* Visit of PRCA Contact Committee (2)

On Thursday evening, December 17, the men held their first meeting to begin discussions concerning a sister-church relationship between the PRCP and PRCA.  Representatives from the 3 consistories of the PRCP met together in the Protestant Reformed Church in Bulacan.

At this first meeting the topics of discussion were especially Reformed Doctrine and Reformed Worship.

Prof. Dykstra addressing the group

Enjoying coffee time and fellowship

On Sunday, December 20, I drove Prof. Dykstra to the PRC in Bulacan so that he could preach both morning worship services there. 

Showing his family picture

Getting ready to begin

Group shot in PRCB between services

Handing out the diglot (English and Tagalog) sermon outlines for the second service

Rev. Kleyn and Prof. Cammenga had to travel that Sunday morning to Maranatha PRC so that Prof. Cammenga could preach for their two morning worship services.  Without a second vehicle on hand, they used public transportation.

They first started off with a tricycle.

Then they transferred to a jeepney.

From there they transferred to a taxi (no picture). 

In Filipino lingo that means their trip to church took them "3 rides".

Getting ready to preach in Maranatha PRC

Lunch with the consistory after church

Since a second meeting for the sister church relationship was to be held in Maranatha PRC that afternoon, I drove Prof. Dykstra and the consistory members of the PRC in Bulacan from Bulacan to Maranatha for the meeting.

Discussing Reformed Church Government and the Reformed antithetical life

The Contact Committee delegates with the representatives from the consistories of the Berean PRC, the PRC in Bulacan, and Maranatha PRC

Coffee (meryenda) and more time for fellowship

We pray that the Lord will be pleased to use the Contact Committee's visit and the meetings that were held to further the unity between the PRCA and the PRCP.  May that unity come to expression in an official sister church relationship in God's good time and according to His sovereign will.

"Churches whose usages differ from ours merely in nonessentials shall not be rejected."

Article 85 of  the Church Order of the Protestant Reformed Churches

"The Protestant Reformed Churches in America, in obedience to Scripture as interpreted in our three forms of unity, confess that there is one holy, catholic church.  They believe, further, that it is their sacred duty to manifest the true unity and catholicity of the church on earth in as far as that is possible, not only in their denominational fellowship, but also in conjunction with all churches which have obtained like precious faith with us, both domestic and foreign.  With a view to the achievement of this calling, the synod shall maintain a Committee for Contact with Other Churches."

Preamble to the Constitution of the Committee for Contact with Other Churches

* Visit of PRCA Contact Committee (1)

In response to a request from the PRCP (Protestant Reformed Churches in the Philippines), a delegation from the Contact Committee of the PRCA traveled to the Philippines in December 2015 to begin the work toward the goal of establishing a sister-church relationship between the PRCA and the PRCP.

Prof. Russell Dykstra and Prof. Ronald Cammenga arrived on Friday, December 11.

For being 3 hours late and arriving at 1 AM, they don't look too bad!

At the Antipolo Public Market the next day

On Sunday, December 13, Prof. Cammenga preached in Provident Christian Church.

Outside the church gate with Bro. Bien Montoya and his son BJ.

With some of the young girls from Provident church.

Just before the worship service.

Lunch and fellowship afterwards

Meanwhile Prof. Dykstra was preaching at the Berean PRC and having lunch with the saints there.  After lunch we and some of the members of Provident joined him at the Berean church for a speech on Christian Education.

Getting ready for and giving his speech

Overlooking Manila.  We finally found a day when the city was not secluded in clouds.

On Tuesday, instead of the regular 7M meeting each professor gave a lecture on a special topic, with other men invited to attend (in addition to the pastors who regularly attend 7M).

Some discussion before the lectures.

Prof. Dykstra spoke on Old Testament Types.

Rev. Kleyn chaired the classes.

Someone put at least one creature to sleep!

Some books were brought along and about 30 titles sold.

Prof. Cammenga spoke on the Assurance of Salvation.

Group shot

Lunch

We pray God's blessing on the work the professors do here and that, if it is His will, a sister-church relationship may eventually be established.

 

 

 

* Visit and Help of Rev. Jon Mahtani

In November, Rev. Jonathan Mahtani, pastor of Cornerstone PRC in Crete, Indiana, was here for three Sundays to help with the mission work.

Greeted at the airport by the Kleyns and Elder Eric Mescallado.

The first Sunday he was here, Rev. Mahtani preached in Maranatha PRC in Valenzuela.

He also attended their monthly consistory meeting.

Experiencing a trike ride.

Seeing the wet market in Antipolo.

Rev. Mahtani cooked chicken curry one night while he was here.  Yum!

With the catechism children in Provident Christian Church in Marikina.

Speaking in Provident Christian Church on a Thursday evening.

There was time for a day trip to Taal Volcano.

Rev. Mahtani spent a day in Gabaldon with Rev. Ibe to visit the Berean PRC's mission work there.

The second Sunday, Rev. Mahtani preached in the Berean PRC.

Speaking at the Bible study class in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental.

Yes, he drove!  Although not in Manila.  This is on the way from Bacolod City to Sipalay City in Negros Occidental.

SNO classes in Sipalay.

Attending an outreach Bible study in Tondo, Manila conducted by Rev. Flores (pastor of the PRC in Bulacan).

On the third and final Sunday of his stay, Rev. Mahtani preached in the PRC in Bulacan.

With the consistory of the PRC in Bulacan

One amusing aspect of Rev. Mahtani's time here was that he was frequently mistaken for a Filipino, and even addressed and spoken to in Tagalog.  Perhaps the last picture above gives an indication why this was so.  But his clear American accent usually cleared things up right away.  :-)

We thoroughly enjoyed his visit and stay with us, as did also the saints here.  His company and his help with the work is greatly appreciated.  We thank him, his family, and Cornerstone PRC for their willingness to have him visit and help out here.