Ministry Wives Institute at PRTS
Grand Rapids (September 9)
The Ministry Wives’ Institute (MWI), which aims to help train women to be biblical and faithful ministers’ wives, is a great blessing to PRTS’s seminary community. It is particularly appreciated by the wives of foreign students who often find themselves in a rather lonely situation in a “foreign” country while their husbands are studying hard and working long hours. Led by my wife, and assisted by the wives of the other faculty members and a few wives from the student body, MWI meets every other week to fellowship and to address various themes and issues that arise in the role of being a minister’s wife in a pastor’s family. Addresses are arranged for a three or four year cycle, with every semester focusing on a particular major theme confronted by ministers’ wives. Speakers for these occasions include faculty members, their wives, and outside speakers as well.
This year I gave the opening address to the MWI on “Being Busy But Fruitful: How to Organize Your Time for God’s Glory.” I addressed the foundational use of our time—namely, to be used for God’s glory, and then expounded eleven practical ways to help wives organize time.
Lake Mary, Florida (September 11)
I spent the day at Reformation Bible College, which is a fairly new college on a very beautiful campus, replete with a large pond and remarkably tame sandhill cranes moving about, situated some forty miles from Orlando, Florida. The college is associated with R. C. Sproul and Ligonier Ministries, and has huge potential for growth—especially in our day when so few colleges or universities teach from a self-consciously biblical and Reformed perspective. The president of the college, Steven Nichols, a personable and able 43-year-old church historian, was my guide for the day. It was great to spend some time with him, as I had long wanted to get to know him better.
I first taught a class on Puritan Preaching for a few dozen students in their Church and Ministry Course, then delivered a chapel message for the student body and faculty (approximately 125 people) in the magnificent St. Andrews Church, after which I gave a PRTS power point presentation to nine students who expressed an interest in hearing more about PRTS in connection with their future studies. Four of the students seemed openly interested in attending PRTS once they have completed their college degree at RBC. In the afternoon, I spoke again for about two dozen students—this time for a class on the The Church Before the Reformation. My address was on Anselm’s view of the atonement and its impact on the Reformers and Reformed theology.
With Chris Larson Holding Diodati and Greenham
I then had a short visit with Dr. R. C. Sproul just before he was going on the air with Dr. John MacArthur. It was great to see him again and to hear that he is feeling reasonably well and pressing on in the Lord’s work. I also spent some time with Chris Larson—Dr. Sproul’s right hand man who does an amazing job of overseeing the entire Ligonier Ministries operation. Chris has in his office several antiquarian Reformed and Puritan books, so we took a picture of him holding the Pious Annotations of John Diodati and of me holding the complete Works of Richard Greenham.
Iowa and South Dakota (September 12–15)
After overnighting at home, I flew the next day to South Dakota to meet Mary there. She had gone ahead of me (while I was in Florida) to spend a few days with her sister (Linda VanBeek). On Friday evening and Saturday we visited about a dozen families—mostly in their own homes, to fellowship and show them our new PRTS power point presentation. It was an intensely busy but encouraging and profitable time.
On Sunday, I preached twice to the Hull, Iowa HRC, once on “the woman that was a sinner” (Luke 7:37) and in the evening on heaven’s genuine utopia (Rev. 21:1-8). I felt remarkably helped in the evening message. As we flew home on Monday, we said to each other that in addition to enjoying time with our relatives, this weekend bonded us to the dear Hull congregation more than ever.
Cheyenne, Wyoming (September 19–21)
Cheyenne, Wyoming
On September 19 and 20 I gave four addresses for a conference put on by the Northwoods Presbyterian Church in Cheyenne, Wyoming around the theme of “Families Living for God’s Glory.” Topics included lessons from the Puritans for contemporary marriages and child-rearing, family worship, training children to follow Christ, and how to live godly through difficult times of family affliction. I also preached twice on Sunday, did a presentation on the seminary, and participated in a Q&A session.
Over the weekend I spent considerable time with Pastor Milan Norgauer—a tender-hearted minister who deeply appreciates the Reformed experiential emphasis. On more than one occasion, he wept on the pulpit in reflecting upon the truth being expounded. By the time I left, I felt like we had built a remarkably good friendship for only knowing each other for three days. The gospel has a way of allowing believers to do that, doesn’t it?
I also enjoyed time over breakfast with some of the elders who picked my brains on a number of edifying subjects. Equally delightful was a time of fellowship over a Sunday dinner at the beautiful home of Dr. and Mrs. Alexander Ramig, Jr. out in the rather barren countryside.
Conference attendees came from a variety of backgrounds. Most were of Reformed persuasion. Some Baptist families were present. Many came from small, rural congregations scattered throughout the sparsely populated state of Wyoming. A few families came from Denver, Colorado, include the Roy VanZweden family. It was great to have lunch with them and catch up with their lives.
