CHURCH NEWS

Retired Elder John Van Surksum Deceased

It pleased the Lord to take our beloved brother, retired Elder John Van Surksum, at the age of 81 years, 8 months and 6 days. He served the congregation of Rock Valley for 17 years and Sioux Center for 4 years and was retired Elder for 9½ years. After 5 months in the hospital death came to him on August 22.

We read in the Word of God: “There remaineth, therefore, a rest to the people of God”, Heb. 4:9. Our brother testified from time to time of the hope that was in him. He spoke of strife, soul misery and conviction of sin, but also of times and seasons of deliverance.

He was very weak in body these last years. Now he may rest from all his labors, troubles and sorrows. His confession at times was, “It will only be by free and sovereign grace, by the blood of the Lamb of God, that we are saved, and the only ground of hope to be again restored into the blessed favor, communion and fellowship with the Lord.

May the Lord strengthen his widow, children and grandchildren in this bereavment is our wish and prayer. May the passing of this loved one be blessed to our souls, for we must all meet God when we die. If we die a stranger to God and His grace in Christ, being uncoverted, we are most assuredly lost forever.

We, as a Consistory, were privileged to serve with him, we realize with many shortcomings, but with peace and unity.

By the grace of God he was made faithful in dealing with neverdying souls, in visiting the sick, house visitation, leading Consistory meetings, reading sermons in church and also conducting funerals several times. We do not say these things to glorify the creature but only to testify what he was through the grace of God.

Oh, are we not living in a dark time that we must say, “The faithful fail from among the children of men? Psalm 12:1.

His burial took place on August 22. May his remembrance continue with us. Rev. Lamain officiated at the funeral. He chose as his text Job 5:16, the first part, “So the poor have hope”. May the Lord also make this true in our lives, at first or by renewal.

Consistory of the Netherlands Reformed Congregation of Sioux Center, Iowa

Gifts Received for the Missions for August

Classis East Source Amount

Clifton Church Collections 552.40

Classis Midwest

Timothy Mission Fund Gift 100100

Friend South Holland Gift 5.00

Classis West

Sheboygan by C. Blok Collection 77.00

Classis Far West

Fort Mcloud Collection 67.59

Total 801.99

We gratefully acknowledge your gifts for the Mission work. May the Lord’s rich blessing rest upon them.

American General Mission Fund

John Spaans, Treasurer

John Kiel — March 4, 1881 —May 17, 1968

The Consistory of Corsica, South Dakota, requested that we make known to the congregation and friends that one of their former elders, John Kiel, passed away on May 17. For 37 years he served the congregation there with the grace and talents which the Lord had given him. The funeral was conducted by the moderator, Rev. J. Van Zweden, on May 21. The first service was held at the Clements Funeral Chapel at Armour and afterwards a service in the church in Corsica. He was buried in Grandview Cemetery in Armour, South Dakota.

The minister spoke on the text from Proverbs 16:31, “The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness”. There was a large attendance by the congregation and also the officebearers and friends from Iowa. May the Lord strengthen the bereaved family and sanctify this loss for each one to seek and find the Lord while it is the day of grace.

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