I am writing this article to tell the readers of the Beacon Lights of how great a gift God has given us here in the Houston area.
Our small Protestant Reformed missionary group has a great many things to be thankful to Jehovah for. First, we are thankful for the pure preaching of the Gospel we receive twice each Sunday. All the families in our congregation have come from Calvinistic Presbyterian backgrounds, and for a time had no suitable church to attend. Then about three years ago, we sent a request to the mission committee to send us a minister for a little time. First, we had Reverend Lubbers for one Sunday. Subsequently, other ministers were sent, each to be here for a few weeks at a time. Then after about a year, Reverend Harbach was called, and he accepted the call to be our missionary pastor.
We have met in various places, but the Lord now provides us with a suitable place of worship in Houston. It is a large room in a country club building and is equipped with tables, chairs, and a piano. Mrs. Harbach is our fine pianist.
Another thing we are thankful for is the covenant seed which has been added to us. Since our beginning we have had three babies born. So if the Lord is willing for us to organize, we have these three to be baptized and, therefore, given the sign of the covenant.
Thirdly, we are blessed by and very thankful for the catechetical instruction we receive from Reverend Harbach on Monday afternoon in his apartment. We have three classes: the youngest class is studying the New Testament for Beginners, the second class is the oldest and we are in the Essentials of Reformed Doctrine, while the third class is made up of 10-13 year-olds and is studying the New Testament History for Seniors. This instruction is truly good for it strengthens the young believers very much.
We also have a mid-week Bible class on Thursday evening in the homes of the families of our church. In this, the book of I Timothy is being studied.
During the year, we have various activities. We have Old and New Years’ services. In early summer, we have a picnic at our house. In October we have a singspiration at church, after which we have a light supper, while a week or so latter we attend a Reformation Day service. In November, we have a Thanksgiving Service and a Thanksgiving dinner. At this time, we can truly be thankful with our fellow saints. December brings Christmas time when we have a Christmas program in which all participate. We also have a Christmas Day service.
If it is the Lord’s will, and it is our earnest prayer that we may be a fully organized church, we may then even more fully enjoy and benefit in the communion of saints in our little flock of Christ’s here in Texas.
But in all things we must say, “God’s will be done”, and added to this, “Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord: for He is good: for His mercy endureth forever.”
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As most of our readers already know, Houston now has an organized Protestant Reformed Church. The Council of our Hope Church, Walker, Michigan, was mandated by the Mission Committee to implement the organization.
On the evening of February 15, Rev. Van Overloop, accompanied by two elders, officiated at the worship service. The sermon was based on I Kings 19:9-13.
We welcome this flock to our fellowship as churches. And we wish them the Lord’s blessing as they contend for the faith once delivered to our fathers.
Truly wonderful and monstrous is the extravagance of our pride. God requires of us nothing more severe than that we most religiously observe His Sabbath, by resting from our own works; but there is nothing which we find more difficult, or to which we are more reluctant, than to bid farewell to our own works, in order to give the works of God their proper place — John Calvin