Celebrating ten years of working together in Tana Mbanas, Sumba ...

Rehoboth Christian School in
Tana Mbanas
Marjon with her play group
Bedtime Prayer
Students from the Rehoboth School
Christina Sihombing, Marion & Bill Sommer
Rehoboth Kindergarten
Celebrating ten years of working together in Tana Mbanas, Sumba, Indonesia
Opa Sommer handing out snacks
Bill with Putri
Tina teaches grade 8

GGllaadd TTiiddiinnggss
Official Publication of the Mission Committee of the
Heritage Reformed Congregations
Mission Committee
John Beeke, Chairman
Henry DeVries, Vice Chairman
Chris Carbone, Secretary
Jason Beeke, Treasurer
Dr. Cornie Bleeker Dr. Jonathan Engelsma
Bill Klyn Edward Otten Russ VandenToorn
Editorial Committee
Editor - John Beeke, Chairman
Email: johnrbeeke@aol.com Telephone: 905-892-2048
Bill Klyn, Miskin MLC, Missiology
Dr. Cornie Bleeker, DeVries MLC
Chris Carbone, Molenaar MLC
Bill Klyn, Finance Committee
Managing Editor - Jane Korevaar
Email: janekorevaar@sympatico.ca Telephone 905-877-5666
Youth Editors - Gerrit & Julia Sinke
Email: gerritsinke@yahoo.com Telephone 403-317-3065
Editorial Assistant - Coby DeJonge
Subscription Managers - Paul & Jane Pols
1875 Leonard Street, NW, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49504
Email: bsgt@hnrc.org Telephone 616-791-9486
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For additional information on HRC ministries, please visit our website at www.hnrc.org.
CONTENTS
December 2009 ~ Volume 11, No. 4
MEDITATION – Rev. Johnny Serafini
Revival Seed .................................................... 1
EDITORIAL – John Beeke
Labors, Trials and Blessings in the Mission Field ........ 1
MISSIONARY UPDATES
Haiti – A Visit to the Village – Jason Krul .................. 2
Indonesia – Tana Mbanas, Sumba Mission
– Bill & Marion Sommer ....................................... 3
Indonesia – A Day in the Home “Pengharapan”
– Krista Stam .................................................... 3
South Africa – Update – Rev. Arthur & Dr. Sonja Miskin . 4
Trip to South Africa – Rev. Mark Kelderman ............... 7
OUR EVANGELISTIC HERITAGE
Calvin the Evangelist – Dr. Joel R. Beeke ................... 8
CHURCH EVANGELISM
Fort Macleod, Alberta – Church Outreach
– Rev. Wade Koenen ............................................ 9
Franklin Lakes, New Jersey – Christian Health Care
Center – Tom Rose ............................................. 10
BOOKS to Advance Your Mission & Evangelism Skills –
Jay Collier ....................................................... 10
YOUTH EVANGELISM – Gerrit & Julia Sinke ................ 10
Trip to Haiti – Esther Krul ................................... 11
Franklin Lakes Youth Group – Eric Moerdyk ............... 11
Bible Quiz ....................................................... 12
MISSION FINANCES
July 1, 2009 – September 30, 2009 – Jason Beeke ..... 12
Fund Raising Volunteer – Chris Carbone ................. 12
POEM – Fanny J. Crosby Tell Me the Story of Jesus
MISSION STATEMENT
The purpose of the Heritage Reformed Congregations missions program
is to glorify the Triune God, by proclaiming the message of salvation alone
in Jesus Christ throughout the world, in order that lost sinners might be
reconciled to God in Christ by the Holy Spirit.
Mrs Anna Ntuli who initiated the old age home project
Please pass this magazine to a friend or bring it to Bible Study.

e
MEDITATION
Revival Seed
Rev. Johnny Serafini
We look around us, and our hearts sink deeper and deeper as we
consider how the world needs the message of Christ. Every year,
around 26 million people within the unreached peoples groups
around the world die without having heard the Word of God. This
translates into nearly 50,000 souls per day. 1 Furthermore, of all
languages in the world, 2,529 of them still await a Bible translation
team. This means that approximately 272 million people do not
have a Bible in their language, nor hope to in the near future. 2
Around 1,640 languages have programs in progress, which still
means millions have to wait for the completion of production,
publication and distribution. 3
As we look closer to home, we are grieved to see a country such
as America, which once stood tall upon Christian foundations,
speedily reject its moorings and plunge into a fast spiral
downwards. We see the darkness of neo-paganism speedily
covering the sunlight of Christian influence which is still
noticeable and present, but fading. Where can we look for help?
We know we can find hope in God’s Word. In the Bible we see the
light-giving message of Christ piercing through the greatest
darkness. The Bible also gives much hope in its histories of
revivals. It contains the message of hope, which is Christ, in His
Person and work; as well as the method of hope: the faithful
proclamation of the Scriptures. This inevitably leads to revival, be
it for a few souls or for a great multitude. The encouraging truth
is that a few conversions (even if it is only one) which is a true
revival for each soul converted always has in it the seeds of
glorious future revivals.
The salvation of Noah and his family was a revival story. The
world seemed lost, until God saved “the world” by saving one
single family. The millions of believers who have lived and are
living in the world today are direct descendants of that one single
“family revival.” The people of Israel sank deeply into slavery
and spiritual darkness until the Lord brought revival to the soul
of one man, Moses, and through him, delivered a great multitude,
gave them His laws and patiently guided them into the Promised
Land. Thus, the history of the Exodus is a history of great revival.
Some see the period of the Judges as a cycle of successive failures
as the people of God sadly succumbed to idolatry. We must,
however, see it as a gracious report of successive revivals to a
needy, albeit undeserving, people. In every single case, one soul
was graciously revived before deliverance was brought to many.
Just as the seed may lie buried many years as if dead, so we see
many “revived” men preaching to great multitudes, but never
seeing any great revivals in their lifetime. Such was the life of
Jeremiah, Elijah, Elisha and many other faithful prophets of the
Lord. One such prophet was Jonah. During his life in Israel he saw
no revival, until the Lord sent him to a foreign city and worked a
revival in his own soul. The story of his own revival occupies the
1 Phil Bogosian, U.S. Center for World Missions, Vision for the Nations (Pasadena,
CA: William Carey Library, 1995), 67.
2 th Ethnologue, Languages of the World, 15 Ed. (Wycliffe International, 2005).
3 The good news is that 2,403 languages have some portions or the whole Bible in
their language, Ethnologue.
half of his book. But what follows is, again, the surprising
consequence of the faithful preaching of the Word of God. He
graciously brought revival to a people living in utter darkness.
About a pagan, idolatrous, violent, sinful people, we read, “So the
people of Nineveh believed God” (Jonah 3:5a). What a glorious
work of God!
Indeed, the darkness tarries throughout many places of the
world today, but there are reports of many coming to the Lord in
China, Africa, and South Korea. God has no obligation to revive
one soul, neither a multitude, but what we marvel to see that this
is what the Lord is pleased to do time after time. May the Lord
bless the faithful preaching of His Word at home and beyond.
May He bless and protect His faithful missionaries among
peoples and nations who are in great darkness. As long as we
faithfully proclaim the gospel, revival seed is being sown.
EDITORIAL
Labors, Trials and Blessings in the Mission Field
John Beeke
Dear Friends,
John Paton, a missionary sent out by God in the 1800's to work
among the cannibals in the New Hebrides, endured many hardships
during the many years he labored on the islands of Tanna
and Aniwa. Besides learning the language of the Tannese and the
Awians, adapting to the culture, and teaching them that their
idols are no gods, survival was difficult. Several times his goods
were stolen, arrows and guns were pointed at him, tribes of the
enemy would come to capture him, but also disease was rampant,
especially malaria. More than fourteen times he suffered malaria
and had to endure severe weakness for months.
Friends, life is not easy on a mission field. Our missionaries in
Zambia, Pastor Molenaar and his wife Mirjam, also were afflicted
with malaria and their son, Obed, was very sick. They have better
treatment today for malaria than in John Paton's time, but it is still
a dreadful sickness and still causes much weakness. The
Molenaars were sent back to the Netherlands to recover and to
recuperate. Thankfully they are doing well now. In the meantime,
they received their fourth child, a son named Moses. Everything
went well for mother and child. They are now anticipating their
return to the mission post in Zambia. Let us thank the Lord for
sparing their lives and bringing them through these hardships.
Thankfully, everything has been going well on the field in their
absence, with Pastor Zwemstra helping out.
In the meantime, Pastor Miskin from South Africa fell very ill
and was admitted to the hospital for several days. The Lord
blessed the treatments used and he was allowed to return home.
Although he is very weak at the time we write this, the Lord has
sustained him, his wife Sonja and the children wonderfully. How
dependent we are upon the Lord for all things, including our
health. Let us pray that God will give Pastor Miskin full recuperation
and no recurrences.
Dr. Brian DeVries has just returned to South Africa to take up
his labors again after spending some weeks in the United States
and Canada giving presentations of his work as pastor and also as
DECEMBER 2009 Glad Tidings 1

the newly appointed president of Mukhanyo College. While in
America, he became engaged to Lanae VanderBoon; they hope to
be married in April, 2010, the Lord willing. We wish them both
the Lord's richest blessing and that He may prosper their ways.
Dear friends, may God bless the endeavors of each mission
field that brings the gospel in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Let us pray for the Mols in Bali, the Sommers in Sumba with
some new additional help from the Van Woerdens, the Dederts in
Cambodia, the Kruls in Haiti and the mission post in Aqua Prieta,
Mexico. There are thousands of
fields today that are hearing the
word of God, many unknown to
us but known by God. Pray that
God would thrust more laborers
into His vineyard, for they are
few compared to the vast multitudes
of souls that still need to
repent and turn to the living God
to find life in Christ.
John Beeke
MISSIONARY UPDATES
HAITI - A Visit to the Village
Jason Krul
As you already know, MAF pilots transport supplies, medicine,
work teams, doctors, nurses and pastors all across Haiti, but
every now and then we are the "cargo", and that's what we would
like to share with you today! This past summer, when my parents
and sister were here to visit we had an opportunity to use an
MAF airplane to fly to Pignon, a village north of Port au Prince,
and spend three and a half days helping the people there.
I have to admit, I really enjoyed being able to fly my wife, son,
parents and sister to the remote village and I'm pretty sure they
enjoyed the flight as well! When we landed on the grass strip, it
didn't take long for news to travel that we had arrived and soon
a crowd had formed. After spending some time getting
re-acquainted with the friends we had previously made, we
decided to visit Camp De Le Gras, the camp where we lived
during our language study time. Soon after our arrival many
neighbourhood children, who we had befriended earlier,
excitedly came to greet us. Before we left the camp, my wife told
one of the little girls called Mona, who she was especially close
with, that we would be back the next day with some gifts for the
children. The next morning we took the money donated by
friends and family back in Canada and went to the local market
to buy large quantities of rice, beans, vegetables and seasonings.
Although we had become quite accustomed to the markets here
in Haiti, this was a whole new experience for my parents and
sister and they could hardly believe their eyes, or their noses for
that matter!
We purposely bought the food at the market there so that we
would not only help the people we were distributing the food to,
but also help the local economy by purchasing the food from the
market vendors. When we arrived at the camp with the food and
additional dolls and clothing that had been donated as well, we
could hardly believe our eyes. The camp that yesterday sported
about 15 children now had over a 100 kids! The news of the gifts
must have spread like wild fire! Fortunately it didn't take long to
get everyone organized and we were happy to find out that we
had enough dolls,
pencil cases and
toys for all the
children.
At the village
market
Posing with their
dolls, pencil cases
and toys
Several of the camp
guards, and other
Haitian adults who
had come to see what
was happening at the
camp, helped us divide up the food and distribute it so that each
family would have the same amount. Seeing the joy on the
children's faces we were once again reminded that Jesus loves the
little children and cares for their needs as well. We are simply His
instruments and all honour and glory goes to Him. Before we left
I also had the opportunity to distribute some Creole Bibles to the
Haitian men that I had spent time with earlier.
Handing out Bibles
It was encouraging to see
how gladly they received
them! Please pray that God
may work in their lives
through His Word. The
extra donated money that
we had left was donated to
a feeding clinic that was
run by a Haitian Pastor and his American wife. After listening to a
Bible story, playing games, receiving underwear and an
additional clothing article that had been donated as well, each
child received a giant plate of rice and beans. It was really
touching to see these children, many who suffered from malnutrition,
enjoying their meal so much!
When we asked the Pastor why even the little children received
so much food, he told us that it was so they could take the extra
home for their parents and older siblings. We watched intently as,
2 Glad Tidings DECEMBER 2009

Little children enjoying their rice and beans
after each child was done, he or she would carefully put the
leftovers in a bag and then walk excitedly home with their
treasure. This was once again a good lesson for us, since we are so
quick to take things for granted. That Sunday we attended the
Haitian worship services as well, something we really enjoyed.
Morning worship service in the village
Listening to the service reminded us of the words in Rev. 5:9,
that Jesus with His blood had purchased men for God from every
tribe, tongue and nation.
INDONESIA
Tana Mbanas, Sumba Mission
Bill & Marion Sommer
For more than ten years we have been allowed to work in Tana
Mbanas. From the beginning we experienced the protecting hand
of the Lord. After the first day we arrived in Tana Mbanas, Bill
had to return to town to buy our first truck and Marion, Christina
and Ika stayed behind. Bapak Petrus, at that time a prominent
man in Tana Mbanas, who practiced black magic and extortion,
came to our house after Bill left for town. He settled himself on the
porch early in the morning and stayed there all day as if to claim
his territory. When dusk set in he asked Marion, “Are you not
scared?” She answered, “No, the Lord watches over us.” This we
have experienced time and time again. One time a group of men
came to destroy our home. Often false reports were sent to the
government, which brought the equivalent of the FBI to investigate
us. But also in our daily life here we may experience that the
Lord is with us and has blessed the labour here in Tana Mbanas.
We still enjoy working here in Sumba although as the project
becomes bigger the responsibilities increase too. We are blessed
that we may have our own Christian school, but we are in great
need of qualified teachers. It is our constant prayer that the Lord
will also provide in this regard and we trust He will do so.
Christina has worked beside us all of these years and is an invaluable
help.
We thank the Lord for all our friends, their prayers and
continued support.
Krista Stam has volunteered to
work here for a year and Marjon
Scherpenzeel from Holland for six
months.
Three more babies were baptized
in September by the local minister.
Krista Stam carried in one of the
babies.
Krista Stam carried in
Fiona for baptism
Anita is still not doing well; she does not gain any weight.
Christina will bring her to Bali to see a specialist.
20 month old Anita
May the Lord stay with us in the future that this work will be to
His honour and glory.
INDONESIA
A Day in the Home “Pengharapan”
Krista Stam
We would like to take you on a small trip to Panti Ashuan
Pengharapan, in Sumba, Indonesia. This children’s home in Tana
Mbanas is always full of activity. There are 63 children living in
the home and 19 staff and teachers (or mothers, as the children
call them).
We get up at 5:30 am as the sun rises. All the children shower
and the babies are also bathed and changed into clean clothes for
the day. Following this is breakfast, usually fried rice or oatmeal.
After each meal the children sing a song and also close with Bible
reading and prayer. The children love to sing and know many
songs in Indonesian, English and even Dutch!
The next stop is the school about 100 meters from the children’s
home. The school building was finished last year and has six
classrooms, a library and a computer room. The school plays an
important part in educating the children from the home and we
strive for a higher standard of education than the local school in
this area.
DECEMBER 2009 Glad Tidings 3

At 7 o’clock all the children line up for school, the girls on the
right and the boys on the left. They stand at attention and sing,
recite the law and pray. Following this they go to their classes.
The youngest class is called playgroup (ages 2-5). They currently
have a Dutch teacher, Marjon. They are so excited to go to school
each day that they run to their class as soon as the school doors
open.
Each day the teacher begins with Bible reading and prayer.
Following this the studies begin: Mathematics, the Indonesian
Language, Social Studies, Science, English and more. The
children like going to school and are generally eager to learn.
Krista teaching English
The younger grades are
finished school at twelve o’clock,
while the older classes study
until one thirty. After this they
have lunch and most of the
children have a nap. It can be
very warm in the afternoon and
so most people take this time to
rest.
Following nap time the
children play games outside and
also do their chores, such as
cleaning up their room or
cleaning the floor or watering the flowers in the home. The staff
does most of the cleaning, laundry and cooking, but the children
also help out.
Among all the children there are two little girls running about.
Their names are Sara and Jojo, or Jojo and Sara. They are
identical twins and not too many people can tell them apart. They
were born prematurely and weighed less than two kilograms.
Mrs. Sommer and Christina spent many, many hours caring for
them, feeding them, and trying to make them stop crying. They
had a peculiar habit of both crying at the same time. When one
would start the other would join in and so there was ‘the twin
chorus’ for many months. Over time, with the Lord’s blessing,
they gained strength and were able to play with the other
children in the home.
Jojo, Nawasti
and Sara
Each child has its
own story. Many of
them came to the
home very sick and
weak. Jeffri came to
the home when he was almost three years old and at the time
when he arrived he weighed only ten kilograms. He was unable
to walk and had TB in his spine. He grew up with Samuel, who
was eight months old when Jeffri arrived. Little Samuel even
taught Jeffri how to walk! Jeffri has had TB a number of times, and
he is still small for his age. He is currently in grade four in school
and climbs trees with the other boys.
4 Glad Tidings DECEMBER 2009
Jeffri
It’s almost supper time already.
The children have come inside and
showered. For supper tonight there
is rice, vegetables and chicken,
from the chickens that were raised
in the kampong of the children’s
home. The children in the home
usually eat rice three times a day,
along with vegetables. Most of
them know what it is like to be
hungry, from a time in their life
when they did not have enough to eat.
After supper the little children are read a Bible story and put to
bed, while the older children complete their homework. At 8
o’clock they gather for Bible Study, most often with Mr. Sommer.
By 9 o’clock most of the children are sleeping.
SOUTH AFRICA - Update
Rev. Arthur & Dr. Sonja Miskin
The North American summer has come to an end and we always
recognize this fact at a particular point by the emptiness of our
home of overseas friends. This year saw many and varied visitors
coming to our part of the world. Young and old came, bringing
with them a variety of gifts and talents to the great benefit and up
building of the various needy ones amongst whom we work.
Volunteers from our churches in North America were seen in
orphan care centres, going out on home visits with field workers,
transporting patients to hospital, teaching in child care
programmes and helping at the Nakekela clinic. It’s astounding to
see how the work is expanding, almost imperceptibly, indicating
not only the extent of the needs in Africa but also how the work
spreads: “The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a
woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was
leavened.” What we were initially sent to do as missionaries at the
start and what we are doing now reveals an ever-enlarging chasm.
A common struggle among those on the mission field is coming to
terms with the truth of the Lord’s words in Matt. 9:37, “The
harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few.” But we ought
always to take heed as to how the Lord continues, “Pray ye
therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers
into his harvest.” Bearing this in mind then, we truly are grateful
to all those who sacrificed time and money to come to South Africa
to volunteer whatever talents they possess, regardless of the
length of time spent here or how insignificant the contribution
seemed at the time. Several folk passed through our home and we
had the opportunity to get to know them better. We welcome and
encourage others to come in future. We may not always be able to
receive you in our home due to overlap of visitors, but alternatives

egarding accommodation abound! Any potential volunteers to
South Africa are strongly encouraged to contact the Miskin MLC
(Rev. Mark Kelderman, Mr. Jake Sinke or Mr. Bill Klyn) so as to
best co-ordinate the visit and to derive maximum benefit from it
for both volunteers and the various ministries here in South
Africa. We strongly encourage those who have a heart for
missions, (and which Christian does or should not!), to come and
partake in the work as circumstances and finances allow.
Sarseh Kegel and Lydia Lipsy were out here on a three-month
visit focusing on teaching and social work but they, too, had to do
whatever their hands found to do. Their lives, we are sure, were
immeasurably enriched and both were deeply missed by those
among whom they lovingly and compassionately served.
Rev. Mark and Mrs. Donna Kelderman (with volunteers Rachel
Kelderman and Rebekah Dalm) spent some two weeks in South
Africa, at which time Rev. Kelderman attended various board
meetings and in which the work here in general was evaluated. It
was delightful for us as a family to have dearly beloved friends
with us.
Lydia Lipsy, Sarseh Kegel, Ina Pennings
with Scarlett & Morgan Miskin
In our home, Mrs Kelderman treated us to some of our favourite
dishes that we remember from our days in America, including her
most amazing cinnamon buns. It was good also for me
personally to have a fellow minister and dearly beloved friend
visiting here not only in terms of quality fellowship but also for
times of theological sharpening. We were privileged to have Rev.
Kelderman preach in the English service of the Rietvallei Church
in the morning as well as in the Afrikaans service in the evening.
He was very well received and several members of the Afrikaans
congregation commented on the boldness of proclamation as well
as experiential and discriminatory elements in the preaching,
which we perhaps take for granted in our North American
congregations. The following Sunday he brought the word to our
fledgling congregation in Ramotse, a black Reformed church in an
area some 20 miles north of Pretoria and which is viewed by us as
a sister church being planted ‘in parallel’ with the English church
plant at the Rietvallei Reformed church. The word was well
received, with Candidate Oupa Nkoana translating. Mrs.
Kelderman afterwards addressed the ladies on the particular
temptations that ladies face and this too was warmly received.
Very significant developments have taken place with regard to
the church plant in the Ramotse area. As mentioned above,
Ramotse falls under the Rietvallei Gereformeerde Kerk as its overseeing
church, but the English service, where I am ministering, is
more directly involved with the development of this church – this
involves leadership development, advice and financial help
where possible. Recently four men, with whom I have become
well acquainted over the past two years, were identified as church
officers. Three elders and one deacon were installed into office last
month, at which I was privileged to lead the service. The
sacrament of the Lord’s Supper was administered thereafter. The
historically important aspect of what took place should not be
missed. These men are full church officers of the Afrikaans (traditionally
white) mother church, unprecedented except for the
Brooklyn Gereformeerde Kerk with whom Dr. Brian DeVries is
associated. The plan, as is the case with the English service, is to
move towards establishing self-governing churches within the
Reformed denomination of South Africa. A wonderful bond of
fellowship between these two church plants has developed as
time has passed. The Lord has been pleased to bless this
particular church with outpourings of goodness in that more and
more men are being added. The general trend in black reformed
churches is to have a large group of women with one or two men
in nominal attendance. More exceptional is the fact that they are
all hungry for the word and are very teachable.
Men of the Ramotse church. Front two left, the capped and far
right are the men appointed as church officers. Middle front and
left of Rev. Kelderman are two possible candidates for the
diaconate.
Dr. Beeke visited our shores in July to speak at the Skogheim
Reformed Family Conference and great was the spiritual blessing
to once again hear the voice of one of my mentors bringing God’s
great truths to hungry ears and hearts. We also had the
opportunity to show him, in the time available, aspects of our
work. It was an unbridled pleasure having his son Calvin, along
with us in the Kruger Park for three days. His joy in experiencing
the Lord’s animal creation was a tonic for each one of us because
we so often as Africans take it all in our stride, even becoming
blasé about what the Lord’s hand has made.
On the Nakekela side, Sonja has now completed her dispensing
license with the Health Professions Council of South Africa, with
distinction! Her hours of hard and diligent work on the project
have amply been rewarded with the Lord’s approbation.
Very exciting also to note is that, as the Nakekela portion of our
DECEMBER 2009 Glad Tidings 5

Dr. Beeke and
Calvin at
Nakekela Step
Down Clinic
labours continue to grow and expand, new areas of service take
root and come into being almost as part of a natural flow. This
shows us that our Lord looks kindly upon the work and though
He still uses sinful men and women as His instruments, He is
ultimately is the One ministering grace to those in need, through
word and deed. The initial work at Nakekela Care Centre, started
some 4 years ago, has developed and grown so wonderfully, and
under our Lord’s gracious oversight and care, offshoots of service
have penetrated into other areas of in the community. As local
KwaNdebele Christians have been enabled, trained and
encouraged to use their gifts and talents, they in turn have
started initiatives that have care and ministry as their focus. One
such an initiative is the Ekukhanyeni Old Age Home, started by
Mrs. Anna Ntuli who is a Care Worker with us at Nakekela. This
first home for the aged of its kind in the whole of KwaNdebele,
opened its doors eight months ago, and now has 23 people as
residents. In simple obedience to God’s call, with very little
resources except the heart which believes that He who calls will
provide, the vision Anna and her co-workers have is to provide a
spiritual and physical place of safety not only for the vulnerable
elderly but also other mentally and disabled ones. The very
saddening thing is that care for the frail elderly is not a
priority in the rural areas. Traditionally, the family did care for the
elderly but those of the younger generation are either moving
into the cities for work or are succumbing to HIV/ AIDS. From
far and wide the old and frail have come, with heartbreaking
stories, bodies that are old and frail, unloved and abandoned, to
a place where they are loved and attended to. All this has to be
done on a shoestring budget, in a facility that would not be
acceptable in a first world setting. They have no running water
indoors and pit toilets outside, sporadic electricity and a broken
fence that allows cows and goats inside, a tin roof with no ceiling,
which is sure to leak when the rain comes. To them this is a
marvelous haven of safety compared with what they have had to
put up with.
The sitting
room at
the “Old
Age.”
Mrs Anna Ntuli with some of the elderly
and disabled that she cares for
Care workers with their gathering of patients and old people
Each one taken in has a story. There is Oma Elinah who was
assaulted by criminals who robbed her of her meager pension
money in her little shack; Oma Letty suffering severe rigidity due
to Parkinson’s disease who was found bound to a chair for days
on end; Victor who is badly spastic with disability and needs
everything to be done for him; Bongi who is an autistic adult who
was found abandoned and locked up in a tin shack, no clothing
and unaccustomed to seeing people or decent food. These are
some of the cases that have come our way, and it has been nothing
short of thrilling to see the change in these people due to care
given by dedicated servants of the Lord, in very humble
circumstances. All of these old ones have some or other medical
condition and each one needs help with medication but more
especially, tender loving care. There is no such thing as a short
consultation and one can only but laugh at some of the stories. The
patients love Sonja dearly and when she arrives at the home there
are loud greetings and whoops of joy as can only be the case in
Africa. When she is unable to visit for a few days, there is among
these old ones some measure of disgruntlement at her absence. As
she says, “When I do my visits there, most of my time is taken up
by simply listening and talking to each one individually, trying
my best to make out what he or she is saying, and this is no quick
consultation I can assure you. Often I have to laugh at the
conversation. They are so fond of me, as I am of them. The
Keldermans visited here and Donna personally ministered to
Oma Elinah, who had been repeatedly raped and robbed by
degenerate thugs, and every time I talk with her she reminds me
of how much the kind words of the Kua (white) lady have helped
her in recovery.”
Mr. Bernie Pennings, of Word and Deed which is a major backer
of the Nakekela Clinic, recently visited our part of the world as
part of routine project follow up and evaluation. This very worthy
ministry of mercy was also shown to him. We are in the process of
6 Glad Tidings DECEMBER 2009

submitting an application for the funding of this essential project
in an area where it is most needed. We do ask that you would pray
for the development of this project but also for an increased
awareness of the acute needs of the elderly in KwaNdebele.
Bernie Pennings with Dr. Sonja Miskin and a
worker with donated goods.
We do thank you for continued prayer and the many letters of
encouragement received from church family overseas. These are
really an encouragement. At the time of writing, I am recovering
from a severe bout of complicated asthma and heart arrhythmia.
But progress in health and strength continues day by day. “The
Lord will give strength to his people …” (Ps. 29:11.)
Trip to South Africa
Rev. Mark Kelderman
Our trip to South Africa this past summer was a confirmation that
the Lord continues His work throughout the world and was a
reminder of the blessing we have, but it was also a realization of
the need for more laborers. We are grateful for the work that our
missionaries have been able to do. For your interest, I will
highlight the main events of our trip.
After a long flight to South Africa, we had a joyful reunion with
our dear friends, the Miskins. The following day we went with Dr.
Sonja to see Nakekela Clinic. She works there among the patients
being treated for AIDS until they are well enough to return to a
family member who can care for them. Much of this work,
speaking of the medical aspects, falls upon the shoulders of Dr.
Sonja Miskin. Several days a week she makes the drive to this area
to minister to these people and to do home visits. Her very caring
ways and kindness, as well as her medical knowledge and
spiritual words of comfort, are greatly appreciated. She is
surrounded by helpful staff and workers as well.
On Saturday there was a men’s Bible study breakfast with the
men from Rietvallei English church for a topic on Sexual Integrity.
It was very humbling to hear them speak with emotion at the end
of our time together about their great appreciation for the ministry
of brother Miskin. This should encourage our brothers who labor
there and all who support this work through prayer and gifts. On
the Sunday, I was able to preach for the English speaking
service of the Rietvallei church in the morning. It was
encouraging to see the office bearers who have been laboring with
brother Miskin and to see the growth in the multicultural congre-
gation over the past two years. In the evening I was also given
opportunity to preach for the Rietvallei Afrikaans
congregation and appreciation was expressed for the working
relationship between our denomination and Rietvallei.
I was also able to attend several meetings on behalf of the
Heritage Reformed Congregations. The first meeting was with
MCDC (Mukhanyo Community Development Center). This
organization has already been used of the Lord to reach orphans
and vulnerable children, but it has it sights on the lofty goal of
reaching 20,000 of these children by the year 2015. There is much
work to be done, but in the short six years of its existence the
Lord has richly blessed this work. There are five care centers,
which have increased from serving 520 children in 2007 to 552 in
2008. These children are given meals and a place to complete
their school lessons. There is going to be a more concerted effort
to implement Biblical instruction to these children while they are
at the centers as well. The Nakekela clinic is also under the
supervision of MCDC and is heavily supported by Word &
Deed. Since 2005, 311 patients have been admitted and about 105
these patients were able to return home with medications. Care
workers who do home visits then continue to provide care there.
Another meeting was the MTC (Mukhanyo Theological College)
meeting. At present there are 41 students in total. At this meeting
the Lord was acknowledged for the strength and wisdom He has
given brother Flip Buys to labor at the college for the past 15
years since its inception. Since he is now retiring from the
position of principal, this has been taken up by brother DeVries.
There are several teachers who volunteer at the college along
with Dr. DeVries and Rev. Miskin.
A third meeting I attended was CRUMA (Centre for
Reformational Urban Ministry in Africa). This organization was
started a few years ago by brothers DeVries and Naas Ferreira
with the objective to reach Africa in the urban areas with the
gospel. One of the projects currently being worked on, in
conjunction with MTC, is distance learning by using videos
recorded at MTC and then sent out for use by groups of pastors
or others who desire to be instructed in the Word of God.
Rev. Kelderman and Cand.
Oupa Nkoana after the Lord’s
Day service
The second Sunday I was able
to preach at the Ramotse
Church in Hammanskraal. This
work is part of an outreach of
the Rietvallei English church.
Pastor Oupa translated for me
and afterward my wife spoke to the women on "Temptations
Women Face."
After this, we experienced something that the men and women
of that area had never witnessed before. The men had agreed
that for the afternoon meal they would serve the ladies. This was
the first time something like this had ever been done. The ladies
remained seated and the men of the congregation served the
DECEMBER 2009 Glad Tidings 7

Mrs. Donna Kelderman addressing the ladies of the church
women and the children their noon meal. You could see the joy in
both the faces of the men and the women as they experienced this
time of serving one another.
Overall, we have great reason to give thanks
to the Lord for what He has done and is doing
in South Africa. Let us continue to pray for this
work that it would grow and prosper.
Rev. Mark Kelderman
OUR EVANGELISTIC HERITAGE
Calvin the Evangelist
Dr. Joel R. Beeke
One of the most common charges raised against Calvinism as a
theological perspective is that it is not conducive to a passion for
missions and evangelism, and to fueling such a passion over the
long term. Views of John Calvin’s attitude toward evangelism and
missions have ranged from hearty to moderate support on the
positive side, and from indifference to active opposition on the
negative side.
To assess Calvin’s view of evangelism correctly, we must
understand what he himself had to say on the subject. Second, we
must look at the entire scope of Calvin’s evangelistic practice. As
we shall see, Calvin was more of an evangelist than is commonly
recognized.
Calvin: Teacher of Evangelism
So how was Calvin’s teaching evangelistic? Along with other
Reformers, Calvin taught the universality of Christ’s kingdom.
He believed that the triumph of Christ’s kingdom will become
manifest everywhere among the nations.
How will the Triune God extend His kingdom throughout the
world? Calvin’s answer involves both God’s sovereignty and our
responsibility. The work of evangelism is God’s work, but He uses
us as His instruments. Citing the parable of the sower, Calvin
explains that Christ sows the seed of life everywhere (Matt.
13:24–30), gathering His church not by human means but by
heavenly power. The gospel “does not fall from the clouds like
rain,” however, but is “brought by the hands of men to where
God has sent it.” Jesus teaches us that God “uses our work and
summons us to be his instruments in cultivating his field.” God’s
evangelism causes our evangelism. We are His co-workers, and
He allows us to participate in “the honor of constituting his own
Son governor over the whole world.”
This union of divine sovereignty and human responsibility in
evangelism offers the following lessons: First, as Reformed
evangelists, we must pray daily for the extension of Christ’s
kingdom. Second, we must not become discouraged at a lack of
visible success in evangelistic effort, but pray on. Third, we must
work diligently for the extension of Christ’s kingdom, knowing
that our work will not be in vain.
There are many reasons why we must evangelize. Calvin offers
the following: God commands us to do so. We want to glorify
God. We want to please God. We have a duty to God and to our
fellow sinners to evangelize.
In sum, every Christian should testify of God’s grace by word
and deed to those whom he or she meets.
Calvin: Practitioner of Evangelism
Let us examine Calvin’s practice of evangelism in his own
congregation, in his home city of Geneva, in Europe (particularly
France), and in missionary efforts overseas (particularly Brazil).
Evangelism in the Congregation
For Calvin, evangelism means presenting Christ so that people, by
the power of the Spirit, may come to God in Christ, but it also
means presenting Christ so that the believer may serve Him as
Lord in the fellowship of His church and in the world. Calvin was
an outstanding practitioner of this kind of evangelism within his
own congregation. His evangelism began with preaching. As
William Bouwsma writes, “During his lifetime he preached some
4,000 sermons after his return to Geneva: more than 170 sermons a
year.”
Calvin also reached out to unsaved people through his
preaching, impressing on them the necessity of faith in Christ and
what that meant. Calvin made it clear that he did not believe
everyone in his flock was saved. Though charitable toward church
members who maintained a commendable, outward lifestyle, he
also refers more than thirty times in his commentaries and nine
times in his Institutes (only counting references within 3.21 to 3.24)
to the small numbers of those who receive the preached Word with
saving faith. He writes, “For though all, without exception, to
whom God’s Word is preached, are taught, yet scarce one in ten so
much as tastes it; yea, scarce one in a hundred profits to the extent
of being enabled, thereby, to proceed in a right course to the end.”
Evangelism in Geneva
Calvin did not confine preaching to his own congregation. By the
time Calvin died, a sermon was preached in every church each day
of the week.
Even that wasn’t enough. Calvin wanted to reform Genevans in
all spheres of life, so that both the Genevan church and the city
could become a model for Christ’s reign. The Geneva Academy,
established in 1559, assumed a critically important role in
exporting missionaries all over Europe for the proclamation of the
gospel and the organization of Reformed churches. Inspired by
Calvin’s truly ecumenical vision, Geneva became a nucleus from
which evangelism spread throughout the world.
Evangelism in France
France was only partially open to Reformed evangelism. Religious
and political hostilities, which also threatened Geneva, were a
constant danger in France. Nonetheless, Calvin and his colleagues
made the most of the opening they had. The minutes of the
Company of Pastors in Geneva address supervision over the
8 Glad Tidings DECEMBER 2009

missionary efforts in France more than in any other country.
Here’s how it worked. Reformed believers from France took
refuge in Geneva. While there, many began to study theology.
They then felt compelled to return to their own people as
Reformed evangelists and pastors. After passing a rigorous
theological examination, each was given an assignment by the
Genevan Company of Pastors, usually in response to a formal
request from a French church needing a pastor. In most cases, the
receiving church was fighting for its life under persecution.
A good number of the French refugees who returned as pastors
were eventually killed, but their zeal encouraged the hopes of
their parishioners. Their mission, which, according to the pastors,
sought “to advance the knowledge of the gospel in France, as our
Lord commands, was successful; Reformed evangelistic
preaching produced a remarkable revival. In 1555, there were five
Reformed churches in France. Seven years later, there were more
than two thousand.
Evangelism in Brazil
Calvin was involved with the Indians of South America through
the Genevan mission to Brazil. With the help of a Huguenot
sympathizer, Gaspard de Coligny, Admiral of France, and the
support of Henry II, then king of France, Nicolas Durand (also
called Villegagnon) led an expedition to Brazil in 1555 to establish
a colony. The colonists included former prisoners, some of whom
were Huguenots. When trouble erupted in the new colony near
Rio de Janeiro, Villegagnon turned to the Huguenots in France,
asking for better settlers. He appealed to Coligny as well as to
Calvin and the church in Geneva.
The Company of Pastors chose two ministers and eleven lay
people to send to Brazil. The pastors and laymen set sail from
Geneva in September 1556 and landed in Fort Coligny (in Rio de
Janeiro) the following March. The work with the Indians in Brazil
did not go well. Shortly after their arrival, Pastor Richier wrote to
Calvin that the savages were incredibly barbaric. The rest of the
story is tragic. Villegagnon became disenchanted with Calvin and
the Reformers. On February 9, 1558, just outside of Rio de Janeiro,
he strangled three of the Genevan Calvinists and threw them into
the sea. Others fled for their lives.
A Word of Encouragement
This history should dispel the myth that Calvin and his followers
promoted inactivity and disinterest in evangelism. Rather, the
truths of sovereign grace taught by Calvin, such as election, are
precisely the doctrines that encourage missionary activity. Where
biblical, Reformed truth is loved, appreciated, and rightly taught,
evangelism and mission activity abound.
Divine glory is what Calvin’s Reformed evangelism is all about,
and that is what our evangelism must be about. May God help us
speak and live evangelistically for His glory, to obey
His Word, to look for open evangelistic doors, and to
pray with Calvin: “May we daily solicit thee in our
prayers, and never doubt, but that under the government
of thy Christ, thou canst again gather together
the whole world … when Christ shall exercise the
power given to him for our salvation and for that of
the whole world.”
Dr. Joel R. Beeke
CHURCH EVANGELISM
FORT MACLEOD, ALBERTA
Church Outreach
Rev. Wade Koenen
Our church has been involved in various outreach endeavours
during the past season.
The ladies of our church family work very hard in planning
and organizing a Vacation Bible School (VBS) for the youth of our
church family and of the surrounding community. All of our
ladies are very involved, as many hands are needed in the
various aspects of VBS. The children are divided into three age
groups and taught songs and memory texts accordingly. Every
day is begun with the recital of the “great shema” taken from
Deut. 6:5 followed by a 15-20 minute meditation, and then
singing, crafts, playtime and snack-time. Each VBS has a theme as
a focus for the messages and crafts during the week. Two
programs are given at the conclusion of VBS. The children make
crafts and give a short program at the care facilities in our
community on the second to last day, and on the last day of VBS
a program for the parents, grandparents and friends is held. This
past season we were gladdened and humbled with an attendance
of over 65 children for a week of Biblical instruction and fun.
This past May we hosted the first ever community prayer
evening in our Church. All of the evangelical Bible-believing
churches of our community were invited to attend. Four
churches participated in this inaugural event. Pastor Koenen
opened the meeting with a meditation from 2 Chron. 7:14. Pastor
stressed the need for community and corporate repentance by the
churches for any sins that were committed against each other and
against the members of the community, as these are ultimately
sins which are against the commands of the Savior and grieve the
heart of God. The spiritual, social and economic needs of our
community were then remembered by the representatives of the
churches who led in prayer. A time of fellowship with all
involved followed in our church fellowship area in the church
basement.
We held our first ever Fort Macleod HRC youth camp this year.
It was organized by Angela Feyter and was attended by 10-12
local youth from various backgrounds and was located near the
Old Man River. The youth engaged in activities such as tubing
down the river, games, swimming, Biblical topics, barbeques and
devotions.
Once a month we lead a short worship service in two of the
care facilities in our community. Also, Mrs. Rob Slawson is
instrumental in organizing Christmas and Easter programs
which are held in December and in May at which our friends,
neighbors and family members are invited to fellowship and hear
a short program consisting of a presentation by the children,
congregational singing and a short meditation and prayer.
During the winter months we hold DVD nights once a month.
During the past season a series entitled “Healing Life’s Hurts”
was offered at Mr. and Mrs. Gerrit Sinke’s residence. This event
will be advertised in our local newspaper with the hope that
members from our community will also join us. In addition to the
DECEMBER 2009 Glad Tidings 9

above, Pastor submits articles to the local Gazette from time to
time, interacts with the natives, visits with the Mormons and
Jehovah Witnesses.
We pray that the Lord will bless both our personal and
corporate evangelism efforts, knowing that we depend upon Him
for His Spirit and blessing. “Except the LORD build the house,
they labour in vain that build it” (Ps. 127:1).
FRANKLIN LAKES, NEW JERSEY
Christian Health Care Center
Tom Rose
For several years now our congregation has sent various men to
the Christian Health Care Center (CHCC) in Wykoff, New Jersey
to provide a Bible study time for the residents and their visitors
on Sunday mornings. This hour gives the residents a time away
from their rooms and surroundings to hear and sing from God's
Word. Simple and clear messages of the gracious dealings of the
Lord through the saving work of Jesus Christ, His only Son, are
delivered by these brothers. These men prepare encouraging
lessons to comfort and strengthen the weak and feeble hearts of
those who can no longer care for themselves.
Some residents have lived in this care center for years. Others
are newcomers who recently became physically dependent upon
others for their mental and or physical needs. Some have lost a
husband, wife, or child who originally cared for them, and
ministered to their needs. Oh, what a glimpse of these poor
people can teach us of our own dreadful condition by nature! We
can see the human frailty that our sinful and proud heart has
bought by forsaking our Creator and Benefactor in our fall in
Adam. Often we can say with Job in Job 10:20-21 "Are not my
days few? cease then, and let me alone, that I may take comfort a
little, Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of
darkness and the shadow of death."
Yet God has a message for these people too! He is not done
with them. He alone can help when all human help is vain! All
around can be dark and bleak, but our heart can be safe, trusting
in our only Savior Jesus Christ! Then we can say, as one old
woman said, who recently passed away; "It is well, God knows
me, He cares for me, and He will do what is best. I will trust Him
and love Him and leave my life in His Almighty hands. He has
been good, and He will carry me through to wherever He wants
and whatever He wants for me."
The CHCC has the walls decorated with photographs of hands.
Each photo shows a staff member's hands doing their task,
whether it is washing dishes, drilling holes, driving a bus or
making a bed. Each photo says; "We are the hands of Christ." So
also we, who bring the Gospel message, bring in our hands God's
Word of Salvation to these needy, frail and weak people. It is a
message that must be brought back to the Savior with open heart
and open hands, trusting fully and believing that only Jesus can
bear the full load of our sin! His hands were spread out with open
arms on that cross where He died. And His hands are spread out
to welcome the sinner, as He said to Thomas; "Then saith he to
Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach
hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless,
but believing" (John 20:27). His hands and arms are open wide for
sinners! May we bring that message to those who reside in the
CHCC, that they too can find Christ to be that open and
welcoming Savior for even those who have shoved Him away,
time after time, throughout their life! He will never turn away
those who come to Him believing that His all-atoning and saving
blood was shed to wash our sin away.
BOOKS TO ADVANCE YOUR
MISSION & EVANGELISM SKILLS
Jay Collier
The New Testament Missionary: A Biblical Study
Cliff Hellar
The material in this book is a distillation of the heart and soul of
New Testament missions from someone who has depended upon
God to create, sustain, and increase a divine work, which is
impossible for the flesh to do. It covers a call to missions, finances,
learning languages, translating the Bible, preaching,
church planting, indigenous involvement, and
several other topics. Missionaries, and all who are
interested in missions work, will greatly benefit
from this book written by a seasoned veteran missionary
to Papua New Guinea. (Paperback, 222
pages, First Love) $10.00/$7.50
Operation World, 21st Century Edition
Patrick Johnstone and Jason Mandryk
This book serves as the definitive prayer guide to the nations,
peoples, and cities of the world. It gives key background
information for every country, along with the particular challenges
faced in that part of the world. This is the most
comprehensive, up-to-date, and wide-ranging
compilation of prayer information ever produced.
If you long for the expansion of Christ’s kingdom
in this world and are looking for ways to make
your petitions more specific, this book is sure to
enrich your prayer life. (Paperback, 822 pages,
Authentic Media) $20.00/$15.00
Send orders for these and other titles to:
Reformation Heritage Books
2965 Leonard St. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525 USA
Phone: 616-977-0599, Fax: 616-285-3246
Website: www.heritagebooks.org E-mail: orders@heritagbooks.org
YOUTH EVANGELISM
Dear Young Friends,
Christmas is fast approaching. At this time of year, all sorts of
charitable organizations ask us to donate money to them.
Sometimes it is hard to choose where we should give our money
and the thought of so many needy children in this world can be
overwhelming. Even though you are young, you can do your part.
Jesus commended the widow who gave two mites, over and above
the rich people, who were throwing much into the treasury. Giving
is self-sacrificing. Lukas, our eight year old son, was
helping clean out the recycling cupboard a few weeks ago and we
10 Glad Tidings DECEMBER 2009

thought the empty bottles would add up to about $8.00 at the
bottle depot. He asked me if he could have that money for
spending. We talked about what he could buy with $8.00 and then
I reminded him that we usually donate our bottles to the “Feed
the Babies” program at our church to buy formula for needy
babies in Mexico. Lukas thought the babies needed food, more
than he needed toys. God loves a cheerful giver. May you all have
a blessed Christmas.
Greetings, Gerrit and Julia Sinke
Trip to Haiti – Esther Krul
My parents and I left Chilliwack, British Columbia on Monday,
July 20 at 4:00pm. We crossed the U.S. border and from there
drove down to the Sea Tac International Airport. The flight from
Seattle to Dallas was a little nerve wracking since we flew through
a thunderstorm and experienced strong turbulence. We were
happy to finally land at the Dallas International Airport. From
Dallas, we flew to Miami and thankfully this flight was nice and
smooth. After a three-hour flight we landed in Miami Florida.
When we arrived in Miami, waiting for our next flight we began
to feel quite out of place. We were some of the few white people
there, and we didn't understand most of what people were
saying. As we sat down I took some time to discretely study the
people around us. The Haitian people smiled, greeted each other,
and seemed quite friendly. Eventually the time came for us to
board the plane. As we took off, I couldn't help but feel excited.
We were almost there, just another hour and half, or so I thought!
I peered out the window as we neared Port-au-Prince and noticed
dark thunderclouds. Suddenly I heard a loud bang and out of the
corner of my eye I saw a flash of lightning outside my window
narrowly missing the airplane wing. People screamed and that's
when I got really scared. All the airplane crash stories flooded
through my mind as the airplane began to shake violently. I held
onto the seat as tightly as I could. I could hear passengers crying.
It was horrible. Then through the mayhem, I could hear someone
with a clear voice reading the Bible. I looked up to see a
middle-aged Haitian lady calmly reading her Bible out loud. I felt
ashamed. Here I was terrified while that lady was so calm and
peaceful as could be and was trusting God for her future, being a
shining light to the people around her. This brought me a measure
of peace inside. God was in control.
Now the airport was in view, or partially so. Black, threatening
clouds hung over the runway. I closed my eyes, then opened them
again as our plane circled and tried to land. Our airplane pulled
up and was circling the airport for the second time. On the
second try they were unable to land our aircraft either. Since the
pilots were unsure how long they would have to continue to
circle and they only had a limited amount of fuel left they
decided to head over to Santa Domingo in the Dominican
Republic instead. When the airplane wheels finally touched the
ground in Santa Domingo, the entire plane’s Haitian passengers
broke out into singing (in Creole) “Great is Thy Faithfulness”. So
now we had to sit and wait for another hour and a half.
We finally took off once again to go to our last and final
destination, Port au Prince, Haiti. As you can probably imagine
we were very delighted when the plane touched the ground. As
we stepped out of the airport terminal I couldn't help but smile!
We were finally here!
While spending our time in Haiti, with the money we received
from several individuals from our church, we did a feeding
clinic in a small village, Pignon. I was greatly amazed when we
saw how appreciative the people were. They were thankful that
they had food for the day, considering the average child only eats
dirt and ashes to get its tummy filled. Another thing we did was
hand out donated gifts and clothing to the children in the village.
I was again amazed at how grateful they were for the small gifts
they received.
Esther Krul handing
out some candies to the
children there
We are handing
out dolls, pencil
cases, candies,
rice, and beans.
While spending my
time in Haiti, I realized a
few things. First of all, I
realized how much we
take advantage of
things. We take so much
for granted and complain about so many things while they are so
happy for what the little they have. Secondly, I realized that Haiti
is a country and in need of a lot of things. Haiti’s population lives
with a day-to-day perspective rather than what goals they have
for the coming month or years.
Franklin Lakes Youth Group – Eric Moerdyk
As we go about our everyday lives, it is encouraging to know that
there are other youth striving to serve the Lord. Youth group can
be a very important and encouraging aspect in our walk with
Christ as young people. Here in New Jersey, as I'm sure it is with
DECEMBER 2009 Glad Tidings 11

most youth, our lives tend to be very busy, and it is refreshing to
have a time to gather with friends and grow together. This is one
reason we named our youth group by the acronym F.A.I.T.H.,
which stands for Fellowship Among Individuals Toward
Holiness. Our youth group has recently begun meeting again after
we took a break for the summer. This year we are going to be
studying the book Do Hard Things, by Alex and Brett Harris. This
book speaks about the low standards expected of the teen generation
today, and how the authors believe we should rebel against
these low expectations – referring to it as the Rebelution. The
young men state in Chapter 1, “We believe our generation is ready
to rethink what teens are capable of doing and becoming. And
we've noticed that once wrong ideas are debunked and cleared
away, our generation is quick to choose a better way, even if it's
also more difficult” (Harris, pg. 4). As I read the book, I knew I
had to share the ideas proposed in the book with the rest of the
youth in the congregation. Imagine the work we could do for
Christ if we were all ready and willing to work hard and go above
and beyond what is normally expected of us!
In order to help us feel more comfortable in our discussions at
regular meetings, we have begun planning activities once a month
to encourage interaction between all members. This has proved
more challenging than it at first seemed! One larger event currently
being planned is a weekend retreat in upstate New York. We are
really looking forward to going away and spending a few days
growing together. As a new generation of kids begins to come to
youth group, it can become difficult to relate youth group to the
wide range of ages. However, our uniting factor is our faith in
Christ, and the power of the cross. As new youth begin to take on
leadership roles, we are reminded of Christ's faithfulness, and His
promise that there will always be those “seven thousand who
have not bowed the knee” to a false god.
BIBLE QUIZ
Did you miss the Zambia mission presentation?
Order your own DVD for $15 US or $16 Cdn
Contact Pastor and Mrs. Molenaar
Email: ceesmirjam@gmail.com
All proceeds are for Covenant College
MISSION FINANCES
Jason Beeke
Dear Mission Friends,
Please find below the financial report for the months of July through September
2009. Our financial statements are substantially higher than recorded in the past.
Please receive our sincere thanks, acknowledging the Lord for providing so
wonderfully. On the other hand, the Tent-Making Ministry fund is extremely low.
Both Rev. Overbeek and Rev. Lipsy receive support from this fund. Please prayerfully
consider this worthy cause as these ministers are enabled to bring the living
Word to churches and surrounding area. Let us, “bear one another’s burdens” so
that His Word will continually be proclaimed to these congregations and adjacent
friends. Please pray that God will give the increase when His voice is proclaimed
and uplifted, both in our land and in distant countries. Thanks again for your
participation and assistance in our mission endeavours.
Financial Statement
HRC Mission – July - September 2009 (US$)
Income:
HRC Congregations $ 67,132.15
Individual Donations 20,000.00
Word and Deed Transfers In 6,000.00
Total Income 93,132.15
Expenses:
Bank Charges $ 252.84
Glad Tidings Distribution Expense 13.21
Mission Related Support 7,715.26
Salary & Pension Expense 24,879.83
Housing & Vehicle Expense 10,345.50
Travel 6,324.31
Other Mission Related Travel 1,000.00
Mukhanyo College 10,000.00
PRTS 70.00
Word and Deed Transfers Out 4,242.75
South Africa Mercy Funds 3,716.40
Total Expenses $ 68,560.10
Balance September 30, 2009 $ 72,430.30
Fund Raising Volunteer - Chris Carbone
The Heritage Reformed Congregations (HRC) of North America "Mission Committee" is seeking
a volunteer who is experienced in fund raising. The HRC, in obedience to Christ’s Great
Commission to His church, are actively engaged in the propagation of the gospel both at home
and abroad. To carry out this sacred obligation, the Mission Committee’s formal statement of
purpose is as follows: The purpose of the HRC missions program is to glorify God and present
His character and nature by effectively proclaiming the message of salvation in Jesus Christ
throughout the world, in order that lost sinners might be brought to salvation through the
blood of Christ.
To follow through with this purpose the Mission Committee is in need of an individual(s)
who can solicit funds from various organizations to further God’s Kingdom. If you think you
may be this person or know of someone who might be of assistance please correspond to Ed
Otten (Mission Finance Committee Chairman) at eaotten@vaxxine.com.
12 Glad Tidings DECEMBER 2009

Back: Calvin Beeke, Dr. Joel Beeke; Front: Scarlett, Morgan,
Gordon Miskin
Dr. Joel Beeke, Dr. Flip Buys and a worker at the MCDC head
office in KwaMhlanga
SPECIAL DATES and PRAYER NEEDS
Please remember the following with prayer, praise and/or greetings:
• That Rev. Arthur Miskin’s health may improve and that this affliction may be to the honour and glory of God
• That the Molenaars may return to Zambia in good health • Rev. Cees & Mrs. Mirjam Molenaar Anniversary
• Mrs. Wilhelmina Krul Birthday – December 27 – February 10
• Rev. Arthur & Dr. Sonja Miskin Anniversary – January 18 • Mrs. Mirjam Molenaar Birthday – March 4
• Thanks and gratitude to the Lord for the blessing Rev. Cees and Mrs. Mirjam Molenaar and their children have received
with the birth of Moses on September 18
Contact Information:
Dr. Brian DeVries, P.O. Box 11168, Hatfield, Pretoria, 00028, South Africa, Email: briand@mwf.net
Mobile: +27 79 933 9884, Fax: +27 86 696 0709, MTC: +27 13 947 2179
Krul Family, Postal Address: 3170 Airmans Drive, MAF - Unit 2119, Fort Pierce FL, 34946, USA,
Email: jwkrul@gmail.com Telephone 011 509 37 44 38 71
Miskin Family, 24 Freeland Avenue, Kilner Park, Pretoria, South Africa, 0186, Cell: 2783 657 4980,
Home: (012) 333-6527, Email: sonjam@iburst.co.za or agm@iburst.co.za
Molenaar Family, c/o Covenant College, P.O. Box 560229, Petauke, Zambia, Email: molenaarcees@gmail.com or ceesmirjam@gmail.com
Mr. C.W. (Bill) Sommer, P/O Box 130 Waingapu, 87100 Sumba Timor NTT, Indonesia, no email, Telephone 62 868 1211
9875 (if access is available) / Mrs. Marion Sommer, 380 Little Lake Road, RR # 1 Norwich, Ontario N0J 1P0, Canada,
email: tanabanas@gmail.com Telephone 519 446 9943
Your contributions will help bring the gospel and spiritual encouragement
to the areas where our missionaries are serving the Lord.
PLEASE SHARE AND DONATE
NAME _____________________________________ TELEPHONE _________________________
ADDRESS _______________________________________________________________________
CITY ______________________________________ PROVINCE/STATE _____________________
COUNTRY __________________ POSTAL CODE/ZIP _____________ EMAIL ________________
❒ CHEQUE ENCLOSED FOR $ ______________ ❒ FOR FOR HAITI ❒ FOR INDONESIA
❒ FOR SOUTH AFRICA ❒ FOR ZAMBIA ❒ FOR OTHER_______________________________
All Canadian donations should be forwarded to:
HRC Mission Fund, P.O. Box 147, Burgessville, Ontario N0J 1C0 Canada
or
All U.S.A. donations should be forwarded to:
HRC Mission Fund, c/o 540 Crescent St., NE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503 USA
(Tax receipts available)
Spending of funds is confined to Board-approved programs and projects. Each restricted contribution designated towards a
Board-approved program or project will be used as designated with the understanding that when the need for such a
program or project has been met, or cannot be completed for any reason determined by the Board, the remaining
restricted contributions designated for such program or project will be used where needed most.

Glad Tidings
Sales Agreement #41497514
Return Undeliverable Mail to:
P.O. Box 147
Burgessville, Ontario, Canada
N0J 1C0
Tell Me the Story of Jesus
Tell me the story of Jesus,
Write on my heart every word.
Tell me the story most precious,
Sweetest that ever was heard.
Tell how the angels in chorus,
Sang as they welcomed His birth.
“Glory to God in the highest!
Peace and good tidings to earth.”
Fasting alone in the desert,
Tell of the days that are past.
How for our sins He was tempted,
Yet was triumphant at last.
Tell of the years of His labor,
Tell of the sorrow He bore.
He was despised and afflicted,
Homeless, rejected and poor.
Tell of the cross where they nailed Him,
Writhing in anguish and pain.
Tell of the grave where they laid Him,
Tell how He liveth again.
Love in that story so tender,
Clearer than ever I see.
Stay, let me weep while you whisper,
Love paid the ransom for me.
Fanny J. Crosby
DECEMBER 2009 Glad Tidings Vol. 11 ~ No. 4
Official Publication of the Mission Committee of the Heritage Reformed Congregations