1991 Denominational Review

Another year lies behind us as individuals, families, congregations, and nations. In every capacity we shall have to give a solemn account on the Judgment Day of all our thoughts, words, and deeds in 1991. From our side, we have forfeited everything as deeply fallen sons and daughters of Adam. Truly, we must confess, “If Thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O LORD, who shall stand?” (Ps.130:3).

What is impossible with hell- and death-worthy man is possible with God. Happily, the psalmist answered his own impossible question: “But there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared” (Ps.130:4). God Himself, in the face of Jesus Christ, is our only and sufficient, yes, more than sufficient, hope. By nature and after received grace we are prone to ruin everything. He alone can and shall make crooked sticks straight and turn mountains into plains (Zech. 4:7).

Sins and graces, hopes and fears have been strewn throughout the year recently completed. The Lord has mercifully spared our congregations and enabled us to continue to walk at least outwardly in the paths of our Reformation and post-Reformation forebears. Once again denominational figures reveal moderate outward growth. We are grateful for the increasing percentage of our young people who are remaining with the church and the truth as it is in Christ Jesus. But the question remains: How much have we, young and old, experienced inwardly of the doctrines of the Reformation, which so avidly emphasize the free grace of God, in the season that lies behind us?

Sadly, we must confess that doctrinal and experiential ignorance continue to abound among us. Must it not also be said of us, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6) — both head and heart knowledge? Few know what our Reformed forefathers have taught based on the Word of God; still fewer understand it. Above all, precious few have tasted it as a heavenly miracle which is sweeter than honey, yes, than a honeycomb.

The times are dark; unrest is rampant in all spheres of life. In general, everyone does that which is right in his own eyes. Spiritual, moral, and ecclesiastical orderliness — rooted in the scriptural principle of God as a God of order — is at a premium. And the fault lies with us. It lies at the door of the church. We have failed miserably in carrying out the church’s mission and mandate, both among ourselves and beyond our doors and walls. We have lacked passionate, Christlike love to God and to each other — not loving God above all and each other as ourselves. We have lacked in prayer, in example-setting, in acting against sin. Like our nation, we have hardened ourselves gradually to iniquity. For the most part, we have forgotten that judgment begins at the house of God.

In 1991 the Lord has wonderfully preserved our nation and soldiers. But we have shown little repentant fruit. The Lord has done mighty things — not only in the Middle East, but also in eastern Europe and especially in the former Soviet Union. Opportunities abound for gospel proclamation as never before in the history of mankind. Sadly, however, we are closing the open doors God sets before us through our indifference to millions who perish in ignorance. Instead of reaching out to the unreached millions, many bicker among themselves over moot points that have little or no bearing on scriptural truth and sound doctrine. What reason we have to fear that God may well remove the candlestick of His truth from us and plant it instead among the hungering Soviet people! Oh, that we might yet learn to pray with the psalmist:

O Thou great Shepherd
of Thy chosen race,
Who leadest like a flock
Thy Israel dear,
From out the cherubim
reveal Thy face,
Before our host now let
Thy might appear.
Come Thou, O God,
to save us and restore;
We shall be saved when shines
Thy face once more.

— Psalter 218, stanza 1

May God grant us also as a denomination grace to heed His loving admonition of Jeremiah 6:16, “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.” In Christ Jesus, may He prove to be for us, “the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Heb. 13:8). May our expectation be only in a triune God. He is worthy; we are unworthy.

OFFICE-BEARERS

Deaths

No ministers were taken from us in 1991. Former elders and deacons who passed away in 1991 include: Lambert Schelling (deacon at Corsica, South Dakota); Martin Kaat (former elder at Sheboygan, Wisconsin); Jacobus VandenBrink (deacon at Bradford, Ontario); Ed Schoneveld (former elder and deacon at Artesia, California); B. Kocken (former elder at Fort Macleod, Alberta); John Rus (former deacon at Corsica, South Dakota); Jacob Cooper (former deacon at People’s Park, New Jersey). May the Lord graciously strengthen the bereaved families with Himself as the true consolation of Israel (Lk. 2:25). Let us seek grace to meditate more on the brevity of life and the seriousness of death, judgment, and eternity. “What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave?” (Ps. 89:48).

Ministers

Rev. and Mrs. Peter L. Bazen, together with the mission team and in conjunction with the mission board, determined to focus mission efforts in the area of Loma Alta, Bolivia (cf. “missions” section below for details). May the Lord grant that many souls from Loma Alta must be gathered into the gospel net of eternal, free and sovereign grace.

Rev. H. Hofman accepted the pastoral call to Chilliwack, British Columbia. After preaching his farewell sermon to the Sioux Center, Iowa congregation, he was installed as Chilliwack’s undershepherd in an afternoon service on August 6, 1992 by Rev. A. M. den Boer from Revelation 14:6-7. The same evening, Rev. Hofman preached his inaugural from Isaiah 55:10-11. May the Lord add His indispensable blessing.

Our oldest emeritus minister, Rev. L. Kieboom, was ordained into the ministry forty years ago. He also suffered a setback in his health in 1991 and spent some time in a nursing home. Our other emeritus minister, Rev. M. Heerschap, reached the age of the very strong, eighty (Ps. 90:10), and was still enabled to preach a few times. His health remains relatively stable. May the Lord graciously sustain these brothers in their senior years with the blessings of Psalm 71 and provide their wives continued strength to support them.

Rev. and Mrs. C. Vogelaar commemorated their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary; Rev. and Mrs. J. den Hoed, their thirty-fifth; Rev. and Mrs. J. Spaans, their fortieth. Rev. and Mrs. J. R. Beeke were blessed with their firstborn son, Calvin James.

Elders

Brother George Feyter commemorated serving twenty-five years as elder in Fort Macleod. Mr. and Mrs. William Van Voorst, Mr. and Mrs. Pieter VanKempen, and Mr. and Mrs. Lambert Rose commemorated their fiftieth wedding anniversaries.

Ministers and Evangelist in the Netherlands (Gereformeerde Gemeenten)

Rev. A. Elshout (who had also served our congregations in Artesia and Kalamazoo) passed away very suddenly at the age of sixty-eight while laboring in Nigeria on behalf of the Dutch mission board. Evangelist J. A. Segers passed away at the age of sixty. Rev. J. Mijnders was granted emeritus status. Rev. P. Van Ruitenburg accepted a call to Dordrecht; Rev. J. Kareis, to Oudemirdum; Rev. J. Koster, to Urk; Rev. J. van der Net, to Apeldoorn; Rev. C. G. Vreugdenhil, to Lelystad; and Rev. J. W. Verweij, to Rijssen-Zuid. Two new evangelists were accepted: Mr. G. Baan from Rijssen for an evangelist post at Leeuwarden and Mr. van den Boogaart for evangelist work at Emmen.

CONGREGATIONS

Chilliwack, British Columbia

The Chilliwack NRC dedicated their new building on January 17, 1991. Rev. A. M. den Boer led the service; Elder J. den Bok spoke on behalf of the local consistory. May this new building which seats 1700 become a house of Bethel for scores of seeking souls.

Sunnyside, Washington and Lethbridge, Alberta

The Sunnyside and Lethbridge congregations commemorated fifty and forty years of existence respectively. A special service in Sunnyside was led by Reverends A. M. den Boer and J. den Hoed, and Elder J. den Bok. The ministers spoke from Revelation 1:11a and 1 Samuel 7:12 respectively. In Lethbridge, a commemorative service was led by Rev. J. den Hoed.

MISSION/EVANGELISM

Foreign Missions

In April of 1991 the formal language study of our mission team was completed. Subsequently, the team settled in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. From this home base, a great number of potential mission field areas were examined. Providentially, the mission team, the visiting board members, and later the mission board itself, all concurred that God was directing our denomination to labor in the area of Loma Alta, Bolivia. By God’s grace, initial efforts have borne encouraging results. Presently, Rev. Bazen preaches two times each Sunday in Spanish to a group of approximately fifty people. Local resistance on the part of the priest has kept attendance down to some degree; nevertheless, the team continues on, laboring in faith, trusting that even the gates of hell cannot prevail against the church of God (Mt. 16:18). Mr. Nijsse is kept busy building homes for the team and Miss Stam’s services as a nurse are being put to constant use. A teacher is also being sought. May God graciously remember our mission team and bless their labors to the salvation and well-being of young and old.

Rev. G. Kuijt has served our North American congregations for most of 1991. Presently, he is in Indonesia and hopes to pastor for some weeks among the New Zealand and Australia church groups. May he continue to be blessed and to be a blessing.

Mr. and Mrs. Henk Looijen, who labored as mission workers in Nipsan, Irian Jaya on behalf of our sister denomination in the Netherlands, lost their only son in a tragic car accident.

The Bill Moerdyk family was on furlough and returned to the mission field in Nigeria. They were also blessed with their fourth child, Samuel William. Miss Marlene VanVeldhuizen continued her labors in Nigeria. Len Van Wingerden labored in Indonesia.

May God continue to sustain all those from our local congregations who labor on foreign mission fields in some capacity and bless all their efforts. Let us pray that He will thrust forth more missionaries and mission workers into the harvest. The need is great (Jn. 4:35; Mt. 9:37-38).

Home Missions

The work in Baldwin, Michigan pressed on, in obedience to the divine mandate. Four Grand Rapids elders and the pastor continued speaking an edifying word on alternate Fridays. Numerous individuals continue to assist in teaching Bible on Saturdays and with the mission store, as well as with providing transportation, etc. The services in Bradenton, Florida continued as usual. Evangelist Bartel Elshout continued teaching at our Franklin Lakes school and translating the work of Wilhelmus à Brakel, Redelijke Godsdienst May the Lord guide him and his family in due season to a future field of labor.

A number of congregations continued to engage in local evangelism. May God add His blessing to all heartfelt efforts to reach out to our poor, perishing neighbor in both “Word and deed.” May He continue to bless our mission periodical to arouse a greater mission-minded spirit among us (Mt. 11:12).

EDUCATION

Theological School and Curatorium

The Curatorium requested Student James Greendyk to undertake an additional year of theological studies. Student Arnoud Vergunst was promoted to his second year of studies. Rev. C. Vogelaar was asked to undertake the full teaching load for this school year. Both students were blessed with additional daughters, Abigaile Anne and Christina Maria respectively. May there be much prayer for these brothers and their families as they study and labor in the service of God.

May God also add to the number of our students and ministers in the coming season. The shortage is serious. Much work is left undone. Recently, I was given a copy of our first denominational Yearbook (1961). At that time there were seven active ministers for 6757 members; presently we have six active ministers for nearly ten thousand souls. Oh, may God yet arise and bind us to His throne to beg for a divine provision of ambassadors who may be thrust forth into the white and ready harvest!

In the Netherlands, Mr. F. Mulder from Elspeet and Mr. G. J. Baan from Barneveld were accepted for studies in the theological school. Mr. P. Mulder and Mr. C. Hogchem were declared candidates for the ministry and accepted pastoral calls to Capelle a/d IJssel and Borssele respectively. Student G. Clements was given permission to speak an edifying word in the congregations.

Higher Education

The problem of a severe shortage of NRC teachers was only slightly lessened this year. Office-bearers are reminded to encourage serious-minded young people to consider prayerfully, in dependence upon the Lord, the possibility of a teaching career.

The NRCEA Teachers’ Convention was held in Chilliwack (August 7-9). Several general session topics and fifty sectionals were presented.

Secondary and Elementary Schooling

Our school movement continued to grow in 1991. Efforts were made to increase subscriptions to the NRCEA School Journal by redesigning it for greater applicability to parents and interested parties. Subscriptions are $5 per year and should be sent to NRCEA Journal, Business Manager, 1000 Ball N. E., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49505. The Synodical Education Committee continued to provide assistance for denominational textbooks and educational conferences.

May the Lord remember in tender mercy our principals, teachers, students, parents, school boards, committee members, bus drivers, volunteers, and all who support our schools in an effort to rear the rising generation in the fear of God’s Name (Ps.78:1-8).

PUBLICATIONS

Books

Approximately 18,000 denominational titles were sold in 1991. Several volumes were reprinted, including The Bible History (3 vols.) by John Vreugdenhil. Vreugdenhil’s God’s Care and Continuance of His Church (3 vols.); a revised edition of The Psalter and The Doctrinal Standards (in accordance with the 1990 synodical mandate); Assurance of Faith: Calvin, English Puritanism, and the Dutch Second Reformation (Dr. J. R. Beeke); and 1991 Yearbook: Church and School Directory, were published as books for the first time.

Periodicals

Our four periodicals, The Banner of Truth (official monthly), Insight Into (for young people), Paul (for mission), and NRCEA School Journal, continued to meet the needs of their respective audiences.

Sermons and Mission Materials

To assist the Macedonia Mission Society with funding, Synod decided to place the missionary efforts of this committee under the jurisdiction of the North American Mission Board and the printing of “blue book sermons” under the direction of the NR Book and Publishing Committee. Accordingly, Synod requested the congregations to take an extra annual collection for both the Mission Board and the Book Committee so that the work of the Macedonia Mission Society may continue unabated. This society continues to do much valuable work in both branches of its labors here and abroad.

The Inheritance Publishers and the Banner of Truth Tract Mission continued to distribute tens of thousands of sermons and tracts respectively throughout numerous countries. “The Tape Room” continued to sell or loan approximately one thousand tapes per month throughout and beyond our congregations. Bible Truth Books continued to distribute thousands of approved books. May God crown all these efforts with His indispensable blessing.

ADDITIONAL COMMITTEE WORK

Correspondence with the governments of the United States and Canada on moral issues has again transpired. The National-International Disaster Fund Committee sent out tens of thousands of dollars for the needy throughout the world. The committees for the United States and Canadian Savings Funds continued to assist our churches and schools with low interest rate loans. The Emeritus Fund assisted the emeritus ministers and their widows. Correspondence with Foreign Churches was duly undertaken. The Legal Committee continued publishing a quarterly to assist the churches in areas of potential legal danger. The Canadian Bureau was also active in attempting to find a solution to Canadian funds designated for committees located in United States. May the Lord bless all these efforts.

CONCLUSION

May the Lord preserve us in the doctrines of free and sovereign grace. May His people grow in self-depreciation and in Christ-appreciation. May He strengthen those mourning the loss of loved ones and sanctify all their crosses to eternal gain. The times are dark, but He is Almighty. He has but to speak and it is; to command, and it stands firm. May 1992 be God’s ripe time to translate many sinners from the dominion of sin to the power of divine grace.

Dr. J.R. Beeke is pastor of the First Netherlands Reformed Congregation of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Deze tekst is geautomatiseerd gemaakt en kan nog fouten bevatten. Digibron werkt voortdurend aan correctie. Klik voor het origineel door naar de pdf. Voor opmerkingen, vragen, informatie: contact.

Op Digibron -en alle daarin opgenomen content- is het databankrecht van toepassing. Gebruiksvoorwaarden. Data protection law applies to Digibron and the content of this database. Terms of use.

Printen