Archives for June 2021

Good news for Portuguese-speaking Christians!

Our Puritan Documentary which includes a high quality 2-hour movie on the Puritans with people like Sinclair Ferguson, John MacArthur, etc., a book introducing the Puritans (by Michael Reeves and me), and 35 DVD lessons on the Puritans by various Puritan scholars together with a 250-page workbook on the lessons (by Nick Thompson and me) is now available in a high-quality production in Portuguese at a very special price, thanks to the leadership and publishing efforts of Pastors Paulo Jr and Danilo Santa Terra.

You can purchase it here: https://academiadefesadoevangelho.com.br/puritanos/

And here is the link to my interview with these two pastors about the importance of this publication in Portuguese: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egXMz951PSA

The oldest member in our church is now a great-great grandmother just a few months shy of her 100^th birthday and she is still doing well! From left to right: great-grandfather, grandmother, great-great grandmother, child, and dad. Five generations of covenant mercies!

The church has more tools, money, resources, and manpower, than ever before, and yet we seem to see so little power and impact on the world around us. Why is that? We are living in an age of endless distractions and diversions that draw us away from the church’s greatest need, and by extension, our greatest personal need, God Himself.

When the apostles, in their day, faced distractions, diversions, and challenges, what do we read they did? They “gave themselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” They focused on the foundations of ministry.

The Foundations Conference 2021 has been set up to focus on these two great themes, and will be held on the campus of Bob Jones University, Dec. 16-17, 2021. If you can make it, please join me, and a unique lineup of speakers, as we immerse ourselves in these two great themes of prayer and the Word.

To find out more, or to register:

https://www.sermonaudio.com/solo/misc/sermons/62221619543889/?fbclid=IwAR1BqSVv8a9_uvNRGJ8RXZWjfQ16TGLu4Dh6526uBHy3JkGGMNOsuLqizqI

Dear friend,

I am excited to announce that we have open spots for several people on our upcoming “Biblical Journey of Greece & Turkey on Land and by Sea” tour this fall, October 4-16, 2021, being sponsored by Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary (PRTS). You won’t want to miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to visit biblical sites in Thessaloniki, Philippi, Athens, Ephesus, Smyrna, Sardis, Pergamum, Patmos, Corinth, and many other places. This is an incredible opportunity to follow in the footsteps of the Apostles Paul and John and to learn more about how the Spirit of Christ shaped and directed the early church throughout the Mediterranean.

Pastor David Woollin and I will be delivering short, informative talks along the way, and, on occasion, longer lectures to enrich the experience. Pastor Woollin is a graduate of PRTS, CEO of Reformation Heritage Books, assistant to myself, and pastor at Grace Immanuel Reformed Baptist Church in Grand Rapids. Sign up in the next week if possible for one or more of the open spots so as not to be disappointed. In case the openings have been filled when you call, ask to be added to the waiting list. You will be notified of any future cancellations.

Having led several tours similar to this one, I can honestly say, you will not be disappointed; in fact, I believe that this will be the best tour we’ve ever done, God willing. For more information, see the attached program or call Kristina from Witte Spiritual Journeys at 616-954-7492. You may also register online at bookings.wittetravel.com. Use the booking code 100421Beek when registering.

I am thrilled about this tour and I am looking forward to seeing you there!

Warmly in Christ,

Dr. Joel R. Beeke
President of PRTS

It seems like we are losing one church member after another by death in the last half year. Today we had another funeral service—this one in memory of Joyce GeBuys, a dear sister who passed away at the age of 80. Yesterday would have been her and her dear husband Sam’s 58^th anniversary (see picture of both of them below). This precious God-fearing couple have been blessed with five children, sixteen grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Joyce dearly loved her family and showered that love upon them in abundance. One of the children said, “I could talk to her about anything—both spiritual and natural things.” That’s the sign of a true friend. She will be sorely missed.

Joyce had two favorite psalms together with her husband, both of which they read often—Psalm 46 and Psalm 121. I first meditated just with the family on Psalm 121 and we reminisced together. Then, for the funeral service I spoke on Psalm 46:1-3 about God being our refuge and strength and a very present help in trouble. At the cemetery, I spoke on Hebrews 9:27-28. Pray that God would add His blessing to His Word. And please pray especially for Sam who patiently, lovingly supported his dear wife until the end in an exemplary manner—also in regard to his upcoming back surgery scheduled for Thursday, as well as for the family.

This evening we were blessed with another wedding: Justin VanBrugge and Hollee Engelsma. Justin‘s father, Rev. David VanBrugge, gave the wedding message on “walk in love” (Eph. 5:2). It was a beautiful message and reception. Our son-in-law, Isaac, was in the wedding party so I included a picture of Isaac and our daughter Lydia with the newlyweds as well.

Please pray that God will bless this new marriage with a great measure of His Holy Spirit’s work and influence.

In terms of Reformation Heritage Books (RHB), today is a bittersweet (but mostly sweet) day for me. It is a bit of a sad day because all of our RHB employees are now in the new building and I miss them greatly already. I normally walk over from my office at PRTS to the RHB area (about 40 feet from my office) for a variety of reasons at least half a dozen times a day, and now it seems so empty. I console myself that at least we will have a small RHB/PRTS bookstore still here at the seminary which will be staffed by one PRTS employee, Giselle; it will be open from Monday to Friday—but it is not the same. All the activity of hundreds of mail order sales each day is gone! I think I’m going through withdrawal symptoms!

It is a glad day for RHB for two reasons: (1) because RHB finally has enough space in a beautiful large building (see second photo above – 11 minutes driving distance from PRTS and one block away from Grand Rapids’s busiest shopping street!) and (2) today is the first day that RHB has begun to process orders from the new warehouse (see the processing team in the first photo above). At 11:46 this morning, our CEO, David Woollin, sent me these two pictures with this succinct but historic note: “Just now the first order was fully processed and shipped from our new building! Praise the Lord!”

Pray that millions of God-honoring books will be shipped from the new RHB Bookstore for the maturation of the saints and the salvation of the lost! (For mail orders, visit www.heritagebooks.org).

P.S.: RHB’s large walk-in, retail store in our new location should be open for business as well in a few weeks. Don’t ever come to Grand Rapids without visiting it—you will love being able to purchase from the 4500 titles that will be offered in the store—all at steeply discounted, non-profit prices!

Yesterday I did a Q&A interview mostly on the Puritans for pastors and families in the Philippines with two brothers, Bryan and Khyle. I am grateful to hear of a growing interest in the Reformed faith in the Philippines. Pray that that may continue and be multiplied.

Yesterday afternoon we had yet another funeral service—this one in memory of Gilbert Vander Male, who passed away at the age of 97 as one of the oldest members of our church. He is survived by 5 children, 15 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, and scores of other relatives. He was a World War II vet, and was in the thick of battle for some months. He witnessed many comrades being killed around him, though he never spoke much about this until near the end of his life. Being self-effacing, he would not even allow a special military service at his graveside, though he did allow a flag to be draped across his coffin and then be given to his children in recognition of his service.

My colleague, Dr. Maarten Kuivenhoven, spoke in the church on Isaiah 55:1-3 (“Ho everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters,” etc.) and I gave a committal message at the graveside on Revelation 21:5-6 (“I am Alpha and Omega… I make all things new”). Two sons, Bob and John, also shared memories of their dear father. In being one of his pastors for the last 34 years I had the privilege of seeing him gradually come to saving faith in Christ over the years, then receive freedom to attend the Lord’s Supper for the first time at the age of 91(!), and grow in assurance of faith during the last years of his life so that he felt ready and at peace to die to be with Christ in the end. Praise God for the end of those made righteous and blameless in Christ (see Ps. 37:37).