NEWS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, & EVENTS

CHURCH NEWS

MINISTERIAL CALLS

Extended:

To Rev. H. Hofman of Chilliwack, British Columbia, by the congregation of Rotterdam-Alexanderpolder, the Netherlands.

Accepted:

By Rev. M. J. van Gelder of Tricht- Geldermalsen in the Netherlands to the congregation of Ridderkerk-Slikkerveer, the Netherlands.

Declined:

By Rev. J. Spaans of Norwich, Ontario, to the congregation ofUrk, the Netherlands. By Rev. B. Van Der Heiden of Hardinxveld- Giessendam, the Netherlands, to the congregation of Lethbridge, Alberta.

OBITUARY

ECKHARDT, Adrian John — Age 91, October 17,1994; St. Catharines, Ontario; Wife - Eva; Children - Rinie & Dick Attema, Joan & Bob Sinke, George & Alice Eckhardt, and John Eckhardt; 17 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren. (Rev. J. Spaans, Psalm 4:7 and Matthew 5:3.)

VANDER WAAL, Tonia — Age 83, October 5, 1994; Sioux Center, Iowa; Husband - Aart (deceased); Sons - Jan, Gary, John, Aart, Henk, and Walter; Daughters - Gertrude (Wisse) and Marie (Willekes); Brother - Andries Van Os; 50 grandchildren, 65 great-grandchildren. (Rev. J. den Hoed, Ecclesiastes 3:14a.)

50th ANNIVERSARY

The Lord willing, on November 2, 1994, our dear parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents

Mr. and Mrs. Pete DeBruin

hope to commemorate their 50th wedding anniversary.

It is our hope and prayer that the Lord may yet bless them with many more years to share together and with their family. May we all be given grace to say with a humble heart, “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23).

412 Cascade Way • Lynden, Washington 98264 (206)354-3157

50th ANNIVERSARY

The Lord willing, on November 29, 1994,

Mr. and Mrs. John L. Rus of Corsica, South Dakota

hope to commemorate their 50th wedding anniversary with children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

May the Lord remember them together with their loved ones on this special occasion and in the future.

R. R. 1, Box 150 • Corsica, South Dakota 57328

45th ANNIVERSARY

The Lord willing, on December 22, 1994, our parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents

Mr. and Mrs. Frank (Anna) Neels

hope to commemorate their 45th wedding anniversary.

“Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy Name give glory, for Thy mercy, and for Thy truth’s sake” (Psalm 115:1).

9970 Pelly Road • Chilliwack, British Columbia Canada V2P 6H4

Renewal and Gift Subscriptions

Most subscriptions to the Banner of Truth expire with the December 1994 issue. To avoid missing future issues, please forward your renewal for 1995 prior to January 1. A self-addressed envelope is provided in this issue.

During the past year, strong support for the Banner of Truth has been seen both in the number of subscriptions and in donations, for which we extend a hearty “Thank you.” Contracts have been signed for the next 12 months to lock in favorable rates for typesetting and printing. Therefore, the decision has been made to keep subscription prices the same as last year, even though subscriptions are not expected to cover total expenses. For the U.S. and Canada, the cost will be $10.00, payable in U.S. funds. For all overseas subscriptions, the cost will be $20.00, also payable in U.S. funds. Payment by International Money Order is preferable. If you are able to make a donation at the time of subscription renewal, it would be much appreciated; we trust that donations from individuals and churches will make up the shortfall.

If you receive your Banner subscription via church payment, you are not obliged to respond to this notice. However, we still urge you to consider two requests for assistance.

First, we hope to increase our readership substantially by means of gift subscriptions. Will you consider providing a gift subscription for one year to one or more of your friends? Opportunity is given for this purpose on the enclosed envelope.

Second, we desire donations in order to continue distributing our periodical to various causes, e.g., seminaries, pastors, mission efforts. It is our conviction that the distribution of orthodox, Reformed reading material is a responsible task. Particularly seminary libraries are critical places for such distribution. Should you desire to assist in this regard, please check the appropriate box on the enclosed envelope, thereby earmarking your donation for this cause.

With next month’s issue, another year of the Banner of Truth lies behind us. For the past year, it behooves us to acknowledge the Lord’s goodness to us and to our denomination. We wish to sincerely thank those who have expressed appreciation for various articles. Your feedback has been encouraging. It is good to know that our periodical continues to be read and to fill a need. Please accept this thanks in place of a personal response. Heartfelt thanks is also extended to those who have assisted us in providing sound and relevant reading material; our assistant editors, ministers, and elders for their timely contributions; our business manager, and those who assist with mailing and updating of files. Above all, may God bless the reading of the Banner of Truth to each of you, and your families, in heart and in life. We acutely feel the need for God’s blessing in order to make what is done result in His honor and to the welfare of our denomination. We request your prayers and support for a united cause in propagating biblical, Reformed truth.

“Thou hast given a banner to them that fear Thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah” (Psalm 60:4).

— AMDB

Florida Services

For those vacationing in Florida during the winter months, it will again be possible, the Lord willing, to attend church services in Bradenton. From November through April, services are held twice each Sunday at the Bradenton Meeting Room, 2004 75th Street West, Bradenton, Florida. The services are at 10:30 A.M. and 3 P.M.

Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation (Required by 39 U.S.C.3685)

1. Title of Publication: Banner of Truth

A. Publication Number: USPS 041-540

2. Date of Filing: 30 September 1994

3. Frequency of Issue: Monthly

4-5. Location of Publication: 4732 East C Avenue, Kalamazoo, Michigan, 49004

6. Publisher: The Netherlands Reformed Congregations, 108 Pratt Road, Kalamazoo, Michigan, 49001.

Editor:

Rev. A.M. den Boer, 730 Skyline Drive, Sunnyside, Washington, 98944.

Subscription Manager: Mr. D. Schipper, 4732 East C Avenue, Kalamazoo, Michigan, 49004.

7. Owner: The Netherlands Reformed Congregations, 108 Pratt Road, Kalamazoo, Michigan, 49001

8. Known bondholders, mortgages, and other security holders owning or holding one percent or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages, or other securities: None.

Total Number of Copies Printed

3,000 per month — 36,000 per year

I certify that the statements made by me above are correct and complete.

— Editor

Yearbook Update

The new clerk of the consistory for the First Netherlands Reformed Congregation (Beckwith) in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is Mr. Jake Van Dyke, 5462 Hall S.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49546 — phone (616) 949-1819.

CURRENT EVENTS

Religious Persecution in Saudi Arabia

The National & International Religion Report stated that religious police in Saudi Arabia burst into a Protestant church service in the capital of Riyadh, disrupting a congregation of about 50 Filipino migrant workers. Police arrested Filipino pastor Joel Cunanan and seven con- gregrants, apparently on grounds that the service was illegal. Churches are banned in Saudi Arabia. Church services for internationals usually are conducted at embassies or discreetly in private homes. Americans attend services hosted at the British embassy.

Outlaw Spanking in Canada?

The Christian World Report relates that Canada’s federal Justice Department is currently contemplating removing parents’ rights to spank their kids. At issue is section 43 of the Criminal Code of Canada, which asserts parents’ right to use “reasonable” physical force when disciplining children. In 1992, designated by the United Nations as the International Year of the Child, children’s rights advocates turned up the pressure to repeal section 43. The 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child requires signatories (including Canada) to take “all appropriate legislative measures to protect the child from all forms of physical or mental violence.” Most Canadians appear to retain a different view. The Toronto Star reports that 70% of citizens believe it is sometimes necessary to use physical force. Five countries have adopted anti-spanking laws against the will of the majority: Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, and Austria. In 1981 alone, just two years after Sweden adopted its anti-spanking laws, social workers in the country of 8.7 million seized 22,000 children from their homes.

AT & T: Homosexual Marriages Should be Legal

The American Family Association Journal states that communications giant AT & T has called on its employees to help change laws to make homosexual marriages legal. At a recent LEAGUE (Lesbian, Bisexual and Gay United Employees at AT & T) conference in Boston, Jerre Stead, chairman and CEO of AT & T Global Information Solutions, called upon AT & T employees to help devise a legal definition of marriage so the company can work on extending domestic partner benefits to employees in states that do not recognize marriages between same-gender partners. The conference was hosted by LEAGUE’S Boston chapter and attended by more than 360 employees. Other speakers at the conference included homosexual congressman Barney Frank of Massachusetts and Brian McNaught, a homosexual activist and writer.

Justice Department Drops Bankruptcy Case Against Church

The National & International Religion Report informs us that President Clinton changed his mind in pursuing the bankruptcy case against a Minnesota church. The case, under review by a federal appeals court, involves a Minnesota couple who gave $ 13,500 to the church in the year before they went bankrupt. A federal bankruptcy trustee is seeking to force the church to refund the tithes so creditors can be paid, contending that the couple had no right to give the money. The pastor of the church, Stephen Goold, said the church spent $200,000 on the case because of the ramifications for all churches. He added that Mr. Clinton’s action delighted him and would help the church’s case.

Eastern Europe Statesmen Acknowledge Religion in Government

An editorial in the Wall Street Journal commented on the recent visits of two Eastern Europe statesmen. Czech President Vaclav Havel and former Bulgarian Prime Minister Philip Dimitrov, both of whom suffered imprisonment for their opposition to communism, had offered some remarks on the place of religion and faith in a country. Vaclav Havel paid tribute to our Declaration of Independence in which the Creator gave man the right to liberty. “It seems,” said Havel, “that man can realize that liberty only if he does not forget the One who endowed him with it.” The Journal editorial also quoted Philip Dimitrov as saying, “Without God or a higher moral authority, things most precious to us humans are often denied to us.” The Journal noted, “It must therefore seem at least a bit peculiar to Mr. Havel and others like him to witness what is going on in America where the greatest threats to freedom and democracy today are school prayers, evangelical Christians seeking political office, and all use of a public accommodation for religious activity. For making anything like Mr. Havel’s references to a Creator in an American classroom, a teacher can expect to be threatened with the loss of his job. School principals have been removed from their positions for allowing a prayer to be read…In the zealotry that guards against ‘dangers’ like school prayers and that carries church-state separation to absurd lengths, they must doubtless recognize an oppressively familiar echo.”

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