Curatorium Announcement

The Lord willing and we live, the Curatorium of our theological school will meet on Wednesday, May 15, 2013, in the Beckwith Avenue Church of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Rev. A.H. Verhoef will lead the prayer service the evening before the meeting.

One purpose of our meeting should be to examine students who receive instruction in preparation for the ministry. However, for eight years already there have been no students. Another chief purpose of our meeting is to decide whether anyone can be admitted to begin studying at our theological school. This spring it will be twelve years ago since such a decision could be made.

The Curatorium desires to hear from those men who not only can speak of the Lord’s work of saving grace in their heart but who also have a calling wrought by God’s Spirit in their soul to go forth and speak in His Name, whether it be in the congregations or upon the mission field. Since April 2008, our mission field in Bolivia has been without a missionary minister. Is not the preaching of the gospel the main task in mission work? Should this not weigh upon us? Although it was said in a different context, still it remains true—the King’s business requireth haste.

When the Samaritan woman left her waterpot, went back into the city, and testified of Christ, the Lord Jesus Himself gave instruction to His disciples as He was sitting at Jacob’s well near Sychar. What were His words? “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.”

Shall the Lord of the harvest be pleased to send forth laborers in His favor—among us—this year? Is there yet one, or are there more, given to look on those fields white already to harvest? Shall He give some to sow? Some to reap? We know that in the past He gave ministers who labored among us; the Lord has taken them home, and we miss them still. Shall others now be given unto us to enter into their labors?

We have forfeited all, and, by our sins, only supplied reasons why the Lord should pass us by. But, oh, may it please the almighty and merciful God to take reasons out of Himself, to have respect unto His covenant, and to remember us in mercy for His great Name’s sake. Is not Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever? May our eyes be unto Him who is the King of His Church.

If there are those who are exercised with these matters, necessity being laid upon them, knowing the terror of the Lord and being constrained by the love of Christ, they should go to their consistory and ask for an attest in order to come before the Curatorium. Consistories of vacant congregations should ask their moderator to be present so as to give advice. If an attest is granted, the person receiving it should send it to the Curatorium at the address below, together with a personal letter requesting to come to our meeting. This should be done, if possible, by the first week of May. A consistory that grants an attest should also contact the Curatorium, and then a form will be sent which should be completed by the consistory.

May the Lord be pleased to bind these solemn matters upon the hearts of His people, and may He also give that they be remembered in the public prayers.

[Please note that our regular clerk, Rev. H.D. den Hollander, still feels so weak that he asked to be temporarily relieved of these duties. May the Lord remember him and raise him up again. The chairman, Rev. J. den Hoed, has therefore asked Rev. A.H. Verhoef to act as temporary clerk until the May meeting.]

Address of the temporary clerk of the Curatorium:

Rev. A.H. Verhoef
142 Lakeshore Road West
St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada L2R 6P9
Telephone: (905) 935-4934 / Fax: (905) 935-5883

On behalf of the Curatorium,

Rev. J. den Hoed, chairman
Rev. A.H. Verhoef, temporary clerk

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