CERCU, CECCA, the URCNA Missions Committee, and the Classis Website Oversight Consistory. Rev. John Vermeer reported on his church’s ecumenical efforts, noting his plans for a teaching trip to Latvia and Rev. Mark Vander Hart’s work among Reformed churches there. Classis also heard updates on church plants and the work of Chaplain Andrew Sprinsma, currently in Germany. Rev. Nathan Brummel reported on his work with Divine Hope Reformed Seminary in the Danville Correctional Institution. Fraternal delegates Rev. George Horner of the RCUS and Rev. Alan Strange of the OPC were present at Classis Central.
Lynwood URC is scheduled to host the next meeting of Classis on April 15, 2013.
The above article by Glenda Mathes appeared on page 12 of the October 2, 2012, issue of Christian Renewal.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.A new church plant in Classis Southwest US of the URCNA began worship services on September 30, 2012. Rev. Brad Lenzner brought messages on “Free Grace for the Dead and Guilty” from Ephesians 2:1-10, and “The Way God Feeds Us (Part 1): Gospel Preaching,” based on Romans 10.
Rev. Lenzner, who pastored Emmanuel URC in Hanford, CA, prior to its closing in November of 2011, has been called by Coram Deo Reformation Church in Littleton, CO, to plant the church in Rifle, CO.
Rifle is located on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains and is about three and a half hours west of the Denver area, where Coram Deo is located. This distance makes supervision difficult, but not impossible. An elder or Rev. Carl Heuss will occasionally visit the church plant, known as Grand River Reformation Church (GRRC).
The group currently consists of 28 souls. Rev. Lenzner explains that one of the families initially visited Coram Deo and spoke to Rev. Heuss about the need for a Reformed church plant in the Glenwood Springs/Rifle area. Members of that family subsequently attended the URCNA church planting conference in Denver, where they expressed their desire for a church plant. Not long after that, another family from the Rifle area visited Coram Deo. Rev. Heuss put those two families into contact with each other. They formed a small group that began meeting in January of 2012 and steadily grew.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Coram Deo extended the call for Rev. Lenzner to serve as a church planter on July 1. Rev. Lenzner and his wife, Samantha, moved to Glenwood Springs (about a half hour east of Rifle) on September 1. During the month of September, Rev. Lenzner led a new member class that will conclude on October 10. Coram Deo will hold the memberships of those who commit to the church plant until it becomes an organized congregation with its own elders.
The group meets in a very reasonably rented retail space, located on the corner of an intersection in Rifle (101 West Third St). Worship services are being held at 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM. The group hopes to begin Sunday school classes in January of 2013.
“I’m praying that within the year we’ll have at least one elder and a deacon,” says Rev. Lenzner. “Lord willing, I’d like to see GRRC fully organized and financially independent within 3-5 years. And then I’d love to see us turn around and plant another URC congregation toward or in eastern Utah!”
He wants Grand River Reformation Church to faithfully preach the pure gospel, purely administer the sacraments, and exercise biblical church discipline. “I desire to see the pure gospel and Reformed theology spread throughout the Grand River Valley,” he says. “I long to see new converts to Christianity.”
More information about Grand River Reformation Church can be found on the group’s Facebook page and at the church’s website.
The above article by Glenda Mathes appeared on pages 7-8 of the October 24, 2012, issue of Christian Renewal. Glenda notes that she can’t take credit for the clever headline; that belongs to editor John Van Dyk.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.After a vacancy of 20 months, Covenant Reformed Church in Pella, IA, welcomed its new pastor when Rev. Doug Barnes was installed on August 19, 2012.
Dr. Cornel Venema, under whom Rev. Barnes studied at Mid-America Reformed Seminary, and Rev. Spencer Aalsburg, a close colleague of Rev. Barnes, led most of the morning worship, while the newly installed Rev. Barnes concluded the service.
From 1 Peter 5:1-11 with a focus on verses 1-4, Dr. Venema spoke on “Shepherding God’s Flock.” He described the shepherd’s role, readiness, and reward. He first urged members of the congregation to pray for their pastor: “Out of your own bitter experience as a congregation, you go down upon your knees, and you beg God the Father that he would supply you, by means of this your undershepherd, with the care and keeping that this dear flock of the Lord Jesus so desperately needs.”
He encouraged the pastor in his role to feed and guard the flock as a shepherd who leads the sheep in green pastures and “guards them against predators, against whom they are defenseless.”
“If I am to be a representative of the Good Shepherd who went all the way down, deep down to the bitter death, the painful death of the cross, out of the love where with he loved us,” he said, “God forbid that I should treat one of his little lambs in any manner incompatible with the Shepherd whom I represent.”
Dr. Venema spoke of the readiness of Christ, who took the form of a servant: “We too are called, all of us, to humble ourselves…. You pray the God of all grace that he perfect, establish, strengthen you and all of us. Don’t point the finger. But pray God that we too in the flock would care deeply for each other as members of this holy flock, cherished and loved of God in Christ.”
The reward for undershepherds and all of us will be when the Chief Shepherd appears and says, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. Here is the crown of glory that does not fade away.”
“We all will stand in the presence of our king to whom we must render an account of our stewardship,” Dr. Venema concluded. “Isn’t that wondrous to imagine? That when our work is finished…there stands the Great Shepherd ready to acknowledge the work that we have done in his name.”
Dr. Venema also presided over the first section of the installation portion of the service, reading the Form of Subscription followed by the vows of the minister and the congregation. Rev. Aalsburg gave the charge to the minister, based on 1 Timothy 4:6-16, and the charge to the congregation from Romans 10:14-17. A double mixed quartet sang, “I Sing the Mighty Power of God,” as an offertory. Rev. Barnes concluded the installation service by pronouncing the benediction.
Rev. Doug and Grace Barnes have six children. Grace grew up in Florida and northwest Iowa as the daughter of Rev. Ralph Pontier. Having been raised in the UnitedMethodistChurch in western Pennsylvania, Rev. Barnes was introduced to Reformed theology at GenevaCollege, where he and Grace met and both joined the RPCNA. Rev. Barnes graduated from Mid-America Reformed Seminary in 2004 and subsequently served in the Hills URC (MN) for eight years.
“Moving to Pella was an adventure in trusting God’s guidance,” he says. “Grace and I had owned two homes prior to taking up residence at the parsonage in Hills, so we knew how long it generally takes to buy a house.” He explains that they made a “whirlwind trip to Pella, praying fervently that God would lead us to the place He had prepared for us.” After a long day of looking, they had narrowed the possibilities down to two. The next day they purchased a home that he says “has proven time and again to be perfectly suited to the needs of our family.”
“Of course, God’s timing and provision were evident at every turn—from the house to which He led us, to the kind welcome we’ve received from the church family, to the warm welcome our children have received at their new school,” he adds.
“Moving from Hills was one of the hardest things we’ve had to do as a family—ever. We truly felt that we were leaving our family, and we shed many tears on our final Sunday evening. But we’ve been shown time and again that we’re where God wants us to be, and we pray that He will continue to use us—despite our weaknesses—to bless the church here in Pella. Meanwhile, we’re tremendously eager to see whom God has in store to serve our wonderful brothers and sisters in Hills.”
“As a community, Pella has enjoyed many blessings from God, for which we are thankful,” says Rev. Barnes. “It also presents some unique challenges that should drive us to our knees in prayer.”
“The Covenant church family has been through some exceptionally hard times in the last year and a half. And whenever the church suffers, Satan is quick to dive in and do whatever additional damage he can. I have no illusions about my ability to heal the church. I’m just a man, filled with weaknesses and limitations and blind spots. But God…is abundantlyable to provide all that the church needs and more! That’s where our hope lies. Nothing that the church here has experienced is too great for God to use for our good. But we have the calling to trust Him completely, even when that seems like the path of weakness.”
“Pray for wisdom and humility for me and for the saints here in Pella. Pray that God would use us to magnify His power, His grace, and His glory. Pray that God would replace pain with Christian joy, division with unity in Christ, and despair with the certain hope of the gospel.”
The above article by Glenda Mathes appeared on pages 9-10 of the October 24, 2012, issue of Christian Renewal.
When Classis Pacific Northwest of the URCNA met in Lynden, WA, on October 16 & 17, it had good reasons for rejoicing; it witnessed two successful exams and welcomed a new congregation. It took care of business, passing an overture regarding the Proposed Joint Church Order (PJCO). But it also dealt with a painful situation, deciding not to grant concurring advice to a request for an Article 11 dissolution.
Classis provisionally accepted Covenant Grace Reformed Church of Lynden, WA, when its pastor, Rev. Alan Camarigg, sustained his colloquium doctum. Covenant Grace had been independent for almost six years after withdrawing from the Orthodox Christian Reformed Churches (OCRC) federation subsequent to its 2006 General Synod. The Lynden congregation was one of three that withdrew, due to what they perceived as Synod’s failure to deal adequately with a Federal Vision controversy. Covenant Grace’s letter to Classis Pacific Northwest states: “Needless to say we do not approve of federal vision and do not agree with adherents of this, in our opinion, false doctrine.”
Covenant Grace consists of 68 members in 34 families and meets for worship at 10:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. at 1227 Loomis Trail Road in Lynden.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Also at the October Classis meeting, Mr. Norman Van Eeden Petersman sustained his candidacy exam. Mr. Van Eeden Petersman, a 2012 graduate of Westminster Seminary California, grew up in Lethbridge, AB, and graduated from Trinity Western University with degrees in political studies and philosophy. He has served summer internships in Lynden, WA, and Sheffield, ON. Reflecting on how God has brought him to this point, he wrote: “He has provided me with a helper, Rosanna, who has faithfully accompanied me to seminary and now is preparing for what lies ahead. We do not know where the Lord will lead us or when/whether He will lead a congregation to extend a call to us, but we rest in Him and pray for His strength to build us up.”
Delegates adopted an overture from Trinity URC in Visalia, CA, requesting that Classis Pacific Northwest 1) acknowledge that the present Church Order is lacking in many areas, 2) appoint a committee to study the PJCO, 3) mandate the committee to recommend such changes as are necessary so that the PJCO can replace the present Church Order, and 4) further mandate the committee to write an overture so Classis Pacific Northwest can present the revised PJCO to Synod Visalia 2014 for consideration as a worthy replacement for the present Church Order.
Most of the overture’s length is found in multiple examples listed under its first point. The overture’s background states that “it is time for the United Reformed Churches to reap the fruit of the PJCO.” One of the grounds under the final point notes that the overture “would allow us to adopt many of the improvements suggested by the PJCO, while avoiding the changes (e.g., regional synods) that are largely objectionable to our consistories.”
The consistory of Cloverdale URC in Boise, ID, requested that Classis grant concurring advice for an Article 11 dissolution with its pastor, Rev. Jonathan Van Hoogen. Classis instead encouraged Cloverdale to work through the five pages of recommendations it had received from the church visitors and seek reconciliation. Classis assigned the consistories of Twin Falls and Nampa to work point by point through the church visitor advice with the Cloverdale consistory.
Rev. Kevin Efflandt, Clerk of Classis Pacific Northwest and one of the church visitors who recommended steps toward reconciliation, explained that some within the congregation feel the consistory has not been sufficiently supportive of the pastor’s work, while others feel his work requires improvement, and many members are confused. He noted: “When this was brought to Classis, Classis stated to Cloverdale that they had not followed the Church Order (the CO states that a dissolution may only occur when reconciliation is attempted with the involvement of both church visitors and Classis, a step that Classis believes was not taken).”
The above article by Glenda Mathes appeared on page 7 of the December 5, 2012, issue of Christian Renewal.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Rev. Steven Oeverman was installed as the pastor of Grace United Reformed Church in West Linn (a southern suburb of Portland), OR, on September 23, 2012. Dr. W. Robert Godfrey officiated the service.
Rev. Oeverman is a 2004 graduate of Westminster Seminary California (WSC), who had been an associate pastor at Escondido URC since 2006. For the last seven years, he had served as executive vice president of WSC.
“The past seven years have been an amazing time of personal and professional growth,” he says. “Serving to advance the mission of WSC and the greater work of Christ’s kingdom has been a profound privilege.”
Grace URC is a young congregation, which began meeting for worship in January of 2009 and organized in March of 2010. Rev. Dan McManigal, an OPC church planter who lived in Portland, served as the church’s first pastor.
The McManigal family recently moved to Seattle to obtain better educational opportunities for their six-year-old son, who is deaf. Rev. McManigal continues to preach and teach in local Reformed congregations while completing his theological dissertation on the Gospel of Matthew.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.In August, Rev. Oeverman accepted the call to Grace URC and his family moved to the Portland area. He and his wife, Kathryn, have five children: Elizabeth, Annaliese, Olyvia, Amelie, and Ellyson.
The Grace congregation meets for worship at 10:45 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. in the Seventh Day Church building at 8738 Cason Road in Gladstone, OR. Sunday school is held at 9:30 a.m., prior to the morning service. Two elders and three deacons serve the congregation that consists of 75 members and many regular visitors.
“The vast majority are new to the Reformed faith,” says Rev. Oeverman. “As a young congregation, our numbers are fluid—usually to the better. The Lord has been very kind.”
Rev. Oeverman desires “to continue the faithful ministry of Grace while praying for the preeminence of Christ in all things for the joy of our congregation, the peoples of Portland, and beyond. ‘Him we proclaim.’ Colossians 1:9ff.”
The above article by Glenda Mathes appeared on page 14 of the November 14, 2012, issue of Christian Renewal.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.For Rev. James and Andrea Sinke, health care was an important aspect of the decision-making process before considering his call to Bethel URC in Woodstock, ON. That’s because the Sinkes’ youngest daughter, Sarah, has required special care for continuing health concerns since she was born four years ago.
“Sarah’s health care wasn’t our primary consideration,” says Rev. Sinke, “but we had to be assured of it before we could consider coming.” He explains they first had to find a doctor willing to take on Sarah’s care. An ICU internist took it upon himself to conduct the search and finally found a London doctor willing to provide care for Sarah. Knowing that option was available, Rev. Sinke prayerfully considered and accepted the call.
On August 15, 2012, the Sinke family left Rock Valley, IA, where he had served the URC congregation for almost seven years. The Sinkes stayed with family in the St. Catharines area until their rental home became available on August 29. The parents of both James and Andrea live in southern Ontario.
“We didn’t leave to get closer to family, although now that we’re here it’s a bonus,” says Rev. Sinke. “But we left ‘family’ behind in Rock Valley, too.”
Rev. Sinke’s installation service was held on September 7 at Bethel URC, which is part of the newly formed Classis Southwest Ontario. Rev. Greg Bylsma, Bethel’s former pastor now at Living Water Reformed Church in Brantford, ON, opened the service. Rev. John Bouwers, Immanuel Orthodox Reformed Church in Jordan, ON, officiated the form and vows. Rev. Todd De Rooy, Redeemer URC in Orange City, IA, preached from Acts 20 and Paul’s final words to the Ephesian elders.
“Being a good friend of mine and someone who has walked and prayed with me for the years that we’ve known each other, Rev. De Rooy was not afraid to point out the hardships and perils of the minister’s life and calling,” relates Rev. Sinke. “He spoke with great encouragement about the Lord’s love for His Church and for those whom He has called to the pastoral ministry, but he also bravely explained why we pastors need to continue in humility, a lesson the Lord has been teaching me in a very acute way these past years.”
Part of that educational process for Rev. Sinke and Andrea has been learning more about trusting God during difficult circumstances. The Sinkes have four children: Leah (9), Rebekah or “Bekah” (8), Aaron (almost 6) and Sarah, who turned 4 in July, and has struggled since birth with health problems related to a multi-faceted condition.
“Sarah was born with VACTERL Association, which means there were issues with her V-vertebrae, her A-lower digestive tract, her C-heart, her T-trachea, her E-esophagus, her R-kidneys, and her L-limbs,” explains Rev. Sinke. “Of the seven markers, she has had the least problem with her limbs, the only concern being that one leg is slightly shorter than the other.”
Not being aware of any problems with the pregnancy, the Sinkes felt comfortable with Rev. Sinke taking their two oldest children to Canada for his brother’s wedding three and a half weeks before their baby was due.
“When Andrea called me that she had gone into labour, I flew home as quickly as I could. My mom took care of the girls, flying to Iowa with them after the wedding and staying with our kids for a few weeks until Andrea’s mom could relieve her.”
The first indication of problems occurred in the delivery room, when medical personnel had to suction out Sarah’s mouth every few minutes. While Andrea remained alone in the local hospital (James did not arrive until 2:00 AM), an ambulance took baby Sarah to Sioux Falls. Upon discovery that Sarah’s esophagus was only a pouch, which was not connected to her stomach, she was flown by helicopter to Minneapolis.
Rev. Sinke says, “The next day, I had to give permission to a doctor we had never met to do a surgery we had never heard of on a daughter I had never seen!”
Sarah was born with a tube connecting her stomach to her trachea, a very dangerous condition that would allow air to enter the stomach and stomach juices to enter the lungs. That tube was severed and her stomach was connected to her small intestine so she could begin digesting food.
After several weeks in Minneapolis, Sarah was transferred by helicopter to the NICU in Sioux Falls so the Sinkes could be closer to their other children. But soon she was transported back to Minneapolis with the hope of further surgery. Doctors decided Sarah was not ready for the surgery yet, so Andrea stayed at the Ronald McDonald House for six weeks, until 24-hour nursing care could be arranged for Sarah at home.
“Finally in November, they performed the surgery to attaché her esophagus to her stomach and that surgery was successful, although Sarah has always struggled to control her reflux since then, contributing to her frequent bouts with pneumonia,” says Rev. Sinke. “Since she did not learn how to use her swallowing muscles at birth, whenever that reflux came up her esophagus, or even if she had lots of saliva from teething, it sat at the back of her throat and was often swallowed into her lungs.”
Sarah has been hospitalized with aspiration pneumonia 18 times, although she has improved somewhat in her ability to fight it and to eat and swallow properly. She receives most nutrition and nearly all hydration via a feeding tube.
In January of 2009, Sarah underwent a surgery to sever fatty tissue at the base of her spine from the skin on her back. Rev. Sinke says, “It is likely that Sarah would have been paralyzed for life from the waist down if this surgery had not been done.”
Only a month later, Sarah had surgery to repair several problems with her heart. She will need further surgery within the next couple of years and again in her 30s. Following her heart surgery, most of Sarah’s care was at a new children’s hospital in Sioux Falls.
During 2010, doctors performed surgery to correct some issues causing chronic kidney infections and to make her lower digestive tract function properly.
In July of 2011, Sarah fell off the couch while playing and broke her tailbone. Initial x-rays indicated no severe problem, but when she fell on her tailbone again at the end of September, swelling was sudden and did not subside. X-rays again seemed to show normal swelling, but the doctor ordered pictures from another angle and saw a growth.
“We were told that it was probably not a tumour, but we should have it checked,” recalls Rev. Sinke. “When we found out that it was a tumour, we were told that it was probably benign, but a biopsy told us that it was malignant and vigourous. By this time, there was a bulge on her lower back about the size of my fist. The tumour was pushing against her internal organs, impeding bodily functions, and fingers of the tumour were reaching perilously close to her spinal cord.”
Chemotherapy began with a week. Tests indicated the chemo was working to slow down the tumor’s growth and eventually shrink it. But after four rounds of chemo, Sarah contracted a virus.
“Within hours she went from her version of normal to very sick and was taken to the ER by ambulance,” says Rev. Sinke. “For a week they tried to figure out what was wrong, but her health was quickly declining. The doctor recommended that we put Sarah on a ventilator, which we did, and later, after further tests, he told us that we had been within hours of losing her. That was a very difficult week, and while the Lord had taught us many times before in Sarah’s life to rely on Him for His mercy, we were very scared. He was gracious and spared her life, and she slowly recovered from the virus.”
At the end of March in 2012, a delicate surgery was performed to remove the last remnants of Sarah’s tumor. Rev. Sinke says, “We were overwhelmed with joy when the surgeon told us that the surgery was successful.” Regular tests since then confirm that the cancer has not returned.
Since the move to Woodstock, Sarah has battled colds that have turned into pneumonia. The Sinkes were able to care for her at home until her condition became acute enough to require hospitalization in London from November 26-December 2.
“The difficult part about the transition is that we had developed a great familiarity and comfort with the doctors and nurses in Sioux Falls, and in particular, there was great rapport and trust between them and Andrea,” says Rev. Sinke. “This was one of those blessings from God that you look back on and realize just how much of a treasure it was. It was not easy to let that go and it will take time to develop that again, the Lord willing, as Sarah begins receiving her care in London.”
During the first 90 days of the Sinkes’ residency in Ontario, their health expenses are not covered by the public healthcare system, so they retained their American health plan to cover emergencies. Bethel URC found an insurance plan that helps cover the cost of medications and the congregation pledged to cover any other health-related expenses until OHIP comes into effect.
Bethel United Reformed Church of Woodstock consists of almost 200 souls. The congregation meets at 862 Alice St. in Woodstock at 9:30 AM for the first Sunday service. The second service is held at 3:00 PM from October to May, and at 7:00 PM from June to September.
The above article by Glenda Mathes appeared on pages 6-7 & 9 of the December 26, 2012, issue of Christian Renewal.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.On September 30, 2012, about 30 people attended the first worship service Trinity Reformed Church (URCNA) of Lethbridge, AB, held at a preaching station in Medicine Hat.
The term “preaching station” may be unfamiliar within United Reformed parlance, but it’s more familiar in Free Reformed dialogue. Trinity’s Rev. Hank Van der Woerd, who was in charge of three preaching stations at one time during his service as an elder in the Free Reformed Church (FRC) prior to attending seminary, explains “preaching station.”
“It means the consistory declaring a worship service in another town,” he says. “That’s what we call the model simply because we’re preaching there.”
“It’s distinctive from a church plant in that it duplicates Trinity’s services,” he adds. “We have a fairly thick umbilical cord to this thing.”
He and Trinity’s other pastor, Rev. Wybren Oord, travel alternate Sundays to Medicine Hat, usually with two elders but sometimes with a deacon and an elder. Medicine Hat is located east northeast of Lethbridge and the round trip consists of 368 km, nearly 230 miles.
“It’s about a two-hour drive one way,” says Rev. Oord. “We have just enough time to make it back to Lethbridge for the evening service.”
Trinity’s services in Lethbridge are at 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. The services at 2080 Saamis Dr. NW in Medicine Hat are at 11:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Coffee for all and a lunch for travelers are served between services. About 20-25 people usually attend, primarily Trinity members up to this point.
The preaching station began at the request of four Trinity families, who live in the Medicine Hat area and have driven the distance to Lethbridge for as many as 12 years.
“After driving the long journey from Medicine Hat to Lethbridge for over a dozen years,” says Rev. Oord, “the families thought it was time to begin efforts for a solid Reformed church for the next generation.”
Rev. Van der Woerd explains that the cost of travel, rent, and advertising is far less than the expense of hiring a full-time church planter. Ads run in local newspapers. About a quarter of the monthly budget funds local broadcasts of R.C. Sproul’s Renewing Your Mind weekend radio program, with a tag inviting listeners to attend Trinity’s services at the Medicine Hat location. Multiple daily radio spots are planned to alert listeners to the services.
Trinity has made a six-month commitment to the preaching station.
“We hope the Spirit will send people our way,” says Rev. Van der Woerd. He reflects that these “full-blown worship services” seem “viable,” and if the work progresses past the trial period, Trinity has the “flexibility” of calling a minister or hiring a candidate to intern temporarily.
“Our desire is to bring the good news of the Gospel to a major city in Southern Alberta,” says Rev. Oord. “We are not trying to steal sheep from other churches, but trusting that the Lord will use this instrument to draw a people unto Himself—people who have wandered away from the church and may not know how to return; people who have questions about God, religion, and the Reformed faith; people who are hungering and thirsting for righteousness. It is our hope that we may be used by the Holy Spirit to tell them about the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.”
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.The above article by Glenda Mathes appeared on page 8 of the January 16, 2013, issue of Christian Renewal. Photos of the Saamis Tepee appear on the City of Medicine Hat website.
Corey Dykstra has finally cleared the last hurdle in a long, but unexpected delay to beginning his ministry at Walker United Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, MI.
The immigration-related delay arose after Dykstra accepted the church’s call in May of 2011. Although Walker URC sought to avoid a delay by having Corey (a Canadian citizen) apply for a work visa, that visa was initially denied. Since Corey’s wife, Jill, is an American citizen, Corey then applied for a green card under her sponsorship. But in the meantime, the work visa ruling was appealed. On January 1, 2013, the Dykstras were informed that the appeal had been sustained.
“This is a time of great joy and happiness for Walker and my family,” says Corey. “It has been a long time, but through it all the Lord has richly blessed and taken care of us. The congregation at Walker also endured this difficult time with much grace and patience, evident to us by all their notes and cards the past 20 months.”
The Walker URC has been vacant for five and a half years. Corey Dykstra is a 2010 graduate of Mid-America Reformed Seminary who has served internships at Grace Reformed Church in Kelowna, BC, and at the United Reformed Church of Thunder Bay, ON. He most recently has been serving the Hope URC in Brampton, ON.
Since Dykstra successfully sustained his candidacy exam in Western Michigan in January of 2011 and his Classis Michigan ordination examination in September of 2011, he has met the requirements for ordination at Walker, but the Dykstra’s move depends upon when the final approval notice is received from the US immigration agency.
He says, “Until that time I will continue my labors with the Hope URC in Brampton, which has also been a constant source of love, strength, and blessing to us.”
Rev. Mark Vander Hart, Dr. Nelson Kloosterman, Rev. Corey Dykstra, Rev. Harry Zekveld, Rev. Jeph Noble
Walker United Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, MI, waited a long time for their new pastor, but in the end things moved quickly.
As reported earlier in Christian Renewal, the church had been vacant for five and half years. Corey Dykstra accepted the church’s call in May of 2011, but an inexplicable visa denial created a delay in his arrival. On January 1 of 2013, he was informed that the visa appeal had been sustained, but he still awaited official notice before entering the United States.
Only two days after that notice was received, Corey and his wife, Jill, and their almost three-year-old son, Kyle, moved to Grand Rapids. Although they were a bit nervous about the border crossing, the move proved smooth.
“The move went very well,” he writes. “Despite all our apprehensions, we sat at the border for only two minutes! It likely went very easily since I had already crossed the border once before in order to finalize the work visa and be granted entrance.”
And only four days after the Dykstra family arrived in Grand Rapids, Corey was ordained and installed as Minister of the Word and Sacraments at Walker URC in a ceremony that took place on Friday, February 15, 2013.
Rev. Jeph Noble, minister of Eastmanville URC in Coopersville, MI, and Corey’s seminary classmate, officiated at the service. Rev. Harry Zekveld, minister of the URC in Strathroy, ON, who supervised Corey’s first summer assignment, spoke on “Shepherding Lessons Learned at a Pastors’ Retreat” from Mark 6:30-44. Rev. Mark Vander Hart, Associate Professor of Old Testament Studies at Mid-America Reformed Seminary, gave the charge to the minister from John 13. Dr. Nelson Kloosterman, former professor at Mid-America who is now Executive Director with Worldview Resources International, gave the charge to the congregation from Revelation 1. Retired URCNA ministers Rev. William Renkema and Rev. Syburn Voortman were also present and participated with all the pastors and the Walker URC elders in the laying on of hands.
“A couple members from the Hope Reformed Church in Brampton, ON, where I had been serving for 10 months, also made the six-hour trip to witness the ordination,” says Rev. Dykstra.
Corey Dykstra is a 2010 graduate of Mid-America Reformed Seminary who successfully sustained his candidacy exam in January of 2011 and his Classis Michigan ordination examination in September of 2011. In addition to serving URC congregations in Kelowna, BC, and Thunder Bay, ON, he worked briefly for his family and for a roofing company before serving Hope Reformed Church prior to his Grand Rapids move.
Walker URC consists of 311 souls in 78 families. The congregation meets for Sunday worship at 9:30 AM and 5:50 PM at 1985 Randall NW in Grand Rapids.
Rev. Dykstra describes the church “united and committed,” adding that the congregation has warmly received his family and they all look forward together to God’s work in the future of Walker URC.
“My goal for the church is simply that we grow together in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ,” he says. “There are always more glorious truths to learn of Christ, room for greater appreciation of all that He has accomplished for us, all of which is to feed our desire to know and glorify Him more and more every day. It is my hope and prayer that we come together as a family that is captivated by Christ and who are thereby encouraged to serve and live for Him in all we say and do.”
The first article above appeared on page 12 of the January 16, 2013, issue while the second article is slated to appear in the March 2013 issue of Christian Renewal. Both articles were written by Glenda Mathes.
In a creative cooperative effort, organizers for two URCNA conferences have not only scheduled them subsequently at the same location, but they’re also overlapping them by making the final session of one the first session of the other.
The two conferences will take place in June on the campus of Mid-America Reformed Seminary in Dyer, IN. The URCNA Ministers’ Conference will be held from June 24-26, while the URCNA Missions Conference will run from June 26-28.
“When ministers have the opportunity to partake of the three-course meal of superb teaching, searching discussion, and sweet fellowship, they tend to make reservations to eat!” says Rev. Harold Miller, an organizer for the Ministers’ Conference. “Brothers, your table is waiting.”
This year’s speakers at the Ministers’ Conference will address the theme: Ministering in Changing Seasons. Sessions include: Pastoral humility in years of popularity by Dr. J. Mark Beach; Loving the flock when it seems they don’t love you by Rev. Alan Strange; Maintaining pastoral vitality in a long pastorate by Dr. Joel Beeke; Beginning well: What to do and what to avoid in your first charge by Dr. Gerhard Visscher; Concluding well: How to know it may be time to emeritate and how to finish well by Dr. Joseph Pipa; as well as Blogs, Facebook, and the flock: What is the relationship of social media to the local pastorate? by Dr. David Murray.
The final Ministers’ Conference presentation, The Pastor as an Evangelist and the Evangelist as a Pastor by Rev. Paul Murphy, will also be the initial presentation for the Missions’ Conference. Its title, which is almost a palindrome, aptly conveys this presentation’s function as a hinge connecting the two conferences.
Missions Conference organizer Rev. Michael Brown says, “We hope to organize the conference in such a way that we focus on domestic church planting on the first two days and foreign missions on the third day, even though much of this material will overlap.”
The Missions Conference will also include: How to Plant a Reformed Church by Rev. Michael Brown; Developing a Plan for Outreach by Rev. Bill Boekestein; Maintaining a Vibrant Ministry in a Small Church by Dr. Brian Lee; The Cultural Factor in Church Planting by Rev. Mitch Persuad; The OPC’s Method for Mission by Mr. Mark Bube; Lessons Learned in Latin America by Rev. Richard Bout; Mission Work Among Native Americans by Rev. Wes Bredenhof; and The Long-term Commitment in Foreign Missions by Rev. Andrea Ferrari.
“The URCNA Missions Committee is excited about this conference as it will provide pastors, elders, and interested lay people in our federation with an opportunity to think together about church planting and learn from one another,” says Rev. Brown. “As a young federation, we have a lot of growing to do in the area of missions. Our prayer is that the Lord will use this conference to motivate, instruct, and sharpen us in our efforts to fulfill the Great Commission.”
Registration fees for each conference are the same, with a discount for those who register for both.
The above article by Glenda Mathes appeared on page 15 of the February 27, 2013, issue of Christian Renewal.
Revs. Jeremy Veldman, Al Bezuyen, Jacques Roets, and Mark Vander Hart
Covenant United Reformed Church in Kalamazoo celebrated the arrival of its new pastor with a dinner and program on Friday, February 15, and an installation service during morning worship on Sunday, February 17, 2013.
As the church welcomed Rev. Jeremy Veldman as its new pastor, it also bid farewell to Rev. James Admiraal, who has labored within the congregation for the last two years of its three-year vacancy. Former ministers Rev. Art Besteman and Rev. Phil Vos were also present for the celebration, which included special music numbers by choirs and a slide presentation depicting the church’s 20-year history.
Music also enhanced the morning worship service on Sunday, February 17, when Rev. Veldman was installed. Rev. Al Bezuyen, who had been influential in encouraging Jeremy to pursue the ministry, led the service and preached from 2 Timothy 2:15 on “Christ Calls Pastor Timothy (and Pastor Jeremy) to Righteousness in Word and Deed.” Rev. Jacques Roets, who grew close to Rev. Veldman during a summer internship, gave the charge to the minister and spoke briefly from John 3:30 regarding a minister’s task to exalt Christ rather than himself. Rev. Mark Vander Hart, who was Jeremy’s Hebrew instructor and mentor at seminary, presented a charge from Ephesians 6:19-20, encouraging the congregation to pray for their new minister. Rev. Veldman closed the service by pronouncing the benediction.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Rev. Veldman taught for three years at a Reformed high school in the London, ON, area prior to attending Mid-America Reformed Seminary, from which he graduated in 2006. A ten-week internship at New Haven URC in Vermont turned into his first ministerial charge when he was called and then ordained there in 2007.
“Not only is Vermont a beautiful place to live with its picturesque mountains, rivers and valleys,” says Rev. Veldman, “but it was a privilege to minister to the 60-family, agriculturally-rooted congregation at New Haven.”
“Leaving Vermont was very difficult as my church felt like family to me,” he adds. “However, the Lord had other plans and gave me a clear conviction and sense of calling to accept the call to Kalamazoo.”
Having preached his last sermon in Vermont at the end of December, Rev. Veldman had a short “sabbatical” that included a two-week tour in Israel with a group from Covenant Seminary in St. Louis.
He relates that he is “very happy and excited” to minister in Kalamazoo and is “deeply appreciative and humbled” by the church’s “many tokens of love, kindness, welcome, and generosity.”
His goal for his ministry at Kalamazoo is to “be faithful in preaching and pastoring.”
“May we, as pastor and congregation, seek the Lord’s leading in our lives as we walk this next path together.”
Covenant URC consists of 245 souls. It meets for worship at 9:30 AM and 6:00 PM at 3724 Lovers Lane in Kalamazoo.
The above article by Glenda Mathes appeared on page 12 of the March 20, 2013, issue of Christian Renewal.
When Rev. Alan and Wanda Camarigg arrived in Hills, MN, on February 6, 2013, to serve the URC, it was somewhat like coming home. Rev. Camarigg previously served the Hills congregation from 1991-1997.
But leaving their congregation and most of their family in Lynden, WA, after living there for 16 years seemed very much like leaving home.
“We left all our children and grandchildren behind in Washington with the exception of our second to the youngest son,” says Rev. Camarigg, explaining that he now lives in nearby Rock Valley, IA. Even their youngest son stayed behind to finish school before beginning a nursing program in Bellingham this fall. “So, all of a sudden, Wanda and I are ‘empty nesters.’”
Although that aspect of the move has been difficult, the Camariggs are excited to be back in Hills, warmly welcomed by the congregation they left 16 years ago. Rev. Camarigg preached on the morning of February 17 as a “guest preacher,” and was installed during the evening service.
Rev. Spencer Aalsburg, of the Sioux Falls United Reformed Fellowship, led the installation service. Preaching from Ephesians 4:11-16 on “Our God calls us to mature into the full-grown body of Christ,” he emphasized that the church’s teaching ministry is for equipping the saints to works of ministry or service.
The Hills URC meets for worship at 9:30 AM and 6:30 PM. The congregation consists of about 120 members.
Rev. Camarigg attended Mid-America Reformed Seminary, followed by a required year’s instruction at Calvin, prior to accepting his first call to Hills in 1991. In 1997, he accepted the call to Lynden Orthodox Christian Reformed Church, which became Covenant Grace Reformed Church when it left the OCRC in 2006. In 2012 the congregation voted to affiliate with the URCNA.
“Part of considering a call is reviewing the past,” says Rev. Camarigg, “and one of the things that Wanda and I realized is that we’ve always been in positions of flux with regard to federative and denominational issues.”
“The Lynden congregation joined the URC just this fall, for which we were very thankful, but the Hills congregation has been in the URC federation for 14 or 15 years now; and I’m really looking forward to focusing on the preaching and teaching ministry.”
“My goal is, by God’s grace and reliance upon Him, to feed Christ’s sheep and lambs with His Word; and my prayer is that the Lord will grant spiritual growth to the congregation so that we may serve Him faithfully in the years to come to the glory of His name.”
The above article by Glenda Mathes appeared on page 13 of the March 20, 2013, issue of Christian Renewal.
One of the funniest lines from the old TV show WKRP in Cincinnati is “Oh, the humanity!” If you saw the show, you may think of Thanksgiving and turkeys, but the phrase accurately describes how we should react to the current reality in Cincinnati, where two million people live in areas without a confessional Reformed church.
Zachary Wyse, an intern at Oceanside URC and a senior at Westminster Seminary California, hopes to respond to Cincinnati’s great need by becoming a full-time church planter after his graduation in June. He has already been working with a group of approximately 16-20 people in six or seven families.
A native of Ohio, Wyse has longed for some time to plant a church in that area. Although several PCA congregations exist in the north and east parts of Cincinnati, Wyse hopes to focus on the western area of Bridgetown.
“I’ve desired to plant a church into Cincinnati for a few years now, especially into an area that lacks a Reformed witness,” he explains. “I’m focused on the west side of Cincinnati, where there is a significant absence of confessionally Reformed churches.”
Wyse met three Reformed families in the area about two years ago. During the summer of 2012, he served a church planting internship at Christ Reformed Church in Washington, DC, and he continues working with the Missions Committee of Classis Eastern US. In August Wyse held a meeting with interested families and NAPARC ministers in the Cincinnati area. During the final months of 2012, he launched a website and initiated internet advertising. He spent the month of January, 2013, in Cincinnati.
“I led weekly White Horse Inn Discussion Groups in various parts of the city, all of which were publicized on the internet, and I held meetings for people who were interested in forming a core group,” says Wyse. “During those meetings, we considered Reformed worship. Some PCA churches also graciously allowed me to publicize this initiative to their congregations, in order to get the word out and find people that live in the west side.”
While Wyse completes his seminary studies in California, the Cincinnati group is holding monthly White Horse Inn Discussion Groups. He and other URC representatives will visit monthly to lead Bible studies on foundational doctrines of the Christian faith.
Classis Eastern’s Missions Committee has been funding Wyse’s initial work, while Oceanside URC provides supervision under the direction of Escondido URC. (When Oceanside’s two elders went on sabbatical last March, Oceanside reverted to church plant status under Escondido’s oversight.)
“My official oversight is through Pastor Hyde at Oceanside URC and the Escondido URC consistory,” explains Wyse. “But I’m working toward this church plant in conjunction with Classis Eastern US and, especially, its Missions Committee. The Missions Committee has been funding these initial labors and I’ve been reporting my findings to them and to Pastor Hyde.”
More information about the Cincinnati effort can be found at the group’s website or at the “Cincinnati Reformed Church Planting” group on Facebook. Zac Wyse may be contacted at cincinnatireformed at gmail.com.
The above article by Glenda Mathes appeared on pages 14 & 15 of the March 20, 2013, issue of Christian Renewal.
June 5, 2013 UPDATE: Zac reports recently receiving word that the consistory of Zeltenreich URC in Lancaster, PA, has officially elected to oversee the work in Ohio. He writes, “I’m receiving a call to be the church planter and we’ll begin in July.” ~ Glenda Mathes
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Rev. Andrea Ferrari and his church in Milan, Italy, are working with believers in Bucharest, Romania, who long to establish a Reformed church. One young Romanian couple, Mihai and Lidia Corcea, plan to move to the United States this summer so that Mihai may study at Westminster Seminary California (WSC).
Mihai has been accepted to WSC and it is hoped that grants and donations will cover his tuition costs. In order to secure a student visa from the US government, however, he must show that he will have $32,000 of annual support for living expenses. One church has already committed to more than a third of that annual expense, but the remainder still needs to be raised.
“Christ United Reformed Church in Santee, CA, will provide Mihai with $12,000 a year during his studies as an M.Div. student,” reports Rev. Michael Brown. “This, however, is not sufficient to cover the cost of living for Mihai and his wife. They will need more than this to survive during his three years of study.”
Rev. Brown relates that he had the privilege of spending a few days last October with Mihai in Milan. “Mihai is an exceptionally bright young man deeply devoted to the Reformed faith. He leads a core group of young Romanian Reformed believers in a weekly Bible study. He is also a gifted translator, who has translated a sizable amount of Reformed material from English into the Romanian language.”
Mihai was raised in a family that left Eastern Orthodoxy to become Baptists. During his teen years and early adulthood, he was confused about church history and Christian doctrine. He began reading Calvinistic books and started to understand Reformed doctrines regarding salvation and the church.
“Six years ago I visited a Reformed congregation in the Netherlands and spent one week with a Dutch Reformed family,” he writes. “I found their theology, piety and practice to be quite different from my Arminian/Fundamentalist background. Throughout the years that followed, the memory of the Dutch Reformed I have met remained a reference point with regard to how I envisioned that a church should be.”
Although the Reformation spread in the sixteenth century to Eastern Europe, including Transylvania, which is now part of Romania, Reformed Romanians were gradually rejected by many communities that had been assimilated by Hungarians during political and ethnic conflicts.
Rev. Andrea Ferrari, Mihai Corcea and Claudiu Stefu, both Reformed believers from Romania, and Rev. Michael Brown
According to Mihai, the last Romanian Reformed church disappeared during the 19th century. Today 97% of Bucharest’s two million people identify themselves as Eastern Orthodox. After translating and publishing Reformed articles online, Mihai came into contact with other Reformed believers and their core group was formed. Mihai was encouraged to attend seminary after these believers became members of Rev. Ferrari’s Milan congregation, Chiesa Riformata Filadelfia, in July of 2012.
“We wish to establish a confessional Reformed church in Bucharest that can be a sound Protestant alternative to the Eastern Orthodox or Evangelical communities,” writes Mihai. “Our greatest dream is that our children will not have to go through the same confusion we experienced regarding the Christian faith. We believe that having our children catechized and raised in a Reformed congregation is the greatest gift we can give them. We pray that God will use His Word and His Church to the blessing of future generations of Romanian people.”
Rev. Ferrari requests Christian Renewal readers to pray for Romania, Italy, and all of Europe. He writes, “It is important for readers to understand that Europe is a mission field!”
Churches or individuals wishing to contribute to Mihai’s support should contact Rev. Michael Brown at michaelbrown@christurc.org or Christ United Reformed Church’s treasurer, deacon Bob Gordon, at bobgordon@christurc.org.
The above article by Glenda Mathes appeared on page 11 of the April 10, 2013, issue of Christian Renewal.
Rev. Alan Strange at the URCNA Synod 2012, which accepted the OPC’s invitation to cooperate in producing a new songbook
During a March 5-6 meeting at Faith URC in West Olive, MI, the URCNA and OPC songbook committees were able to complete a provisional Psalm Proposal. The Proposal includes at least one full metrical version of all 150 psalms with the exception of Psalm 119, which appears in 22 separate selections corresponding to each section of the lengthy acrostic psalm.
Many psalms are additionally represented in “B” or “C” complete metrical versions, chosen for their familiarity and liturgical applicability. A recent press release reiterates that both committees’ mandated priority is to choose complete Psalm texts that are “faithful to the words of Scripture and set to singable, appropriate, and beautiful music.”
In addition to the approximately 235 complete metrical psalms, the Proposal includes about 40 partial or paraphrase psalm songs, primarily from the blue Psalter Hymnal.
Many selections from the Psalter Hymnal have been retained in one form or another; some with no changes, some with updated wording (such as “you” for “thee”), and some with more complete or accurate scriptural text. In some cases, familiar tunes are being used with different psalms. Other psalms have new metrical texts and tunes.
The URNCA Committee reports, “By retaining many well-known tunes as well as adding some excellent new ones, we hope that our churches will be able to robustly sing all of the Psalms in the collection.”
The committees plan to release a digital version of the Psalm Proposal following the OPC General Assembly (GA) in early June. An online system will allow churches from both the OPC and URCNA to submit feedback. After taking this feedback into consideration, the committees hope to recommend a Psalm Proposal to both the OPC GA and the URCNA Synod in 2014.
After two years of focusing on psalms, the committees intend to shift focus to the hymns this summer. They aim to release an updated joint Hymn Proposal in late 2014 or early 2015 with a goal of recommending it to GA and Synod in 2016. The hope is to begin publication of the entire songbook in the fall of 2016.
Having served as Chair of the URCNA Committee for four years, Rev. Rand Lankheet now serves as Vice-Chair and Rev. Derrick Vander Meulen has assumed the position of Chair. Other URCNA Committee members are: Mrs. Angeline Vanderboom (Secretary and member-at-large), Mr. David Buursma (Classis Central US), Dr. Scott Finch (Classis Western Canada), Rev. Christopher Folkerts (Classis Pacific Northwest), Mrs. Denise Marcusse (Classis Michigan), Mr. Joel Pearce (Classis Eastern US), and Rev. Harry Zekveld (Classis Ontario East).
The OPC’s Psalter Hymnal Special Committee, which functions under the denomination’s Education Committee, consists of Rev. Alan Strange (Chair), Rev. Danny Olinger, Dr. Darryl Hart, and Rev. Stephen Pribble.
The above article by Glenda Mathes appeared on page 12 of the April 10, 2013, issue of Christian Renewal.
While one-year internships are common in the OPC and one-year vicariates are standard practice in the RCNZ, such arrangements are rare in the URCNA. But Covenant Reformed Church (URCNA) in Pella, IA, is planning a one-year internship with Pablo Landázuri.
Pablo, who is from Quito, Ecuador, anticipates graduating from Mid-America Reformed Seminary on May 16 and longs to plant Reformed churches in his home country. Pending visa approval, he hopes to travel with his wife and three sons to visit relatives in Ecuador, returning to the US to work in Pella from June of 2013 until June of 2014.
“We are looking forward to it,” says Pablo. “Being a large church, I figure that Covenant experiences different circumstances proper to its pilgrimage here on earth in terms of number and depth. It is a place to learn from others who have more experience and knowledge. This experience will allow me to have a better feel of real ministry. It is also a good time to build relationships and see how we as a family will react to actual ministry.”
Covenant’s pastor, Rev. Doug Barnes, explains that the internship benefits the intern, the church Council, the congregation, and Christ’s church.
It allows Mr. Landázuri to prepare for his candidacy exam in order to enter the mission field as a minister in the URC. At the same time, it will enable Covenant’s council to work closely with him in developing a joint venture committee to support and oversee his work.
“That’s going to be a real challenge, but we want to ensure that our supervision of the work is meaningful and faithful,” says Rev. Barnes. “We also want to ensure that Pablo is involved in that preparation, so that he and our Consistory are on the same page at every step.”
While Covenant’s leaders assist Pablo in preparing a solid plan prior to beginning his church planting effort, Covenant’s members will have time to forge strong bonds with the Landázuri family that will help sustain a long-term relationship.
Since the official language in Ecuador is Spanish, it has been a natural fit for Pablo during his seminary years to work with Rev. Valentin Alpuche in his Chicago Heights ministry to Hispanics. But Pella is known more for its ethnic Dutch community.
“Obviously, Pablo won’t be doing much Spanish exhorting in the Pella region,” admits Rev. Barnes, “so we will be encouraging the occasional pulpit supply in Chicago Heights.
“But—while preaching certainly lies at the heart of it—there’s far more to church planting than preaching,” he adds. “And, of course, people are people. The preaching, teaching, and pastoral work Pablo performs during his internship here will translate for the work he faces in Ecuador, even if the language and external culture differ. People everywhere have the same essential needs, struggles, sins, sorrows, fears, and pain. And the prescription for what ails them is invariable. They need Christ! That’s as true for Latin Americans who live in the mountains along the equator as for Dutch-Americans who live in the shadow of Pella’s windmills and Dutch fronts.”
Pablo received a good education in Ecuador, although he now realizes the failures of his early education.
“I went to a Franciscan Roman Catholic School until sixth grade,” he says. “Never heard the gospel preached there and never read the Bible.”
During his years at a military academy, he became immersed in soccer and parties. He had the opportunity to attend the best university in the country, where he played on the soccer team. While in college, he married Verenisse and their son, Martin, was born. Pablo experienced great success as an industrial engineer, but he moved his family to Spain so he could further his career by obtaining his Master’s degree in Business Administration.
That degree netted him a management position with Citibank in Quito, and a few years later he accepted an even better position. He focused on working hard and playing soccer. While he was enjoying success on both fronts, his personal life was a mess.
“I became the best paid professional of my university class at the time,” he says. “yet my marriage was in very bad shape.” Marital problems led the couple to attend a Bible study at a Presbyterian church.
“That’s where I heard the gospel for the first time,” says Pablo. “I was totally surprised by it. Grace was a concept totally foreign to my idea of religion.”
But the family wasn’t willing to give up time together on Sunday in order to attend worship. And Pablo was still driven by his desire for success. He read a book by an atheist that equipped him to argue against Christianity, until one day a Christian co-worker challenged him to think about his eternal future.
“I kept thinking about that conversation for days,” he says. Unable to sleep and suffering from anxiety, Pablo still could not get the conversation out of his head. One morning he came to an important conclusion.
“I realized I was a sinner. God had given me the strongest conviction of sin I had ever felt in my life.” He recognized that his success in business and sports meant nothing. “Suddenly I remembered the gospel. I knew that my only option was Christ. I put all my trust in Him as my only Lord and Savior that morning.”
Pablo bought a Bible and started reading it. He and his wife began attending church. “Our marriage changed drastically and we have been growing in the Lord ever since.”
Pablo’s search for a Reformed Seminary led him to Mid-America, where he will soon complete his studies prior to beginning the internship at Covenant in Pella.
Rev. Barnes sees the internship as an “excellent opportunity” to have a “front-row seat in watching what God will do with this door He has been opening for us in Ecuador.”
“Every time the church steps out in faith to spread the gospel of Christ, the Lord blesses us,” he adds. “Oftentimes those blessings come in the midst of challenges, of course. But even the challenges draw us closer to the Lord and enable us to more fully appreciate the blessings God provides.”
The above article by Glenda Mathes appeared on pages 12-13 of the May 1, 2013, issue of Christian Renewal. The Landázuris have subsequently arrived in Pella where Pablo is serving his internship and preparing for his candidacy exam.
Community United Reformed Church in Schererville, Indiana (from the church’s website)
Rather than writing a meditation today on Psalm 44, I’m sharing a sermon on the psalm by Rev. Paul Ipema of Community United Reformed Church in Schererville, IN. He preached this sermon at the evening worship service on February 6 of 2011. It can be accessed on the Sermon Audio website. In this message, Rev. Ipema speaks briefly about this type of psalm, a lament. He makes many valuable points and shows an important link between the Old and New Testaments.
Since this psalm focuses on oppression and suffering, it is not easy to read. It’s one many people may wish to avoid. But Rev. Ipema’s sermon assures believers that “we do not suffer in vain.”
After a six-month trial period, the consistory of Trinity Reformed Church (URCNA) in Lethbridge, AB, has decided to discontinue its preaching station effort in Medicine Hat.
The work began in September of 2012, primarily out of consideration for four families from the Medicine Hat area, who regularly drove two hours to worship in Lethbridge. It was identified as a “preaching station” because it duplicated Trinity’s worship services in another location. Trinity’s two ministers, Rev. Hank Van der Woerd and Rev. Wybren Oord, took turns preaching on most alternate Sundays with an elder reading a sermon once per month.
Newspaper and radio advertising, including broadcasts of R.C. Sproul’s Renewing Your Mind, failed to garner any additional members long-term.
“The original intent was to try this for six months,” explains Rev. Oord. “Three people came for a brief time, but didn’t come back.”
“After six months,” he adds, “it seemed the lack of response didn’t justify either continuing this format or going to the next level of installing a church planter.”
The above article by Glenda Mathes appeared in the May 1, 2013, issue of Christian Renewal.
When Classis Pacific Northwest of the URCNA met on April 16, 2013, it salvaged a difficult situation by concurring that a church plant in Boise, ID, was the best solution.
As reported earlier in Christian Renewal, the October 2012 meeting of Classis had encouraged Cloverdale URC in Boise, ID, and its pastor, Rev. Jonathan Van Hoogen to attempt to work with church visitors toward reconciliation rather than pursue an Article 11 dissolution.
At the April 16 meeting, it was reported that those attempts had been unsuccessful and church visitors had agreed the situation seemed irreconcilable. A group of approximately 40 members of Cloverdale had expressed the desire to start a church plant, which the Cloverdale consistory had approved.
After an extended time in executive session, Classis PNW concurred that the new group, known as Dayspring Reformed Mission, should proceed under the oversight of New Covenant URC in Twin Falls, ID, as recommended by the church visitors and the consistory of New Covenant.
In a brief public report following executive session, Rev. Christopher Folkerts (New Covenant) reported that both the consistory of Cloverdale URC and the men of Dayspring Reformed Mission had confessed their sins and failure as well as a desire for reconciliation and peace.
According to Rev. Kevin Efflandt, Clerk of Classis PNW, Rev. Van Hoogen has been providing pulpit supply for the Dayspring group.
In addition to dealing with this difficult issue, Classis conducted a number of routine business matters at its April 16 meeting. Several pastors reported on visits to churches as well as on the work of CECCA, the Psalter Hymnal Committee, the URCNA Missions committee, and the classical Church Assistance Fund. Elder Doug Field was appointed as the new classis representative on CECCA, with Rev. Mark Stewart as the alternate.
The April 16 meeting of Classis PNW was held in Nampa. ID, and convened by the URC of Nampa. Rev. Angela Contreras served as Chairman and Rev. David Thommen as Vice-Chairman.
The next Classis meeting was set for October 8 & 9, 2013, in Ripon, CA.
The above article by Glenda Mathes is a slightly expanded version of the article that appeared on page 11 of the May 22, 2013, issue of Christian Renewal.
ADDENDUM: It’s been brought to my attention that this article may convey some inaccurate perceptions. I hope to write and post a more complete and accurate account soon. (Added August 1, 2013 by Glenda Mathes).
Rather than writing my own meditation today, I’m posting a link to a sermon on Psalm 46 preached by Rev. Stephen Donovan at Escondido United Reformed Church in Escondido, CA. He preached “Facing the Fearsome” on the last evening of 2012, when many people felt anxious about the coming year.
Image may be NSFW.
