Clarion
THE CANADIAN REFORMED MAGAZINE
Volume 57, No. 11
May 23, 2008
. . . little about the earth
and its solar system
is typical, ordinary,
undistinguished.
Inside this issue
Two Tier Christianity?
Pentecost – A Feast of Many Tongues
Presenting Three Graduates
Editorial
E. Kampen
Rev. E. Kampen is minister of
the Canadian Reformed Church
at Orangeville, Ontario
[email protected]
Two Tier Christianity?
This deposit was not given to the
believers individually but to the church collectively
In our interaction with confessors of Christ from
different church backgrounds, sooner or later we will
come across something called “the baptism with the
Holy Spirit.” Other terms used are “sealing with the
Spirit” and “the second blessing.” This experience is
seen as an event distinct from and subsequent to
conversion. The initial evidence of this baptism with
the Spirit is said to be speaking in tongues.1 This
suggests that there are actually two tiers of Christians,
with some only being converted by the Spirit while
others have a second experience of the Spirit.
Such thinking leads to a two tier church,
consisting of the sealed and unsealed
Christians
As we are at that time of the year that we
remember the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost, it
is a good time to give some thought to this. Talk of
baptism with the Holy Spirit is always linked to
Pentecost. This baptism with the Holy Spirit is an
issue that has a habit of causing confusion both
among old and young members alike, even
undermining confidence in the Reformed
understanding of the faith.
Scriptural basis
The primary scriptural basis given for the idea
that every believer should expect a baptism with the
Holy Spirit is found in the book of Acts. In chapter 1
266 • MAY 23, 2008
we read about the way the Lord Jesus told his
disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the promised Spirit.
In Acts 2 we read how when the Spirit came upon the
disciples, in fulfilment of this promise, the disciples
spoke in tongues.
Another key passage brought in to support the
idea of being baptized by the Spirit after believing is
Ephesians 1:13, 14. We read there, “And you also
were included in Christ when you heard the word of
truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed,
you were marked in him with a seal, the promised
Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our
inheritance until the redemption of those who are
God’s possession – to the praise of his glory.”
Emphasis is placed on the way Paul speaks of
“having believed” and then speaking of being
sealed with the Holy Spirit.
The scriptural basis provided for “baptism with
the Holy Spirit,” however, is not as solid as it may
appear at first glance. In fact, it soon breaks down
when one considers the passages in some detail
within their context.
Acts
With respect to the book of Acts, it is important to
keep in mind that it is not a book that lays out a
pattern of religious experience for individual
believers. It is a book filled with narratives
describing how our Lord Jesus continued his ministry
from heaven through the apostles. The book is
descriptive and not prescriptive. This does not mean
that the Spirit has nothing to say to us in this book.
He tells us very much but He does it in the same way
as He does through the narratives in the books of
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Samuel or the gospels. This means it is too much to
take our Lord’s promise to his disciples that they
would be “baptized with the Holy Spirit” as a
promise that is to be personally expected or sought
after by each believer. That particular promise was
fulfilled on Pentecost. We do not read of such an
outpouring of the Spirit every time people believed.
To be sure, we read it at transitional points such as
when the gospel came to the Samaritans and to
Cornelius. The point to highlight, however, is that
they were transitional points as the gospel moved
beyond the Jews.
Ephesians
With respect to Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, a
number of aspects need to be mentioned. First, there
is a technical but important point. It is not easy to see
this in our English translation but it can be figured
out if one’s mind is not predisposed to the sealing of
the Spirit being subsequent to believing. Paul’s
choice of verb tenses does not point to a sequence.
Rather, the words used speak of indefinite action.
Human logic may wish to speak of faith before
sealing, but God’s gifts ultimately are one.
Second, we should note that Paul is speaking
collectively, not individually. In particular he seems
to have the Gentile believers in mind. This is a major
theme in his letter to the Ephesians. Especially in
chapters 2 and 3 he speaks about the unity of Jews
and Gentiles in Christ. When we keep these things
in mind we will get away from thinking he is
speaking of a sequence where sealing with the Holy
Spirit is a separate event from becoming a Christian.
Such thinking leads to a two tier church, consisting
of the sealed and unsealed Christians. If you read
through the whole letter you will quickly see that
Paul is vigorously opposing a two tier church. The
issue among the Ephesians, which was the main
issue in the early church, was the status of the
Gentiles as compared to the Jews. Already in his
opening words he gave praise to God for having
blessed the believers with every spiritual blessing
in Christ (Eph 1:3). Their equality is shown in that all
who believe were marked with a seal, namely, the
Holy Spirit.
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In This Issue
Editorial – Two Tier Christianity?
— E. Kampen ..........................................................................266
Treasures, New and Old – Pentecost – A Feast of
Many Tongues — C. Bosch ..................................................269
Modern Science and the Christian Faith (2)
— F.G. Oosterhoff ....................................................................270
Ray of Sunshine — Mrs. C. Gelms and Mrs. P. Gelms ............274
Growing up Together — H.VanderHoek ................................275
College Corner — G.H.Visscher ..............................................277
Help Requested for South Africa — J. Moesker ....................279
Book Review — Reviewed by W. Bredenhof ............................281
Farewell to the Slaas — J. Janssens ..........................................282
Book Review — Reviewed by C.Van Dam................................284
MAY 23, 2008 • 267
Third, we should note how Paul speaks of the Holy
Spirit as “a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance.” He
uses similar language in his second letter to the
Corinthians. We read in 2 Corinthians 1:22, “He
anointed us, set us seal of ownership on us and put
his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit guaranteeing
what is to come.” A little further, in chapter 5:5, we
read, “Now it is God who has made us for this very
purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit,
guaranteeing what is to come.”
The Spirit as deposit
The way the Spirit is described as a “deposit”
requires careful attention. It is a commercial term
that we still use in daily life. For example, when a
person plans to buy a house or a car, he or she will
need to put down a deposit. We also use the term
“down payment.” Other synonyms that come to mind
are “earnest” and “pledge.” In the case of someone
buying a house, the deposit or down payment is both
the first payment and the promise that the rest will
be paid. With this everyday language Paul
described the Spirit. That he is thinking of Pentecost
comes out in the way he wrote of the “promised Holy
Spirit” as the deposit. That is the language we find
in Acts 1 in anticipation of the sending of the Spirit
on Pentecost.
The term “deposit” reinforces the unique character
of the baptism with the Spirit on Pentecost. After all,
you give a deposit only once. This deposit was not
given to the believers individually but to the church
collectively. The gift of the Spirit on Pentecost was
both God’s promise that He will give the inheritance
secured by Christ and the first installment of that
inheritance. By that first installment the church
received a foretaste of what that inheritance will be
like. If we think of how elsewhere Paul writes about
the gifts of the Spirit, how He dwells in the church
which is called the “temple of the Holy Spirit,” how the
268 • MAY 23, 2008
Spirit renews our lives, or how the Spirit emboldens
the believers to speak about Christ, the deposit is not
some bare minimum. The deposit is very rich already.
The experience of that first instalment should stir up a
deep longing to receive the whole inheritance, that is,
life in the resurrection body in the new heaven and
new earth where we will live in full fellowship with
God and our neighbour.
The church, therefore, is not waiting for another
baptism with the Spirit. It was baptized with the Spirit
on Pentecost. That means that in the church there are
not two tiers of Christians, those without and those
with a Pentecost experience. The church has had its
Pentecost experience and all who believe in Jesus
Christ share in that experience, just as much as they
share in his death and resurrection. Those in Christ
have been blessed “with every spiritual blessing in
Christ” (Eph 1:3). God’s gracious deposit of the Holy
Spirit is a lasting gift, shared by all those who belong
to his church, rich enough to tide us through to the end
when we will receive the inheritance in full.
For example, the Statement of Fundamental and
Essential Truths of the Pentecostal Assemblies of
Canada states, “The baptism in the Holy Spirit is an
experience in which the believer yields control of
himself to the Holy Spirit. Through this he comes to
know Christ in a more intimate way and receives
power to witness and grow spiritually. Believers
should earnestly seek the baptism in the Holy Spirit
according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The initial evidence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit is
speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives
utterance. This experience is distinct from and
subsequent to the experience of the new birth.”
Among the key Bible passages used to support this
are Acts 1:4, 8.
1
Treasures, New and Old
C. Bosch
Pentecost – A
Feast of Many Tongues
MATTHEW 13:52
Rev. C. Bosch is minister
emeritus of the Fellowship
Canadian Reformed Church
at Burlington, Ontario
[email protected]
There were ten days between
the Lord’s ascension and Pentecost,
Israel’s blessed harvest feast. The
church, Christ’s new covenant
community, waited for power from
on high! No doubt there was what
one commentator1 has called “an
intense pitch of anticipation.” It
was an anticipation generated by
the Spirit Himself as He moved
history to this redemptive
historical moment in which the
church was drenched with his
powerful presence.
The sign above the door of that
“one place” (Acts 2:1) might well
have been “Place of Prophetic
Promises Fulfilled!” The Spirit
knocked at the door of that place
and quickly filled it with his
personal, heavenly sound and
sight (vv 2-3). Those marvelous,
symbolic things did not only
announce his divine presence, but
also his active engagement. It was
an engagement that moved the
hearts and lips of no less than 120
saints, “In many tongues, one God,
one faith confessing” (Ps 87:4, Book
of Praise).
The fullness of God’s harvest is
present. No more “a prophet here,
a priest there, and a king at a
distance.” Instead, there was a
multitude of prophets, each one
“declaring the wonders of God”
in languages heard all over
the world.
“All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other
tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”
Acts 2:4
Here is the vanguard of the
church, Christ’s holy, Christian
congregation. They are together as
the instruments of the ascended
Lord Jesus Christ, so that the
“glorious things” enumerated by
the Sons of Korah in Psalm 87
might be fulfilled. Indeed, so that
true Israel’s “sons and daughters”
might prophesy, God’s “old men
might dream dreams” and his
“young men might see visions.”
These weren’t pipedreams nor
hallucinations, but the living Word
of God (Joel 2:28-31).
On Pentecost, “The Holy Spirit
comes to finish and perfect the
work of Good Friday and Easter, to
bring in from the first fruits (Easter)
the full harvest of all God’s
children.”2 For Jesus Christ does
not stand still. He’d promised to
send the abundant Spirit down (see
John 14-15), not only to comfort and
counsel the disciples, so often
quivering with fear and doubt. But
also so that this Spirit, testifying of
Jesus Christ, might open the
mouths of all Christ’s followers to
testify of Him! The latter activity
was not just a suggestion but the
command of Christ, who would
have his “living stones” confess
God’s glorious acts without fail
(John 15:27; 1 Pet 2:9).
No doubt those “wonders of
God” declared to the international
audience on the day of Pentecost
would have been many. They
surely would have included the
saving acts of God in Jesus Christ:
the wonders of his incarnation,
death, resurrection, and ascension
to the throne room of God.
Would they not also have
included those “wonders in the
heaven above” of which Joel had
spoken and which Peter called to
mind (Acts 2:19)? These are the
signs which testify of God’s
impending judgment at the return
of Jesus Christ. Those things too,
belong to the “revelation
repertoire” of God’s people, his
word of justice and judgment, as
well as of peace and comfort and
hope. For all Pentecost prophets
must follow the lead of Enoch, who
minced no words as he warned his
own generation (Jude 14-15).
Now here we are in the year of
our Lord, 2008. We celebrate
Pentecost, but not as a brief and
momentary “high” on the church’s
calendar. We celebrate it as a
lasting gift and the initiation of
that universal proclamation which
must engage us every day. It is an
engagement in which ministers
and missionaries of the gospel
have a leading role, for “How can
they believe in the one of whom
they have not heard? And how can
they hear without someone
preaching to them?” (Rom 10:14).
MAY 23, 2008 • 269
But it does not stop there. For
“from the lips of children and
infants” God has ordained praise
(Ps 8:2). Even from the mouths of
teenagers the world will know of
the power and mercy of our Triune
God. Think of that young girl in
Naaman’s household who directed
that powerful commander of a
heathen army to the prophet in
Israel (2 Kgs 5)! Think of Daniel
and his three God-fearing friends
who witnessed to their God while
under duress and far from home
(Dan 1).
May we not be tongue-tied and
unwilling to confess God’s Name.
Rather, may our tongues be joined
to that swelling, Spirit-filled
throng which delights to declare
the mighty works of God! Let us do
it, so that one day the whole earth
may be filled with God’s praise
and glory. For the gift remains
and the Spirit will abide with the
church forever.
Alexander Maclaren, The Acts of
the Apostles (New York: A.C.
Armstrong, 1907), p. 42.
2
Clarence Stam, Celebrating
Salvation (Winnipeg: Premier,
1997), p. 217.
1
F.G. Oosterhoff
Dr. F.G. Oosterhoff is a
historian in Hamilton, Ontario
[email protected]
Modern Science and the
Christian Faith (Part 2 of 2)
This is a slightly adapted
version of a presentation I gave at
a conference for science and math
teachers held at the Teachers
College in Hamilton on February
29-March 1, 2008.
3. The Argument from Design
– with reference to twentiethcentury discoveries
In the first installment we
concentrated on how we are not to
use the book of nature in defending
the faith. We saw that (1) in seeking
to know God we may never forget
about his revelation in the second
book, namely the written Word, and
(2) we must think twice before
using the so-called “God
hypothesis” to fill the gaps in our
knowledge. We should simply
follow those early scientists who
rejoiced in discovering the
testimony in nature of what
Romans 1 calls “God’s invisible
qualities – his eternal power and
divine nature.” By doing so we
270 • MAY 23, 2008
come closest, I believe, to the
original meaning of the ancient
Argument from Design.
That Argument has been
greatly enhanced by recent
discoveries in physics, astronomy,
and cosmology and it is these
discoveries that I want to bring to
your attention in this section. I am
referring to two separate fields: (1)
the fine-tuning of the universe and
(2) the rare-earth hypothesis. Since
I have dealt with this topic in the
recent past I will not go into much
detail but refer those who want to
know more about it to two earlier
articles. They can be found in the
Clarion issues of December, 2007,
under the title “In Wisdom You
Made Them All. . . .”
My starting point was the socalled Copernican Principle of
mediocrity, a concept dating from
the twentieth century, which has
greatly influenced the search for
intelligent aliens (usually called
the Search for Extra-Terrestrial
Intelligence or SETI). According to
the Copernican Principle the earth
and its human inhabitants are
typical, run-of-the-mill phenomena,
the results of random evolutionary
processes. Contrary to the message
of the Bible, they are of no intrinsic
significance and are certainly not
unique. This principle, I pointed
out, is based on the facts that (1)
the cosmos, as became evident
especially since the work of
American astronomer Edwin
Hubble in the early twentieth
century, is much and much larger
than was formerly assumed, (2) our
earth, its solar system, and even its
galaxy are little more than specks
in this inconceivably vast universe,
and (3) the human species is a latecomer in cosmic history, which
according to modern scholarship
spans billions of years.
The limited size of our habitat
and the limited age of our species,
in short, are being used as
arguments against our planet’s and
our own uniqueness. And the
reason why the Copernican
Principle has so greatly stimulated
the Search for Extra-Terrestrial
Intelligence is the assumption that,
since the laws of nature are
generally the same, developments
that have taken place on the earth
must have taken place elsewhere
in the universe. The basic
requirement for the development of
intelligent life elsewhere was the
existence of earth-like planets
orbiting sun-like stars. Of such
planets, it was believed, there
should be untold numbers in the
Milky Way alone.
That was the assumption.
But as I proceeded to show, so far
the search has failed, and the
belief in the Copernican Principle
of mediocrity is not as strong today
as it has been. Although it is still
widely accepted as scientifically
proven, it is in fact under
increasing scientific attack. The
scientists involved show that
rather than being average,
undistinguished, run-of-the-mill,
the earth appears to be unique
after all, and even uniquely fitted
for life, and that the same applies
to the solar system, the Milky Way
galaxy, and the universe as a
whole. With respect to the
uniqueness of earth and solar
system, the conclusion follows that
we may be alone in the universe
after all. Here follows a summary
of the arguments I listed.
3.1 A Goldilocks universe
The discoveries against the
Copernican Principle of mediocrity
began during the second half of the
twentieth century. One factor was
growing evidence of the so-called
“fine-tuning” of the universe. That
term refers to the fact that the laws
of nature are such that they make
possible (1) the very existence of
the universe as such and (2) the
ability of this universe to sustain
complex, intelligent life like our
own. In connection with that
second point, scientists are
speaking of a Goldilocks universe.
The name is derived from the
children’s story of Goldilocks and
the three bears, where in the end
things turned out to be “just right.”
Similarly, it was found,
conditions in the heavens and on
the earth are “just right” for
complex life. There appears to be
nothing haphazard about them.
The idea of randomness
and mediocrity are
contradicted by solid
scientific facts
Should the natural laws or
physical constants be altered even
to the smallest degree, a lifesustaining universe would be
impossible. As physicist Karl
Giberson writes: “Make gravity one
percent stronger or weaker and the
sun won’t shine properly; change
the electrical force just a bit and
organic molecules won’t form;
make the universe expand just a
little faster and there won’t be any
solar systems. And so on. All of the
various features of this universe
appear to have been optimized for
life.” He adds, “All this would
occasion no surprise if it turned out
that the laws of nature somehow
have to have their current form, if
there were some reason why
gravity has its particular strength,
electrons their mass, the photon its
energy, and so on. But, as nearly as
anyone can tell. . . there is no
reason why the various features of
our universe are the way they are,
and not some other, equally
plausible, way.”
All of this, of course, suggests
design, rather than a process of
random development. Here as
elsewhere in nature, the Creator
appears to have given us a book
written in a language that is
altogether understandable for
those who have eyes to see and
ears to hear.
3.2 A privileged planet
The book of nature suggests
design not only in the universe at
large, but also in the small part
where we reside, namely the earth
and its solar system. Here again,
the idea of randomness and
mediocrity are contradicted by
solid scientific facts. I quote the
following from the earlier series:
(1) There is the nearness of the
moon, as well as its exceptional
size and gravity. Our moon is large
and heavy enough to stabilize the
earth’s rotation and prevent its axis
from tilting too far into the
direction of the sun or giant planet
Jupiter. The earth’s axis is tilted at
23.5 degrees, which gives us our
seasons and assures a relatively
limited range in temperatures. The
moon also helps raise ocean tides
and currents, which again play a
role in regulating climate. In these
and in various other respects the
moon’s life-supporting function is
exceptional compared to other
planet-moon systems that have
been observed.
(2) The earth’s situation appears
optimal for the existence of life
also because the planet enjoys
MAY 23, 2008 • 271
protection from asteroids, comets,
and other “near earth objects” from
space. There are large numbers of
such objects threatening us and
depending on their size their
impact could be devastating. Other
planets, however, including Jupiter,
Saturn, and Mars, as well as our
moon, form a protective shield
around the earth, safeguarding our
planet from ongoing
bombardments. They serve as
“cosmic vacuum sweepers,”
drawing killer rockets to
themselves and so diverting them
from planet earth. In the absence
of these vacuum sweepers, it is
unlikely that we would be here.
(3) The earth is located at the
proper distance from the sun. If it
were further away, its temperature
would be closer to that of Mars
with its perpetual deepfreeze; if it
were closer, it might suffer the
scorching heat of Venus. In either
case, complex life would be
impossible.
(4) Other necessities of life
which the earth provides (unlike
other planets in our system)
include liquid water, an oxygenrich atmosphere, and a protective
magnetic field.
(5) Also important are the
location and mass of the sun. Our
sun is at the right distance from the
overcrowded centre of the galaxy,
where cosmic radiation is too high
for life to exist. The sun has also
the proper mass, making it
possible for our planet to orbit at a
safe distance – neither too close to
its star nor too far away from it.
Although more massive than many
other stars, the sun is not so
massive that it would produce
excessive amounts of radiation
and thereby make life impossible.
It is also a very steady source of
energy. If energy output was not
constant – if there were great
272 • MAY 23, 2008
increases or decreases – the
consequences could again be
deadly for complex life.
In short, little about the earth
and its solar system is typical,
ordinary, undistinguished. Both
appear to be exceptional and so
far, in spite of years of very
enthusiastic and very expensive
research, no similar system has
been discovered. For the time
being it seems best, therefore, to
assume the correctness of the rareearth hypothesis. The
“coincidences” are too striking.
They go directly against the
Copernican Principle of mediocrity
and the related belief in
unplanned, unguided, random
evolution.
3.3 The Anthropic Principle
Astronomers refer to the
various factors I described as the
“Anthropic Principle” (from
anthropos, Greek for “human
being”), since they suggest the
“human-friendliness” of the earth,
the solar system, the galaxy, and
the cosmos itself. The news has, for
obvious reasons, been welcomed
by Christians, who tend to agree
with astronomer Robert Jastrow’s
assessment that the Anthropic
Principle is “the most theistic result
ever to come out of science.” But
unbelieving scientists also realize
the principle’s strength and quite a
few have attempted to disprove it.
For them the universe simply has
to be the result of a random process
and they try to safeguard this
cherished belief at all costs.
The best known argument
against design is the assumption
of a multiverse – that is, of an
infinite number of unobservable
parallel universes, which because
of their very great number just
might by accident yield one
universe with the necessary
properties for life, namely ours. The
argument is similar to the one that
a million monkeys that are
provided with a million computers
will in the end, again by pure
accident, produce the play Hamlet.
I read somewhere, incidentally,
that that argument has been tested
and found wanting. (Apparently
the monkeys produced nothing but
long lists of aaaaaa’s and zzzzzz’s
and so on, or they used the
computers as toilets.) The
argument of the multiverse seems
to me to be equally speculative.
It certainly needs as much faith as
does the belief in a Creator.
Indeed, as a Christian scientist
remarked, if atheists can believe in
multiple universes they should
have no problem believing in
heaven and hell. These, too, could
be seen as alternate universes
operating outside space and time.
There are also scientists who
agree that the anthropic evidence
is too strong to be ignored. Among
them is the British astronomer Sir
Fred Hoyle, author of the wellknown statement: “A common
sense interpretation of the facts
suggests that a super intellect has
monkeyed with physics, as well as
with chemistry and biology, and
that there are no blind forces worth
speaking about in nature.” In his A
Brief History of Time Stephen
Hawking writes, “It would be very
difficult to explain why the
universe should have begun in just
this way, except as the act of a God
who intended to create beings like
us.” Yet another scientist, physicist
Paul Davies, admits, “I have come
to believe more and more strongly
that the physical universe is put
together with an ingenuity so
astonishing that I cannot accept it
merely as a brute fact.” And
astronomer Robert Jastrow
famously writes (in God and the
Astronomers): “For the scientist
who has lived by his faith in the
power of reason, the story ends like
a bad dream. He has scaled the
mountains of ignorance; he is
about to conquer the highest peak.
As he pulls himself over the final
rock, he is greeted by a band of
theologians who have been sitting
there for centuries.”
and cosmology in general, they
make sure to use visual aids. I
have earlier recommended the
DVD “The Privileged Planet,”
based on the book with the same
title by Guillermo Gonzales and
Jay W. Richards. I continue to
recommend it, although no doubt
there are other videos that fit
the purpose.
3.4 Show and tell
I have given this lengthy
summary because in the finetuning of the universe and the
uniqueness of planet earth we
have suggestions of design that
should be taught at our Christian
schools and that can be taught
even at some of the more junior
levels. It is about real science, as
even atheists will admit, and it has
considerable apologetic value. It
is of course true that we must not
overestimate the religious
significance of the discoveries.
Scientific theories change and
anyone who puts his faith in them
lives on quicksand. That goes for
both Christians and atheists. But
the findings do give testimony to
the wisdom and immeasurable
power of the Creator and provide
potent disclaimers of the current
belief in a materialistic origin
of reality.
The same applies, of course, to
recent advances in astronomy and
cosmology in general. Twentiethcentury discoveries have shown
the unimaginable vastness of the
universe and we have seen that the
Copernican Principle arose in
response to these findings.
Christian teachers should make
sure that they do not ignore these
developments. I suggest that when
teaching about the discoveries I
described, and about astronomy
Scientific theories change
and anyone who puts his
faith in them lives on
quicksand
But do use them. When students
have had visible evidence of
“God’s invisible qualities” in the
created universe, then the first
article of our confession – I believe
in God the Father almighty, Creator
of heaven and earth – will resonate
much more deeply with them. So
will the first petition of the Lord’s
Prayer, Hallowed be Thy Name,
which Lord’s Day 47 of the
Catechism explains in these
words: “Grant us first of all that we
may rightly know Thee, and
sanctify, glorify, and praise Thee in
all Thy works, in which shine forth
Thy almighty power, wisdom,
goodness, righteousness, mercy,
and truth.”
conclusion. I am turning again to
the Belgic Confession, this time to
Article 5, where we confess that
one of the reasons why we receive
the books of the Bible as canonical
is “. . .that they contain the
evidence thereof in themselves; for,
even the blind are able to perceive
that the things foretold in them are
being fulfilled.”
This also is something that
students should be reminded of.
We can trace the fulfilment of what
Scripture foretells in the history of
peoples and nations and cultures.
No less importantly, we can trace it
in our own lives, when we observe
God’s care and providence in our
day-to-day existence and when by
the power and grace of the Spirit
we increasingly experience how
the Lord is making Himself known
to us personally, speaking to us as
Person to person. C.S. Lewis once
expressed this well when he wrote
that instead of saying, in a more or
less neutral fashion, “I believe that
God exists,” we will learn to
confess, “I believe in God, in this
God, the increasingly knowable
Lord.” When all is said and done,
then, it is a matter not only of
talking about God, but also and
especially of walking with Him and
coming to know Him at a deeper,
personal level. Then we will know
the truth, not just in our heads, but
also in our hearts.
Conclusion
We meet God in the Bible. We
are convinced of the truth of the
Bible by the power of the Spirit.
And our conviction is strengthened,
we learned, by studying the book of
nature. It is strengthened, however,
also by other means. That is what I
want to mention by way of
Note: For additional information
on some of the topics dealt with
here, see the following on the
website of the Teachers College
(www.covenantteacherscollege.com):
“Annotated Bibliography,”
especially Section II, and
“Integrating Faith and Learning.”
MAY 23, 2008 • 273
Ray of Sunshine
By Mrs. Corinne Gelms and Mrs. Patricia Gelms
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. . . Since we live by the
Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”
Galatians 5:22
When Paul speaks about the fruit of the Spirit, he
refers to the gifts that every Christian must display.
In the last issue of the Ray of Sunshine, we focused
our attention on the first fruit that Paul mentioned,
love. As Christians, we must love one another. From
this love flow all the other gifts of the Spirit. We
especially see this in the next fruit that Paul has
listed: joy. After all, when love is present, then joy
cannot be far behind.
God says that love is the fulfillment of the law and
doing God’s law brings delight (Ps 119). We are
especially grateful or joyful when we recognize that
the ability to obey the law of love is a gift from God.
He gives us his Holy Spirit, which enables us to put off
our old man and put on the new man. Knowing the
deep love that God has for us allows us to rejoice even
in the most distressing circumstances, as Paul himself
did time and time again.
What gave Paul such a lasting joy? Sometimes we
can be joyful or happy on a sunny day, or when it’s our
birthday, or when someone says nice things to us.
However, how do we stay joyful when it rains, or
when the cake is all gone and the birthday party is
over, or when somebody says a mean thing to us?
Paul wrote a letter to his friends the Philippians. He
had such a deep longing to meet with them again, yet
he was not able to because he was stuck in prison.
Paul was in prison in Rome because he preached the
truth about Jesus Christ. If anyone had the right to be
unhappy, it was Paul.
The Lord Jesus spoke to Paul on the road to
Damascus and told him to stop persecuting the church
and to start preaching the gospel (Acts 9:1-6). The Lord
opened Paul’s heart and from that time on, Paul
preached Jesus Christ. Life for Paul did not become
easier at this point. Rather, he received several
beatings, was cast in prison several times, and was
274 • MAY 23, 2008
even left for dead at one point. Paul experienced all of
this trouble and we do not read anywhere that he lost
his patience or became sorrowful. Rather, the theme of
joy is repeatedly in Paul’s writing.
This theme of joy shows especially in his letter to
the Philippians. What gives Paul this feeling of joy?
Paul’s joy comes from his confidence in God. To Paul,
God was in full control of everything. If hardship
came, God permitted it. If pain bothered his steps,
God allowed it. If he was in prison, God remained in
control of his life. Paul knew that God was not a
distant God, but a present help in times of distress.
God gave Paul, and us, the greatest gift of all: his son,
Jesus Christ. Jesus’ victory on the cross gives us
eternal life. God also gave his Spirit as a deposit or
guarantee of that eternal life. We can be confident,
like Paul, that God will complete the work he began
in us. This confidence in God is what feeds our joy.
Therefore, even if the sky is grey or the party is over,
we can continue to feel and know joy because of what
God has given us in Jesus Christ. The source of our
life is the Spirit, the Spirit directs our steps, so that we
can make progress, moving forward step by step
toward the goal of perfection in the Lord. Let us
rejoice in the Lord with the words of Psalm 33:1 and 6.
Rejoice ye in the Lord, O righteous,
And let a new song fill the air.
Praise is becoming to the upright;
With harp and lyre His fame declare.
For the Lord has spoken
Words of truth unbroken
He is faithful still.
Righteousness He treasures;
Earth is with the measures
Of His goodness filled.
Our soul awaits the great Redeemer;
Our help and shield, Him we acclaim.
Our hearts rejoice in Him and glory,
For we trust in His holy Name.
So we humbly pray Thee,
Let Thy steadfast mercy,
Lord, upon us be,
And in love deliver
Us, Thy flock, forever,
As we hope in Thee.
Birthdays in June:
17
JOAN KOERSELMAN
Born June 17, 1957
Box 1312, Coaldale, AB T0K 0L0
30
BEVERLY BREUKELMAN
Born June 30, 1962
19th Street, Coaldale, AB T1M 1G4
Congratulations to all of you who celebrate your
birthday in the month of June. We hope you have a
wonderful day with family and friends. We wish you
the Lord’s blessing as you continue to live and work in
his service. Till next month,
Mrs. Corinne Gelms and Mrs. Patricia Gelms
548 Kemp Road East
RR 2, Beamsville, ON LOR 1B2
905-563-0380
[email protected]
nowweseedimly
Hugo VanderHoek
Growing up Together
The growing plant is used as metaphor to
describe quite a variety of things. We speak of
growing up and maturing as people. Raising children
is thought of as the nurturing care that a gardener
gives to his trees. Feeding, weeding, pruning, and
guiding can be terms that are applied to parenting
and teaching. The New Testament speaks of spiritual
growth and growing in faith.
The interesting thing with the growing process is
that it is both an individual and a community effort.
While much of the development in size and strength is
unique to the one maturing creature, the process is one
of interdependence with other creatures.
The pen drawing of plants in their pots, somewhere
on the grounds of garden nursery, speaks to the
struggles of growth and development. Having a close
look you will find both positive and negative elements
to the scenario of growing up together. These can be
interpreted in the context of family, culture, church,
work team, self, etc.
The plants are growing up in their own pots, yet
are huddled closely together with the others. Some
plants burst out of the confines of their shells and
shoot roots into the ground. Others reach their roots
into neighbouring pots and become intertwined with
other roots, all the while finding sustenance in the
other one’s soil. Growing requires an increasingly
larger context. It is a condition for achieving the
ultimate purpose of fruit bearing. Plants that at one
point flourish in their setting will need expanding
boundaries over time.
This is true for people and organizations and for
families. Growth often pushes people and
organizations beyond the boundaries that once served
as safe limits. This is nothing to be afraid of if it
enhances the further health of the individual or the
organization. It can become a problem if the
boundaries become barriers that hinder growth.
Stunted growth inhibits the purpose of bearing good
fruit. A plant that is not given benefit of more space
MAY 23, 2008 • 275
and more soil either breaks out of the old pot to shoot
its roots elsewhere or it dies.
As long as there is life, there is growth of
some sort. When growth stops the organism dies.
On this side of eternity we are meant to grow toward
God our gardener, to grow for Him and bear our
fruit abundantly.
grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants,
with such big branches that the birds of the air can
perch in its shade. Mark 4: 31
Faith. . . is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest
seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it
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276 • MAY 23, 2008
Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I
will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie
them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat
and bring it into my barn. Matthew 13:30
College Corner
G.H. Visscher
G.H.Visscher is principal and
professor of New Testament
at the Theological College of
the Canadian Reformed
Churches in Hamilton, Ontario
[email protected]
Presenting
Three Graduates
Illness
Last time we began this column
by speaking about the frailties of
several who are involved with the
life of the Theological College.
Such frailties have continued to
play a significant role in the minds
and decisions of the College. While
we were very grateful that the
medical reports showed that for Dr.
Gootjes there was no physical
evidence of a significant illness,
shortly after that was reported to
the churches it became evident to
Dr. and Mrs. N. H. Gootjes that it
would be difficult for our brother to
continue teaching in the
immediate future. Thus, the Board
of Governors, on the basis of the
recommendation of the Senate,
agreed that for the last five weeks,
the Revs. P. G. Feenstra and E.
Kampen would take over the
remainder of his sophomore
courses and Prof. J. Geertsema the
remainder of the freshman course.
We are thankful to these brothers
for being willing to step in on such
short notice. While the courses
have been truncated to some
degree since we could not expect
them to come up with all the usual
lecture material so soon, I
understand that the students have
appreciated the work of these
brothers. The fact that Prof.
Geertsema could also take the time
to teach again is, of course, a sure
sign of the ongoing progress in the
health of his wife – something else
for which we are thankful.
In the meantime, preparations
have been made for next year, Dr.
J. W. Maris, a retired professor
from the seminary of the
Theologische Universiteit in
Apeldoorn, The Netherlands, has
been found willing to teach from
September to December of 2008. At
the moment, we are also in contact
with one of our own ministers
regarding the possibility of
teaching from January to April of
2009. When and if that works out,
you will be hearing about it. All of
this has been arranged so that Dr.
Gootjes can get the rest he needs
and his future regarding teaching
at the Theological College again
can be carefully considered. May
the Lord give him health and
strength again!
All this talk about the health
concerns of some might give one
the impression that we are
burdened here with health
concerns. The genuine concerns of
some should not obscure our
thanksgiving to the Lord that we
have three professors, two staff
members, and seventeen students
who do enjoy good health. Praise
the Lord for his continued goodness
to us!
Presenting. . .
If all goes according to plan,
the Theological College will have
three graduates to present to the
churches for consideration this
spring. While we often presume
that everyone knows them, only a
moment’s reflection makes us
realize this is not so. Thus, it can
be beneficial to introduce them to
you all.
Rolf den Hollander
Allow us to introduce ourselves.
For those of you interested in the
traditional game of “Dutch bingo,”
we are the son and daughter of
Rev. and Mrs. W. den Hollander and
Mr. and Mrs. Gary and Betty
Jansen. Aside from an aunt on the
Jansen side we have no other direct
relatives in our churches in
Canada. Sorry for the short game!
We were married on May 28, 2005
and currently live in Winona
(Stoney Creek), Ontario, being
members of the Covenant
Canadian Reformed Church at
Grassie. I, Rolf, completed a
Specialized Honours B.A. at York
University in Classical Studies in
2004. Over the past four years I
have been studying at the
Theological College. This past
summer I completed the three
MAY 23, 2008 • 277
month internship for the Pastoral
Training Program with Rev.
DeGelder in Flamborough. My wife
has her diploma in Early
Childhood Education from Seneca
College, King Campus and has
been using her gifts at a local day
care. During our years of schooling
we both held summer jobs in the
landscape industry and thus enjoy
the outdoors – working in the
garden or going for walks, etc. We
use our spare time, whenever there
is any, for a variety of activities, be
that reading, playing sports,
scrapbooking (for Liz), etc. I hope
this may give a small taste of who
we are and where we are at!
Stuart Harsevoort
Wolterstorff. During the summer
between my third and fourth year
at the College I worked with Rev.
Van Vliet in Surrey B.C. for the
Pastoral Training Program,
working in Surrey and Willoughby
Heights, which was an excellent
experience for learning in a more
practical way what is entailed in
the ministry. Thanks to both
congregations for having my wife
and I in their midst and to Rev. Van
Vliet for mentoring me.
During my undergraduate
degree, I met Sherri Keep and in
2004, the summer before entering
the College, we were married. She
has studied cooking and now plies
her trade at home, as well as her
hobby photography. In August of
2007 we were blessed with a baby
boy, Callum, who now fills most of
her time. We currently live in
Mount Hope on the property of John
Vanderwoude Sod Farms, where I
worked during the summers I was
in school, driving tractors, mowing
sod (and picking rocks). In what
spare time I have, I enjoy keeping
up with my reading (I have always
loved reading and have rather
eclectic tastes), collecting books,
and playing the occasional game
of chess.
Cornelis Kleyn
Born in 1979, I have lived in
Hamilton, St. Marys, Burlington,
and then Hamilton again. I am the
only one in my family to have
attended grades 1-8 in one school
(Covenant Christian School in
London). After Guido de Bres
Christian High School, I entered
McMaster University and studied
Philosophy and Comparative
Literature as an undergraduate,
and Philosophical Theology as a
graduate, receiving a Masters
degree after writing a thesis on the
theory of knowledge of Nicholas
278 • MAY 23, 2008
We, Cornelis and Greta Kleyn,
are recently married and are also
expecting our first little one in
August 2008. Greta is the daughter
of the Australian based Mr. and
Mrs. Ballast. Cornelis is the son of
Rev. and Mrs. Kleyn, currently
serving in South Africa. During the
past four years Cornelis has been
studying at the Theological
College and prior to this four years
at the University of Pretoria in
South Africa to get his B.A.
Cornelis has been working by the
“sweat of his vrouw” during the
past year – Greta worked as a
Registered Nurse. But Cornelis
hopes to finish his studies at the
Theological College in May 2008
and then present himself to classis
to make himself available for call.
During the past summer Cornelis
did his Pastoral Training Program
in Australia with Rev. van Delden.
In our spare time we get involved
in various outdoor activities such
as walks out in the country; trying
out some skiing and checking out
the beaches.
On a different note, we have
three third year students who will
be occupied with the Pastoral
Proficiency Program this summer.
Ken Bergsma will be doing so in
the Canadian Reformed Church of
Fergus South, Ryan de Jonge in the
church at Guelph, and Rodney
Vermeulen in the Church at
Toronto. In that way, the brothers
receive some practical experience
before they complete their final
year and the churches witness
some of the fruit of our labours
again.
May the Lord bless the students
whom we have mentioned here
and continue to provide for all of
us, students and instructors, as we
prepare for a new season. We
thank the churches for their faithful
and wonderful support whereby
the Lord makes all this possible.
J. Moesker
Rev. J. Moesker is minister
of the Canadian Reformed
Church at Vernon,
British Columbia
[email protected]
Introduction
The Canadian Reformed
Churches (CanRC) have enjoyed
sister church relations or
ecclesiastical fellowship with the
Free Reformed Churches of South
Africa (FRCSA) since 1958. Distance
and language have long impeded
the relationship from becoming
very active. However, with
increasing travel and
communication as well as
membership in the International
Conference of Reformed Churches,
our relationship with these
churches has become more
meaningful over the last number
of years.
These churches, born mainly
out of post-war immigration, have
developed into multi-cultural
churches. They consist of
three distinct cultural (and social)
groups within the federation –
black Africans in the Pretoria area
who conduct their services in
Sotho, coloureds in the Cape area
who speak their own type of
Afrikaans, and the largely white
congregations whose services are
conducted in Afrikaans. This
multicultural composition and the
location of the FRCSA on the
African continent have given these
churches great opportunity to
conduct mission and relief work in
the name of the Lord. The FRCSA
and its members have seen these
opportunities given by the Lord to
bring the Reformed faith to practice
Help Requested for
South Africa
and have taken on as much
mission and as many relief projects
as possible. They operate six
mission posts and a number of
relief projects. However, the
federation is small, consisting of
just seven churches and 1900
members in total. The Reformed
Churches of The Netherlands
(GKN) have given help in various
ways, but there is such great
opportunity in the mission and
relief projects operated by these
churches that more help would be
quite welcome. It was because of
this need in Southern Africa that
Synod Smithers 2007, in Article 124
of the Acts of Synod, decided “to
recommend the Free Reformed
Churches of South Africa to the
churches as worthy of continued
and increased prayerful and
financial assistance, to help them
with their extensive mission work
as well as the compassionate
pursuits among the
disadvantaged.”
To draw the attention to these
opportunities, the Committee for
Relations with Churches Abroad
(CRCA) recently sent letters to the
councils of the CanRC
recommending various mission
and relief projects to the churches
for consideration. This letter
included a report by Rev. C. Kleijn,
minister of the church of
Johannesburg, about the various
areas where our help could be
used. This article is a follow up on
that letter, to continue to keep this
matter “warm” among our
churches. The Lord has richly
blessed us as churches here in
North America, also financially.
And the Lord gives not only so that
we can enjoy, but also so that we
may show his mercy to others. So
we ask the churches and members
of the churches to seriously
consider giving support to the
FRCSA in prayer and in material
assistance.
Spiritual unity
First of all, these churches, as
expressed by Rev. Kleijn in a report
to the CRCA, seek support in
prayer. The great challenge in the
multi-cultural FRCSA itself at this
time is to grow in unity. Part of this
challenge is that the churches that
originate from the mission work
may integrate well into the
federation. For instance, until the
present, theological students and
ministers from the three cultural
groups in these churches have
each had their own type of training
at different levels. The desire is
that the spiritual unity continues to
develop and enable these churches
to operate as a fully-fledged
federation of churches where there
is mutual respect and
understanding and building each
other up in the Lord. It is also
hoped that the ex-mission churches
will fully integrate in the
federation and become more and
more effective in their own
surroundings.
MAY 23, 2008 • 279
Assistance
The two greatest needs in the
FRCSA are financial support of
needy churches and assistance for
the John Calvin School in Bethal,
where one of the FRCSA
congregations is located. In
regards to the first, it needs to be
noted that of the seven churches in
the federation, three churches
presently require assistance, and
the federation also has
responsibility for one emeritus
minister. The churches that
originate from mission work are
generally in poorer areas and will
in the foreseeable future not be
able to support their own ministers.
Thankfully there is support from
The Netherlands as yet for the exmission churches. However, this
support is being scaled down by
twenty percent each year, so the
FRCSA federation itself has to take
up the slack. As those three
churches do not yet have the
prospect of becoming financially
independent in the next five years,
the burden for the federation will
only increase for the time being.
Without help from sister churches
elsewhere, this is not going to be
sustainable. There is a fund for
needy churches with deputies in
the FRCSA and it would be a
blessing if churches would
consider donating to this fund or
even requesting to adopt a specific
needy church via this fund as its
own project. For more information
Mr. Ferdi van Dijk can be contacted
at [email protected].
The other pressing need is the
John Calvin School of Bethal,
which is in dire straights. In 2003
the small congregation of Bethal
established its own school in faith.
Their dedicated staff works hard
for little pay. The departure of the
ministerial couple who helped
280 • MAY 23, 2008
considerably has left the school in
a crisis. Moral and financial
support from among the CanRC
would help greatly in this crisis
situation and give new prospects.
To give assistance to this school,
Mr. Edward Strydom can be
contacted at:
[email protected].
As far as help or co-operation in
mission work goes, there are
numerous opportunities. The Lord
is certainly opening doors for the
gospel in South Africa. The FRCSA
presently has four active
missionaries, two near Pretoria
and two in the south near Cape
Town. They are assisted by seven
theological students. At this time
the FRCSA are expecting the
arrival of two new missionaries,
one of them Rev. Boersma who
formerly served in the American
Reformed Church of Denver, CO.
Next year they expect five students
from the mission churches, three
black Africans from the north and
two coloureds from the south, to
present themselves to the churches
for examination in view of
becoming eligible for a call. This
will gives even more opportunities
for expansion of the work. If
churches or individuals wish to
contribute to the rapidly expanding
work of mission on South Africa,
they are invited to contact the
secretary of the mission deputies,
Mrs Ineke Hagg at
[email protected] and she
would be pleased to give direction
in this.
The Lesedi la Ditshaba
Christian School in Soshanguve
North could also use considerable
assistance. The school was set up
by parents in January 2000, when
Prof. A. J. de Visser of the
Theological College of the CanRC
was still missionary there. His
wife, sister Inge de Visser, was
acting principal of the school for
the first number of years. At
present there are seventy-nine
students and new students are
expected each year. Due to very
restricted funding the staff is only
paid about fifty to sixty percent of
what teachers receive in the staterun schools. Further support would
be very welcome. There is an
organisation called KOOS in
Pretoria which does the
fundraising for this school and
which gives advice. For those who
wish to receive more information or
wish to give some support, Mr.
Tjeerd de Wit can be contacted at
[email protected].
In South Africa the misery
caused by the HIV/Aids pandemic
is huge. It is estimated that eleven
percent of the population (more
than 5.2 million South Africans) are
HIV positive. The brothers and
sisters in the FRCSA could not
ignore the misery caused by this
disease and members of the white
congregations in Pretoria and of
the black African mission churches
in Soshanguve have combined
their efforts and set up a joint AIDS
Association called “Khothatsong.”
The aim of this association is to
coordinate physical and spiritual
care of those infected or affected by
the AIDS epidemic in places like
Soshanguve and Winterveld. The
association provides hospice care,
home based care, foster care,
awareness, spiritual care, and
training of health workers. For
those who wish to support this
project or to receive the newsletter,
contact the secretary of the
association, Mrs Christine Hordijk
at [email protected]. The
Canadian Reformed World Relief
Foundation (CRWRF) also supports
this work, thus individual
contributions designated for the
Kothatsong association could also
be channelled via the CRWRF.
Finally there is still one smaller
organization within the FRCSA
called “Thusano,” which aims to
help students from mission
churches to receive good postsecondary education. The members
of the mission churches usually do
not have the money to pay for such
education and therefore
unemployment is very high in
those churches. This also means
that the mission churches remain
needy. By providing assistance for
post-secondary education and
training for students, the aim is not
only to help the employment
situation, but also help the exmission and mission churches to
become financially independent.
Presently sixteen students are
being supported by this fund, but
there is room for much more help.
If there are churches or individuals
who would like to help “Thusano,”
you may contact Mr Hilko Lubbinge
at [email protected].
consider becoming involved and
providing help to and via the
brotherhood in South Africa!
Conclusion
Some websites to look at:
Website FRCSA:
http://www.vgk.org.za/english.php
Website Deputies Mission:
http://www.vgk.org.za/maranata/
Sending/pdfs/mission%20workpossibilities%20for%20collaboration.
pdf
Website Mission Pretoria:
http://www.vgk.org.za/maranata/
Sending/default_E.php
So far the opportunities to help
passed on to us. Again, the FRCSA
are a very small federation of
churches facing many challenges
and provided with huge
opportunities in southern Africa.
Synod Smithers 2007 has urged the
CanRC to consider these churches
and their work when thinking of
sharing our bounty here. Please
Book Review
Rev.W. L. Bredenhof is co-pastor of
the Canadian Reformed Church at
Langley, British Columbia
[email protected]
Reviewed by Wes Bredenhof
When Sinners Say “I Do”:
Discovering the Power of the
Gospel for Marriage, Dave
Harvey (Wapwallopen:
Shepherd Press, 2007).
Additional Information:
Paperback, 189 pages, $12.61
One of the privileges that I have
as a pastor is teaching marriage
preparation classes. This privilege
also means that I regularly think
about marriage, including my own.
As part of all that, I try to read as
much on the topic as I can. This
book by Dave Harvey is the best
I’ve read so far. Let me explain why.
For the Committee for Relations
with Churches Abroad,
Rev. J. Moesker
It boils down to one simple
fact: the author focuses on the
gospel and how it applies to
marriage. Dave Harvey (senior
pastor of Covenant Fellowship
Church in Glen Mills, PA) sees the
salvation wrought by Christ as of
utmost importance for couples
learning how to live together in
holy wedlock. He elaborates:
“How a husband and wife build
their marriage day-by-day and
year-by-year is fundamentally
shaped by their theology” (p 21).
Moreover, that theology has to be
Christ-centred, having the gospel
at its heart.
When Sinners Say “I Do” is
warmly and personally written and
contains the stories of several
couples. Harvey helps readers
come to terms with the biggest
problem that all marriages face
and the solution to this problem. He
discusses what to do when your
spouse is living in sin and needs a
wake-up call. There’s a great
chapter on sex. Finally, there’s
something I haven’t seen in any
other book on marriage: a chapter
on death.
This is a biblical, gospel-centred
approach to the subject of marriage.
No matter how long you’ve been
married, you can benefit from the
wisdom offered by Dave Harvey.
Readers interested in learning more
about this book can also check out
the video clips on YouTube. Just go
to www.youtube.com and search for
“Dave Harvey When Sinners
Say I Do.”
MAY 23, 2008 • 281
Jackie Janssens
Farewell to the Slaas
Farewell dinner
On March 29, 2008, the members
of Kerwood congregation got
together for a farewell dinner and
evening with the Slaa family. The
dinner was opened with the
reading of Psalm 95:1-7 and prayer.
After the delicious potluck dinner
was enjoyed by all, the evening
began with a welcome to all
present including special guests.
The first, of many talents, was
shown by Carolyn and Stacey
Haan singing “Fortress.” There
was a power point presentation
that reviewed the many activities
the Slaas participated in. It
started with their moving in day
and welcome evening, which
doesn’t seem all that long ago,
just a mere seven years. We were
treated to a review of all the
costumes our pastor and his wife
wore to the Spring Parades every
year. We remembered seeing the
Slaa family grow from four
children to six. We also got to see
a preview of their new manse and
church in Smithers.
The young members of the
congregation got together to sing a
few songs including “So Long,
Farewell” from The Sound of Music.
The Slaas were presented with a
gift from the young people that
included a penny so they will
never be completely broke, an
elastic so they can stretch beyond
282 • MAY 23, 2008
their limits, a backscratcher for
life’s little itches, a highlighter to
highlight the good things, a string
to hold everything together when
things are falling apart, and
“kisses” to remember us by. Miriam
was thanked for all her hard work
and great ideas in helping the kids
clubs. The Women’s Society wanted
to make sure they would not be
forgotten by giving Mrs. Slaa an
apron with the names and picture
of the members of the society.
The Slaas gave us a picture of
the Synod of Dordt with all the
signatures of the attendees. The
Slaas acknowledged that roots had
been set down here and through all
aspects of their ministry, the good,
the bad, and everything in
between, there could be
thankfulness and joy in this
evening because we know that
Jesus Christ is head of his church
and it was under his rule that we
could forge good relationships.
Rev. Slaa then read Revelation 1:48 and asked us to continue to take
care of one another and pray for
one another.
The evening was closed with
song and prayer and the Canadian
Reformed tradition of coffee and
cake was upheld following the
closing.
Farewell sermon
On Sunday afternoon, April 6,
we heard the farewell sermon. The
text chosen was from 2 Peter 3:18.
This is a text that has special
meaning for our congregation as it
is the text on the plaque outside of
our church. We are to grow in the
grace and knowledge of our God.
The message of salvation must be
preached every Sunday. With the
Word of Christ in our hearts, there
can be spiritual growth. Only the
true preaching can give this
spiritual growth. When the true
preaching is not happening, it is a
time for lament. God is good and
He does provide. Parents also must
teach their children, so they too can
grow spiritually.
This growth is a decisive act of
God. As a seed is planted and the
farmer has to wait for sunshine
and rain, so we can teach and
listen to the gospel but it is God
that grants the growth. It is God
that determines the readiness of
the heart to accept his gospel.
When there was disunity in God’s
early church, it was because there
was a wrong emphasis on who was
teaching. There was pride in being
taught by Paul or Apollos and
thankfulness to men instead of to
God. God alone deserves the credit
and to Him alone belongs the glory.
There should be no distraction from
the truth by charismatic ministers
who do not preach the whole truth.
Only the true and complete gospel
gives this growth.
There is a danger in becoming
complacent – because the Lord
gives the growth we may start to
feel there is nothing left for us to
do. This cannot be further from the
truth. As the farmer must work hard
to get the fruits of his labour, so too,
we are commanded to work for our
spiritual needs. As faith increases,
so do the fruits of faith. We can
never rely on our past behaviour
but must continually strive to know
more, obey more, and heed his
commandments as genuine. We
must daily glorify Him until our
death or his return. He has blessed
us and we must continue to listen
with open hearts and minds and
strive to grow through reading and
studying his Word.
This goodbye, although sad for
us, is seen as God’s will as our
minister will continue his work in
Smithers. Rev. Slaa has worked
very hard in many areas of our
church life. He has led many
meetings and attended workshops,
gave talks at Providence Reformed
Collegiate and at Trillium Village,
the seniors home in Strathroy. Mrs.
Slaa also did a lot of work behind
the scenes and helped on the
education committee for Covenant
Christian School in London. While
we are thankful to the Slaas for all
their hard work, we also realize
that it is only the Father in Heaven
who is to be adored. We send
greetings with the Slaa family to
our brothers and sisters in
Smithers.
To Him be glory both now and
forever.
MAY 23, 2008 • 283
Book Review
Dr. C.Van Dam is professor of Old
Testament at the Theological
College of the Canadian Reformed
Churches in Hamilton, Ontario
[email protected]
Reviewed by C. Van Dam
Nation of Bastards: Essays on
the End of Marriage, Douglas
Farrow, Foreword by
William D. Gairdner
(Toronto: BPS Books, 2007)
Additional Information:
116 pages, about $16.00 CDN
Don’t be put off by what appears
to be a rather harsh title. This is a
must-read book which underlines
the crisis Canada is in due to its
ongoing deconstruction of marriage
and family. The title refers to the
fact that our nation is rapidly
becoming a nation where most
children are born out of wedlock. In
Quebec the figure is already at
fifty-nine percent.
Professor Farrow is Associate
Professor of Christian Thought at
McGill University in Montreal. He is
also a strong critic of the Anglican
Church’s approval of same sex
marriage. He left that church for
Roman Catholicism. His book
contains four essays, along with an
epilogue. The common theme is
exposing the horrific implications
of same-sex marriage and the need
to maintain the institution of
marriage as ordained by God.
Farrow’s contribution is of great
value. Let me give some examples.
He correctly notes that no society
can operate in a moral vacuum. In
today’s Canada, morality has come
to be regarded as a matter of
private judgment. That being so it
should not surprise us that
“equality rights should emerge as
the only remaining public moral
structure and the highest
embodiment of justice” (p 12).
The Supreme Court governs the
country accordingly. However, both
the 1960 Canadian Bill of Rights as
well as the 1982 Charter of Rights
and Freedoms acknowledge that
Canada is “founded upon
principles that recognize the
284 • MAY 23, 2008
supremacy of God.” It is God who
instituted marriage and set the
norms for it, not the state. The state
therefore has no business or power
redefining that which it is not the
author of. “The state that imagines
itself the author of marriage, or
thinks that its Charter justifies it in
assuming control over the very
substance of marriage, is a
dangerous state with highly
inflated religious pretensions” (p
18). “Marriage does not exist for
the state, but the state for
marriage” (p 73).
In spite of constant media
denials to the contrary, same-sex
marriage is really an attack on
children and family. “Same-sex
marriage has in reality nothing to
do with the establishment of human
rights – if it did, the rights of
children and parents would not
have been left out of the debate –
and everything to do with a revolt
against the family. More specifically,
it has to do with the normalization of
homosexuality, which is a signal,
still largely subliminal, of society’s
rejection of the future” (p 26).
Marriage in Canada is no longer
about being a parent, grandparent,
uncle, and aunt and forming the
basic cells of civil society. According
to the law, it is “merely about
coupling and copulation. . . it is
state-approved fornication: a
temporary stop on the road to
nowhere in particular” (p 32).
There is, however, no foreseeable
closure on the marriage debate.
One of the consequences of samesex marriage is that legal
parenthood has now been severed
from biological parenthood in a
way never done before. As a
consequence, the Ontario Court of
Appeal was consistent in ruling on
January 2, 2007 that a child can have
three legal parents. So, what is a
family? Even if one rejects God and
his law, there is overwhelming
evidence that God’s way is the best
way for children, namely that
children have a father and a mother.
A closely related issue is: who
owns the children? There are not a
few who claim that they ultimately
belong to the state. As Parliament
and the judiciary slowly dismantle
the family unit, at least one school
board is in the process of imposing
homosexual values into the school
curriculum. Tolerance has become
the highest good and tramples
underfoot religious convictions in a
supposedly free country. Farrow
shows how the continued advance
of state control over marriage and
family leads to state tyranny. Only
those with biblical religious
convictions respecting marriage
will be able to resist. A country that
has a strong sense of the importance
of the family unit will not allow the
state to take over its functions. As
events have shown, this is sadly not
the case in Canada at the moment.
In a final chapter, Farrow notes
that Canada’s civil religion is
about “Canadian values” which
“our ermined philosopher-kings”
talk about “in tones and in terms
designed to make offending
religious minorities fall to their
knees and confess their sins” (pp
94-95). Our nation’s holy writ is the
Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Farrow pleads for what he calls
Christian secularism. In it
Christianity recognizes that Jesus
is Lord over all of life and
Christians reserve their right to
speak to the issues of the day and
so hope to reach a consensus for
the public good.
Much more could be mentioned.
May this suffice to whet the
appetite. Highly recommended.
Clarion Advertisements
Advertisements:
Announcements of Weddings, Anniversaries (with
Open House) should be submitted six weeks in advance.
BIRTHS
ANNIVERSARIES
Every good and perfect gift is from above. James 1:17
With thankfulness to our Father, we joyfully announce the
birth of our new daughter and sister
BROOKLYN TIANNA
April 8, 2008
Joop and Carolyn Feenstra
Nadine, Conner
25th grandchild for Gary and Teresa Vis
25th grandchild for Wim and Saakje Feenstra
629 Willow Road, Guelph, ON N1H 7J8
[email protected]
35th Wedding Anniversary
ANNIVERSARIES
1968 ~ June 15 ~ 2008
Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires
of your heart. Psalm 37:4
With thankfulness to our Heavenly Father for His faithfulness
and care, we announce the 40th Wedding Anniversary of our
parents and grandparents
PIETER (Peter
(Peter)) and HENRIETTA JONKER (nee
(nee Kottelenberg)
Kottelenberg)
We pray that the Lord continue to bless and keep them
in their marriage.
With love:
Alma, ON:
Marnix and Anne-Marie Sikkema
Alina, Danielle, Laurissa, Jonathan, Alexandra,
Jordan, Erika
Langley, BC:
Dave and Jacqueline Spoor
Jake, Nicole, Matthew
Owen Sound, ON: Peter and Petra Jonker
Nathan, Caleb
Shelburne, ON:
Jeff and Karen VanSydenborgh
Joel, Aaron, Jonah, Hanna
Orangeville, ON:
Eric and Jaclyn Jonker
Carson, Warner, Chloe
Hamilton, ON:
Henry and Julia Meerveld
Leah, Megan, Sara
Elora, ON:
Jack and Jennifer Thalen
Alexander, Peter, Henrietta
Orangeville, ON:
Dave and Joni Kamphuis
33 Carlton Drive, Orangeville, Ontario L9W 2X8
1973 ~ June 16 ~ 2008
Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD for He is good;
his love endures forever. Psalm 106:1
BERNARD and BARBARA VAN RAALTE (nee Van Dam)
We give thanks to the Lord for giving our parents 35 years of
marriage. We pray that He will continue to guide them and
give them many more years together in His service.
With love,
Smithers, BC:
Paul and Denise Van Raalte (nee Stoffels)
Madeline, Hailey
Burlington, ON:
Dave and Geraldine Van Raalte (nee Schenkel)
Leah, Daniel, Jasmine
Coaldale, AB:
Jeff and Colleen Van Raalte (nee VanDelft)
Jadon
St. Albert, AB:
Brad Van Raalte
Address: 51 Glenmore Crescent, St. Albert, AB T8M 0S6
1968 ~ June 28 ~ 2008
Unless the LORD builds the house, those who labour build in vain.
Psalm 127
With great thankfulness to the LORD, who has kept and guided
them, we announce the 40th Wedding Anniversary of our
parents and grandparents
HERMAN and JANE HARSEVOORT (nee Sandink)
Mom and Dad, we rejoice with you on this special occasion!
We pray that our faithful God will continue to bless you.
We have seen His hand in your lives, and are thankful that you
raised us all in the fear of His Name.
With all our love, your children and grandchildren:
London, ON:
Lisa and Art Pieterman
Tim, Deanna, Allison, Amanda, Natalie
Jarvis, ON:
Brian and Barbara Harsevoort
Bethany, Jeremy, Zachary, Joshua, Caleb, Micah
Burlington, ON:
Rick and Alicia Harsevoort
Reuben, Jonah, Isaiah
Hamilton, ON:
John and Kim Harsevoort
Olivia, Aaron
Mike and Kathryn Harsevoort
Binbrook, ON:
Stu and Sherri Harsevoort
Callum
Burlington, ON:
Pieter Harsevoort
231 Walkers Line, Burlington, ON L7N 2C4
[email protected]
MAY 23, 2008 • 285
ANNIVERSARIES
25th Wedding Anniversary
1983 ~ June 18th ~ 2008
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.
But the greatest of these is love.
MARK and MARY DEBOER (nee
(nee Oostdyk)
May God continue to bless your marriage
in the years to come.
From your thankful children:
Burlington, ON:
Michael
Jonathan
David
Lisa
1309 Hazelton Boulevard, Burlington, ON L7P 4V5
50th Wedding Anniversary
1958 ~ June 21 ~ 2008
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your
paths straight. Proverbs 3:6
With thankfulness to our heavenly Father for His guiding
hand and faithfulness, we announce the 50th Wedding
Anniversary of our dear parents and grandparents
GEORGE and GRACE VAN ANDEL (nee Bultje)
Binbrook, ON:
Ronn and Annie-Lynn Van Andel
Andrew
Leah
Larissa
Braden
Newmarket, ON:
Phil and Terri Van Andel
Joel and Irma
Meagan
Josh
Karina
Stephen
Smithville, ON:
Mark and Helen Van Andel
Hamilton, ON:
Jake and Deanna Ruggi
Daron and Shannon
Kristin and Reuben
Heather
Colin
Kayla
Canborough, ON: Bill and Annette Bartels
Stephanie
Keleigh
Graham
Denise
Chad
Hamilton, ON:
Carolyn Van Andel
We will celebrate with an Open House, D.V., at
The Wellingstone’s Gathering Room
261 Stone Church Road E., Hamilton, from 2-4 p.m.
on Saturday, June 21, 2008
148-261 Stone Church Road E., Hamilton, ON L9B 2X3
286 • MAY 23, 2008
55th Wedding Anniversary
1953 ~ May 20 ~ 2008
I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing to the LORD, for He has been good to me. Psalm 13:5-6
We thank God for the blessing of our beloved parents,
grandparents and great-grandparents
JAN and ALIE HARKE (nee
(nee VanGelder)
VanGelder)
Their love for the Lord and each other is a blessing
and example for all of us!
With much love:
Edmonton, AB:
Phil and Jenny Geusebroek
St. Albert, AB:
Phil and Rebecca Geusebroek
Shaun, Ryan, Daniel
Surrey, BC:
Lisa and Phil VanDyke
Reuben, Carl
St. Albert, AB:
Mark and Nelena Geusebroek
Edmonton, AB:
Carl Geusebroek and Becky DeGelder
Thomas Geusebroek
Mount Forest, ON: Gerald and Joanne Booi
Doug, Cliff, Sheena, Elaine
Winnipeg, MB:
Ed and Tina Harke
Calgary, AB:
Cheryl Harke
Winnipeg, MB:
Laura
Ellinor Harke and Colin Termeer
Corresponding address:
4486 Guelph Line, Suite 2, RR 2, Milton, ON L9T 2X6
50th Wedding Anniversary
1958 ~ June 6 ~ 2008
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and His greatness
is unsearchable. One generation shall laud Thy works
to another, and shall declare Thy mighty acts. Psalm 145:3, 4
With much joy and thankfulness to our Heavenly Father
for keeping them in His gracious care, we announce the
50th Wedding Anninversary of our parents
ROBERT and PEARL JAGER (Salverda
(Salverda))
It is our prayer that
the LORD will continue to be near to them.
With love, from their children
Burlington, ON:
Ron and Anne Jager
Attercliffe, ON:
Ken and Liz Jager
Smithville, ON:
Rob and Marcia Jager
Wellandport, ON: Deb and Rick Feenstra
Canborough, ON: Linda and Ben Bartels
Beamsville, ON:
Diane and Carl Evink
Bothwell, ON:
Monica and Dan Bos
grandchildren and great-grandchildren
Address:
RR 1, 7761 Regional Road 20, Smithville, ON L0R 2A0
50th Wedding Anniversary
1958 ~ June 17 ~ 2008
This is the day which the LORD has made; we will rejoice
and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24
Rejoicing with them, and with thankfulness to our
Heavenly Father, who has kept them in His gracious care,
we are happy to announce the 50th Wedding Anniversary
of our dear parents and grandparents
DERK and MARY AIKEMA (nee
(nee Vanderlinde)
Vanderlinde)
Abbotsford, BC:
John Aikema
Harley and Madeleine Aikema (nee Morin)
Sophie, Michelle, Jordon, Emilie
Mission, BC:
Mike† and Tracy† Aikema (nee Jarvinen)
Brianna
Abbotsford, BC:
Paul and Chris Aikema (nee Rodke)
Sarah
Surrey, BC:
Betty and Ron Eisenman
Abbotsford, BC:
Debbie DeJong
Adrien, Kyle, Connor
Mission, BC:
Steve and Candace Aikema (nee Cooke)
Elissa, Rachel, Ryan
Chilliwack, BC:
Tony Aikema and Pam Bouchard
Summer
Address: 6530 Old Kamloops Road, Vernon, BC V1H 1P8
OBITUARIES
Lettelbert, The Netherlands
Edmonton, Alberta
October 4, 1926
April 9, 2008
We are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the
body and at home with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:8
The Lord took unto Himself
PETER STIKSMA
Dearly beloved husband for over fifty three years of
Tenie Stiksma (nee Peters)
And dearly loved father and grandfather of:
St. Albert, AB:
Joyce Stiksma (Henry†)
Kristen and Chris Veenendaal,
Andrea and Jason Tolsma,
Darcy, Rhonda
Edmonton, AB:
Marlene and Doug Brown
Devon
Mission, BC:
Annette and Tom DeRover (Richard†)
Rebekah and Shawn Collick,
Justin, Erika (Ben Evans), Tamara
St. Albert, AB:
John and Arlene Stiksma
Cynthia, Terri, Amy, Jason
Chilliwack, BC:
Ray and Alice Stiksma
Ashley, Alex, Mike
Correspondence: 8807-160 Street, Edmonton, AB T5R 2H6
OBITUARIES
I have called you by name, you are Mine. Isaiah 43:1b
Vanuit Canada ontvingen wij het verdrietige bericht dat onze
lieve kleindochter en nicht
MIRJAM BINNENDIJK-SCHUTTE
26 april 2008 is gestorven op de jeugdige leeftijd van 31 jaar.
Wij bidden voor Herman en Celina dat God hen verder door dit
leven zal dragen en dat Rikie en Arie Binnendijk-ten Klooster
en hun kinderen en de familie Schutte
Gods troost en kracht ervaren.
Oma ten Klooster-van de Velde en de ooms en tantes:
Gé Buit-ten Klooster, Roelie Schutte-ten Klooster,
Willy en Luc Buit-ten Klooster
Wim en Zwanette ten Klooster-Schutte
Truus en Han Mast-ten Klooster
Tinie en Theo Mast-ten Klooster
Dick en Trudy ten Klooster-Goldsteen
Henk en Liesbeth ten Klooster-Wisselink
Neven en nichten
Wij herinneren ons met dankbaarheid dat velen destijds
een financiële bijdrage hebben gegeven om een kostbare
behandeling van haar ziekte mogelijk te maken.
Corr. adres: fam. Mast-ten Klooster, Postbus 14, 3870 CA
Hoevelaken-NL. of [email protected]
TEACHING POSITIONS
The
MARANATHA CANADIAN REFORMED SCHOOL SOCIETY INC.
of Fergus, Guelph and District, in planning for the 2008-2009
school year, invites applications for
POSSIBLE OPENINGS IN OUR
UPPER ELEMENTARY GRADES
All duties to commence August 1, 2008
Our school is located in the beautiful and picturesque
southern Ontario town of Fergus, where one would be very
close to rural life and within easy commute of
major urban areas.
The school currently has 253 students in Grades K – 8.
If interested in the above position or have any questions
about aspects of the position or of the school, please contact
one of the following people for more information,
or submit your resume to the school’s address:
Lydia VanVeen, principal
519-843-3029 (school); 519-843-4062 (home)
[email protected]
Mark Veenman, Education Committee Chair
519-699-6274
Applications to be addressed to:
Maranatha Christian School
c/o Education Committee
RR 3, Garafraxa Street, Fergus, Ontario N1M 2W4
MAY 23, 2008 • 287
PRINCIPAL
Maranatha Christian School
Due to the strong growth of our school, we are accepting
applications for an experienced and energetic principal, duties
to commence August 2008. Experience and post-graduate work
will be definite assets. All parties interested in this position are
invited to contact the chairman of the education committee.
Open to all members of Canadian Reformed Churches and
Churches with which the Canadian Reformed Churches have
ecclesiastical fellowship.
Maranatha Christian School offers Grades K-8, presently with
254 students, and is located in Fergus, Ontario.
Ms. Lydia VanVeen, Principal
(519) 843-3029 (school); (519) 843-4062 (home)
Email: [email protected]
Mr. Mark Veenman, chairman, education committee
(519) 699-6274 (home)
Applications to be addressed to:
Maranatha Christian School
Attention: Mr. Mark Veenman, Education Committee Chair
RR 3, Garafraxa Street, Fergus, ON N1M 2W4
The Canadian Reformed School Society of London and
District, operating Covenant Christian School, invites
applications for the following opening for the 2008/2009
school year
GRADE 5 AND 6 TEACHER
At present this is a full-time position for 1 year.
What we offer:
• Positive Christian work environment.
• Small class sizes
• Supportive school community with excellent volunteer base.
• Competitive salary (we follow the salary grid of the League
of Canadian Reformed School Societies).
For more information please contact the Principal:
Mr. James Meinen at 519-681-1196
or email: [email protected]
Letters of application may be sent to:
Mrs. Janine Janssens, Secretary of the Education Committee
4268 Nauvoo Road, RR #7, Watford, ON N0M 2S0
Telephone: 1-519-847-5498, email: [email protected]
JOHN CALVIN SCHOOL
320 Station Street, PO Box 280, Smithville, ON L0R 2A0
“The Heart of the Niagara Peninsula”
In anticipation of an upcoming vacancy(ies) the Board and
Education Committee of JOHN CALVIN SCHOOL invites
applications from
QUALIFIED TEACHERS
for the school year 2008-2009. Enquiries about and
applications for these positions are encouraged.
Please contact the Principal, Mr. F.C. Ludwig, for further
information, at (905) 957-2341 School, or (905) 957-3111 Home
Applications and resumés may be faxed directly to the school
at (905) 957-2342, to the attention of the Principal,
or addressed to:
The Education Committee
c/o Mr. E. Ludwig, Secretary
RR 2, 7057 Concession 4, Smithville, Ontario L0R 2A0
288 • MAY 23, 2008
The
Canadian Reformed School
Society of Edmonton,
operating
Parkland Immanuel Christian School (PICS), invites
applications for the position of
PRINCIPAL
effective September 2008 or 2009.
The Canadian Reformed School Society of Edmonton is seeking
a Principal to effectively lead and inspire staff and students to
teach and learn to the best of their abilities, under the
auspices of our new LIFE vision, and to the glory of the LORD.
PICS provides covenantal education to almost 200
Kindergarten to Grade 12 students. It strives to do this via a
dedicated teaching staff of 14, four Teacher’s Aides, and a
supportive Reformed community.
For further information please contact:
Ron Bos
President, PICS Board
Phone: (780) 336-6472 (cell); (780) 476-0558 (home)
E-mail: [email protected]
David Slomp
Chair, Personnel Committee - PICS Board
Phone: (780) 987-8098; e-mail: [email protected]
Applications should be directed in writing to the school:
Personnel Committee
c/o Parkland Immanuel Christian School
21304 35 Avenue, NW, Edmonton, AB T6M 2P6
Reach for your dreams in Alberta…where growth and opportunity
abound in a land of mountains, prairie and big sky.
PROVIDENCE REFORMED COLLEGIATE
invites applications for definite openings for
FULL-TIME and/or
PART-TIME HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS
in all areas of study, with emphasis on Math, Biology, Physics,
Chemistry and Computers for the 2008/09 school year.
Providence is a small regional high school serving the
Reformed communities of Southwestern Ontario,
from Woodstock on the east, Wyoming (ON) on the west,
Clinton on the north and St. Thomas/Aylmer on the south
with London in the center. The school has experienced
continual growth since its inception, as of January 2003
occupying its newly constructed building,
and by the grace of God we hope to expand.
Qualified individuals who seek to serve in the field of
Reformed Christian education, who submit to Scripture as
summarized by the Reformed Confessions, and who are
interested in joining our staff, are invited to submit a resume
with a statement of faith, philosophy of education, and letters
of reference (including one from your church consistory) to:
Providence Reformed Collegiate
PO Box 114 – 93 Queen Street
Komoka, Ontario N0L 1R0
For more information contact the principal,
Mr. Roger Vanoostveen at (519) 471-0661 (school),
(519) 264-2575 (home), or
e-mail [email protected]
ROYAL LEPAGE NIAGARA REAL ESTATE
CENTRE INC. BROKERAGE
2005 & 2006
Mark vander Velde
Prompt and Professional Real Estate
servicing the Niagara Region and
Haldimand County
Sales Rep
www.markv.ca
Contact Info –
Office – 905-957-5000
Res – 905-386-7494
Toll Free – 1-800-461-0493
[email protected]
SAINT-GEORGES
Église Chrétienne Réformée de Beauce
has been blessed with the acquisition of a church building!
The Église Chrétienne Réformée de Beauce,
a member of the L’Église Réformée du Québec,
is excited to finally purchase their own building; however,
they are a small congregation and would appreciate
any support you are able to give!
Your contributions will help them upgrade the facilities and
purchase furniture, a sound system and a piano.
You can help by sending your donation to:
Église Chrétienne Réformée de Beauce
Attention: Mr. Gaétan Lapierre
1110, 131e Rue, St. Georges, Québec G5Y 2T1
The Owen Sound Canadian Reformed Church Mission Board,
together with supporting churches and individuals provide fraternal
and financial support to this ERQ congregation.
4 BEDROOM COUNTRY VACATION HOME
Available Year Round
15 minutes north of Owen Sound
For more info call 519-371-5616
email [email protected]
MAY 23, 2008 • 289
CIVIL ENGINEER
FOR MUNICIPAL ENGINEERING
Investment Planning Counsel
B.M. Ross and Associates Limited is a
consulting engineering firm that has provided engineering
and planning services for communities and private clients in
southwestern Ontario for 57 years.
Financial Planning Professionals
of Canada
• R.R.S.P.s / R.R.I.F.s
• Mutual Funds
• Life Insurance
• High Yield Cash Accounts
• GICs / Term Deposits
• Financial Planning
We have an opening in our Mount Forest branch office for a
civil engineer with an interest in a career in municipal
engineering. Mount Forest is located approximately two hours
northwest of Toronto and one hour north of Kitchener-Waterloo.
ASSOCIATES / ADMINISTRATION
Eligibility to obtain a license to practice engineering in Ontario
is a mandatory requirement.
A detailed resume should be submitted to Frank VanderLoo
at [email protected].
TM
PETA-GAY TAI-MILTON, B.A.
TINA TAI-DESTRO, B.A.
Roland Van Andel
ASSOCIATE / INSURANCE
ANDREW JANSEN
Only those chosen for interviews will be contacted.
B.M. Ross and Associates Limited
206 Industrial Drive, P.O. Box 1179
Mount Forest, Ontario, Canada, N0G 2L0
Phone: (519) 323-2945, Fax: (519) 323-3551
www.bmross.net
59 Kirby Avenue, Unit 1, Dundas, Ontario L9H 6P3
PHONE: 905-628-9666 • FAX: 905-628-1035
TOLL FREE: 1-866-856-5910
E-MAIL: [email protected]
MEMBER OF IPC FINANCIAL NETWORK INC.
garden city realty inc., REALTOR®
John Meerveld
Associate Broker
(905) 333-3500
Fax: 333-3616
Old Fashioned Service – High Tech Advantage
(905) 945-0660
Serving the
Fax: 945-2982
Community Since 1979
MEMBER
email: [email protected]
www.johnmeerveld.com
290 • MAY 23, 2008
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~ CLARION ON CD-ROM ~
At the heart of Southwestern Ontario, the city of London
provides metropolitan amenities with a small town
atmosphere and affordable housing. With a population of
over 350,000, London has world class health care facilities,
including the Children’s Hospital of Western Ontario.
Extensive educational choices are available through the
University of Western Ontario and Fanshawe College.
We are a friendly and growing congregation of 215 with many
young families, which support both Covenant Christian
School and Providence Reformed Collegiate.
Come make our beautiful city your home!
The Lord has tremendously blessed
Practical Plumbing Co. Ltd.
by allowing us to be a full service company with 27 years
experience in the plumbing industry. Presently we have a
new homes plumbing division, a bathroom renovation
division and a retail showroom. We are dedicated to
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We are currently looking for an enthusiastic, goal oriented
Licensed Plumber for our new homes division.
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If you are looking for a challenging opportunity in a dynamic
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[email protected]. If you have any questions,
please call Chad after hours at 519-657-9540.
The Liberation:
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Causes and Consequences
Edited by Cornelis Van Dam
The Canadian Reformed Churches are heirs of the
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This book will greatly help both those within and
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The struggle
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in The Neth
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Edited by
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