Archive for July, 2009

Meeting in Bristol, Tennessee, August 6-11, 2009, the 73rd General Synod of the Bible Presbyterian Church rejoices to conduct its business and guide its fellowship under the rubric of “The Sweetness of Prayer,” especially unfolding the doctrine and practice of prayer as exposited by the pen of John Calvin.

BP Synods are structured around business sessions, worship services, and thematic exegetical preaching. This year’s docket includes such prayer-oriented topics as:

· “Prayer and Faith”

· “Devout Attachment to Christ in Prayer”

· “Recognized Dependence upon God in Prayer”

· “How God Answers Prayer-Delays, Denials, and Unexpected Answers”

· “The Plea for Forgiveness and Prayer”

· “God’s Command and Promise a Motive to Prayer”

· “The Risen Christ Our Intercessor”

In addition, special subjects relating to Calvin’s anniversary are also slated. We are grateful to welcome our honored guest, Dr. Joel Beeke, renowned authority on Calvin, to our opening evening worship service to address the body on “Calvin and Piety.” Our services are open to visitors, and we invite you to attend. For information on registering for the Synod, or just to see the docketed schedule, please visit the BPC’s web site at www.bpc.org. Many thanks to Rev. Cole and the church family at Ryder for their work!

Please keep PMU’s Annual Meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, August 5, in your prayers. The Missions Council gathers just before the BPC Synod to plan, hear reports, and prepare for the next year’s ministries. We are grateful to the Ryder Memorial Presbyterian Church congregation for their gracious hospitality in hosting our Annual Meeting at the church in Bluff City, Tennessee. Pray for journey mercies for Council members and missionaries, and for wisdom and joy in their deliberations.

Mark Baldwin

June 28: Olympia BPC, WA

June 28: Columbia BPC, Scappoose, OR

June 30 – July 4: Florida Church Camp

July 5: Lakeland BPC, Lakeland, FL

July 5: Grace BPC, Cape Canaveral, FL

July 7: Suncoast BPC, Palm Harbor, FL

July 12: Grace BPC, Cincinnati, OH

July 12-18: Great Lakes Presbytery Camp, OH

July 19: Grand Island BPC, NY

July 26: Armor Presbyterian Church, Orchard Park, NY

August 2: Wilson Presbyterian, Clariton, PA

August 5: PMU Annual Meeting, Bristol, TN

August 6-11: BPC Synod, Bristol, TN

August 9: Columbia BPC, SC

August 16: Grace BPC, Cincinnati, OH

August 23: Tacoma BPC, WA

August 26: Return to Cambodia

Ed & Lehia Paauwe

July 12: Wilson, BPC, Clairton, PA

July 12-18: Great Lakes Presbytery Camp, OH

July 19: United Church of Springboro, Springboro, PA

July 26: Grand Island BPC, NY

August 2: Armor Presbyterian Church, Orchard Park, NY

August 5: PMU Annual Meeting, Bristol, TN

August 6-11: BPC Synod, Bristol, TN

August 9: Grace BPC, Cincinnati, OH

August 16: Tacoma BPC, WA

August 16: Olympia BPC, WA

August 16: Columbia BPC, Scappoose, OR

August 17: Return to Australia

[As some of you may know, the national government had previously announced that they would not extend any visas of the type that Miriam has past September 15 of this year, in order to ensure that they could force most of the foreigners out of the country for the 60th anniversary of the founding of the modern nation. This meant it was necessary to consider leaving the country at that point and getting another visa in the US (which would be good one month, then have to be renewed again, then she would have to leave again, then it would be renewed again, etc.). The other option was to try and switch to another kind of visa, which would be more than twice as expensive (and legally shaky), but would be good for a year and not require her to leave. Here's the latest from Miriam, and some other good news.]

“Well, the officials have decided that this was a bad idea. Basically, there was tremendous outcry from the business community, which suffered a lot last year through the visa changes. Given the terrible economic situation, making it difficult or impossible for all small-business people to get in was not the brightest idea they had. Additionally, they are really worried about the flu you all have over there, and don’t want a bunch of people leaving and then coming back a month later infected.

“So, they have changed the policy, though they raised the prices. Every person who works in the visa field is telling me that if we want to renew the one I have now, we ought to do it immediately, as it might not be possible next month. They theorize that the officials have opened this window, and raised the price, to allow business people and others with legitimate business here to get the visa, but to keep out as much of the riff-raff as possible. I’m not in the riff-raff category, so I should be able to stay put!

“In other news, a really, really nice thing has happened. In recent months I have developed what we affectionately call the “Hack.” Everyone gets it after a while if they live here. It’s basically a smoker’s cough. Living here is supposedly the equivalent of a three-pack a day habit. The last time I tried to exercise outside, I was laid up for a couple of days trying to catch my breath. I have had mild asthma ever since getting pneumonia in college, and it crops up only when I’ve been ill with a chest cold or flu for a while, or when the air is particularly dirty. Thankfully, all my work is done at home now, and everyone I work with comes to me (though I do meet people for meals regularly). They come to me because the Father has so blessed us in the situation of our apartment: it is nearly smack-dab in the center of town, right off public transportation. Whenever more than one person meets me or us, like our ladies’ study or history class, they are always coming from their work or homes, which are all in completely different areas of town. For them to reach each other’s places would take half of them 2+ hours one way. But for everyone, our house is about 40 minutes to an hour away from their work or home. We also have such a nice big living room that we can fit a lot more than most people in there. So it works out beautifully, and I’ve been glad to stay at home. I work and exercise indoors, and am not out much except to meet people, and it helps with the asthma and all. Well, for my birthday, some local friends got me this really great, high quality air purifier for the house. It’s the best one on the market, and big enough to do the whole apartment easily. It is just such a thoughtful, kind gift. Since that’s been running, my cough is completely gone and breathing is perfectly easy.”

[We praise the Lord for his goodness to supply what Miriam needs to not only endure, but thrive on her field. Please pray with her as a new ministry opportunity has just opened up to train a new group of ladies in theology. More on this in future issues…. -Ed.]

“We thank the Lord for the new members in our BPC. The Lopez family came to our church from a Roman Catholic background. They finished new members’ classes and were examined by the consistory of our church. Our brother, German, and his wife, Maxima, were baptized and incorporated into our BPC.

“We are enjoying the construction of our church. Our first project will be to close all the building with bricks. We ordered seven windows for the church, which were due on June 5. We have four workers working every day. I really enjoy seeing the advance of the church building every day. Now we are buying all the materials for the construction. Also, we have already the roof for the sanctuary. We will wait until our workers finish the walls and windows before putting on the roof. Thank you for your prayers. We will try to get as much done in June as possible, and then it will be necessary to stop for awhile due to ministry demands.” – Rev. David Quisbert