Sharon (Morning Sun, Iowa) RPC Ronald Good, pastor

Although the church building and members’ residences are on high ground, the local area been severely impacted by flooding from the Iowa and Mississippi Rivers. A number of members spent countless hours filling and placing sandbags, evacuating residents, and preparing food for workers. Hundreds of local residents were displaced, which represents a significant percentage of the population within these rural areas. A fund was started by the vacation Bible school program to directly assist flood victims who have either a connection with the congregation or are in the process of resettling in our community.

The daily vacation Bible school was held in June with over 40 eager pupils. Only a handful of these children are directly connected to the congregation, making VBS a viable outreach to the community. A school bus was used to transport pupils to and from Morning Sun, which is about a three-mile drive on gravel roads.

An unusually high number of babies have been added to the congregation in the past year. Matthew Lemmon, Josie Hutcheson, Hunter Caruso, Ellasyn Clark, and Morgan Jo Baird have been welcome additions. The congregation also rejoiced in the birth of Jaydon Newcomb, whose mother, Brenda, has taught the VBS preschool program for many years.

Members continue to sharpen their swords of faith by attending one of two group Bible studies that meet twice monthly. A study on the book of Ecclesiastes, meeting in the home of John and Roselea Smith, is open to anyone. A women’s study, focused on the book of Daniel, has been meeting in the home of Virginia Johnson.

College students preparing to either begin or return to school in August include the Robb brothers—Levi, Caleb, and Noah—attending Iowa State University in Ames. Marshall McElhinney will again be at Central College in Pella, Iowa, and Daniel Pilling will return to Geneva in Beaver Falls, Pa. Samantha McElhinney will begin studies at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, while Molly Pilling will continue her studies at Southeastern Community College in West Burlington.

Deacons Joe Baird and Kim Robb were reinstalled to serve another term.

—Terri Hutcheson, correspondent

Seattle, Wash., RPC

On May 31, the congregation hosted an evening of celebration to honor Don and Boni Piper for their 31 years of ministry. Over 100 people attended.

Following a buffet dinner, Tim McCracken, pastor of the Fresno, Calif., RPC, and Harvey Brink, retired pastor of the Bellevue, Wash., Christian Reformed Church, shared thoughts and memories. Audio tributes were delivered by John McFarland, pastor of Christ Covenant RPC in Lawrence, Kan., and Jim Carson, retired pastor of the Los Angeles, Calif., RPC. Don Piper and members of his family also spoke. The session and deacon board then presented gifts. Don delivered his final sermon as pastor of the congregation on June 1. His message was “Don’t Waver,” based on 1 Kings 18:16-21.

The Pipers continue to reside in the Seattle area and are maintaining their membership in the congregation.

While the congregation is without a pastor, Harvey Brink and other local or visiting ministers will be preaching.

On June 4, the congregation voted to call Matt Filbert to serve as pastor.

—Karen Olson, correspondent

Crown and Covenant (Owego, N.Y.) RPC Harold Harrington, pastor

In the early morning hours of June 1, a fire was deliberately set in the village of Owego, N.Y. The target was a garage that had been condemned by the code enforcement officer in Owego. The owner, not wishing to go to the expense of having the building torn down, arranged to have it burned down. He did not anticipate the inferno this act would create.

The garage was located in a back yard shared by five apartment buildings. All five buildings caught fire. The tenants had to flee for their lives in the middle of the night. All of their possessions were either burned in the fire or permanently damaged by smoke and water. These were low-income houses, and many of the inhabitants were elderly or had health problems and now have nowhere to go.

The neighborhood is within three blocks of the Crown and Covenant RPC building. The church members immediately put an ad in the local Pennysaver advertising for household goods to be donated to the church for the fire victims. A time was set up for the donations to be received at the church. Many citizens of Owego responded with gifts of kitchenware, bedding, and linens. The church people donated many of the same items and also toiletries, aspirin, and cleaning products. The deacons fund gave out many gift certificates for clothing and food.

Within two weeks of the tragedy, Crown and Covenant was able to invite the victims to the church for a fellowship meal. The church is well known for its hospitality, and this night was no exception. The tables were loaded and the admonition to “come and dine” was heard. The congregation had planned to “gift” the items collected to the families after the dinner, with the dinner being a secondary event. Little did we realize these people had been doing without food, sitting in motel rooms trying to rebuild their lives for the last two weeks. “Real food!” was a much-repeated comment as we gave of our bounty to those who had nothing. After the gifting event, plates were loaded with the leftover food to go home with the people so they could eat for the next week.

Many victims have located new apartments to live in, but the comment was made, “I had nothing to put in an apartment, but now I do!” Other comments included, “We’re coming back to this church on Sunday,” or “We’ll see you Sunday.” Sadly, none did. But we’re not discouraged—the seed of Christlike love was planted in their hearts, and we pray that someday they may find their way back to our door, and our little church may grow for being the example of how Christ ministers to those in need.

First (Phoenix, Ariz.) RPC Jon Maginn, pastor

A Reformation celebration to be held jointly with other Reformed congregations is being planned for October. Last year’s event included skits, recitations, and singing, followed by an ice cream social.

The women’s group MEOW (Mutual Encouragement Of Women) has been active in functions including protesting at an abortion clinic, caring for people in need, building and preparing planters around the church, and just having times of fellowship.

In mid-March, Pastor Jon and Jason Walsh (who was recently named southwest regional director for the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform) drove a “Truth Truck” from Kansas City, Mo., back to Phoenix. It is being used throughout the Phoenix area to reveal the horrors of abortion through large-scale, graphic photos of aborted babies on the sides and back of the truck. Pastor Jon drove the truck around Arizona State University shortly after the truck arrived. Since then, the entire Walsh family, along with many other congregation members, has visited Northern Arizona University, the Tempe Music and Arts Festival, and other highly populated venues like Chase Field. Jason regularly speaks to pastors, colleges, pro-life groups and conferences on the use of graphic images in the history of social reform. The congregation supports the Walsh family’s work through various means including prayer, financial support, volunteering to drive the truck, and holding signs.

In March, Phoenix was blessed to have Dezirea Jones, Taylor Gordon, and Will Miller come to Phoenix through RP Missions. The team worked on the church and school buildings and witnessed in neighborhoods. They were very encouraged during the time spent with the families in the church, and doing street evangelism in Tempe at ASU. Pastor Jon was able to be with the team members each day during at least some of their activities, and was blessed to get to know each one of them. The congregation desires to have another mission team next year, hopefully bringing a combination of old and new faces.

The congregation is incorporating a church building revitalization program. The entire building received new doors and windows in early 2007. The front of the church building received a new planter, built by MEOW earlier this year. Then in March, with the help of the mission team, the congregation planted vines and bushes to make the front more welcoming. Plans to plant bushes along the sides of the building, plant trees, install lighting, and other large projects are in the works.

—Valerie L. Willson, correspondent