NEWS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & EVENTS

CHURCH NEWS

MINISTERIAL CALLS

Extended

To Rev. H. Hofman of Sioux Center, Iowa by the Sheboygan, Wisconsin congregation.

To Rev. J.J. Van Eckeveld of Zeist, The Netherlands by the Lethbridge, Alberta congregation. Declined

By Rev. G. Mouw of Cenemuiden, the Netherlands, to the St. Catharines, Ontario, congregation.

By Rev. C. Sonnevelt of Nigeria, to the Union-ville, Ontario, congregation.

CURATORIUM

At its annual meeting held on June 26 just as this issue was going to press, Student Green-dyk satisfactorily passed his examination and was admitted into his fourth year of studies. The Curatorium received liberty to accept one of those who came with attestations from their consistories—namely Arnoud Vergunst, of Kalamazoo (twenty-nine years of age, two children, son of the late Rev. A. Vergunst). May the Lord crown it with his favor, and humble us under His gladdening hand (Ps. 126:3). Our sister denomination in the Netherlands was also gladdened, as their Curatorium received liberty to accept four students into the theological school. Further details will be forthcoming next month, D.V, together with a synopsis of our synodical gathering and office-bearers’ conference.

—JRB

NEW ADDRESS

The new address and phone number of the clerk of the NRC in Rock Valley, IA is:

Albert Bakker

R.R. 1, Box 218, 827 18th Place

Rock Valley, Iowa 51247

(712)476-2480

YOUTH DAY CONFERENCE

Classis Midwest

The 1990 Youth Day Conference for Classis Midwest hopes to meet Saturday, August 18, commencing at 9:30 AM at the school in Rock Valley, Iowa, the Lord willing. It will be under the sponsorship of the Sioux Falls/Corsica congregations. Anyone needing accomodations may call Arnold Kelderman at (605) 987-2937.

OBITUARIES

HAGE, Cornells — Age 84; May 6, 1990; Grand Rapids, Ml; Brother — Andrew; Sisters — Maude (Mrs. Pete Clover); Wilma (Mrs. James Westrate). (Dr. J.R. Beeke, Ps. 43:1,5.)

WITVOET, Alice — Age 80; May 17,1990; South Holland, IL; Sons — Albert, William, James, Cerrit, Hugo; Daughter — Lena; 35 grandchildren; 42 great-grandchildren; Brothers — William, Hugo, Andrew; Sisters — Dena (Mrs. Kooyenga), Cora (Mrs. Peter Ja Baay). (Dr. J.R. Beeke, Ps. 90:9.)

De GRAFF — Age 89; May 20,1990; Waupun, Wl; Wife — Johanna (deceased); Sisters — Minnie (Mrs. Rink Dykstra), Lena (Mrs. Ceorge Rhode): (Rev. J. Den Hoed, Ps. 89:48a.)

VAN STEVENINCK, Leonard — Age 90; May 26, 1990; Paterson, NJ; Wife — Jacoba; 1 grandchild (Rev. C. Vogelaar, Ps. 34:6.)

VOGEL, William — Age 95; June 5, 1990; Grand Rapids, Ml; Sons — Andrew, William; Daughters — Joan (Mrs. John Kamp), Edith (Mrs. George Van Strien), Dena (Mrs. Dan Breuker), Ruth Deur; 23 grandchildren; 54 greatgrandchildren. (Dr. J.R. Beeke; Ex. 14:13b,14.)

SOUTHWAY, Gertrude — Age 85; June 7,1990; Prospect Park, NJ; Husband — John; Sons Cornelius, Peter, Robert, Howard; Brother — Job Non; Sisters — Cornelia Verblaauw, Theresa Vande Vrede; 7 grandchildren; 4 great-grand-. children. (Rev. C. Vogelaar, Eccl. 9:5.)

In Memoriam

Peter DeGraff

In less than two months, oursmall congregation at Waupun, Wisconsin lost a former office-bearer who had served them faithfully for many years. Peter DeGraff passed away on May 20, 1990, at the age of eighty-nine. Rev. J. den Hoed conducted the funeral from Psalm 89:48a, “What man is there that liveth, and shall not see death?”

May the Lord grant the mourning loved ones to experience: “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms” (Dt. 33:27a). May He also remember the Waupun congregation in His tender mercy. Oh, that God may graciously fill empty places in His house by raising up more God-fearing officebearers, gifted to teach and lead, endowed with humility and wisdom!

—JRB

TEACHERS

NETHERLANDS REFORMED CHRISTIAN SCHOOL, Corsica, SD, will be needing an elementary teacher for grades 4–8 for the 1990–91 school year. Phone Cornie Blom (605) 243-2341 or Jay Ymker (605) 724-2221.

CALVIN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL, Lethbridge/Ft. Macleod.

Applications are still being sought for both the elementary and high school level. For more information contact the principal: Mr. A.H. Verhoef (403) 381 -3030 — School; (403) 381 -4434 — Home. Please send applications with references to the secretary of the school board: Mr. A.M. De Wilde, RO. Box 142, Monarch, Alta., Canada T0L 1M0.

PROVIDENCE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL, Kalamazoo, Ml, is accepting applications for several elementary teaching positions for 1990–1991 school year. Interested applicants are asked to contact either of the following: Mr. Gary Blok, Principal, 1328 Miller Road, Kalamazoo, Ml 49001 (616) 349-8295 or Mr. Dirk Schipper, 4732 East C Ave., Kalamazoo, Ml 49004 (616) 349-9448.

PLYMOUTH CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL, Grand Rapids, Mich, is presently taking applications for a teaching position in English, as well as a possible combination of several other subjects. Qualified persons should send applications to the principal, Mr. Richard J. Ten Elshof, 965 Plymouth Rd., N.E., Grand Rapids, Ml 49505, (616) 454-9481.

REHOBOTH CHRISTIAN SCHOOL, Norwich, Ont For next schoolyear 1990–91 D.V., we invite applications for teachers. We are looking for teachers in Gr. 4, 4/5, 6, and three teachers in Gr. 7–10. Possible subject areas in Gr. 7–10 include Phys. Ed., Industrial Arts, English, Math, and Business. For more information or an application, please contact Mr. Henry Scholten, President, (519) 468-2714 or Mr. Martien Vanderspek, Principal, (519) 863-2403 (school) or (519) 863-3119 (home). Rehoboth Christian School, 43 Main St E., PO Box 220, Norwich, Ont. N0J 1P0.

REHOBOTH CHRISTIAN SCHOOL, Copetown, Ontario is seeking applicants for Principal, primary, junior and intermediate positions for the 1990–91 school year. Please send resume to the Principal, Rehoboth Christian School, Box 70, Copetown, Ontario LOR 1J0.

NETHERLANDS REFORMED CHRISTIAN SCHOOL, Rock Valley/Sioux Center, Invites inquiries and applications for teaching positions at the elementary and secondary levels. Call or write Gary Bakker, (712) 439-2594, R.R. 2, Box 104A, Hull, Iowa 51239; Harold Schelling, (712) 722-1131, R.R. 1, Box 54, Hull, Iowa 51239; or the Netherlands Reformed Christian School, R.R. 1, Box 269K, Rock Valley, Iowa 51247, (712) 476-2821.

WANTED

Missionary couple (Wycliffe Bible Translators) needs an inexpensive house or apartment to rent while on furlough (end of August through December) in Grand Rapids area. Call 616-698-6822 after 5:00 for more details.

CURRENTS EVENTS

ACTION TO BE CONSIDERED

Update on Freedom of Choice Act

The dangerous “Freedom of Choice” pro-abortion bill described in the May Current Events is now being debated in a series of hearings on Capitol Hill. Unfortunately, the hearings are being tainted with bias against the pro-life viewpoint by rulings that certain evidences against abortion be barred. It is important at this time to express opposition to both HR 3700 and S1912 to your congressman and senators respectively.

Birth Control and Infertility Research Centers Act

HR 2956, named above, is a pro-abortion and “contraception” research bill recently introduced in the House. Along with S. 110 in the Senate, it is also reported to include provision for the research of the RU-486 abortion pill. We recommend immediate, vigorous, and prayerful opposition to these measures.

Supreme Court to Hand Down Important Rulings Soon

It is a time for ardent prayer on behalf of the nine justices of the Supreme Court who must hand down decisions on significant cases presently before them. Their current session ends in late June. Cases include: Constitutionality of parental notification abortion laws, the Nancy Cruzan euthanasia case (see March 89 Banner Current Events), whether there is a “right” to possess child pornography, and whether public high school students may meet on campus after school for prayer and Bible study.

INFORMATION

New Testaments Printed in Czechoslovakia 180,000 Bibles and New Testaments are expected to be published each year by the government printing house under a new law, the National & International Religion Report stated.

One-Third of Americans Claim to be “Born Again” Christians

A recent in-depth study done by the Barna Research Group found that about 39% of American women and about 29% of American men claim to be “born-again” Christians. One must look twice at the study, however. One aspect states that 46% of Protestants say they have received Christ and 20% of Catholics have done so. These high figures are not surprising, but sadly, do not bear themselves out in God-fearing fruits. No matter how we look at the statistics, the number of Christ’s true flock is and will always be “few” compared with those travelling the broad road and entering the wide gate. The important question for us is, “Am I a Christian in the eyes of God?”

Senator Secures Home School and Private School Safeguards

The “Excellence in Education Act of 1989” passed on Feb. 7th. Although some aspects of the bill might be laudable, still 25 million dollars was added by the Labor and Human Resources Committee for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. One of the board’s declared purposes is to dispel the myth that “any modestly educated person with some instinct for nurturing has the requisitequalifications to teach.” It is likely that the board will favor strict regulation of private and home schools. Longtime ally of conservative and Christian causes, Senator Jesse Helms was able to get the majority manager of the act, Sen. Claiborne Pell, to insert into tire bill’s language “nothing in this act shall be construed to infringe upon the practice or accreditation of home school or private school teaching.” It is worthy of notice that Sen. Helms has been by far the most consistent advocate of Christian and conservative standards in the halls of the Senate. May the Lord uphold Sen. Helms in his often single-handed efforts to restore our nation’s laws to conform with biblical standards, and raise up many more such men to represent us in government

Fewer Doctors Willing to Perform Abortions The Jan. 8 New York Times ran an article entitled, “Under Pressure and Stigma, More Doctors Shun Abortion.” Among other reasons, physicians who perform abortions do so in contradiction of their past medical education. They learn in embryology and genetics classes that you are dealing with a human life at all points of pregnancy. Many such physicians also feel growing isolation from their colleagues. One poignant example was given about an abortion-clinic doctor in Colorado who called a pro-abortion doctor friend late on a Saturday afternoon saying he wanted to come over. When he mentioned to his friend that he was still at his office, the friend said, “Still killing babies this late in the afternoon?” The doctor related that that remark was like a knife in his stomach. Does not this arouse compassion in us for these doctors whose hearts and consciences are so numbed by this horrible, repetitive sin? May the Lord give us prayer for all the “victims” of this holocaust— the unborn, the mothers, the physicians, and our national conscience, which continues to grow hardened to sin.

Disappointing Veto of Idaho Abortion Bill

The signature of Governor Cecil Andrus was all that was needed to enact a strict anti-abortion bill into law in Idaho which would likely have been the test case needed to challenge Roe v. Wade at the Supreme Court level. The governor, in betrayal of his supposed “pro-life” beliefs, decided to veto the bill and timed his veto so that there was no chance for an override. The law, in the light of Scripture, was in reality not as “strict” as people were led to believe, since it still allowed for abortions in cases of reported rape, incest and severe fetal deformities. At any rate, the whole measure is now done for this year and a test case for the reconsideration of Roe will have to be sought elsewhere.

Planned Parenthood to Enter Elective Politics

The largest abortion-providing organization in the nation, Planned Parenthood, has decided to take a more active role supporting pro-abortion candidates in the future, the Gannett News Service recently reported. Services they plan to offer include providing lists of proabortion voters to pro-abortion candidates, targeting such voters for lobbying and fund raising activities, and providing funds for “public education” on the pro-abortion viewpoint.

Do any of our readers send their children to public high schools? They may want to inquire if Planned Parenthood is allowed to present information in health classes. From the information we have, we believe most parents would be shocked at the content of such “education.” The presentations given are pro-licentiousness and pro-abortion. Many current health courses do not even present abstinence as an “option” for young people to consider.We strongly urge parents to oppose such programs by speaking to high school officials.

Supreme Court Lets Town Keep Its Ban on Dancing

The Associated Press recently reported that the Supreme Court has left in place a ban on school dances in Purdy, Missouri. It is reported that the town is mostly Christian and local ministers have long preached against dancing. It is truly remarkable that such a law still remains, in the face of the tremendous rise in public immorality over the last few decades.

Child Care Update

It appears that all efforts to substitute a more family-oriented child care credit for the ABC Bill described in the June ‘89 Current Events will be futile. The House and Senate will now go into “conference” to try to reconcile the Senate’s ABC bill and the House’s Hawkins-Downey bill into one. The President is expected to veto the committee’s report forthcoming compromise. Please pray that he does so and that his veto will be upheld.

AT&T and Winn-Dixie Stores Have Dropped Planned Parenthood Support

In a recent Current column we indicated several corporate sponsors of Planned Parenthood. We are happy to announce that AT&T and Winn-Dixie stores have dropped sponsorship of this organization. AT&T have cited PP’s increased involvement in politics (see above article) as the reason they have ceased their 25-year-long support.

—DL/RVS

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