Archives for August 22, 2020

With the ordination of Rev. Simon Yin as pastor for our Chinese fellowship group a few weeks ago and the return of Rev. Foppe VanderZwaag to our church as emeritus pastor last week, we now have seven ministers in our church—a record for us! All seven of us and our wives enjoyed a wonderful evening of nostalgic and spiritual fellowship together in our home. Each couple shared a major area of thanksgiving and a major area of need in their lives, and the next minister in the circle then prayed for that couple, after which we enjoyed the delicious refreshments our wives prepared. “How good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Ps. 133:1).

Our Christian high school graduation (Plymouth Christian School in Grand Rapids) finally took place this morning, outside on school property, all in accord with the Michigan governor’s very strict rules. The 30+ graduates sat in a long row on top of a hill (see first picture), their parents on the bottom of hill, other relatives in cars and trucks behind the parents, and those of us involved in having a speaking role in the program sat behind the graduates. Most relatives had to listen on-line. It was all rather surreal, but the team of workers who put it all together did a great job and it actually turned out to be an edifying service.

The second picture is of the valedictorian, Olivia Yin, receiving her diploma. Her father is a graduate of our Puritan Reformed seminary and was recently ordained in our Heritage Reformed church to serve in a full-time position primarily as pastor of the Chinese fellowship group in the church. Please pray with us that the 13 years of education that most of these dear graduates have received in our church-sponsored school would bear much fruit for this life and even more for the better and eternal life to come.

Two new RHB titles that I enjoyed editing have just arrived: Paul Washer’s “The Essential Means of Grace” which focuses on the Scriptures, prayer, repentance, and the church, and Sarah Ivill’s “Broken Cisterns: Thirsting for the Creator Instead of the Created.”

Both titles are sorely needed today and are substantive in biblical content. In some ways, they relate to each other, for it is the essential means of grace that the Spirit uses to show us our broken cisterns and to lead us to the Fountain of living waters.

The Essential Means of Grace: https://bit.ly/34jTwow
Broken Cisterns: https://bit.ly/3j1v3Z3