1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity
3. catholicism

I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
X.
XI.
XII.
XIII.
XIV.
XV.
XVI.
XVII.
XVIII.
XIX.
XX.
XXI.
XXII.
XXIII.
XXIV.
XXV.
XXVI.
Minutes
Calvin CRC Council Meeting
October 28, 2013
Galen Van Maanen called the meeting to order and opened with prayer.
Minutes of the September 30, 2013 Council meeting were read for information.
Minutes of the October 28, 2013 Elders meeting were read for information.
Minutes of the October 28, 2013 Deacons meeting were read for information.
The General, Building and Benevolence fund reports were given for information.
Council education was tabled until the next meeting.
Executive committee had no report.
Building and grounds committee continues to work on setting priorities for building improvements and
updates.
The Evangelism Committee-Calvin members helped serve at the Lighthouse service on October 6.
Reverend Gideon will be giving the message at Whispering Heights on November 5.
Church Privilege Committee-Nathan and Jen Boer-Vis will be using the church after their daughter’s
baptism.
The Community Impact Committee-ordered new sign posters.
Fellowship committee reported on November 10 there will be cupcakes served to celebrate
Reverend Wamala’s birthday. There will be Christmas cookies served during the Christmas season
The CEC committee report was given for information. The Calvin CRC auction/bake sale will be held on
October 29.
The sound committee report was given for information.
The decorations committee has received the new candleholder for the Christmas season. There will be
guidelines drawn up for the decorations committee.
Corwin Harthoorn and Brian De Weerd will welcome new families.
The council supper will be held on November 18 at 6:00 pm at Cedar Rock Grill. Retired members from
last year will also be invited to attend.
Old business: Elders will encourage attendees to the Minn-I-Kota youth retreat by letters to parents,
recruiting through catechism classes and deacons will pay the fees for all interested in
attending. Dordt Day of Encouragement will be held February 1, 2014 and members of council are
encouraged to attend.
New business: Classical church visitors are scheduled for November 25 at 8:00 pm. We received
membership papers for John and Minnie Den Boer from Worthington CRC. A motion was made and
supported to accept their membership and the motion passed. We received a letter to transfer membership papers of Adrianna Klarenbeek to Inwood First Reformed church. A motion was made and
supported to transfer Adrianna’s membership and the motion passed. CRWM Mission Fest will be held
November 2 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at Unity Christian.
The revised church bylaws were reviewed and discussed.
There will be drive for Prosperity of God located in Haiti. A list of items for suggested donations will be
announced, placed in the bulletin, phone tree.
Habitat for Humanity expressed interest in the northeast church lot.
Concept minutes were read and approved.
A motion to adjourn was supported and approved.
Next Council meeting will be held on November 25, 2013.
Howie Van Ginkel closed the meeting with prayer.
“Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you ,who
are for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn
those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with
everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is
good for each other and for everyone else. Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all
circumstances; for the is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5: 12-18
N OVEMBER N EWSLETTER
C ALVIN C HORD
C ALVIN A NNOUNCEMENTS
2013-2014 C OUNCIL M EMBERS


All Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes need to be
E LDERS : G ALEN V AN M AANEN , J EFF
returned by Sunday, November 17 in order to be
S ANTEMA , H OWIE V AN G INKEL ,
delivered to the drop off in Sioux Center. Remember to
J IM V ANDE K ERK , C ORWIN
mark the ages of the child and gender you have filled the
H ARTHOORN , D ENNIS W YNIA , &
box for. Please include your $7 donation to ship the box
B RYAN P OLLEMA
to its new owner. Offering for Operation Christmas
Child will be on Thanksgiving Day.
D EACONS : G ARY D E J AGER , B EN
V
AN D ER B RINK , D AVE V ER B URG ,
The worship committee will be meeting on Tuesday,
G RANT K OOIMA , H ERLAN D E
November 19. All contributions need to be turned in beJ
AGER
, B RIAN D E W EERD , & B OB
fore the worship committee meeting including special
G ILMAN
music, power point presentations, and videos.

The Council will be meeting on Monday, November 25
beginning at 6:30 PM.

All Food Drive reverse offering items need to be
returned to the church by Monday, November 25.

Calvin will have Pulpit Supply on Monday, November 24
for both the Morning and the Evening worship services.
The Morning Worship Service will be filled by Pastor
Bobby Van Otterloo from Trinity CRC. The Evening
Worship Service will be filled by Pastor Steve Moerman
from Cornerstone Prison Church.





Calvin will have a Thanksgiving Day Service beginning
at 9:30AM on Thanksgiving, November 28. There will be
Pulpit Supply by Reverend John Engbers.
Calvin will have Pulpit Supply on Sunday, December 1 by
Reverend Engbers for both the Morning and the Evening
Worship Service.
There will be Pulpit Supply for the evening worship
service on Sunday, December 15 by Reverend
Tinklenberg.
The Christmas Program is scheduled for
December 15 following the evening worship
There will be Christmas Program practice on
December 8 following the morning worship
Wednesday evening, December 11, and Sunday
ber 15 following the Morning Worship Service.
Sunday,
service.
Sunday,
service,
Decem-
Holy Communion will be served on Sunday, December 8
at Calvin CRC and at Whispering Heights.
IF
YOU WOULD LIKE A P ASTORAL
VISIT , CONTACT R EVEREND
W AMALA OR Y OUR DISTRICT
ELDER . W E WOULD BE HAPPY TO
MINISTER TO YOU IN ANY WAY
THAT WE CAN . I N H IS N AME ,
T HE C OUNCIL
O FFERING TO TALS
G ENERAL F UND
C LASSICAL F UND
C HRISTIAN E D . C HAPTER
$1428.27
$272.25
$1185.00
M ISSIONS
$565.27
I N -H OME M ISSIONS
$392.50
S IOUX C ITY G OSPEL
M ISSION
$242.00
K ATELYN ’ S F UND
$246.00
B UILDING F UND
$441.00
B ACK TO G OD H OUR
$204.00
L OVING U TAH
$278.50
What’s happening at Youth ENERGY…

You’ve been served… we went out and washed windshields on parked cars.

Wall of encouragement… each member stood in front of the board while others wrote positive
things about them.

Minutes
Calvin CRC Elders Meeting
October 28, 2013
I.
Howie Van Ginkel read Romans 12: 9-21 and Hebrews 12: 14-15 and opened with prayer.
II.
The elders’ minutes of September 30, 2013 meeting were read for information.
III.
The Pastor/Elder visit reports were given for information
IV.
The family visits were discussed as were any items brought to our attention.
V.
Membership list is in process of being reviewed and an effort is being made to bring them up to date.
VI.
Nathan and Jen Boer-Vis will be baptizing their daughter Grace at the morning service on Nov. 3.
VII.
Pulpit supply was reviewed. November 10 PM Carl Klompien will be serving Calvin. Pastor
Bobby Van Otterloo will serve our congregation on Nov. 24 AM and Reverend
Steve Moerman the Nov. 24 PM service. Rev Engbers will be serving us on Thanksgiving and the
Sunday following as Reverend Gideon will be at Micah’s basic training graduation and at a family
gathering on vacation. December 15 PM Duane Tinklenburg will fill our pulpit.
VII.
The Worship Committee Report was given for information. Services are planned through December.
There will be Scripture readings and candle lighting by members of Calvin
during the Advent season. The Christmas program materials were approved. Worship guide
lines for Calvin CRC were presented to the elders and will be tabled for review until the next elders
meeting.
IX.
The discipleship committee had no report.
X.
The Sacraments Committee report was given. December 8 will be the next communion service.
XI.
Christmas and New Years day services will be held on their respective days. New Years service will
be a combined service with Trinity and First CRC with Calvin CRC hosting the service. Old Years
Day service will be on the Sunday evening before January 1. Our
Christmas program will be held on December 15 after the evening service.
XII.
Correspondence: A letter was received from the disability committee of the CRCNA
advocating our churches be accessible and sensitive to the needs of those persons with
disabilities. A letter was received from the RV URC. A letter was received from the CRCNA
requesting ethnic and deacon advisors to the synod. Synod 2014 will be held June 13-20
in Pella, Iowa. We received a letter for information from the CRCNA board of directors.
Classis Iokota will meet March 4, 2014 at Trinity CRC in Rock Valley.
XIII.
Old business: none
XIV. New business: Reverend Gideon and Galen Van Maanen attended a (SPACT) strategic p l a n n i n g
and adaptive change team meeting.
XV.
Dennis Wynia and Jim Vande Kerk were absent with notification.
XVI. The concept minutes were read and approved.
XVII. The next elders’ meeting is scheduled for November 25, 2013 at 6:30 PM.
XVIII. Adjourn to full Council.
Fall yard work…one evening we cleaned up flowers, trimmed bushes, and painted lines on the church
parking lot and enjoyed pizza for supper.


Worship service…we lead the morning worship service on Oct. 13.
Care packages…we sent care packages including personal notes to the last year’s seniors who have
moved into college dorms and to Micah at basic training.

SERVE decision…we have made a decision to go back to Bellflower, California for SERVE July 2013.
November Missionary Letter Writing
December Missionary Letter Writing
Jason Groeneweg
Colton Harthoorn
Corwin Harthoorn
Nate Hoekstra
John Hoogendoorn
Rev. Jan Van Ee
Rev. Tom Soerens
Lauren Runia
Rev. Jan Van Ee
Rev. Tom Soerens
Lauren Runia
Calle 14 No 176
Apartado 3491002
12793 Little Holland Road
Calle 14 No 176
Apartado 3491002
12793 Little Holland Road
San Jose, Rica
Manhattan, MT
59741
San Jose, Rica
Manhattan, MT
59741
Jardines, Miraflores
Merida Yucatan,
Mexico
Central America
land-
Jardines, Miraflores
Merida Yucatan,
Mexico
Central America
Willie Jonker
land-
19
Faith Circle
26
18
Morning Bible Study
Cadets Snow Derby
Run Through
Quilting for a Cause
25
9:30AM Christmas
Day Service
28
Cadets Snow Derby
20
12
11 Morning Bible
Study at Cedar Rock
Cadets
Christmas Program
Practice
Dawn and I just returned last evening from a four day trip to Colorado City/Hildale. It was such an encouraging
time for us. There were at least seventy-five people who showed up from various churches from Utah,
California, Wyoming, and Arizona to help finish, (well, almost) the log building, a new Community Center. It
had to be finished for the Grand Opening which was on Saturday. The log building is leased by Holding Out
Help and managed by Brody and Liz Olsen, among the Olson's other visions for the community.
The purpose for the building is to provide a place for the community to gather for special occasions. It will also
be a place where the youth can come in a safe environment. The downstairs is housing a Community Thrift
Store. The main floor will have an Internet Cafe in the main area, and will also serve as a gathering place for
various events. The office is just that - and at night it can convert into a guest room with a very comfortable
pullout Lazy Boy couch. So far it has been used by yours truly as my little home away from home on monthly
trips or more. I estimate there were maybe about two hundred who attended the Grand Opening.
27
13
Faith Circle
Morning Bible Study at
Cedar Rock
JFA Workday
Quilting for a Cause
21
14
Sat
7
Fri
6
Thu
5
Wed
4
Monday, October 21, 2013
Greetings,
I was also pleased to announce to apostate leaders that next Saturday, October 26, I will be returning to the
"Crick" with a medical doctor from the Salt Lake area. He will be looking over a property, meeting with
community people, and others of us to discuss the possibly of opening a fully equipped low income medical
clinic. Mary Towns, a Nurse Practitioner from our church, made the contact with this Christian doctor and is
coordinating this latest possible addition to the community.
You see, this community of sixty-five hundred population has NO medical services for the
public. The FLDS has kicked out all the medical personnel from the existing clinic. As far as we know
the FLDS has kicked out everyone with advanced educational degrees.
We worked on the building Thursday, Friday. the Grand Opening of the building on Saturday, and on Saturday
evening we attended the Ephraim Bible Church's grand BBQ in the park for the community. This also was a
huge success. Sunday morning Dawn finished some cleanup at the headquarters, a cup of coffee with one of
the residents in her home, a morning Bible Study at the Olson's, and then we headed for home.
31
24
17
10
Tue
3
Please pray that the apostates and the few Gentiles of the community will know that we as Christians who
have come, not only with the Gospel, but to show the love of the Jesus of the Bible to these people so loved by
God.
Mon
2
Cadets/GEMS Christmas
Party
9
16
Worship Committee
Meeting
23
30
Pulpit Supply—
Reverend Engbers
8 2nd Sunday of Advent
Distribution of
Communion
15
3rd Sunday of Advent
PM Pulpit Supply—
Reverend Tinklenberg
Christmas Program
22
4th Sunday of Advent
29
PM Old Years Service
Please praise God for working ahead of us!
Sun
1 1st Sunday of Advent
D ECEMBER 2013
M ISSION M ESSAGES F ROM M IKE M ENNING
In His service,
Mike
7
Men’s Bible Class
Faith Circle
15
8
1Fri
23
16
9
Group to the Union
Gospel Mission
2Sat
Visit to the Women’s
Prison
30
Deuteronomy 15:10
O FFERING S CHEDULE
N OVEMBER 17
AM: M ISSIONS , C HRISTIAN E D . C HAPTER
PM: L UKE S OCIETY
N OVEMBER 24
AM: B ENEVOLENT F UND , B UILDING F UND
PM: T HE B ANQUET
T HANKSGIVING D AY —N OVEMBER 28
O PERATION C HRISTMAS C HILD
D ECEMBER 1
AM: C LASSICAL F UND , I N -H OME M ISSIONS
PM: R OSELAND C HRISTIAN M INISTRIES
D ECEMBER 8
AM: B UILDING F UND , C HRISTIAN E D . C HAPTER
PM: C HRISTIAN S CHOOLS I NTERNATIONAL
N OVEMBER 2013
29
your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.”
Thu
“Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord
Wed
Mike
Tue
6
Morning Bible Study
JFA Workday
Youth ENERGY
Quilting for a Cause
14
22
In His service,
Mon
5
Morning Bible Hour
13
Morning Bible Study
Cadets
21
Men’s Bible Class
Please pray also for more people to see the light and get out of the cult!
Sun
12
20
Morning Bible Study
Youth ENERGY
Game Night
Quilting for a Cause
Through Holding Out Help, the ministry of Brody and Liz, and other groups we continue to provide food, even
for some of the FLDS people who are only allotted one meal a day. Getting food to those still in the cult is very
carefully handled. They are developing ways at night under the cover of darkness through various channels.
4
19
Worship Committee
Meeting
Morning Bible Hour
27
Morning Bible Study
Dr. Zehnder returned home to discuss this situation further with his partners, his wife, and to continue to pray
about whether or not to further pursue the needs of the community. Please join us in prayer asking God to provide health care for these people.
11
18
GEMS
Council Dinner
26
We meet with some of the local community leaders, (the apostates). We looked at some property which might
become available. We then met with over a dozen community people, so they could get to know Dr. Zehnder.
I might add that it was wonderful to be able to meet in the new Holding Out Help Community Center. We emphasised to the Doctor that anyone not with the FLDS has to seek medical treatment in Hurricane, which is
over twenty miles away or Kanab, Utah - about forty miles away. The number of non-FLDS children within
about a five mile radius, is estimated to be between 750 and 800.
25
Council Meeting
I returned to the Crick last Friday and Saturday. Dr. Zehnder, of Salt Lake arrived in town Saturday morning to
gather information about the health care needs in the community.
28
9:30 AM Thanksgiving
Day Service—Reverend
Engbers
I mentioned in last week's message the possibility of a Utah medical doctor establishing a medical clinic in the
Crick.
3
Baptism
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Greetings,
As many of you know Colorado City/Hildale was previously know as Short Creek. The name was changed by
Arizona officials after the 1953 raid on the community. The community was referred to as "The Crick," by the
locals over a hundred years ago and to this day.
10
PM Pulpit Supply—
Reverend Klompien
M IKE M ENNING
17
Reverend Wamala’s
birthday celebration
FROM
24
AM Pulpit Supply—
Pastor Bobby Van
Otterloo
PM Pulpit Supply—
Pastor Steve
Moerman
M ISSION M ESSAGES
A BLESSING IN THE FORM OF A B US , CONT ’ D
The bus left Monday morning, November 11 for Tennessee driven by Bill Bajema. He stopped in Sioux City
to pick-up another load of donated items from another member of POG Ministries and continued on to
Tennessee. Corwin Walhof also took off for Kentucky to drop off a load for JFA and met Bill and the rest of
the POG team in Nashville. They were met with open arms and hugs in Tennessee by Jean Bildad Michel,
childhood friend to Claude Gillot, and Kimberley Reed-Bracey in White House, Tennessee.
M ISSION M ESSAGES FROM M IKE M ENNING
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Greetings,
A brief update from the ministry. Many great things are happening among the some times frustrations
and uncertainness that go along with ministry on the frontlines.
As previously mentioned the open house of the Community Center was bigger than expected. Many of the
towns folk came out. That is highly unusual. Then last week a dozen locals came out to meet with
Dr. Zehnder. Others are beginning to speak more boldly and openly about their faith.
A few days ago two younger adults who never dated before stopped by our house on their way from visiting
family in an other state. They have announced to us their plans for possible marriage in the spring. Dating is
totally new for those coming out of the FLDS. They were raised in a culture of arranged marriages. I am
praising God, that He gave me to opportunity to introduce this couple and teach them about courting.
Looks like the Third District Judge Dinese Lindberg is getting ready to appoint a new board to take the responsibility of unwinding the web of the United Effort Trust. The new board will be given the challenge of
deeding about a thousand properties back to the people of the Crick and many who once lived there. As
earlier mentioned I am being "considered" as one of the appointees. The judge has ordered full investigation
of all those being considered. I received notice from the Attorneys General of Arizona and Utah that I passed
the investigation process. I think it would be a blessing to serve those who have been so wronged in the
past. Please that God would lead Judge Lindberg in her appointments.
Why did the bus have to be acquired and sent off by Monday, November 11 you might ask? The bus is going
to leave for Haiti as soon as possible in hopes that it will arrive and get through customs by December 27 of
this year. A Prosperity of God Ministries team, including Jeaneen De Jager, will be taking off on December
26 for a week long mission trip in Minotrie, Haiti to work with Prosperity of God Ministries. Please continue to
pray for Prosperity of God Ministries. May this bus be a blessing to them. May the items that the bus contains be a blessing to those in Monotrie, Haiti. Pray for those who are going on the Mission trip to Minotrie in
December. For more information on Prosperity of God Ministries check them out on Facebook or their
youtube video (search Prosperity of God Ministries at www.youtube.com). If you would be interested in giving
some way to Prosperity of God ministries, contact Jeaneen De Jager for more information.
GREAT COMMISSION - UTAH
Several years ago my good friend and mentor for over thirty five years, Glen Sherwood advised me not to
ask for money in my regular updates. I have taken that advise seriously, I also am reminded of an other
person who has been very influential to me, Bill Goothard, when he said he never asked for money for his
ministry, but, he believed that missionaries should let the ministry needs be known.
So, in the next news letter I will be telling you of the financial condition, the financial needs, and the budge of
this ministry - Great Commission - Utah. I will not be asking, just telling the needs. Maybe God will touch
the hearts of some to give and some to continue to pray for us.
Friday I leave for Chicago where I will be preaching on Sunday at the Orland Park Christian Reformed
Church. Then I will be going on to Grand Rapids Michigan to take part in a round table discussion addressing to topic of, How do we handle polygamists coming into the church. Appreciate your prayer support.
In His service,
Mike Menning
Prayer Reminders
Pray for those who have lost loved ones
Pray for health
Pray for Prosperity of God Ministries
Pray for Geri Van Holland as she recovers from
surgery
Pray for those traveling for Thanksging
Pray for the Wamala family as they will be away
on vacation
Praise God for Micaha Wamala as he will be
graduating from Basic Training in Texas
Pray for our nation’s leaders
Praise God for His providential care
Pray for our nation’s leaders
Pray for our Calvin Church family
Continue to pray for our missionaries
A BLESSING IN THE FORM OF A B US
A BLESSING IN THE FORM OF A B US , CONT ’ D
What started as a prayer and a dream for a school in Haiti and their sponsors in Tennessee became reality
and the Western Christian and Rock Valley communities recently made those dreams come true. Prosperity
of God Ministries School was in need of a school bus for their ministry and for mission teams. The sponsors
and board of directors for Prosperity of God Ministries began the mission of saving money to purchase a bus
for the school. Little did they know, the bus they were saving for was not far off.
The art class filled the bus with scripture in English and Creole. Thursday, November 7 there was an assembly at Western to pray over the bus and a celebration of send-off.
The cost of shipping a bus to Haiti was going to cost around $9,000 and POG Ministries had finally saved
enough to begin shopping for a used, low-cost bus. Jeaneen De Jager, who is in contact with and has
worked with POG Ministries, was very aware of their recent mission to find a bus. She called the
local schools to see if there were any retiring buses that could be purchased. Western had a bus that was
moving into retirement. The board of POG Ministries met and chose the Western bus to be the one that
would soon come to Haiti and pay a vital role in the POG school.
The next task would be the cost. How much would this bus cost POG ministries to purchase? The Western
bussing committee met and voted to sell the bus to POG ministries for the greatly reduced price of $1.00.
The School board approved this with one condition: the students at Western Christian could be involved in
POG ministries in some way in the future. On October 21, the Western Christian bus from Hull, IA made the
decision to sell the bus to POG ministries in Minotrie, Haiti.
Western Christian High School Bus
Now … Prosperity of God Ministries bus
The next task was simple. If Western and Jeaneen De Jager were sending a bus to the POG Ministries in
Tennessee to be shipped to Haiti, why wouldn’t we fill the bus as full as possible? Calvin Christian Reformed
Church conducted a drive for school supplies, hygiene items, coolers, books, and more. The response was
AMAZING! People donated new and used items of all kinds from sewing machines to bikes to coolers.
Jeaneen contacted Justice for All in Rock Valley to see if they could help with getting the bus to White House,
Tennessee. While it was uncertain whether the timing of this trip would fit into JFA’s delivery schedule, God’s
plan did indeed include this bus arriving to Tennessee on time. JFA received a call of a pickup and delivery
on that exact date so the bus would be delivered in time to leave for Haiti. Not only that, but Bill Bajema and
Corwin Walhof took it upon themselves to help get the bus to Tennessee. Others from the community made
very generous donations to help fill the bus that would soon be taking off for Haiti. Vans Food Pride donated
backpacks and other items. Farmers Lumber donated lumber to make benches for the school. The response
from the community for filling the bus was astounding. JFA was very helpful and willing to offer anything out
of the JFA warehouse including furniture items, backpacks, and other miscellaneous items.
Jeaneen visited Western Christian on Monday, October 28 for chapel to share about Prosperity of God
Ministries and their mission in Haiti. She requested that Western keep POG Ministries in their prayers and it
was announced that Western would be helping out with filling the bus. On Wednesday, October 30 Western
had an offering at their chapel service and raised $1,110 to purchase school supplies to head to Haiti.
Jeaneen’s request for help filling the bus was small, the prayer that this continue to be a blessing for those
receiving it and our community was so much bigger. Members of the community of all different walks of life
were all brought together by a simple bus for a much greater cause: to glorify God.
The bus was packed full of all of the items over the weekend and
visited Calvin Church for one last visit on Sunday, November 10.
The bus was scheduled to leave for its maiden POG voyage on
Monday, November 11 for Tennessee where it would be
departing to head overseas to Minotrie, Haiti.